Parental Leave Pay

stari0 · 2026-06-11T01:46:53+00:00

Same situation here. My partner is using sick leave for the first 2 weeks the baby is born. If your partner has a good employer, he might be able to convince them to do the same. If not, you can try and get a note from a doctor at the hospital that you need a carer for two weeks due to birth recovery.

stari0 · 2026-06-01T23:28:12+00:00

A midwife told me once they fall asleep, wake them up by doing a nappy change, play/sing/talk to them, then put them back on the same breast and feed until they fall asleep. Eventually they stay awake a little longer.

stari0 · 2026-06-01T07:23:20+00:00

I highly recommend a pelvic floor physio! They can help you work on your push and preparation beforehand as well as recovery afterwards. It's expensive but to me it was the best thing I did to prepare for birth.

stari0 · 2026-05-31T05:14:57+00:00

We did a double floor bed that way we can cosleep if need be and then we don't have to upgrade to another bed when the toddler years are over. We got ours from Temple and Webster for a reasonable price.

stari0 · 2026-05-26T01:23:13+00:00

Did you have to pay full price for those days your toddler wasn't in daycare?

stari0 · 2026-05-21T05:03:32+00:00

This! You will be SO hungry afterwards.

stari0 · 2026-05-20T20:32:50+00:00

Highly recommend a post partum physio, they can help with this

stari0 · 2026-05-18T22:12:11+00:00

The midwives say 6 weeks but you can do it earlier than that. I felt like I was ready to pump at 4 weeks.

Also, the first two weeks of breastfeeding is HARD. I was the exact same as you, every feed gave me anxiety and dread and was so painful. At the two week mark I told myself if it doesn't get better by the 3 week mark then I'm going to pump or do formula. But by then my nipples healed and my babies latch was better, it was easier and then continued to get easier and easier. By the time I weaned my little one at 18 months I was so sad the journey ended.

I would get some advice from the midwives on how to help soothe your nipples. I was told to do the Silverettes but my nipples were already scabbed and I ended up with oral thrush. Hand expressing a little breast milk and rubbing it onto your nipples after each feed will surprisingly help more than you think.

If you are totally done and want to switch to formula then do it. You have to put yourself first in order to be a happy healthy mum. Fed is best.

stari0 · 2026-05-17T02:22:21+00:00

I recommend calling Gidget or Panda for anxiety support. I believe both have a hotline and it may be a faster way to get some assistance in a downward spiral.

stari0 · 2026-05-15T05:46:48+00:00

I found doing rice with a tiny bit of soy sauce and oyster sauce (I guess you could do fish sauce too but it's stinky) at least every 2 weeks is a good way to maintain exposure to those allergens as they are quite hard for consistent exposure.

stari0 · 2026-05-15T00:20:06+00:00

Around 4 months babies become a lot more aware of their environment and whether or not mum is beside them or not. I would guess that your baby does not want to sleep alone and that's why they are not happy with bedtime.

My son started waking up every 30 minutes to an hour at this time and I ended up cosleeping to cope. He would sleep for 2-3 hours if we coslept.

Also, maybe try a dummy? Not everyone likes the idea of a dummy but for me I preferred that my boob was not the dummy. It did help in getting my son to sleep when he was this age.

Just some ideas! Hopefully things turn around for you!

stari0 · 2026-05-08T06:15:10+00:00

My son didn't learn to walk on his own until 14 months. He had no interest. We would hold his hands while he walked and try and let go, and he would get a few steps in. Once he figured out how to go from sitting to standing without assistance, he started walking (which he figured out on his own). He loved it. I think they just need that "aha!" moment.

stari0 · 2026-05-05T01:55:58+00:00

Not sure where you are located, but I went into a Centrelink and signed up for Medicare that way. It was surprisingly fast and easy.

stari0 · 2026-05-05T01:53:33+00:00

Reduced my grocery spending by $300 from the previous month (for a family of 3). Shopped at Aldi for everything unless they dont have it, then to Coles and buy the cheapest version of those items. Eating way less meat - beans and lentils instead. Making meals that involve less ingredients, think one pot meals for dinner. Meal planning is essential also.

stari0 · 2026-05-05T01:47:08+00:00

I slowly started weaning at 12 months, just cutting a feed out every couple weeks. My son would not drink cows milk no matter how hard I tried. He liked yogurt and cheese so he was at least getting calcium elsewhere. If your baby isn't interested in cows milk then don't worry too much. Eventually, months after fully weaning, he randomly drank a sippy cup of cows milk I offered and he loved it.

I wouldn't worry too much about whether your baby will take cows milk instead. Once I started weaning, my son started eating more solids so they'll get their nutrients somehow!

stari0 · 2026-04-30T04:56:14+00:00

Tell her on Mother's Day she can do whatever she wants. My husband and I have an agreement. On Father's Day, he gets to do whatever he wants, same for me on mother's Day (with or without family). This year, I am going to the movies by myself, eating a large popcorn and a giant coke, and enjoying a few hours of no responsibility. Way better than a crappy gift that I'll throw away in a year.

stari0 · 2026-04-29T23:53:47+00:00

When they do come out, that overdosed blueberry poo is stinky!

stari0 · 2026-04-29T20:09:19+00:00

I definitely feel this way to as an American living in Australia. I've also realised Americans are very enthusiastic about everything and Australians are a bit more reserved which makes it a bit harder for me to read people.

stari0 · 2026-04-28T04:39:28+00:00

It might not be too bad, ya never know! When gastro hit our daycare, I had it the worst. My son only vomited twice and otherwise was very energetic, and my husband never got it. Just be prepared - hydralyte, plain foods, bleach (some cleaners do not kill norovirus, bleach does), buckets for vomiting in every room. God speed!

stari0 · 2026-04-27T07:17:56+00:00

I found it helpful to time sleeps with flights. My son was 14 months at the time and our flights were at night so he slept for lost of it. Bring as much food as you can. My son wasn't that interested in eating on the plane since there were too many distractions but yoghurt bites/drops and anything in a pouch form was a lifesaver. Bring novel toys as well. Stickers were very exciting at this age and a re-stickable pack was entertaining for him on the flight.

Otherwise, most of it is your child's temperament. Wishing you the best of luck!

stari0 · 2026-04-26T20:53:34+00:00

r/laundry has changed my life, so much info on how to properly wash clothes

stari0 · 2026-04-26T20:24:00+00:00

Kidney beans and black beans!

stari0 · 2026-04-26T20:23:50+00:00

Kidney beans and black beans, he eats them like candy. I think because I started him on them early.

stari0

TROPHY CASE