(Part 2) Top 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Hey, I’m going back to work next week. I recently read Work. Pump. Repeat. and it’s helped ease my anxiety about how pumping at work is going to go. She gives you lots of tips and includes checklists. Highly recommend it for anybody who’s got questions about pumping at work.

https://www.amazon.com/Kenneth-Cole-Reaction-Wheeled-Business/dp/B00Z708HK8?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_4

That's not the one I have , I bought mine from Winners in Canada for $30. But I think if you google "wheeled tote bag" you will find some options.

Toddler alarm clock! This is the one we got: https://www.amazon.com/OK-Wake-Alarm-Clock-Night-Light/dp/B00EAHSBV4/ref=sr_1_1

It glows green when they're allowed to get up. My daughter was waking up earlier and earlier, so we bought this for her. After a few days she learned that she couldn't get up until it was green and it was glorious.

Hmmmm this is a great question!
My kids aren't the best eaters, so I may not be the best for you.

I do have this little cookbook, and it has some great ideas: https://www.amazon.com/Real-Baby-Food-All-Natural-Recipes/dp/0544464958/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=baby+food+cookbook&qid=1559310003&s=gateway&sr=8-7

Send three backup clothes. Send the sleepsack. Our daycare specifically prohibits bringing toys unless they ask, so I would check.

Label everything: we use these for clothes and these for bottles/sippies. If she takes a pacifier, put it on a tether with her name on it (you can use the same labels as the clothes, or else get the rub-a-dub sharpie).

This is my work bag. Fits so much! YALUXE Women's Oxford Nylon Large... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MY9TVKS?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share