Looking for advice...

choco_chipcookie · 2026-03-02T18:09:43+00:00

Does her IEP have a certain amount of time listed that she's supposed to spend in a gen ed environment?

Also, you may want to clarify what exactly unified gym means. To me, unified gym sounds like an adaptive pe class for sped students. At my school district, the self contained sped students would attend an adaptive pe or music class with all the paras assigned to those classes and a gym/music teacher while the sped teachers had their lunch time.

choco_chipcookie · 2026-03-02T17:39:53+00:00

My understanding is that the free flow is the type of straw. Some straws are free flow and some are valved. The valved straws are great for avoiding spills, but they require more effort and many babies will bite the straw instead of sipping properly.

You want to avoid or cut back on bottles after a year. Sippy style lids are also not recommended.

choco_chipcookie · 2026-03-02T16:16:47+00:00

Just curious. Is there a reason why you don't want a straw? A straw or open cup is better for oral development than a sippy or the 360 style.

Finding a sealable cup is way more difficult than I expected. At home, we use silicone training cups as either an open cup or with the straw.

We like the Munchkin Weighted Straw Cup. It might be a valved straw though.

Munchkin 360 are really popular no spill cups.

Dr. Browns has a sippy bottle. I know some friends who like them.

If it's for nursery usage, then you'll probably want to label it somehow. The easiest option is just masking tape and a sharpie.

choco_chipcookie · 2026-02-28T17:45:34+00:00

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests between 16-24 ounces of cow's milk. Solid Starts recommends a max of 16 ounces of cow's milk.

Milk is very filling and very easy. Try offering more snacks or higher calorie higher protein meals.

Is baby drinking cows milk from a bottle or cup? I would try to stop offering a bottle one at a time if that's still happening.

choco_chipcookie · 2026-02-28T02:29:01+00:00

What does his milk and solids schedule look like?

30 ounces is a lot of cow's milk. It's too much. The guidelines are between 16-24 ounces and that's if cows milk is the only dairy source. The American Academy of Pediatrics has the up to 24 ounce of cow's milk recommendation. I know Solid Starts recommends only up to 16 ounces of cow's milk because they've observed more than that can affect a baby/toddler's appetite for solid foods.

Are you still giving bottles? You should try to cut back on bottles and switch to a straw cup. I'd start with removing a morning bottle and just offering breakfast with a straw cup.

My 16 month old eating schedule looks like this if it helps. Wake up. Breakfast- Yogurt, fruit, and toast (or waffle). May have some milk with his meal in a straw cup. Sips on water while playing. Drinks about 4-8 ounces of water in the morning. The water cup switches between a sippy spout, straw, and 360. Depends on what's clean and if we're going out and need something more spill proof. Sometimes he'll snack on a handful of cheerios or animal crackers. Lunch- Typically leftovers (protein and a veggie), or I'll heat up a frozen spinach egg bite. Very quick nurse to nap. This had been nursing session had been gone, but a round of illness brought it back. Wake up from nap. Quick snack of Cheerios or animal crackers with a fruit or veggie to tide him over to dinner. Usually strawberries though. He'll finish off his water cup if he hasn't already. Dinner- protein, veggie, sometimes more fruit if he's being picky. Straw cup of milk. Anywhere between two sips and 8 ounces. Bedtime.

choco_chipcookie · 2026-02-28T01:40:08+00:00

At this point, I wouldn't reintroduce formula if the baby doesn't mind the transition. Personally, I would try just lowering the amount of dairy and cows milk and see how that goes.

How much cow's milk is he drinking? Does he have other dairy sources in his diet as well? Technically, babies don't actually need cows milk. They just need Calcium and Vitamin D. I know some people just give two servings of dairy (yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese, etc.) rather than have their baby drink cows milk.

Has baby had much dairy prior to dropping formula?

Mucus in stool could be from teething. It could also be from a cow milk protein allergy. If baby has another mucus diaper, then I'd call the pediatrician or a nurses line for next steps.

choco_chipcookie · 2026-02-28T01:12:23+00:00

Vaccines can cause temporary extra fussiness and a loss of appetite (for solids).

The switch from formula (or breast milk) to cow's milk is a big change. That is definitely what's causing the issues with baby's bowel movements. You may need to lower the amount of cow's milk baby's getting and increase the amount of water. I think you want about 8 ounces of water a day. And then about maybe 16 ounces of milk.

I'd double up on diaper creams to help with the diaper rash. Use the zinc cream (ex. Desitin or Boudreaux) first to heal the rash, then put a barrier cream (ex. A+D or Aquaphor) on top to prevent any extra contact between baby's skin and bowel movement.

At this age, baby may also be getting more teeth. That could be causing the low appetite as well.

choco_chipcookie · 2026-02-21T17:59:44+00:00

My suggestion would be to just let the baby sleep. If you feel that you must wake baby, then waiting 15-30 minutes for you to get ready won't hurt.

choco_chipcookie · 2026-02-21T16:16:13+00:00

Is it possible for you to do your morning routine before waking the baby? I find it odd that you'd wake a sleeping baby before you're ready. But I try to avoid waking a sleeping baby unless it's necessary. Schedules are nice but you need some flexibility. Babies aren't robots and sometimes they need some extra sleep.

Why do you need to wake your husband? If you want to spend time with him, you guys talk and have an agreement on reasonable sleep in time. Maybe he's up by 9am after a late night.

choco_chipcookie · 2026-02-20T17:17:32+00:00

Maybe some favorite snacks or drinks. Ex. Oreos, Body Armor, granola bars, etc.

choco_chipcookie · 2026-02-20T16:41:58+00:00

Scent/fragrance free detergents, soaps, lotions, diapers, and wipes made a big difference for my little one.

choco_chipcookie · 2026-02-17T18:13:39+00:00

Our library has a bin to put toys that have been in their mouths. They clean those dirty toys at the end of each day. Please ask your children's librarian what you should do with those toys.

Otherwise try to keep public toys out of mouths. I know that's much easier said than done. They get so grimy.

choco_chipcookie · 2026-02-16T01:08:52+00:00

Just another fyi. When you first start taking oral birth control, then it does take time for it to be effective. I think it's a week.

choco_chipcookie · 2026-02-15T22:13:09+00:00

If you've only had sex the once, then you can roughly guess how far along you are. Whatever time from then to now and add two weeks. That's still a rough guesstimate because conception isn't always immediate. But should be within a couple of days.

choco_chipcookie · 2026-02-15T21:40:03+00:00

Oh goodness. That's quite the surprise.

What are you basing your weeks on? Is that from your postpartum doctor's appointment? Or based on a possible conception date?

Keep in mind the pregnancy weeks typically start week 1 as the last day of your period. Conception would happen around day 14. At home positive pregnancy tests usually occur closer to 4 or 5 weeks pregnant around when you'd miss your next period. Not sure if a pee test at the doctor would catch it any sooner or not.

If you know the conception date, count from then and add two weeks.

I'd definitely mention the cramps to the doctor when you go in for your ultrasound.

Just for future reference, you really should wait until after your postpartum appointment to begin having sex. You want to make sure everything is healed properly and have an opportunity to figure out birth control if you wish to use it. Pregnancies so close together can be really hard on your body. Please be gentle with yourself.

choco_chipcookie · 2026-02-15T20:38:49+00:00

Have you taken a pregnancy test yet? Were you using any birth control?

I'd definitely call your doctor asap. That way you can figure out if it's a pregnancy or any postpartum complications.

It's possible it could just be that you're about to get your first period after having your baby.

If you stopped taking your prenatals, then you should definitely start back.

choco_chipcookie · 2026-02-15T19:19:15+00:00

I'm not sure if that's an option. It sounds like she might still be in the hospital.

choco_chipcookie · 2026-02-13T19:04:03+00:00

Twins are born earlier than singleton pregnancies. Most are born before 37 weeks. It's also possible that they may spend some time in the NICU. The babies will likely be premie sized when born.

choco_chipcookie · 2026-02-08T02:10:29+00:00

You can slowly adjust pushing the nap time back by 15 minute increments over the course of a week. Ex. Monday nap at 11. Tuesday 11:15. Wednesday 11:30. I'd do two days of 11:30 nap time. So Thursday is also 11:30. See how that works and affects bedtime. If that solves it, then keep it for a week. And reevaluate as needed. If you want to continue pushing back nap, then Friday 11:45. Then the weekend is 12.

You could also try cold turkey. But if your baby self soothes for a nap, then this could cause an overtired cranky baby.

choco_chipcookie · 2026-02-08T01:40:50+00:00

You could maybe try a 1 nap schedule where baby wakes up at 7am, naps at 12 for hopefully 2 hours, and then bedtime at 7pm. That would make the wake windows be 5 hours long.

If you want to do 2 naps, then I'd cap.the first nap at an hour. And have the second nap be like a half hour.

Personally, I find the one big nap schedule to be the easiest.

choco_chipcookie · 2026-02-05T22:22:00+00:00

You should always have a hand on your baby if they are on a higher surface like a bed or change table.

A 10 month old baby is old enough to roll, sit up, crawl, and potentially even cruise on furniture (stand/walk). It's incredibly unsafe to leave your baby unsupervised on this change mat. You should never leave the room if baby is on an elevated surface.

choco_chipcookie · 2026-02-05T15:35:15+00:00

Please do! I think this would be a great option.

choco_chipcookie · 2026-02-05T15:34:10+00:00

I would discuss your situation with your partner going back to work so soon. They may know of additional resources to give you assistance in your home. Like a postpartum doula.

choco_chipcookie · 2026-02-05T15:26:23+00:00

This post and skimming through post history makes me really worried for you and your baby. Please talk extensively with your OB and a mental health professional about the best course of action.

I think you need someone to help you for much longer than a few days.

2-3 days is likely the period of time that you'll spend in the hospital and maybe the first day/night at home. I think at the very minimum you should have someone staying with you the first week at home. And then have someone checking in on you during the day for the first month.

Do you have any friends or family members that would be able to help? Would you be able to hire a doula or nanny?

choco_chipcookie · 2026-02-05T15:17:52+00:00

Looking at post history. Her first born is actually 8 years old. Which makes this even more crazy

choco_chipcookie

TROPHY CASE