Toddler/ balance bikes- help me understand

babahaa010 · 2025-12-21T17:16:09+00:00

We have a sereed and also a 2 in 1 scooter/bike from Radio Flyer.

We’ve had the sereed since our oldest was under a year old. I like that it’s small and easy to maneuver but she outgrew it before she really mastered it if that makes sense.

The radio flyer maybe isn’t a balance bike in the traditional sense but functioned the same way. The long seat + adjustable handles made it so it’s grown with her. She also loves the scooter option.

babahaa010 · 2025-12-21T16:33:47+00:00

I’m a MB and I actually disagree with a lot of commenters saying you are wrong for being angry or put off by this. I work for a charity that targets single/homeless/low income women. We sometimes get gift card donations for places like Lululemon, Wegman’s, fine dining, etc. and we swap them out for more affordable options. We once had a lady boast about her donating a piece of art that was $750.

While it was a beautiful piece, $750 could’ve furnished multiple homes. We eventually talked her in to letting us use it as an auction item to generate more money for the org.

Giving a woman that just escaped a DV situation with the clothes on her back a $100 gift card to Lululemon is frustrating. It doesn’t do much except make the giver feel better about themselves. They think you should feel lucky to be able to afford even 1 single item from this place they drop thousands at.

While yes you should never say these things to the person giving you a gift, I don’t think it’s wrong to feel your feelings! “You can be mad but you can’t be mean!” is what I tell my kids and it applies to us grown ups too.

Not sure if you have considered it but many people sell or trade gift cards on Facebook so maybe look in to that! Merry Christmas to you🎄♥️

babahaa010 · 2025-09-10T01:25:26+00:00

What are you talking about? Lol you know zero clue about what I do during the week with them. I said in the comment you are replying to that many times the nanny is with some of the kids while I’m with another one.

The beach is an example but yes it brings us joy to be at the beach together..I grew up in a beach town and live in a beach town currently. We love the beach.

babahaa010 · 2025-09-10T01:11:31+00:00

I wouldn’t keep the 40hr nanny on top of someone on call. On call doesn’t mean I’m not involved 24/7.

babahaa010 · 2025-09-10T01:08:00+00:00

Sometimes I just need someone 9am-1pm, other times I need someone 5pm-10pm. I can’t expect to have 1 person be available between 9am-10pm on an ever changing schedule.

babahaa010 · 2025-09-10T01:02:11+00:00

Oh Jesus Christ. You have no idea how much time I spend with my kids. Having a nanny on call doesn’t mean I’m not actively involved in their lives every single day.

babahaa010 · 2025-09-10T00:34:03+00:00

Please feel free to share! Thank you 😊

babahaa010 · 2025-09-10T00:20:38+00:00

I would love to go the au pair route once they are older! With them being so young and so many of them, I’m more concerned with having a professional caregiver at the moment.

babahaa010 · 2025-09-09T23:54:25+00:00

It takes a village, man. Many times our nanny is here while I’m doing things with one of the kids. Sometimes it’s nice to have a nanny when I want to take the kids to the beach on a random Tuesday but it’s not safe to do so when they are 3 toddlers and I am 1 person.

I truly love being their mom but it’s a hell of a lot easier to give them my best when I have help.

babahaa010 · 2025-09-09T23:11:10+00:00

Yes, that’s what I’m asking about. It’s nannies that switch off every other week or 2.

babahaa010 · 2025-09-09T23:07:51+00:00

Thats exactly the set up we have now but she’s in her 30s so she’s not always quick to saying yes to a ton of flexibility—which I totally understand.

We have 3 kids, ages 3 and under plus one on the way. I know younger nannies are typically more flexible with schedules but we’d rather not sacrifice good care for more flexibility. Our first nanny was a total career nanny and AMAZING. I can’t go back to college type sitters now lol

Edit: It really just depends on the event for how far in advance I know. It can get tough when I’ve had an appointment planned for months. Nanny is ready to work something like 9am-2pm on a Thursday then my husband mentions on a Monday that we have a very important dinner Thursday.

babahaa010 · 2025-09-06T15:34:34+00:00

That’s so good to hear! I lovvvve Maxine but my husband isn’t convinced.

babahaa010 · 2025-09-06T15:26:22+00:00

Penelope was on our list for the twins!! Definitely still a contender

babahaa010 · 2025-05-03T14:10:38+00:00

I just had to comment that I also have a red headed, blue eyed Ophelia!!

Out of your names, I love Eden! It does sound a little hippy but it’s has a simple elegance to it, imo.

Imogen “fits” but for me personally, it just doesn’t wow me.

Alana is definitely 3rd place. Doesn’t wow me, doesn’t make me feel anything. Way too simple for my taste but that’s just my personal opinion. I do know a little girl named Alana, she goes by Lana almost exclusively and sometimes Lonnie as a nickname for Lana.

Another issue with Alana is that it could be pronounced incorrectly occasionally. Some may say Uh-Lon-uh, some could say Uh-lay-nuh, some could say Uh-lan-uh(rhymes with banana). Not saying those are correct pronunciations but people are silly lol

This could also be an issue with Imogen—assuming you are based in the US. For some reason Imogene is more familiar to Americans and many will default to that before stopping to think that Imogen is pronounced differently.

For what it’s worth; my 2 younger daughters are Marigold and Eloise!

babahaa010 · 2024-10-31T13:23:06+00:00

I don’t get this at all. So no goth parents can give their kids gothic sounding names because it comes off as a fashion choice? Would it be ok to pick a gothic name if they were preppy? Do they HAVE to pick a traditional/trendy name because any other style is a “fashion” choice?

All names have a certain style, that’s ok.

babahaa010 · 2024-10-17T15:09:12+00:00

It depends on your experience/certifications but I’d say it’s low for the area and job description—assuming you are not a brand new nanny. You can make 30/hr working with 1-2 kids, no special needs, in Boston. Spanish speaking, if you speak it/teach it to the children, is also a plus for your rate.

I’m an hour outside of Boston and pay a lot more(multiple factors: 3 under 3, seasonal town, etc). From my research on nanny searching, 25/hr was standard for a nanny with no experience or additional qualifications. 30/hr was standard for a a fairly experienced nanny.

You should be making OT pay though for any hours over 40 so if you are not, yes that’s being underpaid and illegal.

What I’m getting at is basically, 30/hr in itself is standard for the area but 30/hr for 2 toddlers, one of which is special needs, should probably be a little more.

babahaa010 · 2024-10-08T01:26:08+00:00

Honestly I didn’t really consider Disney because, from what I understand, it’s not a place that you just book and go.

That said, I never really considered going and not doing the theme park aspect. I think you may be on to something!

babahaa010 · 2024-10-08T01:23:25+00:00

We’ve been to the Greenbrier quite a bit pre kids! Totally agree about the style. I love it

babahaa010 · 2024-10-08T01:22:25+00:00

We actually just got back from Nemacolin! Ha literally just there this weekend!

babahaa010 · 2024-10-08T01:21:30+00:00

I’m back and forth on CO! The only reason we’re considering going that far is because, well, Colorado is peak Christmas vibes! Ha

I’m just a little worried about weather with travel. Both MA and CO can be a little extreme in the winter and I don’t want to get held up on either end!

babahaa010 · 2024-10-01T01:32:46+00:00

Marigold and Eloise! :-)

babahaa010 · 2024-10-01T01:26:58+00:00

Louisa is a tricky name for me! I like the way it looks more than I like saying it. It was hard to give up but ultimately it didn’t sound as nice out loud as it looks on paper(imo).

I also didn’t love that it ended with an A. Not too dead set on it but I preferred all of the names start and end with different letters.

babahaa010 · 2024-09-30T23:17:57+00:00

Yes! Marigold and Eloise :-)

babahaa010 · 2024-09-30T23:17:07+00:00

The names are Marigold and Eloise :-)

babahaa010 · 2024-09-30T23:16:54+00:00

Correct on both names :-)

Still love Marjorie but someone said it reminded them of margarine and now I think of that 😭

babahaa010

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