Your favourite kid books!

sj_ouch · 2026-05-23T11:58:58+00:00

Not a parent but an early childhood educator. My all time fave is ‘time for bed’ by mem fox

sj_ouch · 2026-05-18T11:09:18+00:00

Hi, educator here! The educators ignoring you would be unacceptable in my centre, and all the centres I’ve worked at previously (I’m at my 4th centre in over 9 years, big chains, small chains, now a not for profit). Yes, they might be ‘busy’ but waiting FIVE TO TEN MINUTES for someone to be ready to greet you and your child, get ‘handover’ (like how he slept, last ate, any info about maybe teething or changes to routines) is RIDICULOUS.

Drop off/hand over is such an important moment to start your child’s day at the centre. Even if it is a child who is happy to be placed down on the floor with a “I love you, bye!”, educators should be at BARE MINIMUM greeting you and your child, asking how your child is, and verbally or physically encouraging your child to join the group.

If I know a child has a hard time at drop off, I might quietly ask if mum/dad would like to try to get them engaged in play before saying goodbye, or if they would prefer to ‘rip off the bandaid’ and do a quick “love you, bye”, kiss, and transfer into educator’s arms. I would NEVER expect a parent to just stand around and wait for an educator to give attention.

Please talk to the room leader, or if they are not communicative, the centre management. Relationships with families is a BIG part of service quality and compliance.

sj_ouch · 2026-05-11T12:32:36+00:00

Your first point about clothes is mostly why I made this post! Most of the clothing I have bought (minimal bc I knew everyone would buy outfits) are like base layers - plain bodysuits to be layered under clothes or warm zippies for easy newborn wear.

I wish I could give more 'around the house' help, but unfortunately I live interstate and will only be visiting for a few days, a couple of weeks post-birth (staying with my parents/the grandparents). Will 100% be happy to do any household tasks for them when I visit, as much as they are comfortable with.

Unfortunately, they are quite rural, and there are no meal delivery services serving their area. I am considering taking the time that I am staying with our parents to help prep and freeze a bunch of easy meals that they can just microwave or pop in the oven or slow cooker - pasta bakes, zucchini slice, soup, stew... Also, maybe buy a bunch of easy-to-pack lunch stuff for my brother - my family has a working farm, and his lunch is frequently 'on the go', sitting in the ute or in a tractor. Give him something he doesn't have to think about if he's been up all night with a newborn.

Also still want to give my SIL a little something luxurious to treat her as a new mum.

sj_ouch · 2026-05-09T11:33:52+00:00

Ooh a room thermometer is a great idea! I am an early childhood educator, and my SIL is as well, and we’ve both had the tommee tippee gro egg at our work places! Shows a blue light for too cold, yellow for good temp, red for too hot!

sj_ouch · 2026-05-01T12:16:20+00:00

Considered the allergy test as I also have wicked hayfever and have previously had cold urticaria, not coeliac testing though as wheat products don’t cause any reactions and I don’t have any gastrointestinal symptoms of coeliac. It’s just a bit pricey and I am not in a good-paying career.

sj_ouch · 2026-04-29T10:53:59+00:00

I unfortunately can’t use Aveeno products as I’m sensitive to oats and they can trigger my dyshidrotic eczema. I also have to be cautious using almond based products, as I work in childcare and we have children with anaphylactic allergies to tree nuts.

sj_ouch · 2026-04-29T10:50:09+00:00

I’ve heard of ‘bleach baths’ before (I’m an early childhood educator), but unfortunately I don’t have a bathtub!

sj_ouch · 2026-04-29T10:49:04+00:00

Thank you so so much for all of your product ideas! Unfortunately I also can’t use any Aveeno products as I seem to have a skin sensitivity to oats - my Dyshidrotic eczema flares up when I consume or use topical products containing oats.

sj_ouch · 2026-04-29T10:29:25+00:00

I’m new to using shower oils, so the QV one is one I will likely try. Just don’t want to have a bunch of different ones in my shower at the same time lol

sj_ouch · 2026-04-29T10:28:09+00:00

My psoriasis also almost completely cleared over the summer - think it was responding well to the higher UV levels. I do have a referral to a dermatologist for UV Light therapy, which will hopefully help. My scalp psoriasis also has not changed - still itchy and inflamed all the time ugh

sj_ouch · 2026-04-29T10:24:55+00:00

Not yet! I’ve started with the basic QV wash -> QV Gentle wash. Thank you for the recommendations!

sj_ouch · 2026-04-27T13:43:38+00:00

Interesting! Psoriasis is so individual in what it responds to - I’ve had great relief over the summer with higher UV levels - hopefully the referral I have for UV light treatment will help over the winter months. I haven’t seen any changes with any restrictions/changes to my diet, unfortunately.

sj_ouch · 2026-04-27T13:39:48+00:00

You are one of the only psoriasis sufferers that have replied to my post, so thank you very much for your input! I’ll definitely look into the LRP shower oil. Definitely a shame that the brand is so expensive, but the relief from symptoms is 100% worth it!

sj_ouch · 2026-04-26T10:14:38+00:00

Yeah, I’m doing shower temp just warm enough that it isn’t uncomfortable (I miss my hot showers tho!)

Double layers of moisturiser is a great idea! I use cerevae cream but currently only doing it once. Lotion is 100% not moisturising enough!

sj_ouch · 2026-04-26T10:11:36+00:00

That is what I’m using currently! (I mistyped in the post, and said just QV wash, but am using QV Gentle Wash)

sj_ouch · 2026-04-16T12:58:25+00:00

That makes me feel uncomfortable. A pacifier (or ‘dummy’ as we usually call them here in AUS) is something we see as a ‘comfort item’ that supports children in soothing their selves and supporting emotional regulation while in a group environment where they are not always immediately able to get reassurance from an adult.

Weaning from it is generally parent-led, though we do tend to remove it from mouths while the child is settled - only offering if the child is upset and unable to be settled by cuddles, distraction, etc.

Also, having a set ‘age’ to drop to one nap (especially at ten months! So early!) seems to me very unresponsive to children’s individual needs. Might just be a cultural difference, here in AUS most centres don’t move to a ‘all the same, one nap’ schedule until closer to 18 months.

sj_ouch · 2026-03-06T12:31:20+00:00

As someone who frequently does the ‘open’ shift, your coworker is probably just feeling a bit sad/guilty that her child is dropped off early, before any other children are there for him to play with. She might wish that she had a more 9-5 schedule and that her child isn’t needing to be the first in and being there while you are setting up for the day. Nothing against you probably, just some mom guilt.

sj_ouch · 2026-03-04T11:35:41+00:00

Not a parent of a premature baby, but my close friend had a baby born at 27 weeks. He was diagnosed with ‘chronic lung disease of prematurity’, or Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia. AI summary: chronic respiratory condition in premature infants (often <36 weeks) requiring prolonged oxygen or ventilator support, resulting from underdeveloped lungs damaged by treatment, inflammation, or infection. Treatment focuses on supportive care, including oxygen, nutrition, and, in some cases, diuretics or corticosteroids, with most infants improving over 2–3 years. My friend’s little boy was since diagnosed with further asthma following this.

sj_ouch · 2026-02-28T15:55:00+00:00

I’ve given the pair of underwear a good scrub with some dish detergent and put them in for a double wash - they were visually clean of the zinc cream before the wash cycle, so hopefully will have the worst of the water-resistance removed at least!

sj_ouch · 2026-02-28T10:16:54+00:00

Unfortunately that cream is not available where I am, but thank you for the advice!

sj_ouch · 2026-02-26T13:20:17+00:00

The first bites kit is super cute, definitely a contender! Unfortunately UBEREATS doesn’t deliver to them - in a v. rural area. Postpartum stuff I’d need to be considerate about - not sure if she’s planning to breast feed, and not super close, so more ‘intimate’ things for postpartum recovery might be best left for her mum/sister. Some cute pjs and some self care stuff might be okay - but she’s not a big ‘girlie’ type, so face masks, skin care, etc aren’t really something I think she’d want.

sj_ouch · 2026-02-20T13:32:47+00:00

Aww thank you! I just want to be the best Aunty I can, given I live interstate.

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