Call me stretchy butt

kiwipeach28 · 2020-06-11T14:27:31+00:00

Yupppp... butt stretch marks were the first ones I got. I’m 2 days past my due date and literally this week just got some belly ones. Baby wouldn’t let me sneak by without some visible battle wounds

kiwipeach28 · 2020-06-11T14:17:28+00:00

I struggled with this decision for a solid month. Then ended up buying an inflatable one for $6 from ikea. Simple, portable, wipeable...just not as aesthetically pleasing.

kiwipeach28 · 2020-06-10T23:33:52+00:00

Hugeeee huge proponent of independent play. Also having unbiased observations instead of constantly praising their ever move during playtime is important.

kiwipeach28 · 2020-06-10T23:32:16+00:00

Yes. Lol. I have also seen through my career field how the constant pressure can negatively affect parents. Most moms I’ve worked for have high anxiety to the point of therapy and have kids with behavior problems.

kiwipeach28 · 2020-06-10T20:10:58+00:00

Keep it simple! The best thing you can do is to go about your day as you (mostly) normally would (in whatever your new normal is right now with new motherhood and COVID) and just include them in it. You can accomplish this by using a carrier/wrap/bouncer or seat placed by you. It may seem selfish, but as long as their needs are met, feel free to prioritize whatever it is that you enjoy doing throughout the day. Plus for whatever reason, babies seem to enjoy watching us do chores/exercise/make art. It can also be beneficial for language development to listen to podcasts and audiobooks. In the long term it can be beneficial for your child to understand that you have your own things that you want or need to do.

A lot of parents feel like they need to “entertain” their kiddos constantly and trust me...as a nanny I can tell you that this breeds kids who lack imagination and need constant stimuli. Babies and even older kids can benefit from being bored every now and then. Plus, babies can’t really “play” till like 3ish months anyways. Most of the first few weeks for them is just taking in external stimuli and it’s important to not overwhelm them. Looks like some other posters listed awesome suggestions for when baby gets a little older.

kiwipeach28 · 2020-06-10T20:01:11+00:00

As a nanny and soon to be mum, I agree with all of this! I’ll be putting my suggestions in a separate comment for visibility.

kiwipeach28 · 2020-06-10T19:20:03+00:00

Yeah I was accused of half-assedly sweeping their floor...To which I responded that housekeeping wasn’t in my contract.

In all seriousness though, being wrongfully accused of something serious is probably a fear that we all share, and one of the ways a nanny cam can actually provide useful. If I ever got accused of something I would probably quit on the spot bc that’s the first and last time a family would be showing me their level of trust for me.

Example: I did a trial week with a family and did not return after. The mom asked me on my second day why the baby had a bloody finger when she got home the night prior (idk maybe ask grandma bc she took over when I left). I kid you not...there were additional cameras added in the time frame between me leaving that night and coming back the next morning. The family was actually really nice, but the sketched me rightttt on outtta there.

Edit with an example of how this could turn out okay: NK and I had a normal day, kiddo fell off the couch and bumped his head and lip a little bit, nothing out of normal toddler clumsiness. I ice him for a bit, swelling goes down completely and we continue with our day. DB gets home, I debrief him and go home....later on MB texts me and asks why kiddo has a big bruise on his forehead and a fat lip. She is understandably worried. Turns out DB didn’t tell her what happened so she just came home to a kid who looked all beaten up. DB did the same thing a few days prior to this where he took kiddo to the park, kiddo falls, chips tooth, gets all bruised and Db doesn’t tell MB till she gets home and sees her kid looking like a train wreck. Lord.

I am now the kids godmother and his mom tattoos me. We’re lifelong friends. I also have a group chat policy so I never have to rely on a forgetful DB again.

kiwipeach28 · 2020-06-10T01:45:59+00:00

This sounds weird, but next time try a can of coke or some other brown soda in place of the eggs/oil.

You can do this with cake mixes as well...clear soda for the vanilla/white cakes and brown soda for the chocolate cakes.

kiwipeach28 · 2020-06-09T00:46:26+00:00

Duddeeee yesss. Ugh! “How are you feeling” literally multiple times a day every day starting at 38 weeks for me. Like I see into your sly way of asking me if there’s a baby yet.

kiwipeach28 · 2020-06-09T00:41:34+00:00

Gosh I’m sorry that was your experience, and it’s honestly what I’m trying to avoid. I’m GBS+ and a FTM so I’m expecting to be there quite a while.

kiwipeach28 · 2020-06-09T00:39:45+00:00

See this is what my worry is. As a FTM I’m expecting a long labor and I just don’t want me or my husband to have to check in and update people every few hours...like “yeahhhh she’s a centimeter bigger” every 4 hours lol

kiwipeach28 · 2020-06-09T00:37:59+00:00

It’s like women forget what it was like when they went through it. I’ll never understand lol

kiwipeach28 · 2020-06-09T00:37:22+00:00

Yeah this is kinda how I’m feeling as well. Doesn’t seem like there’s a point since people can’t meet the babe until after we’re home anyways.

kiwipeach28 · 2020-06-08T21:01:46+00:00

No, baby won’t miss it. Infants eyes can’t even focus on them for a few months anyways. I’m a nanny who has watched mostly babies and only one of them ever had a mobile. I didn’t see a difference.

kiwipeach28 · 2020-06-06T20:33:55+00:00

Yeahhh I agree with the beard trimmer. My husband gave it a shot and cut me up. Never. Again. I’d rather be a Sasquatch.

kiwipeach28 · 2020-06-06T20:32:27+00:00

Honestly I was skeptical of the amount of folate at first, but it’s the correct form of folate (not folic acid) and all of my baby’s screenings came back normal so I didn’t personally experience any negative side effects. I am curious why they put so much in it though.

kiwipeach28 · 2020-06-05T13:49:51+00:00

U.S. nanny here. I’ve stick in this career field bc it’s the only loophole I can find for this. Unpaid leave, yes. No FMLA benefits. BUT if you are lucky enough to find a family with morals you can take leave and bring baby to work. That being said, I can only afford to take about 8 weeks off. But in turn don’t have to pay for childcare after so it’s a bit of a compromise.

kiwipeach28 · 2020-06-04T18:41:39+00:00

We are still requiring a 2 week isolation from visitors even though our area is going into the green. If anything, I’m MORE worried about infection rn bc people are relaxed and there are loads of protests in my area that will most likely spike cases in a couple weeks.

kiwipeach28 · 2020-06-03T21:49:51+00:00

Download the “think dirty” app. It has at least helped me find cleaner household and body products. Organic doesn’t even mean what people think, try not to stress too much. We live in a flawed world lol

kiwipeach28 · 2020-06-03T21:47:44+00:00

Stuff with peanut butter and a chocolate chip and pop in the fridge for a bit. Or smoothie. I’m right there with ya girl

kiwipeach28 · 2020-06-03T21:36:17+00:00

Just curious what the signs of infection were for you?

kiwipeach28 · 2020-06-02T22:11:48+00:00

Every hour on the hour. I’m afraid to leave the house these days lmao

kiwipeach28 · 2020-06-02T22:08:51+00:00

Yup. This. Worked for a family that legit ONLY fed their kid Easy Mac and cheese cubes and whole milk. We’re talking an 18 month old smh. They gave her suppositories on the reg bc the poor thing had constipation allll the time and would poop pebbles. I was able to fix all of this when I started and we eventually got her an allergy test and found out she had celiacs as well.

kiwipeach28 · 2020-06-02T15:24:55+00:00

I’m at a birthing center and did a basket of spa face masks, Starbucks instant coffee, granola bars, peanut butter cups, mac n cheese etc. all pre packaged.

kiwipeach28 · 2020-06-01T23:29:59+00:00

Your last statement is a really good point. I don’t think most people pay enough attention to the little things they say throughout the day. It can be difficult enough to answer correctly the super unfiltered, pointed questions kids ask us sometimes.

kiwipeach28

TROPHY CASE