Best products from r/workingmoms

I used a Merlin Magic Suit for the transition from swaddle to sleep sack. It helped a lot for us, but I know for other babies it did nothing. That was also around the time when we decided to sleep train. working and getting up 4-5x a night was manageable at first, but as my lack of sleep built up I could feel myself becoming unstable and an emotional mess. I've had a lot of success with Precious Little Sleep and my sisters have with their babies as well. We all BF as well. Good luck!!! In the meantime, lots of coffee <3

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Editing to add: Since it may be awesome and it may be a crapshoot, I would recommend getting a second hand Merlin suit. I wouldn't have paid full price. I borrowed one for my first then bought one second hand which is now hanging out in the closet for whenever I have another.

My husband and I love cooking, so YMMV, but we do a lot of freezer prep. I bulk cook, then freeze in Souper Cubes (freezer trays with one-cup portions) and pull out to make different meals. I keep a list on the fridge of what we have in the freezer so nothing is forgotten! For example, bolognese is great with pasta, zoodles, or in stuffed bell peppers, pulled pork makes a great sandwich if you make a side of slaw, curries just need some fresh rice and herbs, chilies get topped with some avocado and chives, and soups are wonderful with a green salad.

Almost any time I cook, I freeze a few portions for leftovers and we eat from the freezer often! I also use the Instant Pot and Slow Cooker a lot. I bought a few Slow Cooker cookbooks recently and have been building my repertoire of quick-prep meals. Again, extra get frozen!

The Merlin Magic Suit is great, but can be a little tricky once they start rolling over. I've heard that the Zipadee Zip can be a good alternative if they are able to roll over? For whatever reason, both of my kids loved these once they transitioned from a swaddle: https://www.amazon.com/Taggies-Character-Blanket-Harley-Raccoon/dp/B07889GHNW?ref_=ast_bbp_dp I guess something about rubbing the tags helped to soothe them to sleep? Anyways, both might be worth a shot. Good luck to you!

My husband and I went to daycare on our daughter’s birthday to sing a song at snack time. I remember feeling like it was totally silly, but the teachers were genuinely excited to celebrate and it was very sweet. I think it’s totally unnecessary to give anything to the class, but if you decide you want to, here are some ideas —

Someone at our daycare gave out these teething rings as a “party favor.”

Someone else gifted everyone little rubber ducks with a note that said, “I’m a lucky duck that you celebrated my birthday.”

This pump bag has been super duper helpful for me. I keep my spectra pump and all parts (gallon sized ziplock for the pieces I have to wash) along with pump wipes for when I can’t keep my pump parts in a fridge, a mini cooler bag with ice packs, breast milk bags, a sharpie, a pumping bra, some hand sanitizer, a hand towel, and a phone charger. It also fits a laptop but I pump in my office unless Im working offsite. It looks enough like any other work bag and it contains everything I need! Good luck mama

This might seem like an odd suggestion because it is technically a knitting bag, but the Harlow by Namaste Bags may fit the bill. It has a ton of pocket and it is just really well made and sturdy. It also looks super professional. I got it for my knitting projects in the espresso brown color, but ended up using it a lot for work travel. It might be a little more pricey than you are looking for ($97). Unfortunately Namaste's site is down, but it can be purchased from here: http://www.fabulousyarn.com/namaste_harlow_espressobwn.shtml. This Amazon page doesn't have it for purchase but does have great pictures of all the pockets: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B008ZFWZWS/appzwp-20.

There are great tips here! Here's what I found helpful, and some feedback on what you've got so far:

1. For my second baby, I splurged and got a pump / lunch bag. It REALLY helps to have everything consolidated and is one less bag to carry. This is the one I bought, I like it so far - https://www.amazon.com/Insulated-Momcozy-Multi-Function-Breastmilk-Comotomo/dp/B07VC2ZJ17/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=milk+pump+and+lunch+bag&qid=1573158530&sr=8-1. In all transparency, the lunch box on top is kind of small for me, I need more calories than what the bag can hold. I tend to use the top for snacks and breakfast and put a frozen lunch in my big bag.
   
2. Big bag for purse, lunch, laptop -- I just use my old LL Bean backpack.
   
3. I don't use a diaper bag every day but bring miscellaneous daycare items as needed.
   
4. Redundancy, redundancy, redundancy -- keep an extra set of pump parts at work in case you forget anything. On my second baby I got a second pump through my insurance. It REALLY helps to have a second pump if you can afford it. Second work laptop if your company can afford to get you one so that you can work at home. Second toothbrush to keep at your desk, plus extra make-up if you wear make-up. You get the idea...
   
5. Instead of rinsing the pump parts after pumping, just store them in a freezer bag to kill the germs. Way faster and saves company time when you pump. Rinse and wash at home or at the end of the day.
   
6. Along the lines of redundancy, keep like 10-15 extra milk storage freezer bags at work. You WILL forget bottles and it helps to have a few bags around in case you need more milk storage or if you forget your bottles.
   
   Some documents and resources from my LC:
   
   Work and pump - http://www.workandpump.com/
   Breastfeeding storage guidelines - https://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/milkstorage/milkstorage
   
   Good luck with your return to work!!

Try this! I spent $100 and bought every bottle on the market. I went back to part time work at 3.5 months and we tried everything the month leading up to me going back to work. EVERYTHING. She would only breastfeed. I called my lactation consultant so upset after my first two weeks back (my baby drank nothing for 8-9 straight hours 😭). She suggested the nuk sippy cup. It worked perfectly. She knew exactly what to do. I came to the conclusion that the bottles, even slow flow, probably released milk too fast. She’s a great breastfeeder and I think she liked to be able to suck the nuk strongly and control the flow. Good luck!

Edit: this one saved our lives - nuk trainer sippy

I can't find it in my orders (I might have ordered from my husband's account), but I think it's this: https://smile.amazon.com/Eco-Aforcli-Reusable-Leakproof-Vegetables-Dishwasher/dp/B07B9KTWG4/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=gallon+reusable+ziploc+bag&qid=1557717436&s=gateway&sr=8-6#HLCXComparisonWidget_feature_div

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If you end up getting something like that, I recommend putting a plate inside of it in the dishwasher so that it doesn't fall over and not get cleaned on the inside.

If you're still figuring out milk storage, I had a lot of luck with these: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B015NMLF3U/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

I stored them in quart size baggies, which fit about 13-14 depending on how they got dumped in, so I could give 1 bag and whoever was taking care of my baby would be able to thaw an ounce at a time so less milk was wasted.

As someone who has her PMP and took the test before I was even pregnant...I postponed it 4 times due to various other things in my life (infertility diagnosis and planning for ivf and work was crazy). It's not worth taking if you aren't feeling confident, and totally understandable given everything you have on your plate. Don't read into too much what you read online I spent a month actively preparing (like an hr a day) for the test and took 3 days off work to study before, but the people who say you need to study 4 hrs a day for 2 months are crazy. I highly recommend this study guide ( https://www.amazon.com/Exam-Success-Sheet-Reed-Integration/dp/B0039ZGSKY/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_3/141-2337439-4374814?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0039ZGSKY&pd_rd_r=7bb43945-3984-48f9-ac5a-d60351cd6089&pd_rd_w=35FY4&pd_rd_wg=qC981&pf_rd_p=09627863-9889-4290-b90a-5e9f86682449&pf_rd_r=5AEZQGXQC0FKTZPJW95X&psc=1&refRID=5AEZQGXQC0FKTZPJW95X ). I made flashcards using this and the test was pretty easy and I passed with most areas above target. I literally did as you said and studied for the test, not necessarily worrying about whether I would retain everything after the fact.

Everyone has already given great advice but I'll throw in a plug - we bring pre-made bottles to daycare, and we're using Dr. Brown's (the tall skinny ones). I had a hard time finding a lunch bag that would keep them upright without tipping over and leaking on the drive to school, so I bought this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07M82TGMN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

We only have about a 10 minute drive and they're cold from the fridge already, so I don't worry about ice, but this keeps them upright, is nice and light, and eventually it'll make a good carrying container for a six-pack.

I bought one of these and use it at work all the time. I also brought a wash basin from when we were in the NICU since I also don’t like to use the communal sink. It’s worked out pretty great.

Maybe try spoon feeding? It’s nowhere near a nipple shape, but it’ll get food in his belly. There are ones where you can load them up with purées and squeeze out a bit at a time. The one I had is a super deep spoon, so it’d hold liquids fairly well.

Fingers crossed for you!!

ETA: Baby Mate Silicone Baby Food Dispensing Spoon Feeder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078PJWM4K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_qZgtDb63MKY5R

I have this one that I just put on over my nursing bra. LO is 10 months almost and it's served me very well. I did have to buy a second one cause with 4 pumps a day and usually 1 pump even on days off it got a lot of heavy use and a little stretched out.

I make calls, chart (I'm a pediatrician), eat snacks, drink water. Sometimes you'll still need to do a little hand massaging to get the max out but it works great.

First kid I took enough for new pump sets each time bc I was so worried about everything. It was a LOT of washing. Second kid, I found Medela has pump steamer bags if you have access to a microwave. I felt comfortable doing a hot water soap rinse of the parts and then the steamer bag. I then would just let them air dry on the counter on a paper towel and wipe them if need be for next use. I used medela little black square holder for bottles or bags in the fridge and had their ice pack to put in there for the ride home. Backpack had insulated spot for the black holder. At the end of the day, I’d take it home and do the whole thorough soak, scrub real sterilizer and rack dry. I pumped every 2 hours for about 6-7 months and managed to stockpile enough milk to stop pumping completely around 9 months; still made it to a year w breastmilk. And I second the 8 hour at room temp thing!!
I also had a really handy pumping backpack I got from amazon that I could store my pump directly in and fit everything I needed as sometimes I needed to relocate my pumping space-good luck, you’ve got this! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078XQ2HZB?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I used this LactaMed Simplicity Hands Free Bra Kit - Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JAO6TT8/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_i_izG1Db60J5434
I wore a nursing bra and used this. I never wore a pumping bra. It worked everywhere and it’s small and easy to transport

Dude! We did the scraping poop thing for a few months before we discovered the magic of diaper liners. We just pack one inside of each diaper we send and it's so much easier for them to dump out. Yea it's an extra cost which goes against one of the best things about cloth diapering (the savings) but they are pretty cheap and last a long time before you run out. Also, not telling you what to do, but if you and baby aren't ready, you can wait to try solids til closer to 6 months and start with puréed foods or baby oatmeal. Here are the liners we use now after trying a couple different brands. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B010OQ1RC4/ref=mp_s_a_1_8_a_it?qid=1458097868&sr=8-8&keywords=diaper+liners

I feel this mama. People always comment about home many bags I carry into work everyday -- purse, computer bag, lunch bag and pump bag. My pump bag is actually a big diaper bag that can fit all my pumping supplies; spectra pump, hands free pump bra, supplies and spectra insulated cooler cooler with small ice pack. My kids have cubbies at daycare so all we have to take each day is bottles. See if you can do something similar. If possible, I will put my lunch bag in my work bag, and I sometimes just put my wallet in my work bag and leave my purse (hidden) in my car.

Check out the book It's Not About the Broccoli she has some really helpful hints about getting kids to eat foods. You might also like @Kids.Eat.In.Color on Instagram. Both talk about healthy ways to get kids to eat at meal times (and eat more healthy foods). We've done a lot of things over the years.

I bought some tiny cookie cutters and sometimes cut fruits/vegetables into fun shapes. If we are having dessert, I put it on the plate with dinner. I don't nag about eating anything--they don't have to eat what's on their plate, but there isn't anything else, they can pick out what they don't like. We have a set dinner time every day (within a 90 min window) and dinner happens during that time and if they don't eat, that's it.

For throwing food, we started young that if they throw the food on the ground, we took the plate away and told them NO very firmly and said "If we throw our food, it goes away." After a bit, we'd put the plate back. If they did it again, same thing. If it happened 3 times, dinner was over. They got the idea pretty quickly. Might not help with actually eating, but it might keep the food on the plate.

I wear a nursing bra that unclips and then use this thing. I put it on over my clothes and just pull my shirt up. Works great.

I use this one u/yourenomatch

Simple Wishes Signature Hands Free Pumping Bra, Patented, Pink, XS-Large https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00295MQLU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_8pUZCbEX0NM4Z

I use this. I fold my nursing bra to where the boobie pads (I use disposable ones) are facing up to catch any errant drops of liquid gold. Perks of using that nifty tool: it doesn’t really require laundering.

Simple wishes double pump bra
Simple Wishes Hands-Free Breastpump Bra, Pink, X-Small-Large https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00295MQLU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_rWD5ybC0YKSMS