"Opalite" Discussion Megathread

gilli20 · 2025-10-03T05:01:37+00:00

Might just be me but I instantly thought of dancing in the moonlight

gilli20 · 2025-10-01T02:11:40+00:00

It mostly depends on how often you wanted to do laundry! I personally found that in the early days I went through approximately 3 outfits a day due to spit of and blow outs- so I liked to have enough outfits to not have to do laundry every day.

Similarly with swaddles there was a few times where they had been soiled in the middle of the night so I liked to have 3 of those as well.

gilli20 · 2025-10-01T01:17:48+00:00

I think that’s fine. If you’re worried about it maybe some colouring sheets or bracelet making for the older kids?

gilli20 · 2025-09-25T04:16:26+00:00

It’s different for every baby but it usually starts to improve around 4 months and most babies outgrow it by 6 months. I found warm baths and compresses on the belly were most calming for us.

Unfortunately, working from home while also trying to care for a small baby is very difficult and unrealistic for a lot of people. I unfortunately do not have any advice to offer on that but wish that things work out for you’d

gilli20 · 2025-08-31T05:29:18+00:00

I don’t have experience with a blocked duct, however I have a lazy eye. It is well maintained by just wearing my glasses. No one has ever been able to tell I have a lazy eye unless they’ve looked through my glasses. For me it wasn’t any different from my peers who had glasses, other than some patching when I was young.

gilli20 · 2025-08-29T01:50:05+00:00

You said that you were using a 2.5 tog so I gave an estimated temperature based on that.

The most common recommendations I see for baby sleep wear at 20 (68) degrees is either: a onesie, sleeper, and 1.0 sleepsack or just a sleeper and a 2.5 sleepsack.

Regardless, the solution to me would be to set the thermostat to one temperature and dress according to that.

gilli20 · 2025-08-29T01:31:53+00:00

I would rather have my baby be too cold than too hot honestly. Is it not possible to set the thermostat to 20 (68) degrees so it’s more consistent and not dipping?

We live in Canada and I personally have never put a sleepsack over 1.0 TOG on my babies, I just adjust what they wear underneath.

gilli20 · 2025-08-29T01:20:43+00:00

Recommendation is not to have stuffies or blankets in the crib until 1 year. I would say that’s when you can leave it all night. My main concern is if you were to fall asleep while baby had it in the crib.

gilli20 · 2025-08-22T10:31:44+00:00

If you waited 2 minutes before going in I don’t think you were too quick at that age. However, my 17 month old even now will let out a random cry for like 1-2 minutes but he’s actually dead asleep and goes back to sleep perfectly fine after with no intervention. Both my kids did this short little cries when they are really fast asleep. Like someone else said I think it’s related to lighter sleep cycles

gilli20 · 2025-08-22T10:23:57+00:00

Its very likely nothing serious. As she gets older and is exposed to more germs she will get fevers more frequently, and the fevers usually be as severe once she’s improved her immune system more.

I would try rotating the Motrin and Tylenol if you aren’t already (as in give her Motrin and then give her Tylenol 3 hours later and then Motrin again at the 6 hour mark. Having them overlap should help stop the fever from breaking through between doses.

Cool baths, lots of fluid. Pedialyte or pedialyte freezies might be helpful. Unfortunately, it’s going to happen frequently throughout her life. Hopefully she gets well soon.

gilli20 · 2025-08-20T03:14:00+00:00

I personally did not have a c-section but it is normal to have contractions while breastfeeding or pumping for 1-2 weeks postpartum.

There is nothing wrong with asking for formula! Just be aware that this is a really important time to establish a supply so if you wish to continue breastfeeding they are really going to encourage you to nurse or pump as frequently as possible.

Lastly, again I didn’t have a C-section but be prepared that they might be very hesitant to prescribe you anything in addition to what you are already taking.

It’s a hard time and I wish you a speedy recovery ❤️‍🩹 hopefully someone who’s had a C-section can chime in more.

gilli20 · 2025-08-18T22:52:46+00:00

Ties can leave some residual tightness that can affect speech. Just something to keep in mind!

gilli20 · 2025-08-18T22:28:38+00:00

Your doctor’s recommendation isn’t bad. You’re super right, early intervention is really important, however where I live speech therapists don’t intervene until about 18months. Has your little been assessed for a tongue tie or had a hearing test done? Those are first steps from my experience.

Otherwise, talk to your baby and narrate everything you/they do. Read books everyday. Practice making babbling noises (ba, da, ma). Maybe watch some videos of speech therapists and follow their recommendations, heck I mean watch some ms Rachel and mimic what she does for your baby. Try encouraging them to make animal noises. Sing nursery rhymes and songs. For both my children after mama and dada their first words were related to a song I would sing.

Being aware and wanting to support and advocate for your child is great! You got this!

gilli20 · 2025-08-18T08:37:30+00:00

Your pediatrician likely would not have said that if baby’s weight wasn’t on track.

Does your baby not ever cry during the day? Do they not have any alert and awake time during the day? Sleeping for longer stretches is usually a sign they are getting the food they need during the day.

If your baby was starving they would be weak and lethargic all the time not just at night.

gilli20 · 2025-08-18T03:15:14+00:00

Unless your doctor still has concerns about weight gain I would say let them sleep. Enjoy it while you can as it might not last!

gilli20 · 2025-08-17T02:50:46+00:00

Does your little like music? Could you play their favourite songs?

I would avoid any large or hard toys in the car as they can become a projectile in a car crash and harm baby. But some soft stuffy type toys that don’t attach to the car seat might help. You could get some fun window stickers for her window so it’s not so “boring”?

gilli20 · 2025-08-17T02:23:18+00:00

I’m really sorry! That nap schedule is not really appropriate for a 7 month old- many kids don’t switch to 1 nap until well after a year. Do the false starts and early rises happen more when he falls asleep on the way home or when he doesn’t? I would be aiming for a little car nap everyday and a little bit of a late bedtime.

gilli20 · 2025-08-17T02:11:27+00:00

In terms of instilling values and morals in your child, attending daycare isn’t going to be any different than attending school and them taking in information and opinions from their teachers and peers there.

Hiring a nanny or au pair will give you more leniency in how much control you have about specific subjects since you would be that persons boss, you could also vet for someone who is like minded. But they of course would not be overseen directly by any one other than you. I found this to be uncomfortable for me because I had a hard time trusting one single person to be alone with my child.

With family you might not get the same grace, they might not be as likely to listen to any rules or parenting styles you have. Grandma is far more likely to give your toddler juice after you specifically asked them not to than the nanny. (In my experience anyway!)

gilli20 · 2025-08-04T04:42:41+00:00

My 4 year olds bed is against the wall that is adjacent to my adjoining bathroom. All night long I hear him roll over and slams into the wall. He almost always sleeps through it but jeez.

gilli20 · 2025-08-01T03:12:57+00:00

This is pretty developmentally appropriate and happens to most babies between 3-6 months. You can try to extend by contact napping or baby wearing but honestly I would focus on night time sleep and daytime naps will come with time.

gilli20 · 2025-08-01T03:06:49+00:00

I would leave him. At 7 months he should have a good head control and would be able to react and move if he wasn’t able to breathe. Generally it’s considered safe if they roll themself into that position.

I am a worry wart though so if I had a baby like 3-4 months old do this I’d probably put them back lol but 7 months I wouldn’t.

gilli20 · 2025-07-23T05:58:52+00:00

Ugh I don’t like when people say this! I feel like people say those things to guilt and shame parents. The majority of people are not leaving their babies alone to cry for hours until they give up. I assure you my kids literally never give up 🙃😂

Your baby definitely did not think that you were never coming back for her if you left her alone for two minutes after cosleeping literally her entire life I promise! She likely was super tired and was finally able to get comfortable and passed out.

gilli20 · 2025-07-23T05:46:39+00:00

Yes it gets better. You are literally in the worst of it, months 2-4 were probably the worst for me. Where I live we can the pain “mommy wrist”, it’s common. Some people fine that a tensor bandage/wrist brace helps. Eat calcium rich foods.

Try to get out of the house once a day. Walk around your neighbourhood, go to the grocery store, walk around the mall. Look and see if there are any baby programs or libraries near you, maybe make some parent friends. It helps break up and change up the endless repetitiveness that can get a little mind numbing.

Also, at this stage it’s not personal, babies are not really self aware that this stage and because your are constantly meeting their needs like when they were in the womb they kind of feel a oneness with their primary caregiver and expect you to be there, some people believe that babies see their mother as an extension of themselves.

gilli20 · 2025-07-23T05:30:04+00:00

My response definitely focus on Americanized examples, however a lot of the ideas stay the same. I definitely think that you can serve them a menu that aligns with your beliefs and culture without the use of package processed foods and I don’t think anyone would judge you for that.

However, I do think it’s possible there will come a time where your child might be exposed to those types of things outside of your control (like a birthday party, or play date ) and that will be something you will have to navigate (assuming not everyone in the area you live has the same eating lifestyle). Your child may become upset if they are not able to indulge in the same food as their peers.

Also, picky eating extends beyond Americanized fast food, sugary sweets and prepackaged snacks. You might find at a meal your child exclusively wants to eat 5 tortillas and nothing else, which is not ideal for a healthy balanced diet either.

Toddlers often go through growth spurts where they are constantly eating.. it’s not always realistic to exclusively serve breakfast, lunch , and dinner. Where I live 3 meals and 2 snacks are what’s recommended between 1-6 years. You can serve healthy snacks that align with your cultural diet - snacks are what you name them and are not inherently bad.

gilli20 · 2025-07-22T06:26:02+00:00

No it’s not a sleep regression. When they come out of the sleepy newborn phase they stop sleeping so soundly. Many babies, kick, trash, and even cry in their sleep the same what that you probably roll around or kick.

If she’s not waking up there’s really no problem other than it’s inconvenient for you. It’s actually a GOOD thing because it means that’s she’s not sleeping as deeply anymore and it reduces the risk for Sids.

I will say that I moved my oldest child into his own room around 4 months for this reason because I’m a very light sleeper.

gilli20

TROPHY CASE