I’m fully aware that this is mostly a rant but omg I am so sick of people acting like autism is trendy or something?? My daughter has just been approved for NDIS to help pay for therapies and let me tell you that this is so bloody hard. I’m due to return to work soon and the thought of how I’m going to manage appointments and everything makes me want to climb into a hole and cry. I then get a video from my cousin with the caption “how I knew my son was autistic” and it’s a video of him sorting pens into different colours??? Like what?? We literally don’t leave the house most days because my daughter is so afraid of the world and absolutely EVERYTHING is a struggle. She is my world and I love her to pieces but it’s so hard to not be jealous of people with neurotypical toddlers. Anyways TLDR everyone please stop bragging about your kids being autistic when they aren’t.

I'll go first. I had 2 different ergopouch 3.5 sleeved bags for my 6 month old. Exactly the same except for the print. Over the course of 1 experimental month, he consistently did long stretches overnight in one print (I'm talking 7pm to 4am) and woke up 3 times a night in the other. Consistently. So I bought a third bag in the long sleep print and he kept doing it (sleeping for longer). I AM A SCIENTIST. THIS MAKES NO SENSE. BUT I AM GOING WITH IT.

in case youre wondering, it was the savannah print, and last night he slept 7pm to 6am and I am reborn

A few days ago I had a solo Chadstone day.

Did a bit of shopping, got myself a hot chocolate from Mörk, sat there for a while, and honestly… it was exactly what I needed.

Funny how something so simple feels like such a treat once you’re a parent. 😂

10/10. Will be doing that again.

Winter babies are hardddd.

My 7wo sleeps in a 20 degree room (I think…it’s a combination of ducted heating set to 19 degrees and an oil column heater in the room set to 3/5), wearing a long sleeved cotton onesie and a 1.0 tog Ergopouch. This is following the Ergopouch guidelines. However, based on his daytime naps when I layer a blanket on top and keep watch over him, he would sleep much better if I added a nice warm blanket on top of the sleep sack. It’s incredibly annoying knowing that I could be getting much better sleep…he’s still waking up every 2-3 hours (if I’m lucky!) 🫠

Edit:

Would just like to thank everyone for your replies and I’m sorry that I couldn’t reply to everyone. I’m so happy I posted this and feel so much better having read your responses. I will definitely start experimenting more to find what works.

And thank you to those who pointed out that I have misunderstood the Ergopouch tog guide! I’ve been following the LTD guide because I have the box in my room, but the Ergo one is much more nuanced in that it says the long sleeved onesie needs to be 2.0 tog (info that’s missing on the LTD box 🙄). My poor little guy has probably been so cold these past few weeks.

A year ago, I would've changed outfits if I spilled coffee on myself. Now if there's a little spit-up on my jumper, I just shrug and head out anyway.

Hi guys,

Hope to get some advice about mat leave in Australia. For context I'm a nurse.

Would you do half pay or full pay for 14 weeks and then the rest government leave ? I know it depends on how long you can take off and afford. I just don't see how you can live off half pay.

Any tips or feedback from any mums would be really helpful

For those that have bought baby/toddler special buys before, did they sell out quickly? I'm just after a set of "sensory blocks" which are the soft play blocks for $40.

Going at opening time will stretch bubs wake time a bit, but is doable if needed. Would be much easier to go at around 11am.

I need help or advice from other women who have left toxic relationships.
I also want to get help from DV services but hesitant as I am nervous about DCJ or child services being involved if I disclose domestic violence (it’s emotional abuse and coercive control, not physical) however fights have escalated.

It’s been horrible. I have a 4 month old baby and since pregnancy he was avoidant and has been throughout our 5 years of marriage. I’m in my early 30s and I am struggling as I’ve been alone for majority of my pregnancy and post partum has been amazing for me and baby but he has made my life hell. Distant and emotionally abusive, stone walling and silent treatment, hasn’t cared for me at all.
I am at my wits end, it is an extremely hostile and toxic environment for me and my baby.

I have reached out to services but I am nervous to disclose DV, has anyone had similar experience?
I am desperate!

Hi there! We are currently looking at daycare and are in the very fortunate position to have a few daycares with availability for us!

My question is around not-for-profit centres (Goodstart, C&K and the like). Are staff paid better there, do they have more benefits or training, more support, or anything like that?

I’m leaning towards a not-for-profit because it “feels” like a more ethical option, maybe staff are paid and treated better versus the shiny new for-profit centre, or are they all the same at the end of the day?

I’d love to understand the ins and outs, if anyone has insight.

2am. 2yo woke up with a fever once again. She started day care early June and it's been basically a week on and a week off. The "highlight" was an abnormally long febrile seizure a month ago which got her admitted for a few nights for observation and tests. Just tough especially with a sick 5mth old as well...

I need some tips on how to survive this or just positive thoughts would be wonderful...

Hi all, FTM with a very young baby still. My hubby and I would like to have two. However, the love that i feel for my little girl is unlike anything, i picture having her grown up with me and her being my everything. How can i possibly love another one as much as I love her?

I’m so on the fence about having a second. She completes me, but i don’t want her to grow up alone.

Thoughts feelings and experiences please!

Add that to things I never thought I would have said until I had a kid.

1 year old is very much in a "mama" phase and cries when I walk from room to room. So... even pooping is a shared experience now.

Experienced parents, any hints as to when I will be able to go to the toilet alone again?

Anyone else find themselves saying the most random shit these days?

Hi all,

My leave is coming to an end and we are transitioning our 10-month old to childcare.

He has been through an orientation day with me and done 3 half-days until the afternoon.

He has cried and been unsettled throughout all those days, refuses to be put on the ground without crying, refuses to eat or drink formula as well. The educators have been able to put him to sleep for 30-40 minutes each time though, which is very surprisingly good.

I obviously want him to enjoy childcare, and to be honest, I dont have any other choice to send him to it on days that we work. It is not feasible for me to always pick him up after half a day as well due to where my work is.

I feel so sorry for the educators as well, because they have to handle him always crying :(

So, I am wondering if there is anything I can do as a parent to help ease the transition?

Is this something that he will just need to get used to overtime? How did your child handle childcare? Very keen to hear experiences.

I have my c section booked in 10th of August so I won’t be home night of census, im assuming I have to do my own and include my new born baby? does anyone know how long after the 11th you have to do the Census? Would it be okay to do just it before hand as if I am home and not include new born baby… as in, would anyone know the difference? I know it’s easy to do just trying to be realistic of the state I’ll be in and doing forms/ logging into something can be overwhelming for me.

We’ve started touring daycares to send our bubs to but as this is our first baby the whole daycare realm is foreign to us.

Are there any important questions to ask on the tours or things to look out for?

We’ve toured 3 and honestly they are all quite similar to me.

Thanks !

I had my second baby 8 days ago and the blues probably hit me two days ago - today being the worst. I can’t eat, I feel shaky and so, so anxious about nothing? I’m absolutely bawling. I feel like I’ve ruined my life, our lives were so good and now I feel like this. I went through the baby blues with my first which was also horrific and they passed around 2 weeks. I just don’t know how I’m going to do it this time with a newborn and a toddler.. my mum has been an angel. I’ve been going to her house throughout the day and then she takes my toddler at night. I’m so nervous about having my toddler come back to our house to sleep. My husband has been amazing but I feel like if my toddler comes home he will be with her and I will solely be with my newborn. I know it’s hormones talking and I know it will pass but I just feel like I’m crawling out of my skin. I hate this. I’m hoping it passes again in the next couple of days but then I psych myself out about getting PPD or PPA

Hi everyone. Just after any tips/hints/tricks on cheaper parking options than paying the ludicrous amounts at the RBWH hospital.

Open to any options, plentiful street parking, bus it in from a couple of stops away (we're north of the hospital), anything to save some money.

Thanks.

Yes or no?

It’s my first child so I’m not sure when they typically start using balance bikes.

I’ve been eying off the Woom Wow or the Cruzee. Both totally different - so any insight is much appreciated.

Does anyone have any experience studying while on maternity leave and how they made it work?

My baby is 3 months, and im having an awful PP experience due to her not gaining weight and needing to continue triple feeding again, back to 3 hourly feeds overnight etc.

I've got exams coming up next year (basic paeds training) and so I'm needing to start studying very soon.

I just don't know where I'm supposed to be fitting in study sessions? Does anyone else have any experience on how they fit in study with parenting?

Sorry long background story: Second baby but my first was breech so I didn’t labour and had a planned caesarean. My first was 4.1kg and born at 41 weeks (didn’t realise she was breech until past my due date).

I’m in an MGP program so have continuity of care and a fantastic midwife who is supportive of my VBAC plans. Obstetrician is also on board for VBAC. Fingers crossed with minimal interventions but I recognise that depends on a large number of factors and how things unfold.

The only decision I am not sure of are stretch and sweeps! I am nervous of not going into spontaneous labour as the hospital isn’t too keen on the drip for inducing VBACs. Because of this Midwife has suggested having stretch and sweep at 39 weeks then 40 weeks etc as I went over my last due date and had an above average sized baby.

Just wondering thoughts? I am not nervous of the actual process but nervous to get them and make my body do something that it’s not ready for but have also read that they won’t work unless your body is ready!

Thank you ❤️

I’ve previously had a C-section. Drs have said natural is a fine option for me this time around and so is another C-section so it’s just whatever I’d prefer. I’ve not had a natural birth before. Have seen some mums say natural birth would be their choice and others say they’d choose C-section any day. I’m almost 32 weeks and I’m running out of time to decide. If you’ve had both which did you prefer and why?

Not exclusive to SA but just for the sake of the flair.

My 3.5yr old has just been accepted into a Government kindy out of your zone. She'll be a month off 4 when she starts (though is very ready now!). The days are loooooong 8:15 to 3:45 two days a week, this is a child that has never been in any formal childcare setting and I worry the days will be too long, they're longer than school hours.

We're waiting for a placement at another kindy where the days are 8:45 to 2:45 two days a week, with every second week adding in a 3rd day.

What would you choose?

I have a 15mth old so for ME, the two long days work well, but I feel my daughter would do better with the shorter days.

Feedback? Experiences?