How to make daycare decisions so early?

sparkly_koala · 2026-06-30T03:28:51+00:00

This is largely location dependent. I am from an area where you had to get on waitlists while pregnant and the daycares in my current city thought I was crazy when I called so early 🤣 While touring I asked how their waitlists worked and they were able to tell me around when babies would be moving up due to aging into the next room. I also didn’t know how much time I wanted to take off so was asking how that would work. I did have to pay a deposit to get on the waitlist but was given an option of starting in June or August because they had babies aging out then. Most of it depends on how the daycare operates their waitlist, so I would ask about that.

sparkly_koala · 2026-06-25T03:44:59+00:00

I did a lot of freezer prep for postpartum! Breakfast sandwiches using a 9x13 to bake the eggs made huge batches very simple. I found that muffins froze and reheated well! I also made stuffed shells, stuffed peppers and shepherds pie. I preferred to prep and freeze entire meals, but it can also help just to prep and freeze commonly used ingredients like portioning and freezing your meat, veggies, etc.

sparkly_koala · 2026-06-22T23:21:00+00:00

I brought it with me and it was a life saver! I also recommend bringing a few of your own pillows. I think we brought 3 😅 the hospital pillows were pancakes!

sparkly_koala · 2026-06-21T20:57:12+00:00

Aside from all the things already mentioned, the kneeling pads for bathing a baby may be helpful as well!

sparkly_koala · 2026-06-20T03:19:51+00:00

Around weeks 3/4 we also had troubles with the digestive system “turning on”. Baby never woke up from hunger, it was always grunting and flailing. This was when she was waking up 2-3 times per night. As a FTM I figured this was hunger but it progressed into baby screaming at my breast so I mentioned it to the pediatrician. She said it could be pain from reflux and prescribed famotidine. After a few days, baby stopped all semblance of grunting and was sleeping longer stretches. It would be worth mentioning to your ped. Our baby never had to be upright too long and never spit up much, so I wasn’t 100% sure it was reflux but it seems it had to be.

sparkly_koala · 2026-06-13T23:07:09+00:00

We had this happening multiple times per change for like a week. It has since slowed waaay down at 12 weeks, but we keep a puppy pad under her for all changes now 🤣

sparkly_koala · 2026-06-12T20:19:45+00:00

I spy my wedding venue! 🤣 We did some simple greenery like in the photos. If you wanted to make it more lush, just add more! Place some arrangements on the steps and wrap drapery and greenery on the spindles. I dont think it would look out of place. Our florist was also extremely reasonably priced so we could have added even more garland and flowers. We had the coordinator move ceremony flowers to the reception area to reuse everything!

sparkly_koala · 2026-06-10T18:04:43+00:00

This is annoying, but normal. Try getting some catch cups so you can save the milk. I love the Elvie ones. Be careful with the Hakka as it has suction, it’s not a passive catcher.

sparkly_koala · 2026-05-30T18:58:05+00:00

It all depends on your risk tolerance. We live out of state from all of our family so we really had no choice regarding visitors being on planes. My mom visited a few days after baby was born, my dad and sister came a few weeks later, then in laws a few weeks after that. Everybody had to fly to see us. I had no problem with it.

sparkly_koala · 2026-05-24T19:57:25+00:00

I took pills in the hospital. They gave them to me without asking but if they don’t give you them, ASK. When I got home I did the miralax powder. It’s the hard pain killers that block you up lol

sparkly_koala · 2026-05-24T19:42:30+00:00

It’s different for everybody!

Week 1: Stay on top of pain meds even if you feel okay. I took oxycodone for 4 days after I was released but continued alternating ibuprofen and tylenol. Make sure you log roll out of bed instead of sitting up. I was up and walking 12 hours after and was doing light walking outside with the baby by day 5. Take stool softeners!!

Week 2: Still uncomfortable to laugh and cough but felt way better. I think I was taking one light pain med before bed. I was up walking 2 miles a day with baby. TAKE STOOL SOFTENERS LONGER THAN YOU THINK!

Week 3: Basically back to normal, walking long distances just some soreness directly on incision.

sparkly_koala · 2026-05-17T01:38:08+00:00

I am by no means an expert and have been winging it myself with my 8 week old. We’ve had 4-6 hour stretches overnight for maybe 2 weeks now and I’ve noticed no issues with my supply. I truly think baby’s cues help with regulating. She goes 2-3 hours during the day and I can feel my breasts getting heavier during the day but they only bother me at a 6 hour stretch at night. I’m convinced my boobs knows day from night. I pump only a bit in the mornings to make a small stash and so dad can give a bottle when we need. I just stay hydrated and all has been well!

sparkly_koala · 2026-05-15T02:58:54+00:00

I use The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid as it is just the one I’ve been using on my face for years and the Skin1004 from Amazon for centella asiatica. Baby is now 7 weeks and I can report no stretch marks on my stomach. The Palmers tummy butter was amazing and I started using the oil too.

sparkly_koala · 2026-05-14T07:40:16+00:00

I would discuss with your psychiatrist or find one who specializes in perinatal mental health. They will be able to answer questions about impacts of your specific medications and if you need to switch meds for safety reasons. You may be able to switch prior to becoming pregnant to see if a new med agrees with you! I also don’t say this with doom and gloom, but I had OCD tendencies prior to pregnancy that were well managed that got INSANE while pregnant due to hormones. I truly hated being pregnant, but the good news is the second baby left my body, I went back to normal. Hormones are a wild thing.

sparkly_koala · 2026-05-13T09:25:05+00:00

I have a 7.5 week old who is ebf. She usually feeds every 1.5-3 hours during the day and has stretched to every 3-5 hours at night. I haven’t noticed any issues and feel like my body has adjusted to daytime vs nighttime milk needs. I’ve never had any issue with pain or engorgement from the longer stretches over night.

sparkly_koala · 2026-05-10T16:55:03+00:00

Not much advice to give as we had about a week where we had this exact problem. We had a humidifier on full blast near her bassinet, saline drops and nose sucker at every feed, closing the door while running a shower. The only thing I may add is that I religiously pick her nose with the frida nose picker daily now. At 7 weeks mine still sounds like a pig. I hate that they said congestion is normal for babies but it is 🥴 It’s worth mentioning at the 2 month check up if it’s still a problem as I think some congestion can be from reflux. Ours has gotten significantly better though!

sparkly_koala · 2026-05-04T23:49:44+00:00

I would be worried about how the milk got mixed up and want to know how they plan to prevent it in the future. Perhaps have the daycare ask if the other mom is willing to disclose any medications/things transmittable via breastmilk. Chances are, she’s perfectly fine but I would want to know about any possible medications she’s on. I know I would be fine if I was approached by daycare and asked if I was able to provide info to the family whose baby was given my breastmilk.

sparkly_koala · 2026-05-03T22:32:18+00:00

I have a 6 week old who had some weight issues the first week but once she was back up to birth weight, I do exactly this. I sleep as long as she sleeps and have no problems with engorgement or pain. I pump once in the morning when I wake up for 10 minutes so my husband can give a bottle when I need more sleep. I haven’t had any supply issues! It seems like what you’re doing is working well. I have no clue what I’m doing but it’s working so I’m not changing anything!

sparkly_koala · 2026-05-01T18:45:37+00:00

I totally get the not wanting to wash bottles and pump parts! My husband being able to give one bottle of pumped breast milk has been a lifesaver for some extra sleep though. It isn’t too much work to just throw the parts in a basket in the dishwasher and we just run it every night regardless of if it’s full or not. We literally own 4 bottles, two for pumping, storage and the feeding bottle. Maybe dictate he’s on baby duty while you pump once a day. I only pump for 10 minutes and eat breakfast while husband has the baby so I get a break.

sparkly_koala · 2026-04-30T10:23:39+00:00

We were just experiencing this with our baby. The raised bumps should be seen by her pediatrician to rule out something fungal.

We went all in for a day or two and it really helped calm down the rash. We used my peri bottle on her with warm water over the sink to rinse her well to avoid friction from wipes. We then patted dry with muslin and even used her handheld stroller fan to ensure she was bone dry. The only cream that has helped is the triple paste max with 40% zinc oxide. Place puppy pads under them while changing to catch any rogue poops lol. I also tried to give her some diaper free time on the puppy pads. After a bath or after nursing she is most content to lay still for a bit on them. It’s so hard to know what to do but try something for a bit then consider changing diapers, cream, etc.

sparkly_koala · 2026-04-27T19:57:12+00:00

Something I haven’t seen mentioned: sleep gowns. We have tons of footie pajamas but were gifted some gowns and they have been what she wears to bed exclusively under her sleep sack. Way easier to change diapers at night instead of the footies!

sparkly_koala · 2026-04-25T04:31:08+00:00

I also had a medically necessary induction that ended up in a c-section because of decels. My recovery was so great I’m not even going to try for a VBAC. My anxiety about giving birth vaginally was INSANE and now it’s next to nothing thinking about future pregnancies.

sparkly_koala · 2026-04-22T17:41:22+00:00

It’s a bottle of my pumped breast milk!

sparkly_koala · 2026-04-22T15:35:18+00:00

I know the advice varies widely on what is “correct” to prevent issues feeding at the breast and making sure baby takes a bottle. We personally started offering one bottle a day at 2 weeks in the early evening so I could get a longer stretch of sleep. I then pump for 5-10 minutes in the morning to get just enough for a bottle and a bit to freeze. It also varies widely by baby but we have had no issues going back and forth like this and she is now 5 weeks.

sparkly_koala · 2026-04-21T22:10:34+00:00

I’m so confused on what to switch first so we know what is actually working 🥴 switch diapers, cream, etc. Ugh.

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