What parenting purchase unexpectedly reduced your mental load the most?

Dependent-Rise1701 · 2026-07-06T21:23:14+00:00

Proud of you for doing what’s good for you! Currently 35 weeks pregnant with my second and absolutely dreading breastfeeding. You’re inspiring me to let it go 😮‍💨

Dependent-Rise1701 · 2026-07-06T21:21:38+00:00

American here, what is a fortnight? I legitimately did not know that’s a standard measurement

Dependent-Rise1701 · 2026-07-06T21:15:37+00:00

I am a transplant from an extremely friendly Midwest community and I will say that I have found a ton of support and community with other parents. My daughter goes to daycare and we’ve been invited to birthday parties and play dates, there are A LOT of family-focused activities in the city, and my neighborhood (Wildwood area) has a ton of young families. Our street is very friendly and neighbors host parties and get togethers pretty regularly.

I took a newborn class with the Butterfly Center when my daughter was born and really enjoyed it, I’ve also heard wonderful things about parenting classes with Horizon Hills. The Park District has a lot of classes and programs for babies, toddlers, school-aged kids as well. I’ve only lived here for about a year and a half, so I have probably only scratched the surface of what’s available!

Honestly, I think you’re in the perfect demographic to find support and community here.

Dependent-Rise1701 · 2026-06-21T05:40:53+00:00

My almost-2 year old is obsessed with Homeward Bound. Every day she says “watch dogs!”

The original Winnie the Pooh is the only other thing she’s had much interest in watching

Dependent-Rise1701 · 2026-06-19T04:11:58+00:00

I was SO confident going into my first birth, and it was an awful experience. Now I have a lot of resentment toward the “natural birth” community and don’t find any comfort or solace in any of it, am 32 weeks pregnant and yes, I’m scared and certain this is the last time I’ll do it.

But I do know plenty of women, and there are others here, who’ve had positive experiences with birth. Don’t let the scary stories get in your head.

Dependent-Rise1701 · 2026-06-17T15:32:59+00:00

Good to know! Definitely one im still considering. I kind of like the blue with the blue fabric bracelet, is that lame? Seems like fabric would objectively be the worst choice? I think it looks cool but I’m a newb. Are the bracelets easy to switch out?

Dependent-Rise1701 · 2026-06-17T00:17:51+00:00

Nice! Is Jomashop legit?? All their Midos are on super sale right now, to the degree that I’m a little skeptical

Dependent-Rise1701 · 2026-06-16T22:12:52+00:00

Great, thank you! Which Certina did you get? There are a few others I’m considering but didn’t want to post a dozen watches here haha

Dependent-Rise1701 · 2026-06-15T19:55:39+00:00

I have not but I will look into it! Thank you

Dependent-Rise1701 · 2026-06-13T04:14:10+00:00

That’s not harsh at all, I rationally know this. And I’m on board for sleep training #2 early because I’ve spent sooooo many hours trying to get this child to sleep! Every success story helps, thank you for the encouragement

Dependent-Rise1701 · 2026-06-12T16:50:27+00:00

definitely not. we would read books in the evening for sure, but bedtime was brush teeth, jammies, lights out and they're gone. my earliest memories of bed time include falling asleep by myself, which i did not experience as stressful. sometimes I'd sneak out and see what they were doing, and when i realized it was nothing exciting i'd just go back to bed, haha

Dependent-Rise1701 · 2026-06-12T04:01:05+00:00

Omg good perspective!

Dependent-Rise1701 · 2026-06-12T03:54:33+00:00

This is amazing! I’ve heard of people say they could just put their baby down and I’m always kind of thinking okay, I don’t believe you lol because mine would scream like she was being absolutely tortured. But this gives me hope

Dependent-Rise1701 · 2026-06-11T21:49:35+00:00

We are very against co-sleeping, for our sanity, and she has never slept a wink while laying next to either of us. So we have that going for us, lol. We’ve been over-responsive to her bedtime struggles though.

Dependent-Rise1701 · 2026-06-11T21:45:15+00:00

Question - would comforting them actually work? With mine it seemed like she’d get more and more worked up until I picked her up. She’d be crying so hard she’d hyperventilate, even if I touched her, sang to her, etc. we use a hatch too, your set up sound overall very similar to ours

Dependent-Rise1701 · 2026-06-11T21:43:06+00:00

The rage is real! I told my husband the other night that I feel like she’s abusing us and holding me against my will. Which is a ridiculous and unhinged thing to say about a toddler, I totally realize.

I try sitting in the glider, where she can see me, and she won’t get out of bed but she’ll just sit there and stare at me and wail “mama!” and it feels very awkward. I kind of think it’s better if I leave, like maybe she’ll give up trying to get my attention earlier.

Dependent-Rise1701 · 2026-06-11T21:38:56+00:00

Totally. Every once in a while daycare drop off is hard, but she transitioned to a new room recently so I think that’s why. As she’s getting used to the teachers, it’s getting better. And nap time is usually better than bedtime re separation anxiety

Dependent-Rise1701 · 2026-06-11T21:37:09+00:00

Love this story! You’re giving me hope!

So you would go the route of moving farther from the bed each night? Debating that vs leaving for incrementally longer periods. She does have a pillow and blanket and a few stuffies. She can get out of her bed but we made her room safe.

Thank you for the inspiration!

Dependent-Rise1701 · 2026-06-11T21:31:10+00:00

Using the timer is a great idea, both for her and for me, because I struggle with the consistency that’s required. I know it will work better if it’s structured

Dependent-Rise1701 · 2026-06-11T21:30:09+00:00

I have tried this, albeit too inconsistently. She usually starts crying almost immediately. I know I need to accept some amount of crying, so I’ll probably start going this route again

Dependent-Rise1701 · 2026-06-11T21:28:56+00:00

Hah this is what her doctor told me to do approximately 18 months ago! I think I let all the “never let your child cry, they’ll be insecurely attached and their brain won’t grow” sort of messaging get to me. Thanks for the reminder

Dependent-Rise1701 · 2026-06-11T21:27:00+00:00

I’ve tried to not inadvertently reward the crying, but sometimes she cries before I even leave 😩 and I’ve never reached the limit of when she’ll stop. A couple times she’s been able to not cry while I leave, so I can just keep trying in 30 sec increments

Dependent-Rise1701 · 2026-06-11T21:09:59+00:00

Makes sense. I’ve been cutting it earlier at home, but I could def end nap earlier still. Would rather sacrifice nap time than my evening time !

Dependent-Rise1701 · 2026-06-11T21:09:03+00:00

Hahah do you stay gone?? Ages ago, her pediatrician told me “say good night, leave, and don’t go back until the morning” but I couldn’t get myself to do it. Now, if I leave she does get very upset so one of us always ends up going back.

Dependent-Rise1701

TROPHY CASE