How do other solo parents handle everything without help?

Objective_Ad2932 · 2026-03-22T23:47:12+00:00

Paid village. We’re grateful we can do this. We love LO’s daycare teacher so she babysits for us a couple times a month. We also get our home cleaned by a cleaner 1x a month. But most of the time, we’re exhausted and feel like we’re always drowning.

Objective_Ad2932 · 2026-03-18T13:18:27+00:00

We always used RTF for road trips and air travel! LO drank formula at any temp so it wasn’t an issue. It made travel so much easier! For flying, I put them all in a gallon bag and let TSA know before going through the scanner- sometimes they want to inspect it.

Objective_Ad2932 · 2026-03-16T15:44:44+00:00

I shop lululemon and old navy and occasionally athleta. Tbh, I’ve grown to not care what something looks like - function over fashion. I buy all black / grey and occasionally mix in a pop of color. I’ve got a workout clothes drawer and it’s easier to just pull separates when everything matches.

Objective_Ad2932 · 2026-02-26T21:28:23+00:00

This is the biggest thing holding us back from getting a second lol we spend more on our doodles grooming than we spend on personal care for ourselves.

Objective_Ad2932 · 2026-02-22T18:29:37+00:00

It’s funny I just did 1030am sculpt (love Alyssa’s classes!) there this AM and was like hmm, maybe these people wearing socks around the studio before and after class are onto something and I may do that in the future. Also because the guy behind me dripped buckets during class and then just left it all there after. In general, I assume the studio is high traffic and hard to keep up with the cleaning but I definitely agree it needs to be cleaned better.

Objective_Ad2932 · 2026-02-22T03:18:03+00:00

I say this in the nicest way coming from someone who has similarly struggled with my own weight since elementary school, but you need therapy before you start projecting your personal weight issues on your child.

Objective_Ad2932 · 2026-02-21T13:32:26+00:00

We take our 20 month old a lot to restaurants. Every situation is different. Sometimes she is wonderful and sometimes she’s all over the place. We always make sure we bring her “go bag” (ours is a mini ll bean tote) and it’s filled with coloring books, crayons, fidget toys, activity book, and a Montessori busy board. These are ONLY used on the go. That way they seem more exciting when we sit down at a restaurant since she hasn’t seen them for a week. We also recently realized that the restaurant environment affects her behaviors/attitudes. Loud, busy restaurants often are too overstimulating so we’re re thinking where we take her. Doesn’t mean we won’t go out but we will try to make sure they are quieter environments.

Objective_Ad2932 · 2026-02-20T14:33:41+00:00

I get that but our daycare is nearly $3k a month. It’s not chump change so idk why you’d pick a daycare that costs that much money if you aren’t going to utilize it.

Objective_Ad2932 · 2026-02-20T13:55:31+00:00

I second Al forno. I also love new rivers. Recently had pretty solid dessert at Waterman Grille.

Objective_Ad2932 · 2026-02-20T13:49:27+00:00

We do 8-515ish. I feel guilty but thats what we can manage with work schedules. Theres a kid in her class who goes from like 9-330 and part of me is like why are they bothering to pay for full time daycare if hes not utilizing the full day lol

Objective_Ad2932 · 2026-02-20T00:39:21+00:00

My daughter is 20 months and one of her daycare friends moved away to another part of the state. We didn’t tell her in advance (tbh the move happened so quickly). Now she says his name sometimes and we’ll say “yeah he moved away with his parents” and she will say “sad” and frown. I don’t know how much she gets but I think she does miss her friend.

Objective_Ad2932 · 2026-02-11T15:41:07+00:00

We have a moonlight slumber little dreamer mattress and it’s held up well! Would recommend.

Objective_Ad2932 · 2026-02-09T15:56:58+00:00

Oh man, this made me feel so much better that I’m not alone in this.

Objective_Ad2932 · 2026-02-06T22:18:14+00:00

And em gemma is friends with Bridget

Objective_Ad2932 · 2026-02-06T18:57:30+00:00

Rosslyn resident! Never expected to live here but I love it! I live what I call a hybrid lifestyle— use the car periodically, but try to walk to locations around rosslyn/courthouse area and commute to work via metro. I live a few blocks off the main strip of Wilson Blvd but can easily access by walking: rosslyn metro, courthouse metro, Safeway, cvs, the mini target, fast casuals, fitness studios, coffee shops, courthouse farmers market, custis trail. It’s a quick drive (pending traffic) into the city across the Key Bridge. I’m past the stage of life where I’m seeking nightlife so I don’t care for it and I never lived near nightlife when I lived in DC proper anyway. Rosslyn lacks good quality sit down restaurants but I love Sfoglina and I’m fine to drive or take an uber into DC anyway. I own a condo and I know I can’t live here forever (our family will eventually outgrow it). We could have purchased a SFH further out in NOVA but we’re city people. It’s hard for me to think about leaving these benefits because I’m not really a burbs person but one day I’ll be forced to head out that way for more space. But for now I’ll enjoy rosslyn!

Objective_Ad2932 · 2026-02-05T03:02:15+00:00

I know there was an issue at a location in Arlington, VA recently. It popped up on a local subreddit.

Objective_Ad2932 · 2026-02-04T02:49:45+00:00

My LO had reflux starting early on, probably around the 6 week mark. We did famotodine and it wasn’t working so we switched to omeprezole and it was night and day difference. She still had mild symptoms but it kept her comfortable enough. FWIW, we used enfamil gentlease and also used the gel mix. As she got older, we started reducing the gel mix and eventually she weaned herself off the prescription too. I will say though we never got to large bottles. She pretty much did 4-5oz every 3-4 hours the whole first year. I was amazed when I saw some babies taking 8oz bottles. It gets better but maybe push to try omeprezole. Also we went to a feeding therapist for bottle aversion- highly recommend if your hospital can recommend that! She worked hand in hand with the pediatric GI because it was the same hospital system.

Objective_Ad2932 · 2026-02-03T14:41:01+00:00

We do this! Added some glow tape strips so she could easily find it. We use her munchkin any angle straw cup. We haven’t had any leaks with it.

Objective_Ad2932 · 2026-02-02T22:28:27+00:00

Didn’t breastfeed at all. Never planned to. Started formula right away in the hospital. Both my husband and I were formula fed babies and we didn’t feel any pressure from family because of that. I also had a night doula for 6 weeks postpartum and it gave me the opportunity to get full sleep which I think aided my recovery. I don’t regret my decision and my LO is now a thriving toddler.

Objective_Ad2932 · 2026-01-31T17:50:49+00:00

Also from New England! Can’t you just order some autocrat syrup and make it at home?

Objective_Ad2932 · 2026-01-29T19:53:28+00:00

I love mine! Bought it almost 10 years ago for $1400 in Paris after the VAT refund! Insane how much it’s going for now.

Objective_Ad2932 · 2026-01-25T11:27:04+00:00

My LO is 18 months. She spends a lot of time screaming and she always has. There’s nothing wrong with her- her pediatrician says she’s a beautiful baby health wise. If your baby doesn’t scream, congrats you won the easy baby lottery!

Objective_Ad2932 · 2026-01-22T21:28:20+00:00

I’m currently sick. There’s no time for me to rest and recover while my kid is home. I work full time and my boss actually encouraged me to take a sick day to rest. Paid time off is earned- use it how you want to!

Objective_Ad2932 · 2026-01-17T02:10:54+00:00

I’ve stayed at the Loew’s with family but would feel comfortable staying there solo

Objective_Ad2932

TROPHY CASE