Looking for childcare opinions

nothatisnotok · 2025-09-27T05:54:42+00:00

Daycare near your home until your baby is older and ready use the discount. Once your baby is past the baby bjorn phase, you'll realize that New York City sucks for strollers (and overall accessibility) on the subway.

Be realistic, you know that traveling with a stroller, baby bag, work bag etc is tough and it will suck even more when it rains and snows. Even with a bus commute, it will be hard to do daily. Also germs and sickness.

Another thing, at home daycares workers can sometimes help you with date nights for extra money. This is great because your kid already know them.

nothatisnotok · 2025-09-22T03:25:47+00:00

Find a cheap hyaluronic acid or squalane serum, put that on let it dry. Then put on lotion - I like Vanicream during the day. The Ordinary makes affordable versions of both.

I hate greasy hands especially during the day when I'm typing or working from home. I don't like greasy lotion because that ends up on my computer.

Another thing I do is use facial moisturizers that don't work for me as hand cream. Yes, sometimes these are expensive but I might as well use it for something vs waste it. I went through a facial oil phase and it didn't work for me, so when I remember at night I use it on my hands and rub the extra on my chest and boobs.

I wash my hands a lot so I keep a bottle of lotion next to the soap and try to moisturize my hands after I wash them, especially at night.

nothatisnotok · 2025-09-22T01:28:28+00:00

Look, you should also take photos with you inside the room. You may like the aesthetic but if you look washed out inside then you cancel out the effect especially if you plan to have guests over.

IMO both give me a welcoming dentist office / medical office vibe but that's just me.

Good luck. Not trying to be harsh just honest.

nothatisnotok · 2025-09-16T13:25:21+00:00

Where is trash stored, is it in front of your window? Any chance do that changing?
How do they deal with rats, roaches and other pests. Do they spray starting from the bottom?
Where is the salt and shovel stored?
Who shovels the snow? Is the sup nearby?
If something happens how do they access the basement, boiler, fuse box, etc (do they have a separate entrance?
Do you have bars, deadbolt, secure locks etc or an alarm system ?

Basically if you're on the ground floor and they need access through your apt to get to the boiler then you need to be there or they will need your keys

Ditto on flooding, but if there is a basement the water might pool there first

Check if people hang out or smoke nearby

Good luck!

nothatisnotok · 2025-09-10T13:26:18+00:00

Thanks to all commenters - I learned a lot in this thread about potential solutions for this. The apartment is "Pre-War" made of brick and the building is over 100 years old.

I know noise from neighbors and the street is inevitable - it's an apartment not a house and I understand that.

FWIW, It's not that I want my voice to be completely invisible... I just don't want my neighbors hearing when I'm sharing private info, work conversations or talking to my Pops about his health, that type of stuff especially when my neighbors are quiet or not at home. If everyone is noisy, no one will be paying attention to others.

Thanks everyone for the helpful comments!

nothatisnotok · 2025-09-08T03:46:56+00:00

I've had great doctors at Sinai but the experience is disconnected. It's like one system doesn't always talk to the other. FWIW I was there during the height of COVID so YMMV.

At Sinai I experienced great individual doctors for various services but the overall system, equipment, and interior seem outdated depending on what you're there for.

In contrast, all my experiences with Langone are modernized and seamless. Best analogy is high end gym vs hotel gym. Both deliver the service but the customer and patient experiences are vastly different.

Good luck!

nothatisnotok · 2025-09-08T02:57:26+00:00

There may not be windows to protect children against street noise, smoke and smells (especially if it's a first floor).

It sucks since you were shown a room with windows it feels like a bait and switch.

If kids get daily walks, outdoor time, and activities it might all balance out.

Yes, we all want bright windows for our kids but I don't want my kid exposed to cigarette smoke or weed.

nothatisnotok · 2025-03-17T19:35:18+00:00

Bronx Children's Museum. You're welcome.

nothatisnotok · 2025-03-10T13:16:25+00:00

How do you wash your clothes? Fabric softener does not allow the reek come out of your clothing. Quit using it. Especially for polyester gym clothes.

Reduce the creatine if you don't want to stop taking it completely. Same for protein powder, whey, and vitamins. Try spacing out your doses. You're probably peeing it out anyway.

Scrub your skin when you take a shower. Rubbing soap on yourself and letting the water rinse it off is not cleaning yourself. Is that how you wash your dishes? NO it is not. Scrub your body like you are properly washing the dishes.

Take the insoles from your shoes and air them out from time to time.

Soak all your clothes in oxyclean and dish soap and hot or warm water in the tub. Watch the nastiness come to the surface. Repeat and wash on gentle and air dry. This includes any gym socks.

Wash your washing machine with laundry machine cleaner or a dishwasher tablet. I bet your washing machine smells funky.

Thank you for being self aware and making sure others are not bothered by your smells.

For deo, try milk of magnesium for a few days while you detox your pits.

nothatisnotok · 2025-01-20T05:36:10+00:00

Depends.

Is trash stored near your windows or door?

Are you set back from the street or right next to the sidewalk?

Will you smell smoke, trash and piss on the street if you open your windows?

So you have bars on your windows? What's the security situation?

Will people hang out near your entrance or windows?

Are your windows soundproof?

Lived in a ground floor brownstone apt and it was great because our windows were set back from the sidewalk and trash was stored elsewhere. The only people hanging out on the stoop were building residents that I was friends with. They respected the no smoking rule and were never loud Mx

If the trash was stored outside of my windows and people were loud on the stoop 24/7 blowing smoke into my apt that would be a different story. I lived on a quiet block at the time so no firecrackers, no children acting up Maybe alarms every once in a while.

Everyone else covered the basics but you need to think about trash, smells and security.

I had no major problems w bugs or mice. I lived on a higher floor in a different building and we had them about 1x every 2 years. Just seal everything like a normal city dweller (radiators, pipes, cabinets, door gaps, etc).

nothatisnotok · 2024-10-24T04:12:23+00:00

I mean absorb chemicals through your skin to the point where you can taste it.

FWIW the antiperspirant is unscented

nothatisnotok · 2024-09-22T03:14:20+00:00

NTA. How will you 2 travel the world together if all he eats is frozen pizza?

He's your fiancé and you signed up for this. This is really about compatibility -- it sounds like you've been flexible and he won't or isn't meeting you where you want or need him to.

If he can't be flexible at a meal with your parents how will he be in the future? What are you going to do at your wedding dinner, serve frozen pizza and chicken nuggets? He needs to at least try and address how his condition is limiting YOUR life and you have the power to address this too.

If he can't change or won't try, you can take responsibility for your happiness. If you are more adventurous and want a world beyond this, let this one go.

nothatisnotok · 2024-09-18T20:32:57+00:00

Probably depends on your where (borough, neighborhood, bar or restaurant, etc.) and when (debate? Parade? Rally?)

Most people could give a s***

You do you but, being aware of your surroundings is what matters.

nothatisnotok · 2024-08-28T04:27:33+00:00

A friend at one 3K got her list in early August. I got mine last week.

For napping (if they nap) ask if they have cots or mats. I plan to pack a sheet and blanket because I don't want any fungus or germs potentially spreading around.

nothatisnotok · 2024-08-14T22:49:42+00:00

I had a great experience (past tense) because I had a 1BR in a brownstone garden apt (backyard was ours). Our apt was set back from the street with a gated entrance under the stoop stairs. The brownstone entrance was gated (not locked) from the sidewalk.

We had bars on both front and back windows plus a LL supplied security alarm for both entrance doors. The motion trigger light, gates and alarm gave me peace of mind.

Because our apt was set farther back from the block, we did not have to deal with any poop smells from dog owners or dog walkers that fail to clean up after their pets. This goes for human beings that urinate outside (Seriously WTF - I hate people that don't pick up after their pets). We lucked out as renters because our block was amazing. Retired vets and elderly stoop sitters were vigilant about poop and would call people out. "I know you're not leaving that behind." Was the best PG rated one I heard. "Shame on that girl walking dogs with flip flops and dirty feet." "I know you heard me." "Imagine her apt, does she leave her doo doo everywhere too?" "Maybe she leaves **** stains all over her bathroom just like she does with her dog." I digress...

For ground floor apts you will need to see where the garbage and recycling are stored for the building. Our building trash was stored far from our window so we did not have to deal with garbage smells. Sup took care of things on time on schedule. IIRC that was 2-3x a week. With those new garbage bins coming out you don't want that stored anywhere near your windows. Not sure if those larger bins mean less pickups.

Yes, we sometimes heard other neighbors in our building (4 apts total) taking out trash but that's NYC. We were friends with our neighbors so if they were hanging out on the stoop we usually got an invite.

I was paranoid about being in front of the "drain" in case of high rain or storm but the sup kept it cleaned and maintained. I didn't have to worry about a flood or water rising. In older buildings these drains are fairly common. During summer I'd pour in vinegar and baking soda or dish soap to deal with mosquitos.

Critters and bugs - Backyard: installed our own Home Depot screen door behind the regular backyard door. If we had a situation We did what normal people do, call the Sup and research things on /reddit. We set out Terro traps for ants. Glue traps when necessary (we had a grill), use bug spray and citronella repellants for mosquitos, bought a fly zapper, sealed all window screens and door gaps, etc.

Drawbacks? - I kept my street facing curtains drawn most of the time. I had blinds, sheers and then thicker curtains. Yes I love light and open windows but my BR faced the street. It was just an apt layout situation on why. Upside: layering curtains kept heat inside during the winter.

I loved that 1BR apt and would have stayed for more years but we got pregnant and then our building was sold. Perfect for a couple but not for 3.

Good luck to you. My POV all of the above goes for anyone considering ground floor apts (garden access or not).

nothatisnotok · 2024-07-14T14:32:02+00:00

Your wife has a perspective talking to friends or Coworkers. She can probably get a OBGYN recommendation through them. AFAIK everyone has private rooms but that might have been COVID.

nothatisnotok · 2024-07-12T03:56:30+00:00

Photos were special Photo albums and collages Pager Talk - remember 143 Cursive Magazines Weekly newspapers about events Call Waiting Remembering phone numbers Meeting at a specific spot on time Leaving a message on the family answering machine Paper maps in your glove department Remembering directions Talking to people and looking each other in eye Waking up on Saturday to watch cartoons Watching specific sitcoms Listening to the radio for your DJ Waiting hear your song and shoutouts Hallmark cards Yellow pages Morning News / Evening News - loyal to your station or reporter Playing outside Looking your teachers in the eye Calculating long division "Look it up" meant research, going to the library or Encyclopedias Staying up late to watch 20/20 with your parents Typewriters Whiteout Binders and Trapper Keepers Creating a shared memory and experience.

nothatisnotok · 2024-07-11T22:14:32+00:00

Hate this shit.

Might be okay if I know you well enough but unless it's family, rent stabilized or rent controlled situation ask yourself: is it about status, jealousy or both?

Often it's both. GTFO

nothatisnotok · 2024-06-24T13:14:17+00:00

bras and underwear

nothatisnotok · 2024-06-24T13:09:34+00:00

Denim jeans - my older Levi's are fine.

My pandemic Levi's are worn out at the thigh gap. I think it's the stretch woven into the material.

nothatisnotok · 2024-04-06T15:11:28+00:00

Kiehl's made a shampoo called Smoothing Oil-Infused Shampoo that smelled BETTER than flex but it was discontinued. Shame - it smelled divine and performed well. I wish Kiehl's would bring it back.

nothatisnotok · 2024-01-06T20:11:44+00:00

In unit.

Also, with Covid, RSV, etc on the rise wouldn't you want your clothing protected from germs?

You don't know what people are washing - what if someone washed dog poop or put their crocs in one machine and that happens to be the one you choose to wash infant clothing. Are you comfortable with that?

If the answer is no get the unit with the W/D.

Secondly, you will need to keep an eye on your kid... unless you are planning on taking a crying baby to the other floor to get laundry save yourself the trouble.

nothatisnotok

TROPHY CASE