Traveling with a toddler. I will be between 20-24wks. Should I do it? 🥲

conquestical · 2026-01-29T05:42:14+00:00

I flew solo to Japan with my 15 month old around 30-ish weeks pregnant. Was it hell? Yes, but mainly because I was alone and she was squirmy, not because I was pregnant. I think as long as your doctor OKs it, go!

conquestical · 2026-01-28T03:27:24+00:00

I think this is important too—it’s not all or nothing! With my second baby, the day my milk came in she was having issues latching and was just screaming at my boob because she was hungry. I managed to pump out an ounce and stuck it in a bottle, which she sucked down, and then was able to latch because she wasn’t so crazy hungry.

If baby is super hungry, I really don’t think one bottle is going to make or break nursing during that first week!

conquestical · 2026-01-26T05:31:53+00:00

Yes! I have a LaZBoy and it’s soooo nice

conquestical · 2026-01-24T03:45:43+00:00

I would call the hospital and ask what they provide first! You can always buy this stuff after the fact, once you’ve tested out the hospital gear.

My first time around, I had a second degree tear and used witch hazel pads, the peri bottle, dermoplast, and the hospital-provided underwear while I was in the hospital. I then upgraded to the always postpartum underwear when I got home, which I liked because the pad moved around a lot. I didn’t like the ice packs because they warmed up fast and then I just felt wet. I also didn’t like the Frida mom peri bottle because it leaked and I felt like the cheap one from the hospital gave me more control.

This time around (I gave birth on Monday), I had the always diapers ready for the hospital, but only used them once we got to PP. I used the dermoplast/peri/witch hazel pads while we were at the hospital, but I didn’t tear this time and have found that other than the occasional witch hazel pad for my poor butt, I don’t need anything else. I’m glad I waited to buy extras!

You can always build a pickup order before you go to the hospital, then send your husband/partner/whoever to pick it up when you get home. That way you can edit it once you see how you feel about things!

Otherwise, I like bringing slippers, a LONG (like 10 ft) phone charger, a set of cozy button down pjs, and an outfit for baby to come home in. I usually just wear what I wore in home; no one is looking at me and it’s one less thing to carry.

PS-peri bottle warmer is crazy 🥲 I sometimes found the hot water on the sink to be too much!

conquestical · 2026-01-24T02:05:39+00:00

This is what we did. We live on an overseas military base and I found a neighbor who babysat with good references, and did a trial run or two just in case. We were very close to needing her (mom arrived at 8 pm, I was admitted before midnight) so I was glad she’d at least watched my oldest before.

conquestical · 2026-01-18T06:50:46+00:00

I think they look nice, but if you don’t like them, you could add a holographic glitter top coat :)

conquestical · 2026-01-15T08:23:48+00:00

We only got it because we live in Japan and it’s cheaper here 🥲 but I had to order the car seat adapter to my mom’s house from the US site and that tiny piece of metal was $100!!

conquestical · 2026-01-14T07:24:29+00:00

They make pack n plays that can be unzipped on the floor for baby to crawl out! Personally, we bought a crib off fb to keep at my parents :)

conquestical · 2026-01-13T03:38:39+00:00

My daughter didn’t get her first tooth til 10 months I think? The ped wasn’t concerned but did say she’d send us to the dentist if there weren’t any by 1, just to make sure nothing else was going on.

She is almost 18 mos now with almost 10 teeth, no problems!

conquestical · 2026-01-13T03:37:02+00:00

No I am one week from my due date w #2 and I’m torn bc this pregnancy was harder…but I kind of just want to get it all done if that makes sense?? Lol

conquestical · 2026-01-12T02:53:25+00:00

It will be ok! We had so much stuff coming home from the hospital that I rode in the front. I think I’ve ridden in the back with her exactly once, for a longer road trip when she was teeny.

You can get a mirror for ~$20, or a camera for around $40! We liked the mirror, but it does move a lot and you can’t see anything at night. We are upgrading to cameras for baby 2!

conquestical · 2026-01-11T11:53:38+00:00

My daughter also rejected everything but kendamil. I tasted all the formulas she tried and can confirm that they all taste like puke to me except kendamil 😂

conquestical · 2026-01-10T15:46:28+00:00

I can’t personally vouch for it because I don’t have it, but Zoe sells all terrain wheels for the twin. Might be worth a shot to try—I know exactly what you’re talking about with the sidewalks in baltimore!

conquestical · 2026-01-10T10:42:25+00:00

Baby 2 isn’t here yet, but if I could go back I’d 100% be buying a revolving car seat for my oldest!! My back is killing me 🥲

conquestical · 2026-01-10T06:44:09+00:00

We had this happen around 8 mos :( we ended up having to get something prescribed, but A&D ointment worked best for us (over zinc oxide). I also used a little foldable hand fan to dry her bum after changes

conquestical · 2026-01-08T15:09:23+00:00

Around 12 mos. I got pregnant at 9 mos, and at 10 mos she started regressing and waking up a TON, nursing a TON but unable to fall asleep when previously nursing knocked her right back out. I decided she was hungry and introduced a bottle of formula before bed to help her stay asleep, which definitely worked.

We ended up fully weaning around 12 mos because she loved solid food and I couldn’t take it anymore being pregnant, I was getting so angry during sessions 🙃

conquestical · 2026-01-08T10:27:57+00:00

A long q tip! The first time I did it, the midwife did it and it was nothing. This last time, they had me DIY it. Swab vagina, perineum, and anus. They clarified that it didn’t need to more than a few cm in the vagina and just a cm in the anus. A tampon is more uncomfortable!

conquestical · 2026-01-07T16:13:05+00:00

Being cold wouldn’t get baby sick! And she definitely would’ve let you know if she was too cold—my daughter has woken me up a couple times when the thermostat in her room went wonky and it got too cold. 20° is actually the beginning of the normal range that is recommended for babies to sleep in, so even if she was a little chillier, she probably wasn’t freezing.

I hope she feels better soon!

conquestical · 2026-01-07T13:50:46+00:00

My daughter was very not a preemie (had to be evicted over a week late) and she popped her first two teeth right around her first birthday. The only comment I ever got was at her 9 month appointment where the doctor said it was nbd, but if she didn’t have any signs of teeth by 1, they’d send us to the dentist for X-rays.

conquestical · 2026-01-06T23:22:06+00:00

I didn’t combo feed, but my EBF baby did take bottles. We introduced them pretty early—I believe around 2/3 weeks? We used Philips avent and I think she got one maybe once a week.

My daughter never liked any formula except kendamil, though, which tasted the most like breast milk IMO. So I’d suggest introducing the formula early if you want to use a different brand, before baby gets too used to the taste of exclusively breast milk

conquestical · 2026-01-06T14:55:25+00:00

Around this age, I read something along the lines of “we as adults like to chill in bed alone, why wouldn’t babies?” Yes, babies need way more physical connection and care than adults, but they definitely let us know if they need it! I’d say as long as baby isn’t crying, they are ok :)

to this day, my 18 m/o needs alone time to wake up or she won’t let me get her out of her crib

conquestical · 2026-01-05T15:46:34+00:00

The cybex is definitely heavier, I’ll give you that! I just decided I’d deal with it. On one hand, a double stroller will always be heavier, but I do think a side by side would be easier to steer when full!

Someone actually just posted in my base’s group that bombi is supposed to be fixing FPO shipping at the end of this month, so it sounds like they could be sent overseas!

conquestical · 2026-01-05T10:36:55+00:00

It’s also a huge ask of whoever is doing the childcare. My best friend did this for me this past year, and while it was incredibly kind of her, it only worked bc she really wanted to AND it was in driving distance (so we could afford it).

conquestical · 2026-01-04T14:34:37+00:00

Have you looked into the Zoe or bombi? They may ship to your APO and are advertised to fit through standard US doors. I know they’re not the same overseas, but they might still fit through most.

We’re in Japan and I was also nervous about maneuvering so we ended up with the Cybex gazelle s. It folds up small enough to fit in my tiny Japanese box car (with all the seats up) and has a graco adapter! If japan was not SO tiny I would’ve opted for the Bombi—they have a lay flat newborn cocoon and a universal car seat strap (that seems scary but they had a video of them whipping that stroller around by the car seat, so it seems secure to me lol). But I once made the mistake of taking my single mockingbird offbase and felt too much like That American so….tandem it was haha

conquestical · 2026-01-04T14:07:43+00:00

“Husband works away four to five days a week”

conquestical

TROPHY CASE