Last week at DS preschool field trip, I was convinced he was the only one still in a five point harness. He is 5 and 39 lbs, so close to being "able" to be in a booster. But then the parents told me that most if their kids are still in a harness, they just have boosters to ride in other cars.
I totally plan on putting DS in a booster when the baby comes. He will go into the back row of the van. I don't know if he will hit 40lbs by then or not but he is in the 90% for height. He's just a string bean.
I mentioned it before about potentially being upset about #2 being a boy instead of a girl since we are only having 2 and I wanted to experience both. Well #2 is in fact another boy and I was a bit disappointed but love that I get to live in a boy filled world. I will never have to fight combing long hair or having to learn to braid!
I fully believe I am having baby boy #2, and will likely ugly cry when it is confirmed. It is emotional when you have a picture in your head that you have to let go of. Don't feel bad about it. It's natural and says absolutely nothing about how much you adore your children.
I am so judging this girl I went to high school with (she was 3 years behind me, so she's probably 26 or so)...she's had 4 kids. Her first, a daughter, she kept. Then she had a son and put him up for adoption. Then another daughter and put her up for adoption. She just had another baby boy and kept him. I don't understand how you can pick and choose which of your children you want to keep. As far as I know she hasn't had relationships with any of the guys, like ongoing....
I listen to a podcast where the guy was a middle child given up for adoption. His mother was overwhelmed with one and didn't feel she could take care of a second. Situations changed and she was in a better place for the third. He was pretty understanding of it, but I am sure it would be a hard truth to learn. I don't think I would judge for giving children up for adoption ever, to be honest. If anything, I imagine the adopted children received a much more stable family situation. I do judge people who don't get their birth control situation sorted out after multiple unplanned pregnancies.
I just read the rear facing limits for our convertible seat (Diono) and it's up to 44lbs and 44in. DS just turned 2 and is 28lbs so he has years left. He already has to sit with his legs curled up against the back of the seat and I just can't imagine him still comfortably rear facing at 3 or 4 years old... For those with older kids, at what age did you turn them?
Post by LittleStarSweeper on May 1, 2017 5:56:33 GMT -5
lightside , I think when you turn your child FF in his or her car seat is really dependent upon your individual child and your specific car seat. All kids hit different milestones at different ages. I find The Car Seat Lady an excellent resource for ALL things car seat related. Their recommendation is to keep kids RF until at least age 2 AND until reaching the max RF height and weight limits of the convertible seat.
As an FT(bio)M I am completely overwhelmed with the ideas of registry and choosing strollers and carseats. I don't know what to anticipate I'll need. I haven't even decided if I'll cloth diaper- the thought is very appealing to me. I feel very behind on all of this, compared to the rest of the Sept 17 group. I also have no idea what we'll do for child care when I have to return to work. I really don't want my baby to go to daycare.
TTC since '08 ME: PCOS, late DH: CBAVD due to CF IVF #1-6 all fresh cycles, all BFN Lost DH in 2015 due to CF Met SO and started TTC again SO: quality issues, started Clomid BFP 1/13/17, natural cycle (!) Due 9/19/17
Post by LittleStarSweeper on May 1, 2017 12:25:00 GMT -5
fiercemo , you'll be ok! It IS overwhelming, but babies don't actually "need" all that much. Registering for and getting the basics before baby is born will be fine. You definitely need a car seat and somewhere safe for baby to sleep prepared before you bring baby home. A way to feed, diaper, bathe, and clothe baby are the other biggies I think. You can always shop after baby is born, too, if you find you need something. DH ran to Target a couple times to pick up something we needed in the beginning and it wasn't a big deal. You can shop as baby's needs change.
Lucie's List is a great resource. Stores like Babies R Us and Buy Buy Baby will have lists of what to register for on their sites (just keep in mind, you don't need EVERYTHING on those lists; many items are optional). I really like Lucie's List and highly recommend it as a starting place.
If you're interested in cloth diapering, great! We cloth diapered DD, and will cloth diaper this LO, too. I'm happy to answer questions and/or try to help if you decide to go that way. I think a couple of other moms here used cloth, too.
I have been and am home with DD, so I'm no help with daycare. However, there are several working moms here who can help.
You got this, mama! 😘 Plus. We're here to help, too!
Yes, Lucie's List is amazing! Probably 75% of what we registered for with DD came directly from her recommendations. Even if you go with different stuff, the way she breaks it down is so helpful!
fiercemoLittleStarSweeper said all that I was going to say. I stay home with my kids too, so I'm no help in that department either.
And don't let us make you feel behind. Majority of us have done this once (or more) times. A lot of it is trial and error and what you like to do may be totally different that what someone likes to do. Plus, yes! Take advantage of us and feel free to ask us any questions. We (I) would be happy to help!
Post by LittleStarSweeper on May 1, 2017 14:16:17 GMT -5
Plus, fiercemo, you're mom to a TEENAGER! I'm sure there's a thing or two you could teach us. As a former 7th/8th grade teacher, I know dealing with young teenagers is a whole different ballgame. 😉
Seriously, though... you got this. You already know how to parent and keep your DD1 alive. Babies are, in many ways, much easier than teenagers. You and DD2 will be just fine. We are here to help with the baby stuff though! (Maybe you can help me with teenage girl stuff in about 10 years.) 😊
Yes, Lucie's List is amazing! Probably 75% of what we registered for with DD came directly from her recommendations. Even if you go with different stuff, the way she breaks it down is so helpful!
Yes, I definitely recommend starting with Lucie's List. Don't go to BRU or BBB first... it's just too much. Go to the store(s) with the list you make from Lucie's. There's so much "gear" in those stores you really just don't need.
As an FT(bio)M I am completely overwhelmed with the ideas of registry and choosing strollers and carseats. I don't know what to anticipate I'll need. I haven't even decided if I'll cloth diaper- the thought is very appealing to me. I feel very behind on all of this, compared to the rest of the Sept 17 group. I also have no idea what we'll do for child care when I have to return to work. I really don't want my baby to go to daycare.
It's already been said but babies don't need much. Take it one step at a time. The one thing I would tackle first though is childcare because depending on your area, if you do have to send LO to DC then you don't want to rush that decision or fall in love with one that has already been filled up. I wasn't crazy about the idea of DC at first either but we didn't really have any other options. The first few weeks were hard but I think going back to work in general is hard no matter who you leave your LO with. For me, it was a big relief once I had childcare figured out & I felt like I could concentrate on some of the other stuff at that point. Although, take this with a grain of salt because I still don't know where we will be living when this baby comes & therefore have no idea what the plan for childcare is.
Also, Cloth diapering - we used CDs for DS from the start and will do it again with this one. It is a little bit more work than disposables but I got into a good routine and it was just the norm to do a few extra loads of laundry each week. I'm irrationally excited to pick out some new diapers this time around.
LittleStarSweeper, (or anyone else that does CD) Have you tried the Thirsties Natural AIO? or a Nickis AIO?
Post by LittleStarSweeper on May 1, 2017 14:31:48 GMT -5
saltandvinegar , I have not tried either of those AIOs. I've been seeing good things about the Thirsties natural AIOs, though. I'm thinking about ordering a NB one just to try it out. Plus, Thirsties has some cute prints out right now.
I, too, am excited to pick out some new diapers. Although, I'm also happy we will be able to reuse most of DD's stash for this LO. I secretly hope this one is a boy so I can sell some of DD's super girly diapers and buy some cute boy ones 😉
Oh gosh, we went from FFFCs to cloth diapers. Do we need a CD thread? I think @saiven (and others?) also uses/used cloth.
lightside , I think when you turn your child FF in his or her car seat is really dependent upon your individual child and your specific car seat. All kids hit different milestones at different ages. I find The Car Seat Lady an excellent resource for ALL things car seat related. Their recommendation is to keep kids RF until at least age 2 AND until reaching the max RF height and weight limits of the convertible seat.
Thanks, I'll check it out. I read the recommendation about maxing out the seats RF limits, which is why I looked ours up. If DS stays around the 50-60%ile for height and weight, he could still be rear facing in that seat at 5!
Post by LittleStarSweeper on May 1, 2017 16:47:20 GMT -5
lightside , I hear you. My DD was only 25 lbs at her 2.5 year checkup in Dec... but she was 36" tall. Like @wicky said, it's really a tricky thing. I asked at DD's playgroup this morning and all of the 3 or almost-3-YO kids there are FF and have been for a while. Except my DD. Hmmmm. ETA I think I'm with @wicky about flipping before baby comes along in Sept. Maybe that's what we'll do. I'm famous for overthinking these things.
Post by andtheheartbreakers on May 1, 2017 20:23:29 GMT -5
The big thing that I remember when it comes to RFing carseats is that it has to do with physical development. So even if they're large for their age, if they're still within the height and weight limits of the carseat they are still safer RFing, because it has no bearing on where they are at in terms of bone structure and stability. Obviously people have to do what works best for them, but this is my argument for leaving my daughter RFing even though it says that legally she could FF.
Post by luciddreamer on May 2, 2017 9:59:36 GMT -5
saltandvinegar, I bought a couple of Thirsties newborn natural AIO and am excited to try them out. I only wish they had double gussets like their pockets and covers to help contain newborn poop.
I'm a cloth mom too - I use Thirsties NAIO in OS with LO. We like them a lot. I have noy used Nickis AIO but I know they're bulky and that's a thing I don't prefer so it's not something I need to try out.
RE: RFing, we will turn our kiddo when he maxes out the weight or height. He's a pretty big kid and isn't even close (2+yo, 32 pounds, 36ish"). Most, if not all, of his peers are FFing already. We're just choosing to do what works best for us and that's RFing for the max amount of time we're able. We'll turn him when he's 4 if he hasn't hit the weight (which he may not in on of his seats, it's 50 pounds).
As for leg comfort - one of our seats is the Graco Extend2Fit which is nice because it extends out a longer leg rest as they get bigger. But we haven't had a problem with his legs, he just puts them whereever he wants and seems fine.
Do whatever works for you - don't worry about people judging, it's really none of their business.
Post by luciddreamer on May 3, 2017 18:24:31 GMT -5
DS is a few months older than 2 and he is FF. I wanted to keep him RF longer, but he would throw fits and it was hurting my back to struggle getting him in. Now that he's FF, it's been much less of a fight.
Plus, fiercemo , you're mom to a TEENAGER! I'm sure there's a thing or two you could teach us. As a former 7th/8th grade teacher, I know dealing with young teenagers is a whole different ballgame. 😉
Seriously, though... you got this. You already know how to parent and keep your DD1 alive. Babies are, in many ways, much easier than teenagers. You and DD2 will be just fine. We are here to help with the baby stuff though! (Maybe you can help me with teenage girl stuff in about 10 years.) 😊
Heehee you make a great point about my teenager! And yes, I have a handbook on that for all of you. The main thing I notice is that a lot of things kids/toddlers do now, they continue to do as teenagers, just with more flair/sass. It's also kind of neat how they can end up doing things just like you- whether you want them to or not!
TTC since '08 ME: PCOS, late DH: CBAVD due to CF IVF #1-6 all fresh cycles, all BFN Lost DH in 2015 due to CF Met SO and started TTC again SO: quality issues, started Clomid BFP 1/13/17, natural cycle (!) Due 9/19/17
Post by LittleStarSweeper on May 5, 2017 8:25:49 GMT -5
Another great site for expectant parents and already-parents is Pregnant Chicken. Some of the articles are hilarious. I got a big kick out of that site when I was about to be a FTM. Anyway, here's a link to her baby list. I love that it's a PDF so you can easily print it. Again, not all is necessary (I never had a bassinet, for example), but this is another good staring point.
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