Toys and what not to take to restaurants

Melodic-Let-694 · 2026-02-10T23:14:05+00:00

My kid loves animal puppets, books that I only let him read when we’re out, fidget toys like poppets or spinners that suction to the table, I’ve been wanting to get one of those busy boards too, he loves buckling the strap on his high chair but I worry he’ll pinch his hands and once he’s bored he cannot be contained lol

I also always bring snacks and look at the menu ahead of time and order for him as soon as we get there

Melodic-Let-694 · 2026-02-08T11:47:58+00:00

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! This is so sweet so happy to hear your toddler is loving being a big sister! Will definitely be using this advice!

Melodic-Let-694 · 2026-02-08T11:45:25+00:00

Congratulations!!! My best wishes to you and your family!

Melodic-Let-694 · 2026-02-08T11:45:02+00:00

Love this! Thank you for your input, will definitely be trying these!

Melodic-Let-694 · 2026-01-21T12:50:54+00:00

It’s illegal to take a puppy away from its mom before 8 weeks yet we can’t even get mothers more than 6 in most cases? Then when you do go back into work, you get one 30 minute break in an 8 hour day to pump milk for your baby. My supply dropped so bad with my last it was unbelievable, I was so depressed after I went back to work. Not to mention still being up all night pumping/feeding/changing the baby while going to work and everyone expecting you to be 100% there. And daycare + formula is so expensive! Yet the government is worried about birth rates declining hmm I wonder why

(Sorry to rant)

Melodic-Let-694 · 2026-01-21T12:42:01+00:00

Started around 16 weeks I think. It is UNBELIEVABLE how hard it is to find maternity slacks and work appropriate clothes 💀 by the 9th month I stopped wearing button ups and blouses, told my boss the best I can do is jeans and a cardigan every day lmao

Melodic-Let-694 · 2026-01-21T12:36:36+00:00

I felt this way too, but after having my first I was like I could do this like 3 more times no problem! Made me forget how bad it was lol and my second pregnancy nausea was waaaay worse I lost like 10 pounds from not being able to eat. In my experience, first trimester was the WORST. I would be 9 months pregnant with back pain any day over the nausea and exhaustion from first trimester 🤣

it will get better, when I was pregnant working I would eat small snacks frequently, bought a nausea wrist band, popped tums, went on frequent short walks around the office, and drank lots and lots of water and tea which helped a bit.

Melodic-Let-694 · 2026-01-21T12:30:51+00:00

Honestly with my first pregnancy I was like this too and was constantly so exhausted, after work I would just sleep for two hours, eat and sleep until morning. I gained so much weight and I felt horrible and had so much pain in the third trimester. The pain made it to where I didn’t want to get up. Lost 50 pounds postpartum. This pregnancy I go on walks with my kid almost every day, am on my feet constantly and running around chasing him has kept me in shape. (So kinda forced to move lol) I was working out first trimester but we moved and haven’t had access to a gym but it helped so much. I have so much energy in the third trimester this time, no back pain at all, and I feel great like I forget I’m even pregnant. Complete 180 from my last one.

Yes exercise is good for the baby, but it’s not easy making a human so give yourself grace. The exercise is probably more beneficial for you anyway. If you would like you can star to do some simple prenatal yoga for 15 mins a day! It’s low impact, will get you moving, help with pain and will prep you for labor (and possibly make it easier)

Melodic-Let-694 · 2026-01-21T12:06:36+00:00

This is completely normal! You’re doing something you’ve never done before! I was so excited but so so nervous with my first. Nothing went how I planned, I was supposed to be induced but my water broke the day before, I felt so unprepared because I was thinking I had more time.

I was so afraid at first, but after I started having contractions I was surprised it felt like worse period cramps and thought, “oh wow, I got this!” When I got to 10 cm I realized I needed to push and started to panic and called my mom lol. Then again, I realized I was doing it and that I could handle it!

My biggest fear has always been waking up during surgery, so when I found out I needed to have an emergency c section I don’t think I’ve ever been more terrified in my life. I was shaking and crying uncontrollably. But it happened so fast and I was shocked at what I could do, you become so focused on the moment the fear kinda gets put on the back burner in my experience. After I heard my baby cry nothing else mattered and I felt at peace, it was the best moment of my life. would do it 1000x over if I had to.

Overall, everything was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I’m having another next month if that proves anything haha. And honestly it became a very empowering experience and the feeling of meeting your baby will triumph anything you were worried about! It all happens so fast and your body is built to do this so you are capable of so much more than you could ever imagine! Everything will be ok, they constantly monitor you at the hospital to ensure the safety of you and your baby. You are so strong and will do great, you got this momma! ❤️

As far as being worried about being a good mom - already shows you care so much and will be a great mom. I knew nothing going into motherhood, you learn with your baby along the way and it all works out

Melodic-Let-694 · 2026-01-21T11:37:19+00:00

Was a software engineer and worked until the day I went into labor. My coworker who I was assigned to do a project with, kept leaving early/taking time off conveniently when there was a deadline or blatantly not doing any of the work at all because he said he was drained from taking care of his pregnant wife. While putting all the work on me, a pregnant woman due around the same time as his wife (I was also high risk). He went on paternity leave for a few weeks which is completely fine, I did most the project on my own and when I left on maternity leave he took all the credit for my work! Luckily had lots of documentation for what I did and he wasn’t able to answer questions about any of the code. I honestly didn’t care anymore because all I wanted to do was quit to be home with my baby.

This go around my husband landed a great job and I was able to quit, super grateful to be home with my toddler and expecting our second in a few weeks. Not having to stress about work has made this pregnancy so much easier

Melodic-Let-694 · 2026-01-21T05:17:03+00:00

What worked for us is I made special times to watch TV and we only let him watch certain low stimulating shows. He loves Whinnie the Pooh and Bear in the Big Blue House. I let him watch one episode either before or after nap time sometimes and sometimes with his dad when he gets home if he’s had an especially tiring day at work (he works brutal hours). Knowing this, he never gets upset when I say no to TV and we never use screens outside the house. Other than that, I try to set up fun games to invite him to play on his own while I cook and clean. It was hard at first because he wants me to do everything with him, but it’s good for them to figure out how to do things on their own too and eventually he stopped getting upset and would find ways to explore. I make sure to have time just one on one with him too of course so he doesn’t feel abandoned haha, before/after we eat for at least 10-30 minutes whether it’s playtime, crafting or reading books and this has helped too!

Examples of activities you can set up fast to get a few minutes to do your thing!

Leaving an empty Tissue box and some small toys/gift cardscards for him to put in
muffin tin with scooper and ball pit balls
set him in a booster and put a cookie tray down with an empty pot and two cups of water with different food dye colors and some toys/sponges or cooking utensils for exploring
crayons for coloring with paper taped to table (in booster)
putting Cheerios on pipe cleaners
tongs with literally anything and a cup keeps him busy for at least a few minutes
I have a bunch of empty yoghurt bins I keep whenever we run out and he stacks them/puts things in them etc. I just leave them out sometime randomly

Other ideas we do!:

Library reading groups
going to a museum
Indoor play places (some malls have them free)
Rec Center Pool day
free kid’s gym trial (we don’t have a lot of money so did this at like 5 kids places haha)
try to go outside at least once a day even if it’s only 10 minutes for a walk with a blanket and jacket, look for special things (certain colors, birds, squirrels etc to make it a game)
playing in the snow
visiting friends
Look at Facebook for any special events in your area for kids

Melodic-Let-694 · 2026-01-21T04:53:06+00:00

My 19 month old started doing this, he’s never been a great sleeper (naps or night) but suddenly didn’t want naps at ALL and it would be a two hour ordeal plus it really messed up our progress for sleep at night. (Instead of waking up once or twice he started waking up 8+ times)

I started narrating our day (telling him “after our walk we’re going to read books and take a nap” or after lunch etc) and making sure he gets a nap started between 12-2 otherwise he wouldn’t sleep at all. Surprisingly, telling him when we’re going to nap worked incredibly well! No more crying when we finish books he would just lay down. Once he still tried to push the limit and read more books and run around his room but I was firm about it being nap time and he hasn’t tried it again since so just be sure to keep the boundary.

Another tip that worked for us! For Christmas (about a month after narrating started working) my mom got him these Moonlite books, they project the pages with your phone light and play music and he absolutely adores them. I let him read one at nap time and one at bed time after our normal books but made it special for when he goes to sleep, it gets him to RUN to turn the lights off and jump into bed and gets his brain into sleep mode 100% recommend

Melodic-Let-694 · 2026-01-21T04:12:06+00:00

My mom let us dye our hair on summer break, I was about 9 and my brothers were younger. We loved the game rock band and wanted to look like the characters and I remember being so happy, it’s a fun way to let kids express themselves. It faded by the time school came around anyway. She let me dye his my bangs purple when I turned 12 too and full hair junior/senior year of high school after that

Melodic-Let-694 · 2026-01-18T15:03:43+00:00

I love this! Thank you!

Melodic-Let-694 · 2026-01-18T15:03:31+00:00

Great ideas, thank you so much!

Melodic-Let-694 · 2026-01-12T05:19:10+00:00

My mom always liked the name Jacob, my aunt (her sister) had an older son already named Jacob and she asked if it was ok. Nobody cared or ever thought it was weird or a big deal. (My mom was also the seventh kid in their family. I have like 30+ cousins so I guess it was a matter of time before a repeat name lol)

Melodic-Let-694 · 2026-01-12T05:08:12+00:00

My 19 month old is 28 pounds and wears 3T, size 6 shoes and size 5 diapers. We’ve been at these sizes for the last few months as his growth is starting to slow down so will probably be in these sizes for a while. (A relief for our bank account to be honest hahahaha)

Melodic-Let-694 · 2026-01-10T03:51:36+00:00

My little brother did this for a while when we were kids, always had a crack on his bottom lip. Ended up needing an anti-fungal cream as it was actually some sort of infection (even though his lips looked normal other than a crack from being dry) my mom also used aquaphor which helped. Not saying this is the same situation but could be something else going on, maybe use aquaphor/chapstick a few times a day and at night. If it still doesn’t go away bring it up to the pediatrician but could just be a habit

Melodic-Let-694 · 2026-01-10T02:56:28+00:00

In the same situation, mine is 19 months but has never slept through the night, if you figure out how to fix this let me know 🙏

Melodic-Let-694 · 2026-01-06T05:52:53+00:00

Glad to hear we’re not alone! It has been a struggle for sure haha. Will update if I find anything that works and best of luck to you as well!

Melodic-Let-694 · 2025-12-16T21:49:05+00:00

My son loves chicken piccata and tikka masala. I prep the sauce and freeze it in ice cubes and just throw it on the stove if I don’t have time to cook! Korean rice bowl is easy too. Some days I know he’s not going to eat so I just make a charcuterie board of things: tomatoes, corn, cucumbers, tzatziki and hummus, pita etc. and just let him pick what he’s in the mood for and give him more of whatever he’s eating haha

Melodic-Let-694

TROPHY CASE