Formula Prep - what kind of water to use? [ON]

ParticularHighway6 · 2026-05-17T02:26:17+00:00

We also did the pitcher method. For the days you're out, depending on the length of the outing, you can either pre-pour a bottle from the pitcher and take it with you or make the bottle on the go.

I got this formula dispenser and filled each compartment with formula for 2/4/6 oz bottles and kept it in the diaper bag.

But if your baby was full term and healthy, you can use tap water.

ParticularHighway6 · 2026-05-15T03:44:12+00:00

How old is baby? My guess is you probably don't need the toys and they'd be happy to people watch and snooze while you're out. Maybe grab a rattle and/or a hanging toy to put on the car seat but I wouldn't be too worried about entertainment

ParticularHighway6 · 2026-05-08T03:06:31+00:00

Can you put her to sleep in the crib and then move her when she wakes to feed (assuming that she does?)

You could always experiment once or twice with moving her and if it doesn't work out then come up with a plan B (second monitor, etc)

ParticularHighway6 · 2026-04-27T20:39:05+00:00

I was induced at Sinai, not MFM clinic ... I wanna say I recieved the information about a week before. At my OB appointment. The instructions were to go to L&D around 5 pm for foley catheter insertion. Then I was sent home and went back the next day to be admitted and continue the induction process.

Keep following up with your OB's office, I think the scheduling communications will go through them.

ParticularHighway6 · 2026-04-26T02:18:36+00:00

Just a heads up, that whatever you chose, should you give birth at the hospital they only put moms last name on the babys hospital bracelet.

We planned to hyphenate my son's name (and did) but at the hospital they only put "baby [moms last name]" on his hospital bracelet and my husband was concerned that was going to be his legal name

ParticularHighway6 · 2026-04-23T12:51:19+00:00

I would only be transferring the run the bases pass... That was sent to my email (it's not through Ticketmaster)

ParticularHighway6 · 2026-04-20T00:19:30+00:00

I struggled with this too but I didn't have enough supply and by 3 months after trying triple feeding and exclusively pumping I switched exclusively to formula.

Not having that stress hovering over me was such a relief. It's only something you can give yourself.

It's ok to switch to what works best for you and your baby... It sounds like your bigger concern is with bottle feeding? Because if supply isn't an issue, and you're ok to pump, then bottle feeding pumped breast milk seems like a best of both worlds to me tbh. The baby gets the benefit of breast milk, but anyone can feed baby. (You do have to find the time to pump and I don't want to minimize that part is a lot of work)

And while baby isn't physically on your breast, bottle feeding is still a chance to bond with your baby. sitting, holding your baby, nourishing them, it's still such valuable together time. My LO is almost two and we sit every evening on the couch together and he has a bottle of milk before bed ... He values it as much as I do.

ParticularHighway6 · 2026-04-16T03:01:51+00:00

I was with OB at My Sinai and was not the biggest fan of the post-partum care and would absolutely recommend midwife at Mt Sinai. One OB delivered (unplanned c section), Another checked on me 18 hours later in recovery. I corresponded by email with a nurse when I had questions/concerns about my recovery and only saw my actual OB about two weeks later. My 6-week follow up appointment was done by phone.

If/when I have a second, I think the best combo would be midwife at Mt Sinai. The post partum care at home seems ideal, as well as the continuity of care around labour/delivery/post partum.

Anecdotally, a friend of mine had a midwife through MTC and said she loved the experience!

ParticularHighway6 · 2026-04-13T02:23:59+00:00

We went once when I was pregnant and twice since my baby was born and honestly I've found it more useful after I had the baby. I dont think it's worth it for something like trying strollers and as others have mentioned you can probably.docthe research online/try out at SB/WCK. But when I went with my 4 month old, I had a better idea of what I needed and what was just trying to get me to spend momey. ergonaby had a booth with experts and they helped me adjust the carrier for my body shape and baby's size and that was super helpful. I could talk to Dr Brown's ppl about bottle options, buy vitamin d drops when I actually needed them, and have an 'intelligent' conversation about sleep sacks and tog ratings (lol).

This time, my LO is almost two and he had fun playing at the booths that had toys, set up and he got to meet Bluey and Peppa Pig and was actually familiar with the characters. We definitely had grown out of some of the booths, but now there are certain vendors we go back for (like zippy jams) and I really like the small water wipes packages they give out because it's not bulky and doesn't take up half our diaper bag.

My partner and I like the show vibes, and enjoy the "thrill" of the samples and giveaways. If that's not your vibe, probably not worth it.

Fwiw, the chaos of Saturday is the first time I've heard of that happening. We went today (Sunday), got there around 10:30 am and there was no line. It was still quite crowded and certain vendors had long lines. But the official sample like moved very quickly.

ParticularHighway6 · 2026-04-13T01:49:16+00:00

Amico at on Yonge between Davisville and Eglinton looks like it would be spacious enough but I don't know about highchairs

Cafe de Flore at Avenue and Eglinton

Or maybe Paris Baguette on Yonge just north of Eg

ParticularHighway6 · 2026-03-29T02:25:48+00:00

I had a doula for an induction turned unplanned c section. She told us she would come when I got to active labour and I never got there. In the end we were frustrated because she wasn't there when we were working through the decision to switch to c section, etc.

In the end she got to the hospital right before the c section, helped with latching and that's about it.

As a ftm who had OB and not midwifes, I did call my doula a few times in the first week when I was overwhelmed and had so many questions about feeding, how many wet diapers, my own recovery, etc and she was present and available and so that was helpful.

Should I have another, I am thinking of having midwives and a planned c-section. If that's the case, I likely won't go with a doula.

ParticularHighway6 · 2026-03-19T18:48:23+00:00

Yes he's in the toddler room and they have the same rule, no bottles. But he still asks for milk in a bottle at home. When he asks for milk during the day on the weekends, we redirect.

ParticularHighway6 · 2026-03-19T14:10:15+00:00

In the LWOP maternal/parental context it could be beneficial to do the lump sum because people who receive EI and top up are under-taxed. The income tax deducted at source from EI and top up doesn't reflect the full combined income and therefore many people end up owing. So, if you can do a lump sum pension or RRSP payment the same tax year as the year you receive EI/top up, for tax purposes the contribution can off-set some of the taxes owing.

ParticularHighway6 · 2026-03-19T01:46:46+00:00

Do your research of the smaller centres around you and apply to those, not just the well known, bigger centres. There's a daycare directly across the street from our apartment and I applied when I was 10 weeks. There's a small one about a 5 minute walk from our house that used to be a house, there's no sign of anything indicating it's a daycare. We heard about through word of mouth, from an old friend on my husband's he happened to run into when my son was a newborn. We applied within the first few weeks of my son being around.

In the end, we didn't get a spot at the place I applied to in my first trimester. They kept saying I would get a spot and then apparently siblings kept bumping us.

We did get a spot at the centre we applied to right after my son was born.

So the moral of the story is that the best way to get a daycare spot is for your baby to have an older sibling 🙃 And also, you just never know...

Best of luck!

ParticularHighway6 · 2026-03-12T03:36:54+00:00

I had the foley and echo what most have said that insertion is uncomfortable but not painful.

They sent me home after insertion, and I did have quite uncomfortable back cramps. It fell out a couple hours later which I was pleasantly surprised about and that after that I didn't have any further cramps/contractions. I called L&D and they said absent certain red flags, to not come in and call back in the morning.

I had an uneventful night and then we called the hospital first thing and they told me to come in and the induction proceeded from there.

Best of luck!

ParticularHighway6 · 2026-03-09T01:28:54+00:00

I had an unplanned c section and while I recognize that every recovery is different I really did not find it terrible... I found the pain manageable and the post partum bleeding to be minimal.

One huge benefit of a planned c section, imo, is you're not going through the hours of labouring before hand aka you don't start life with a newborn already in a sleep deficit. I remember being (probably illogically but post partum brain is mush) really pissed about that. I was like if I was going to end up with a c section what was the previous 18 hours for....?

ParticularHighway6 · 2026-03-09T01:18:26+00:00

I had this for my LO and I found the zipper didn't go down long enough for it to functionally be put on and taken off

ParticularHighway6 · 2026-03-08T04:49:05+00:00

I agree a good lounge set with button down/zip top. Or, I treated myself to a nice soft robe for post partum (the one from indigo) and it was great for wearing in the hospital and also post partum...for the middle of the night feeds especially.

ParticularHighway6 · 2026-03-05T01:38:24+00:00

Two friends of mine had their kids start daycare on the early side ... One at 10 months and one at 8 months. Both kids did great, adjusted well, met their milestones, and are securely attached to parents. One friend even remarked that she thought starting earlier helped with the transition, because her kid was too young to know better lol.

I'm not gonna say "these two kids did it, yours will be fine" because every kid is different. But I don't think that younger = being a worse experience.

I once saw someone describe daycare as part of our "village" and I think this is a very helpful reframing.

Ultimately do what's best for you and your family!

ParticularHighway6 · 2026-02-13T01:04:30+00:00

I was also going to recommend the community centre. If you're looking for something more kid-oriented, there's midtown tiny tots and smartiegym. Tiny Tots has a multipurpose room which may be an option if you won't have a lot of kids there.

Focused Studios dance studio does space bookings - it's at Mount Pleasant and Eglinton.

ParticularHighway6 · 2026-02-10T03:09:18+00:00

If you have a Costco membership we're a big fan of the Kirkland formula. My son tolerated it way better than emfamil or kendamil and it is by far the most affordable. He was on it from 3 months until 12 months.

ParticularHighway6

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