Parenting Contents Archive

Does Old Navy run Small/large? Baby’s due this winter and I only got 0/3mo

Something Wholesome for your Day

My son is 19 months old, currently stained with pasta sauce and wrecking havoc in my living room. I haven’t been having a good day today, and admittedly we’ve been watching TV for way too long and eating snacks. Usually when I change his diaper, I hand it to him and ask him to throw it away. After a successful mission, I clap and tell him good job. Usually he just smiles and runs off to do whatever it is he does. He doesn’t clap very often, though he has plenty of other gestures. This time, I threw it away myself, then sat down on the couch with a huff. My son, sitting on the other side of the couch, surrounded by snacks and toys, gave me the biggest smile and clapped as hard as he could muster. An innocent little gesture, acknowledging a small accomplishment. It made my day. I’m going to do my best to keep that kindness in our lives.

In laws always act like I’m babying my 4 year old

He’s literally 4, when they hear about me lying with him until he falls asleep or feeling worried about leaving him overnight to go on a trip for example they always say things like “why? He’s a big boy now, he’ll be fine” I feel a bit like my feelings are dismissed and also a bit bewildered as 4 is still so incredibly young and naturally still need security from their mums.

a LOL for everyone

My sister has no kids. But is a special Ed teacher, focused in English for deaf/Hard of hearing. Often tells me her school kids 'just wear her out and she needs a nap everyday '. This past weekend she watched my 3yr old who is the definition of a sour patch kid. This is probably the longest anyone has watched kiddo, esp recently. Spunky and full of opinions, who will cuddle and love you one minute, then straight up cut you if you cross them. Sister told me 'wow I'm concerned for (3 yr old). One min we're laughing the next there's tears then giggling. I'm worried maybe there's something wrong?' her boyfriend looked equally concerned and asked if it's too early to check for 'schizophrenia'. Oh my sweet summer child. They want kids eventually. Who's gonna tell em?

my stepdaughter coming out as my stepson, any parents gone through this change?

(Names have been changed)My 13 yr old step daughter now wants to be called "travis". Pronouns "they/them". Over summer break they went to camp and had everyone call them Travis. Mom thought it was funny, they tricked the kids in to calling them something else. They are having a coming out party on their birthday. The dad and I love them no matter what they want to be called. New territory for us. We have a 8yr, 5 yr and 3 yr at home. Travis lives states away with mom.

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Christmas schedules??

You guys I am dressing this Christmas and dividing our time between parents. All our parents live locally, and in the past we've alternated Christmas day between households, but it's always so stressful and I feel like we end up bending to everyone else and end up overwhelmed. Now with a baby (he'll be 6 months on Christmas day) I want to focus on our new family and not feel stressed and dread. How are you guys dividing your time? Especially if they live locally.

Going from 1 Child to 2 ?!

My first child is 7. I love him to death, he's been my best friend ever since I found out I was pregnant with him. He's extremely affectionate and a very sweet boy. I'm almost 37wks with my second. She'll be here soon! I'm excited to have her and thrilled I was able to conceive again. Lately I've been finding myself quite emotional at the thought of my son potentially perceiving her as taking away from him. Babies require a lot of attention and care, we've talked to him about this but he tends to take a lot of things as direct attacks (a symptom of his ADHD per his Dr). He knows she'll need attention and has offered to help us with her, he's SUPER excited to be a big brother he's been asking for a little sister since he could talk. I'm literally crying (yay hormones) right now at the thought of him even feeling potentially ignored bc of the new baby. Parents with multiples, especially with "large" age gaps, how did it go? I'm sure at first it was a lot to handle.

My 5 1/2 month baby wakes me up every 1-2 hours to feed at night. I’m going mad.

I breastfeed him to sleep. He Co-sleeps with me. He used to sleep better but for the past 2 months he has been waking up wayyy to frequently and I feel like I might just go mad with no sleep. How can I improve his sleep? Some of the things I do: 1. He’s exclusively breastfeed at the moment. Would introducing solids help? 2. We co-sleep. Would making him sleep in his own space help. Though he mainly only falls asleep while being fed or in a rocker. I don’t know how to make him quit both and shift him to his crib(which he has denied all this while. I am also from a country where Co-sleeping is the norm and putting the baby in a independent crib is considered cold). I’ve tried feeding him more during the day to reduce his sleep regression(if that’s what he is going through, I’m not sure). But it has not worked so far. Any magic tricks to make him sleep better at night would be appreciated!

Christmas?

Twin girls will be 11 months this Christmas, obviously their first Christmas. I’m a new mom soooo…what do you even get kids for their first Christmas?? Any ideas would be helpful.

What are some things totally relatable things your LO gets upset about?

Crying cause she’s full but also hungry. Sames baby. sames.

Homemade Halloween costumes, Year 3

I've never thought of myself as a crafty mom, but I guess I am? This is the 3rd year I've made Halloween costumes for my kids. They want to be things that you either can't buy costumes for, or would look cuter if made differently. Their excitement and pride in their ideas convinced me again this year. Let me tell you, making their costumes is NOT cheaper. Holy shit, the cost of the material for the Muppet was bananas. Thank the gods for you Pinteristy moms that have come before and blogged your step-by-step instructions on these costume ideas. I'd be super screwed without you.

Help! Need a high weight harness carseat

I'm looking for a carseat with a harness weight over 65 lbs but I can't seem to find any. Did they stop making carseats in this category? Our daughter just turned 2 in July and its way too early for a seatbelt booster but I can't find anything. She's currently in the britax marathon and the graco extend2fit but those have a 65lb harness limit. For reference on our past carseats/older girls: We used to have a britax frontier (90lbs) and a maxi cosi pria 85. The 85 was recalled and a little snug on our girls hips/not enough strap length to buckle so I wouldn't buy another. The frontier has been discounted and replaced with the clicktight which only goes to 65 lbs harness. Appreciate any suggestions other than comments on the size of our kids - they are not over weight. I''m 6'2- they're just big kids.

When should I expect LO to sleep a little longer at night?

Our daughter is 7 weeks this week, and is a relatively good sleeper, but it a hungry baby! She normally goes down around 7-8pm and then feed at 10/11 but she’s waking at 1-2pm and then again at 4:30-5pm and again at 7:30am for feeds. Breastfed during night / early morning. 2/3 formula feeds during day / 10pm. She weighted in at 5kg at 6 weeks. Wondering when / if she’ll stretch a bit during night to just the 1 feed? Also we are feeding her when her grunts and grabs escalate - during night, wondering if we should just leave her? First time patent so this is all new! Thank you 🙏