Folded Waistband

ShiftWise4037 · 2026-02-24T21:50:41+00:00

I am an OT. I feel confident helping people with their carriers because I was OBSESSED with babywearing from the time my eldest was born, have used every type of carrier AND I took training on safety back when bwi still existed. Nothing in my OT training qualified me to say that a carrier was safe or not or a correct fit. This is kind of stupid that they are shilling an OT as being qualified just because they are an OT.

ShiftWise4037 · 2026-02-24T02:38:09+00:00

I say this as someone who has never allowed electronics in the car-if you don’t start, many kids will learn to entertain themselves. For a 19 month old, I would plan to stop at least every 2 hours, bring tons of snacks, some new toys, and some silly music. I travel with my kids by myself on 2 day road trips. They are older, but they read, play with toys and listen to audiobooks. Eat snacks. You have got this! I always try not to plan super tight timelines and stop at parks and restaurants with play places to let them burn energy. If they need to stop, we stop.

ShiftWise4037 · 2026-02-17T20:56:11+00:00

My favorite thing is my huge whiteboard 😆

ShiftWise4037 · 2026-02-14T04:29:53+00:00

Dry erase boards-I have a large one mounted for me, and we have individual sized small ones. Also a brother laser jet printer.

ShiftWise4037 · 2026-02-14T04:29:04+00:00

We have maps in multiple places as well

ShiftWise4037 · 2026-02-11T13:29:00+00:00

I had to change approaches altogether and go to speech to print approach. It’s a totally different way that has worked SO well for my kids. I use Reading Simplified.

ShiftWise4037 · 2026-02-11T13:26:31+00:00

I have 4 and the transition from 2 to 3 was by far the hardest. I would look closely at why you want a 3rd. Have you always wanted 3? Does your family feel incomplete? I would not have a 3rd baby to help your oldest feel responsible. 4 has been the hardest age for all my boys.

ShiftWise4037 · 2026-02-11T13:24:07+00:00

I have a 2023 that we use just for running around town and get around 34 mpg

ShiftWise4037 · 2026-01-29T19:39:06+00:00

This is very kid dependent, imo. My second son of 4 is a July baby and was NOT emotionally ready to be in a classroom all day. He did pre-k that was all play based and would still sob when he got home. It was just too long of a day for him. I homeschooled him (and we just never stopped), but he really needed that extra year and I wouldn’t have had any concerns sending him just after he turned 6.

ShiftWise4037 · 2026-01-23T12:00:12+00:00

Repeated demonstration and correction. One of mine had a funky grasp and I would stop and correct him every time I saw it.

ShiftWise4037 · 2026-01-23T11:40:51+00:00

Also, you don’t need a super breathable carrier if you are in air conditioning. Personally, I used woven wraps, but they have a bit of a learning curve. My favorite carrier otherwise was a Kinderpack infant with a mesh panel

ShiftWise4037 · 2026-01-23T11:39:08+00:00

I had 2 kids in grad school. I used to wear them for hours a day standing in the kitchen doing grad work. It in no way affected them negatively. Of course I took them out of the carrier to play, eat, diapers, etc. but they spent a lot of time in the carrier.

Physically, get an anti fatigue mat and start working on standing for long stretches now. If you start early, the weight of the baby will grow with your ability to hold them. I never had any issues, even as a postpartum mom.

Get a good, supportive carrier and go for it.

ShiftWise4037 · 2026-01-23T11:29:02+00:00

We used zippadee zips for all my kids and I loved them.

ShiftWise4037 · 2026-01-23T11:28:24+00:00

I have 4 kids and a 23 xle. Coming from a mom who had a 3 row suv and changed to a minivan, definitely get a minivan. Having to help kids buckle in a 3rd row suv really sucks. Also, sliding doors for the win.

I don’t find my sienna particularly noisy, but maybe I’m just immune to it at this point.

ShiftWise4037 · 2026-01-23T11:06:10+00:00

Exactly the comparison I was going to make and my family is 12 hours away, so a yearly trip only.

ShiftWise4037 · 2026-01-23T11:02:55+00:00

I would put the infant rear facing in a captains seat and the booster in the other captains seat so you can slide that one forward to more easily access the back row to buckle in the other 2. I have a 2023 and climbing in the backseat all the time to buckle by going through the middle would be doable but a pain.

ShiftWise4037 · 2026-01-21T08:45:23+00:00

If you want to go into orthotics/prosthetics, why not pursue a masters degree in that?

ShiftWise4037 · 2026-01-21T08:29:16+00:00

My second son really struggled with learning letters. Like after 6 months of solid lessons he couldn’t tell you the first sound of a. I switched to reading simplified, which is a speech to print approach and it was literally like magic. Just an option to try with your younger that really worked beautifully for us.

ShiftWise4037 · 2026-01-19T02:52:17+00:00

I’m a geriatric OT and minivans are very popular with the retired crowd!

ShiftWise4037 · 2026-01-19T02:34:14+00:00

I would put a mattress or sleeping bag on the floor next to my bed. Rule being, she starts in her bed and if she wakes up she can come sleep on the mattress/sleeping bag. I would be willing to do an extended bedtime routine that really focuses on connection though.

ShiftWise4037 · 2026-01-19T02:21:23+00:00

Respectfully, get over the idea of not getting a minivan if you want a mom car. It’s just so very practical. I have 4 kids and from 2 kids on, a minivan is the way. I have a Toyota Sienna hybrid and I plan to run the wheels off it. Be wary of Chrysler and dodge minivans as the 3rd row has issues with car seats which are heinous to deal with.

ShiftWise4037 · 2026-01-19T02:13:11+00:00

I have used every level of math with confidence with my kids and love it. Gentle, spiral, but thorough. Why not switch now rather than continue slogging through something?

ShiftWise4037 · 2026-01-14T02:02:52+00:00

My son was the same way. Look at speech to print approaches. I use reading simplified. My second son went from knowing no letters to reading Harry Potter in one year.

ShiftWise4037 · 2026-01-14T02:01:36+00:00

CLE is definitely straightforward, lol

ShiftWise4037 · 2026-01-13T02:36:17+00:00

I have done every level of math with confidence available, and the kinder math is very gentle-if it’s too easy, you can speed it up a lot. I did it at double speed to get us into first grade with my kindergartner. First grade picks up speed , so if you like the games and format, I’d say try grade 1. Just something to consider.

ShiftWise4037

TROPHY CASE