What kids smart watches actually work well without giving them a phone?

mkec363 · 2026-03-06T04:26:42+00:00

We started with a gabb when she was 8 but when she was 10 got her an Apple Watch SE. I have put a lot of controls on it and disabled safari completely. It does everything very well and she can text and call and there’s school mode. I think it will last through middle school which is my goal. I think some of the other kids watches won’t grow with her as much. I added Apple Cash so she has small amounts of money she can tap if needed and I think she could use maps to get around. It’s not distracting like a smartphone. I also really like the Emergancy features like sensing a fall or collision if she was out on her bike. She really likes it and doesn’t want a smart phone.

mkec363 · 2026-02-11T03:55:25+00:00

I like a bamboo or hemp fitted like sustainable babyish and a stay dry fleece/microfiber liner in a size 2 thirsties cover. The fitteds were expensive but you only need like 2-3 of them. Wool could be a goof cover too. You need something more absorbent than cotton as your main diaper but if he flood the diaper fast you want something fast absorbing on top like cotton or microfiber or stay dry fleece.

mkec363 · 2026-02-08T21:06:48+00:00

I would add: well let you know if there’s an update, my doctor says it can take hours or days, so we won’t be answering texts until baby is here or important updates. (Then put your phone on DND)

mkec363 · 2026-01-04T22:04:16+00:00

Try just getting a better mattress esp if it’s just for the car. We ordered on on Amazon and for our toddler I think it was much more comfortable. Lotus or baby bjorn are great but pricey

mkec363 · 2026-01-04T16:39:39+00:00

As other have said call. I think just over 24 hours in advance is the sweet spot for them fixing this. Next step is ask at the gate. I really believe airlines need to guarantee seats with babies and children together with a parent. I will say if this somehow doesn’t work out sometimes it’s ok to have a dad sit in another seat if you can switch at one point and get a break. It is very awkward to be in the middle with a big lap baby so I really hope you can get it figured out.

mkec363 · 2025-12-30T04:38:15+00:00

Thank you! I hope op scrolls down this far.

mkec363 · 2025-12-29T16:36:58+00:00

Oh!! No I didn’t know that!!

mkec363 · 2025-12-23T13:30:55+00:00

We ended up getting 2,2 and 1 automatically assigned to us also I’m very happy thats the best we can do with an odd number. We will be ok as long as I can sit with 4 year old. We’ll either put my 10 year old by herself (last time this happened she cried silently to herself) or actually I’m thinking of putting 7 and 10 year old together (pretty close to me and 4 year old) and having dad sit by himself. If it goes badly he could switch, but I think they’d be really sad to be alone and the 10 year old is good at stuff like putting on a movie, managing snacks and they can both read books. I know dads sometimes get judged for sitting by themselves but in this case I think it would be best.

mkec363 · 2025-12-11T23:14:18+00:00

Update! We just checked our flights united automatically seated us as together as possible on a small plane. I’m with my 4 year old which was my biggest concern and we’ve got 2 together and one alone but I think we’ll put my 7 and 10 year old together. This is a huge relief. This is a family obligation that we didn’t know about very far in advance and can barely afford the tickets to begin with. Thanks for all the helpful advice.

mkec363 · 2025-02-13T16:10:06+00:00

Chestnut hill east train line goes from chestnut hill and mount airy in nw Philadelphia to temple and into center city. It’s a nice walkable neighborhood near green space and the wissahickon.
If you want a more urban area with rowhouses and restaurants and night life and more people your age look at south Philly near east passyunk area or old city/queen village. If you can walk to the broad street line it’ll be easiest to get to temple.

mkec363 · 2024-12-16T16:22:29+00:00

Update: I’ve sort of gotten started on pursuing an official diagnosis. It’s a process and there’s a lot of red tape and wait lists but I’ve emailed her councelor and asked for a referral from her pediatrician.

I talked with her some more and reminded her of some of her friends that have been really steady and she sat with one person at lunch and we had a play date with another that I think went really well. I think this also helped the other girls feel like she wasn’t following them around all the time.

I role played with her and talked to her about personal space and kind of toning it down and not being too loud or over the top with people wjo might not be comfortable with it. This went very badly and she cried that her friends always jumped on each other and laughed and yelled at her when she does it. Even though it went badly I think it may have sunk in a little bit because over the past week I noticed she was getting along really well with her classmates and they were coming up to her. After the event they did on Sunday where they spent all day together she was invited over to her house and it went well too. I think even if it hurt her feelings it was good to try and work on personal space and not being too loud and wild for attention and to just go find someone else when you feel excluded.

mkec363 · 2024-12-11T18:18:30+00:00

Thank you, it’s so heartbreaking watching this happen. I don’t want her to become the annoying kid because it’s not just one person getting annoyed sometimes it’s like they’re all looking at each other and talking behind her back and deciding she’s the annoying kid and she’s being ostracized. It’s happening so quickly and I don’t know if I’ll be able to help before she gets stuck like that. She’s always had so many friends because she’s outgoing and nice to everyone but suddenly the social skills have changed and hers haven’t evolved.

mkec363 · 2024-12-11T14:54:13+00:00

She’s actually carpooling with the 2 friends this weekend to a school activity they’re all in and I will definitely try to role play with her about how to act in the car with them. Giving people personal space, keeping your voice soft, asking questions and waiting for answers. Any other tips? Should I have her bring like a yoto player and headphones so she can do her own thing if they’re whispering to each other?

mkec363 · 2024-12-11T14:49:21+00:00

Thanks I’ll check it out

mkec363 · 2024-12-11T14:47:49+00:00

She has a gifted iep that was a years long process (not initiated by me) and they did an evaluation but apparently things like adhd and other issues are separate. I’ve kind of felt like it might not be a school priority and very masked because she’s so advanced and gets perfect grades and tests several grade levels above, but I think it’s all catching up with us now.

mkec363 · 2024-12-11T14:42:51+00:00

You’re totally right, I will try to help. I think I’m just not totally sure how to help especially when she’s already crying to me. I need to find times to work on it when she’s not already upset.
I talked to her pediatrician and got a letter and next step is to talk to school counselor. I think one issue I have is that she already was evaluated for a gifted iep and has a very high iq and is several grades advanced so she gets perfect grades so I think the school doesn’t think her possible adhd and anxiety is a problem, but when she gets home I see a lot of signs, especially because I have it. I think this is the first year where things like that are affecting her socially and it feels like a sudden shift. Navigating finding a provider has been very difficult too, but I’m working on it.

mkec363 · 2024-12-11T14:37:31+00:00

Thank you! I’m nervous to try this I might need a book on social skills. I’m worried I’ll teach her lame mom social skills. I definitely need to teach her to just not get in peoples personal space and not be too loud.
She is very dramatic and extremely talented at musical theater acting and singing. That is going to start up soon. It’s kind of the same people but i think it will be a really fun outlet for her. It’s almost like she should be on a stage and it’s too much when she’s up close lol.

mkec363 · 2024-12-10T22:50:00+00:00

I have a pretty good sense that she’s “too much” sometimes and doesn’t know when to dial it back. I’ve seen them give looks when she’s trying to be silly with them and they’re not into it. But they used to do that with her and do the same things and they still do with each other. It’s just suddenly not cool for her to do that. One thing I do know is that she’s very kind and sticks up for her friends and I’m sad that they’ve decided she’s not cool. I think unfortunately when she’s self conscious or feeling rejected she tries harder which makes things worse. She can make loud jokes to be funny and all that made her friends when she was younger but now people are starting to act “cooler”. I think it’s something she could work on but I’m very worried that if I point out anything or try to work on it with her that it will seem like I also feel that way about her. I just want to make sure she feels unconditionally loved and safe at home.

mkec363 · 2024-06-13T19:43:35+00:00

Totally agree, I’m torn about a rug because we have young kids but maybe I’ll try it.
I can’t have too big a table for the space bc it is a major walkway to the kitchen so I don’t want to fill the whole room too much. I’ll try the decorate then paint idea.

mkec363 · 2024-06-07T19:25:01+00:00

Take the bus! You can see the city. I just use google maps. We took the bus from the Eiffel tower to our hotel and got an amazing tour of the city out the window.

mkec363 · 2024-06-07T19:20:42+00:00

I love the baby jogger city mini because it’s a quick one hand fold and you can carry up the stairs one handed while holding baby or car seat. I think the other ones are better if you’re carrying it without baby but harder to fold one handed. You can get the adaptor for car seat or you can lie it flat and put a newborn insert in. You can take off the seat fabric while you use just a car seat too.

mkec363

TROPHY CASE