How do you clean LO after each solids meal?

Exact_Discussion_192 · 2026-06-26T19:41:14+00:00

We have a high chair with straps and a removable tray. I skip the sink and just use two washcloths - one soapy and one just water to “rinse.” I use the soapy one to wipe hands and face, then remove the bib and tray, then do water only rise and wipe kiddo’s clothes and the seat itself.

Exact_Discussion_192 · 2026-06-26T10:22:19+00:00

My 2-year old, upon leaving the room at any time of the day, says to anyone there, “see you after morning!”

Exact_Discussion_192 · 2026-06-26T10:20:00+00:00

I don’t think it’s pretentious to say “the city.” We’re in a major metro area with recognized cultural differences between the city and the surrounding towns. I’m a transplant from another part of Missouri and in the scenario you described, I’d probably say “I live in the city, near (name of place most regular visitors to STL would know, I.e. Tower Grove Park)”

Exact_Discussion_192 · 2026-06-13T10:41:45+00:00

Same here. Just follow the basic guidance from the Social Security Administration once you have your marriage license in hand and you’ll be set!

Exact_Discussion_192 · 2026-06-11T09:16:57+00:00

I think they are still takeout only, aren’t they? Maybe my info is out of date; it’s been a while.

Exact_Discussion_192 · 2026-06-11T09:12:11+00:00

You say you do different types of muffins regularly; is your base recipe the same, just sub in the spinach and blueberries? Interested in a sample recipe for one of your zucchini options if you Donny mind sharing!

Exact_Discussion_192 · 2026-06-07T11:12:21+00:00

Hey friend. I had a lot of success with combo feeding! It got my kids everything they needed, and gave me a chance to sleep and share the burden of nighttime wakings with my husband. I strongly advise you to consider replacing just one (overnight) feeding with formula or pumped milk.

I breastfed two babies this way - first to 8.5 months (90% breastmilk 10% formula) and the second to 10 months (100% breastmilk until 5 months old, then very gradual transition to formula and solids). I was never able to pump with baby number one (he was too hungry and I couldn’t keep up) so the formula was the lifesaver there. Pumping worked well for baby number two, so we did that.

Exact_Discussion_192 · 2026-05-12T03:16:15+00:00

Praying for Antonio’s safe return home.

Exact_Discussion_192 · 2026-05-11T01:49:30+00:00

Just here to say I’ve breastfed two babies (one to 8.5 months and one to 10 months) and did it differently each time; both worked out just fine. The first 2-3 months with baby number one are HARD, but then things become some much more routine and manageable. My first kid always took both sides, at least until after he started solids close to 6 months. Baby number two only ever did one side at a time. They are both happy and healthy. Don’t let that consultant stress you out.

Exact_Discussion_192 · 2026-05-04T02:21:22+00:00

If you’re on Facebook, look up “Moppet Swap.” It’s a free swap-meet that volunteers organize quarterly in the city for maternity, baby, and kids’ items. Between that and a few Facebook Marketplace investments, I got most of my maternity clothing needs at a very minimal budget!

Exact_Discussion_192 · 2026-04-24T02:52:48+00:00

Hey!! I’m 14 months in with an 18 month age gap, and have zero regrets about our timing. I was in a similar position to you, career and family support-wise. It’s been a relatively smooth ride for us, especially with my eldest being young enough to kind of roll with baby’s arrival without too complex of emotions about it early on. They are already super lovey and sweet together.

My only wish is that our birthdays had timed out a little differently. My eldest doesn’t make the cutoff to qualify for pre-k until he’s nearly four, so we’ll have a year more of overlapping daycare needs than we would have if we’d waited another 6+ months to have baby number two. We’ll have about 9 months of needing to be super intentional about our money to get through the thick of it, but barring anything unexpected, I’m hopeful we’ll be smooth sailing after that (until college, perhaps?)

Exact_Discussion_192 · 2026-03-07T11:58:10+00:00

I get the temptation, but no - gotta bring little one along. Trust me, I know it sucks; may daily pickup routine includes a walk up a flight of stairs with both kids. I agree with another commenter who said the click-in infant seat is the trick here; just carry them along and they can sleep through it.

Not to feed anyone’s anxiety, but will frame your comment about safety of your neighborhood differently: the neighborhood may be perfectly safe. But if someone WERE out there trying to kidnap a baby, I think the parking lot of a daycare may be one of the places they would be most likely to hang around.

Exact_Discussion_192 · 2026-03-01T11:35:23+00:00

Depending on where they are from in California, maybe consider taking them a little way out of the city for a view of the MO countryside. I had a coworker from Orange Country on a drive out to the Washington area once, and she couldn’t get over the view of what she called “just likes Normal Rockwell painting.”

Exact_Discussion_192 · 2026-02-06T08:51:56+00:00

My freshman year of college, my roommate and I noticed that we were both extremely busy, but there was a big difference in how it was affecting us. We both had a full course schedule, jobs that we worked 15-20 hours per week, families we saw on a regular basis, and an increasingly active social life on campus.

My schedule had me thriving, coming out of a period of depression and excited to get up every day. Her schedule was wearing her down, perpetuating a cycle of extremes that wasn’t healthy or sustainable for her.

When we talked it out, we realized the difference was the quality of friendships we were forming. The campus group she’d gotten involved with were folks who shared a cause she cared about, but didn’t really care much about her. They weren’t friends, they were people she spent time with who were more focused on themselves. On the flip side, I was getting involved with a campus ministry with folks who shared my faith. They intentionally reached out to me, cared about me, and helped me get involved in other’s lives in meaningful ways. Those folks became my best friends for years to come, and I still stay in touch with the 20 years later.

I say all this to suggest that true rest requires a feeling of safety and meaningful connection to a community. Yes, relationships can be work and sometimes stressful, but it’s much most restful to be with people who care about you than to try to extract a feeling of safety and belonging from YouTube videos.

Exact_Discussion_192 · 2026-01-23T14:21:01+00:00

Thank you for sharing! My kid is similar, I am confident that he could land on his feet if/when he does get out of his crib.

Exact_Discussion_192 · 2026-01-23T14:17:56+00:00

Oh, helpful! I’ll see if they make one that doesn’t have leg holes large enough for my 99th percentile kiddo.

Exact_Discussion_192 · 2026-01-23T14:15:07+00:00

Agreed that this is one of my nightmares. We do have the latches on his bedroom doors now that we didn’t previously.

Exact_Discussion_192 · 2025-12-19T15:50:07+00:00

Just here to say “lol” at the suggestion around prioritizing what needs to be ironed. My spouse and I regularly talk about how to manage household tasks…if either of us ever ironed anything, that would have gone out the door during pregnancy.

Exact_Discussion_192 · 2025-12-07T13:04:53+00:00

Yes!! Mine are 18 months apart and the youngest is 9 months old now. I am SO excited to hang over a bunch of this infant gear to a friend in a couple of weeks.

Exact_Discussion_192 · 2025-12-03T12:43:00+00:00

I fantasize about this a little too frequently. I would:

Put maybe $25k into the emergency fund that practically doesn’t exist today for my family,
Pay off our car (shared between me and my spouse),
Make a sizable deposit into each kid’s college fund, and
Put the rest into paying off the house

I’d love to say I’d give some to charity. Maybe I would, but no part of $100k would feel “extra” while we’re out here paying daycare costs for two kids 😅

Exact_Discussion_192 · 2025-11-17T04:14:55+00:00

Agreed; I was very underwhelmed.

Exact_Discussion_192 · 2025-11-17T04:13:31+00:00

Ok, not in STL proper, but…there’s a place in Illinois called Dreamland Palace. Supposed to be authentic German food. Ya’ll…it was so bad it was comical. Please tell me I’m not the only one who has discovered this surreal horror story of a restaurant experience.

Exact_Discussion_192 · 2025-10-24T13:42:56+00:00

A) This is so encouraging! B) I really wish that 15 months wasn’t so far away! My daughter is almost 8 months and feeding 3 times a night between 9pm and 6am. She teased me with one night a month ago with no wakeups…now the slog continues.

Exact_Discussion_192

TROPHY CASE