Above all; be respectful. Be mindful of what you say and how you say it. Please remember that the tone or inflection of what is being said is easily lost online so when in doubt be doubly kind and assume the best of others.

So Christmas is coming up and everyone always wants ideas on what to get me. I became a mom this year and I stay home with our 4 month old. I also exclusively nurse her. I don’t need anything. But what I would really like is gifts that would make me feel good? I don’t ever leave my daughter with anyone to be babysat, I just don’t want to and prefer to always have her with me at this age. So I don’t go out and do anything on my own. So no gifts suggesting like me going out and doing activities on my own hahaha. But does anyone have any ideas? I really like holistic type stuff for the most part.

I should add, I live in a small town. We don’t have much lol no zoo or aquarium or museum or mall etc…. So experiences aren’t rlly easy to gift as there’s not much around hahaha.

For context, I typically prepare bottles of breast milk for our caregiver to give to baby. Baby will sometimes drink an extra ounce or two, so I keep an extra storage bottle in the fridge with about 5-6 ounces as “just in case.”

I’m looking for a glass bottle that’s leakproof and easy to pour from without a lot of spillage. So far I’ve tried the Boon glass bottles but they spill a lot when you’re pouring from it.

Our almost 4 month old baby has found his hands and is chewing on them constantly. He isn’t interested in pacis and isn’t quite coordinated enough yet to hold onto teethers consistently (though we are working on it). That said, his drool is constant and it’s been causing the classic red patchy drool rash around his mouth and neck. I put Tubby Todd on it twice a day and put Vaseline on the area maybe 3-4x a day as a barrier. This all helps, but not for long. The rash is back to some degree a few hours later by the next time I’m ready to apply again.

Our whole family has sensitive skin but our first son never had skin quite this sensitive. For those who have experienced drool rash with their babies - did they grow out of it eventually? Did you find anything else that helped?

I’m also worried about his skin in general because his microbiome was off to a different start than our first. He was born via urgent c-section at 35 weeks when I experienced a bleed from complete placenta previa and had prophylactic antibiotics in his first 48 hrs. I know my breastmilk is helping his microbiome but I’m hesitant to give him anything else to help since probiotics are unregulated and he’s so young. We are so grateful for the medical care we received before, during, and after his birth (we are very pro-science) but I also know his microbiome is off to a different start and that worries me. We’re in discussion with his pediatrician about it but I’m looking for experience from other moms too.

We have a 1960s house with the original cast iron drain, and my plumber friend made a face when I said we do bath bombs on Sundays with the kids. He didn't explain. Just the face.

I've read both versions. One says the glitter and the oils build up, the other says it's fine if you run hot water after. I can't tell who's guessing.

Also, if you've dropped bath bombs for something simpler, what did you switch to? Plain salts? Nothing? My daughter likes the fizz, I mostly like not paying for a drain snake.

Hi,

I have a 7 year old with autism, and he is constantly seeking oral sensory input. He is constantly chewing on everything, and I'm working with his psychologist to learn more about how to approach his sensory behaviors. She suggested chewelry, but I'm having a really hard time trying to find something that's low on toxins, or at least tells you what's in it. There's a ton of stuff on Amazon but I have trouble completely trusting the off brands. Is there anything that's your go to? Thanks.

Until what age did you contact nap. My daughter turns 6 months tmrw and she still takes most naps on me. If we r in the car and she falls asleep then obviously not lol but otherwise its all on me. Just curious how long others did this. She sleeps in her crib in our room at night and does great.

Any recs on affordable wagons? Also is there a difference in ones marketed towards kids vs just a regular collapsible wagon besides comfort?

Was starting to look at wagons. I have a 4mo and have been starting to create our Christmas list. Why tf are wagons for kids like 400+? I almost understand car seats because they have to be so specifically designed for safety in case of a car crash but I’m not going 80mph on a beach boardwalk.

Anyway… 😅 will take all the recommendations!

I’ve been searching high and low for a lightweight every stroller. It needs to be under 17lbs, with an adjustable handlebar and non-magnetic buckle. Most of them have magnetic buckles. I’m really weird about magnetics near my baby’s body as we spend a lot of time walking. Also, flame retardant free is important. This seems like an impossible find!

Looking to start to slowly ween (ok if it takes a few months). Baby 11 months currently nurses first thing in the AM, before each nap, and before bed.

What feeding did you get rid of first? I’m thinking the first AM feed or before the first nap as she eats solids well and has breakfast in between. But how do I brake this sleep nurse association?

We don’t do screens in our house and I want to find some toys that will last and kinda grow with her for a little or help her learn as well! What are your favorites?

I am due in January and looking for recipes I can prep ahead of time that will be nourishing and moderately Crunchy.

I am pretty crunchy, and currently do all the cooking because I love it and I'm passionate about nutrition.

My partner would rather door dash 😅

I also have a capable and helpful 14yo who can help with cooking while I'm post partum.

I don't have a lot of experience with freezing prepped foods, we go through stuff pretty fast and I generally prefer fresh foods.

I am vegetarian but also eat fish,eggs, and dairy.

I eat all kinds of crazy flavors, not picky and eat lots of Asian food/seasonings. Any crunchy miso paste recommendations?

I want to test out some recipes and figure some winners I can have ready in the freezer that won't take too much effort to throw together for me postpartum.

Soups/stews/healthy casseroles!

I want to have a nice stash of nourishing foods to help me recover postpartum and support breastfeeding. I didn't have any issues aside from over producing with my first child. It's been a while but if my increased bust size is any indicator I don't think I'll be in dire need of any like straight fenugreek soup for breastfeeding support but I would love any crunchy recipes that help with post birth wellness/new baby breastfeeding support.

Does anyone shop local for produce? Organic/low packaging stores? Talk me through how you manage step by step.

I find shopping hard work as it is, but I would like to improve our family's health by finding products with less plastic, less pesticides, more local.

A local place is byo packaging with all those loose bins of things. It's intimidating! If anyone does this, can you spell out exactly how you navigate the store, what packaging you bring, types of things you buy, what quantities?

Do you need an organised pantry to really do this?

What about going to an actual butcher? What quantities do you buy for a family? How often do you go?

My daughter is about to turn 4 and this is the first year she really wants to eat candy. I never buy candy and try to limit sweets and sugar. However, if she goes to a birthday party or something and there is candy or cake or whatever, I let her eat it as I don’t want her to be left out or be so obsessed with something she can’t have. I believe in everything in moderation. I think we are going to try the stitch witch for her trick or treating candy (leave candy outside her bedroom door and stitch which takes it and leaves a gift in the night). I’ve been talking about the stitch witch here and there and she seems excited about getting a gift. I bought a cute little tea set I know she will love. When I was growing up there were no rules and I ate all the Halloween candy I wanted whenever I wanted it. I made it last for a long time and ate a little every day. I also had a lot of cavities as a child and still get them occasionally. I think we will probably let her eat however much she wants on Halloween and then leave it for the stitch witch. Just wondering what other moms are doing? Maybe I’m overthinking this, but we went to a Halloween party last night and watching her eat so much junky candy really makes me anxious.

Mom of a 2.5yo with a newborn at home. It’s mostly TV right now when I need to get things done, but I’d love something with educational games and apps and no internet or YouTube. We’re planning to homeschool starting in kindergarten, so I’m hoping to find something we can use for years. Is there a tablet like that? What do you have, and do you love it?

We'll soon be taking our almost 5 month old on her first flight. It's not too long (2.5-3 hours).

We'll be taking a variety of toys (and painters tape) on the plane, but normally when she's getting fussy the thing that helps is either taking her for a walk or standing up and singing/dancing with her, neither of which are doable on a Ryanair flight (sorry LO but no way I'm belting out Meatloaf in the middle of a plane).

So I'm thinking of downloading a few videos to my phone as a back up. So far we've been screen free, but when she does see a screen it really grabs her attention (the video billboard things in shopping centres are apparently grippingly enthralling). Something low stim like a forest walkthrough or ocean vid or something. Only to be used after exhausting all other options.

Anyone have any recommendations for videos, for alternatives, or just general advice or thoughts?

We use the Momcozy washer that’s being sued for microplastics (sigh). Luckily we usually only use it for glass bottles and haven’t put any nipples in it bc of the high heat but am I correct in thinking the glass bottles were affected this whole time too?

Anyone have a rec for a stainless steel bottle washer or similar solution?

We have been loyal TenLittle customers since my daughter started walking at 10 months. Now, she's almost 2 and obsessed with taking her shoes off when she's mad about being in the stroller for too long (in addition to the fact that we have to take them on and off up to 5 times a day for regular life reasons). The velcro isn't holding up, and I have already panic bought and returned some random Amazon ones that didn't even come close to fitting. Does anyone have suggestions for a different brand?

FWIW, I did reach out to Ten Little to complain, but I haven't heard back yet. So giving their customer service an F until further notice.

How are you moms with older kids handling screen time and online activity?

My babe is just wee but I'm hoping that she doesn't have a lot of interest in things like Roblox... and social media.

We are moving to the family farm and will likely start her in 4H around the age of 9. Both Dad and I have a lot of 'hands on' skills- traditional crafts, music, hunting, gardening. Type 2 fun kinda stuff.

I don't want to shelter her, and probably won't be a helicopter parent but I do feel strongly (read: I am scared) about the online world.

I’m having a Halloween party this year and need help figuring out a healthy meal that will feed a crowd and that kids will actually eat! I was originally thinking spaghetti and “eyeballs” with a mini salad bar but I just had spaghetti and meat balls for a birthday party a month ago.

Pinterest is all candy apples and mummy hot dogs which I know the kids will like but it’ll be very time consuming for 20+ people plus it’s still a little too on the junk food side for me to like… a bunch of candy and hot dogs just sounds like a stomach ache waiting to happen 😬

I’d love to make something I can have “on theme” but also care more about these kids eating something decent! Please let me know what you’re doing or if you have fun ideas!

My dresser leaves our clothes with a weird smell. I’ve changed laundry detergents, used baking soda, and put vinegar in as fabric softener. Nothing works. We’re considering putting this dresser in my daughter’s room for her clothes and to use as a changing table, but I’m not going to do that until I figure out this dresser smell. Any ideas on how to clean the dresser and get the smell out of our clothes before moving this over? We’re a very low-tox household, so the cleaner the ingredients the better.

This is our first year kiddo is at preschool. A couple staff members at the very small school tested positive for the flu on Friday (including her teacher) - should I play it safe and not send kiddo in tomorrow (she has no symptoms, just don’t want her to be exposed) or is that dramatic?

Thank you!!

I bought a new dishwasher. It’s too late to return it. Often 1-2 dishes don’t come out clean. I’ve been using Cascade liquid detergent. I contacted the manufacturer and they said the only way to get the dishes clean is to either use a pod or to use the high heat setting. Don’t both of those result in microplastics being shed in my dishwasher? I don’t use many plastics anyway besides for toddler cups and lids for glass containers. Am I overthinking this? Is it okay to try the pod or high heat? Just would hate to cause more microplastics being shed than necessary. But I also hate seeing dishes not coming out fully clean. Thanks.