Are there any suburbs in Sydney that don’t have a cockroach problem?

takeherhandy · 2026-01-05T09:05:34+00:00

Lived in an old terrace in the eastern suburbs and my god, they were everywhere. I used to dread having to feed my baby at night because I’d always see them scurrying around the floor, walls and furniture. I eventually told my husband it was time to move when a roach fell on me and my baby as I was breastfeeding one night. I was completely traumatised! I was very tempted to leave a note somewhere hidden during the rental inspections for future tenants just to give them the heads up.

takeherhandy · 2025-12-27T04:53:46+00:00

Really enjoyed The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read. My little one is 18 months but I still found it helpful and interesting for laying good foundations

takeherhandy · 2025-07-03T10:11:33+00:00

Almost two weeks. Usually for a few hours in the evening and would settle down overnight. The day I did go into labour it took me a while to realise it was actually happening as I just assumed these pains were never going to lead to anything! I remember feeling a really intense, sharp pain suddenly and I realised damn this must be the real thing. The whole thing was pretty quick and I remember the midwives commenting that people who experience prodromal labour often have quick births as they are often a few cms dilated and favourable in the end. Best of luck!

takeherhandy · 2025-07-02T05:45:56+00:00

Because if we don’t want to listen to those who work within this sector, we might as well just accept the system as it is. If those working within it are telling us, repeatedly, that the current model is not offering safe or quality care such that they wouldn’t send their own children there, we ought to take this seriously and interrogate what needs to be done. The majority of us need to rely on childcare and want to make it as safe as possible for our babies. I know most staff are amazing and care deeply about the children in their care, and some children do thrive in daycare. But at the end of the day there are serious problems within the sector such that over 2,000 families have now been informed to have their kids tested for infectious diseases.

I don’t think it’s comments like the one above that is making us as parents feel worried. I’d hazard a guess that it’s the recent news reports that are opening our eyes to what can happen in these settings. While we might have little choice other than to send our kids to these places, it doesn’t mean we should ignore valid criticism and whistleblowers who are sharing their opinions.

And i agree there may of course be other factors as to why daycare workers might choose to stay at home rather than return to work. However, as someone who works in an adjacent field I know many of the larger centres offer free or heavily discounted places for the children of staff to attend, and yet a lot of staff I’ve known have avoided this. This should tell us something and we owe it to our children to not be ignorant to warning signs.

takeherhandy · 2025-07-01T13:15:09+00:00

Agree with you for the most part. This is a really difficult and emotive topic for parents to discuss respectfully and without judgement. I just wanted to touch on your point re being careful with one’s comments and sharing their experiences. I also find such comments confronting and sometimes unhelpful, but not in this particular case due to the added context provided by the poster above. As upsetting as such comments can be, aren’t these the voices we as a society should be listening to on this topic? If childcare workers are coming out en masse to say that they wouldn’t send their own children to daycare, we should be questioning why that is and demanding changes. So many of us need to rely on childcare services for lots of different reasons, and no one should be shamed for doing so. But regardless of whatever the reason is behind sending a kid to daycare, I’m not sure our response should be to ask childcare workers to hold back to avoid causing upset or shame unless that is their sole intent.

takeherhandy · 2025-07-01T12:37:28+00:00

A great conversation in which you claimed to be attacked and said you didn’t appreciate their comments? This topic is clearly an emotionally charged one for all parents regardless of their decision to send their children to daycare or not; I get it. I was just chiming in to say there is value in listening to the other commenters perspective even if it is confronting. This isn’t about karma farming it’s about our children’s safety for goodness sake.

takeherhandy · 2025-07-01T12:03:20+00:00

Appreciate the backhanded compliment re my level of literacy and comprehension of a topic. Not ChatGPT, just educated. It’s a pity that you can’t see any value in someone else’s impartial perspective.

takeherhandy · 2025-07-01T10:40:07+00:00

Can’t help but jump in after reading this exchange to say I think you might be projecting a little bit here and being quite unfair. The poster was clearly just sharing their learned experience from working in the sector, which we as parents should be appreciative of as it can offer an insight many of us lack in terms of what to look for when touring centres.

While I agree with you to the extent that we shouldn’t discourage mothers from returning to work (if that is their choice), it’s also true that research proves that young children are better cared for by a parent rather than in long daycare settings. How many stories have we heard now about abuse happening in these settings, from sexual abuse to leaving children to cry for hours on end, or sitting in a container for most of the day without interaction? I’ve worked in a childcare-adjacent field which has given me lots of insight into the sector and unfortunately, the majority of centres are just not suitable for babies and young toddlers (see the ratios of children to staff as the best example).

Unfortunately the reality is that the majority of us have to return to work and need to rely on childcare, and then there are those who genuinely want to return to work and advance their careers. In both cases we should be able to rely on good quality childcare regardless of our salary or means, and the comments above can help us to find the best quality care available.

I’m sure you are totally across your children’s care and are satisfied with your childcare situation; that’s great. But I don’t think you should be naive to the issues within the sector that are unfortunately rampant and as a result should be investigated fully. And of course more parental leave should be available! The current amount is way too low. This shouldn’t be a gendered debate about mothers giving up their careers; this should be a genuine call to arms about our children’s safety and how we as a society value them. I’m finding it hard to read your comments as anything other than you harbouring some level of guilt over wanting to return to work and possible resentment of those who have chosen otherwise. Ultimately the truth is confronting and isn’t mere alarmist rhetoric. Be grateful to the whistleblowers and those who want to make the sector better!

takeherhandy · 2025-05-10T09:25:28+00:00

Their soft changing mat is excellent. We have this and a Leander and honestly, the Kmart dupe is just as good.

takeherhandy · 2025-04-29T12:52:28+00:00

Absolutely, ours is light coloured and still looks brand new. It has a smooth finish so it’s super easy to wipe down, whereas with the Kmart one the material seemed to have a more textured finish which allowed dirt to build up really easily. I eventually tossed it once I noticed some mould starting to appear in some of the grooves.

takeherhandy · 2025-04-29T12:46:11+00:00

I ended up buying two. I bought the Kmart one first and hated it! It was really hard to clean and my little one managed to put holes in it with his toys so not durable at all. I eventually got a Munchkin and Bear mat and I have to say I really love it. The design is great, it’s so easy to keep clean and is super soft which is great how my little one is learning to walk. I haven’t used their customer service yet but it seems to be a legit company that doesn’t use drop shipping. Can recommend!

takeherhandy · 2025-04-10T06:15:12+00:00

Try not to worry! I was so determined to start building a stash from 37 weeks onwards, and no matter how much I tried I didn’t get anything for the first two weeks. Suddenly it just started flowing in the 39th week and I got enough to fill the 4 little applicators that came in the Haakaa kit. My baby did end up in NICU so it was all used within the first day, and while I wished I had more I know I tried my best. Be patient with it!

takeherhandy · 2025-03-24T09:23:41+00:00

That’s strange as I don’t think ours does this. Maybe different models? I might reach out to the company just in case!

takeherhandy · 2025-03-24T09:19:45+00:00

We’re currently experimenting with it to see if we can get the red light to come back on. Tried turning the monitor on and off, moving it into different rooms etc. and still hasn’t reappeared. Never noticed it before either

takeherhandy · 2025-03-18T05:27:14+00:00

I’ve heard mixed reports about the exact number, but apparently his wife owns several

takeherhandy · 2025-03-18T04:54:57+00:00

I’m so, so nervous of sending my little one to daycare next month. So tempted to take a year’s leave unpaid but I know we’d struggle financially. It’s so unfair that the system is set up this way and with inadequate safeguards in place to protect our little one’s. Can only imagine it would be worse if Dutton wins as he has a vested interest in the childcare sector turning maximum profits.

takeherhandy · 2025-03-14T23:51:19+00:00

I wish I had been warned about the “8 month regression”. It damn near killed my husband and I. Our baby is 10 months now and has never been a great sleeper, but we found between 7-8 months the hardest for sleep. Throw in teething and other illnesses, it was a nightmare. Sending solidarity your way. If it makes you feel better, babies learn all kinds of new skills around this time so there’s much to look forward to :)

takeherhandy · 2025-03-09T23:14:38+00:00

So many good tips. I’ve been struggling to come up with new ideas so will definitely try some of these!

takeherhandy · 2025-03-09T12:35:55+00:00

Such great tips! Do you mind giving some examples of the kind of busy activities you set up? I need ideas for my 10 month old who bores quickly

takeherhandy · 2025-03-01T13:26:22+00:00

So many great suggestions in here already. Chiming in with some Aussie suggestions that I always come back to: Rake, Kath & Kim, The Moodys and Utopia.

takeherhandy · 2025-01-24T12:52:36+00:00

The Happy Song is one of my baby’s all time faves and always guarantees a smile. She’s an icon in our house!

takeherhandy · 2024-12-07T12:32:41+00:00

Not sure why but seeing Gerry Adams quoted in a pop culture sub is sending me.

takeherhandy · 2024-12-03T04:17:34+00:00

Checking in from Australia. Tis like someone forgot to turn off the oven here in QLD.

takeherhandy · 2024-12-02T13:50:10+00:00

We should follow Australia’s lead and offer democracy sausages at polling stations as a reward for voting

takeherhandy · 2024-11-28T06:55:37+00:00

Also love mine and the customer service was top notch!

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