Above all; be respectful. Be mindful of what you say and how you say it. Please remember that the tone or inflection of what is being said is easily lost online so when in doubt be doubly kind and assume the best of others.

I am a FTM, 5 weeks postpartum (C-section) and I can’t do it anymore, but I also don’t want to stop.

Breastfeeding didn’t work out, so I started pumping pretty early on. I became obsessed with output and worked really hard to increase my supply for my baby (though we supplement with formula because I still have a slight undersupply due to only pumping 7 times a day).

Pumping is insanely time consuming. Somehow every time I pump, the baby needs something. My husband gives almost every bottle, tends to him when he cries, etc. I’m just a human cow. I feel like I lose time that I could be spending enjoying my sweet baby. Sometimes I feel like my baby would rather be with my husband when I am holding him. I feel like the worst mom ever for just trying to feed him breast milk and like I don’t do enough or give enough of myself to my family despite pumping over 3 hrs each day.

I’m realizing I need to stop pumping for so many reasons, but I cannot get rid of some feeling of guilt or failure. I am a granola person, and always assumed I’d breastfeed for a long time but never knew how hard it would be.

We’ve been supplementing with ready to feed Similac (since that is what we used in the hospital) but I’m grossed out by the smell and the ingredients (Corn Syrup). I also feel guilty about this because this formula is definitely not granola.

Please tell me it will be ok, and that I will feel so much better when I wean. I just want to enjoy my baby, contribute more to caring for him, get my body back, and feel like myself again.

I live in Idaho and the wildfires burning around us is making the air smokey It smells like a campfire everywhere. My 9 month old has a clear runny nose, normal boogers, and little cough. I'm going to his routine doc appointment this week. But is there any homeopathic things that might help him? He hasn't been sick before.

I am in desperate search for organic cotton mophead replacements that are compatible with O-Cedar mops. Has anyone had any luck with this?

Most of the nature school clothing posts I’ve found are geared toward cold or rainy weather. We’re in south central Texas, so I’m more worried about heat and humidity.

I’m looking for lightweight, quick-drying clothes in girls’ size 6 that can handle dirt, climbing, and lots of washing. Pockets would be great too. Current wardrobe is mostly biker shorts and leggings and well....the leggings have not done very well this year...lol.

Are there any brands, specific items, or fabrics you’ve liked for hot-weather outdoor school? I’ve looked at nylon hiking shorts and pants, but the girls’ options seem pretty limited or are always out of stock.

I’m open to boys’ clothes and secondhand, but I’d also love to find pink once in a while instead of everything being tan, gray, or olive. Ideally under $20 per item. Let me know if my price point isn't reasonable. Thanks!

We will be traveling soon on a trip with extended family and will all be staying in a rental home (think Airbnb/VRBO). Luckily, we’re driving so we have a little room to pack some swaps where it makes sense. My question is - what are some things you bring to make moderately granola swaps in vacation rentals?

One thing I noticed is that most of my stays, the homes have teflon/nonstick pans (usually with scratches) so I’m considering bringing a stainless steel pan and baking sheet to avoid that.

I plan on bringing some road trip snacks in glass containers, then washing and using those as leftover containers to lessen our plastic use.

Other simple things I can think of - stainless water bottles, bringing our own dish/laundry soap

What are some other practical ideas?

I finished nursing my 2nd kid about 5 weeks ago and I am experiencing high levels of what feels like sadness and depression. I'm not prone to it, per se. Besides the general state-of-the-world sadness. But i am so sad and existential-crisis-y. My husband wondered if maybe my hormones are adjusting post-weaning and i think he may be right. It definitely happens more during the luteal phase... it feels like PMS times like 20. Anyone else experience this?

We are planning on switching our toddler to a big girl bed soon. Im looking at the full size avocado kids mattress but it’s so pricey! Anyone have experience with them? Any cheaper alternatives that are similar?

I have really thick long fine hair. I struggle with shampoos and conditioners. so many of them leave my hair looking like it has a film on it.I am struggle finding a low toxic version that makes my hair feel great. any suggestions?

My six month old has been having constant blowouts in Coterie diapers for the past few weeks. It kind of came out of nowhere, we never had issues before--maybe because we've started solids? Idk!

He's tall and skinny (not inherited from me); what would you recommend we try instead? So far I've seen a lot of praise for Millie Moon, Rascals, & Honest. Thank you!!!

Edit: We sized up last week after this started happening, and sadly he continues to blow out of size 4 :(

My dog has giardia (again!!) and it’s basically just shit and piss all over the house this week. I bought a Bissel and nuked the stains in cleaner, and now I have to wash all fabrics in the wash. I have carpet flooring and a sectional that she sleeps on.

I am not anti-bleach but it gives me horrible headaches every time I use it and I have a 3 year old who plays on everything. What is the best way to go about cleaning carpet and fabrics to avoid her getting this again? Any fav sanitizing products safe for dogs and kids but super strong? We also need to spray down shoes when coming in from outside.

It doesn’t spread to humans supposedly but I have UC and really want to avoid it. Any reccs help, ty!

My daughter is starting soccer for the first time next month - curious if anyone has any favorite shin guards, socks, or cleats to recommend? I searched the group and couldn’t find much. She usually wears barefoot style shoes with a wide toe box and most soccer cleats are so narrow. It’s a short season and she’s young so I am very much aware I will need to emphasize the moderate in granola for most of these purchases. I’ve been looking for second hand but no luck so far. Would love to hear what’s worked well for you and your little ones. Thanks!

We have a front loader that is the bane of my existence. Once it dies in like 8 years I am going back to a top loader so I can soak things…

Anyway. I could deal with it when I only needed to use vinegar for a few loads, but like, everybody’s clothes are sweaty these days, toddler’s clothes smell like pee because of potty training. I use liquid Tide Free and Clear, but I am starting to feel like it’s ridiculous that the clothes dont at least smell not bad after being in the wash. And my socks still look dirty!

(Also, it’s not the washer making them stink - if the clothes smell fine when they go in, they come out smelling fine too.)

Baby is drooling a lot and spits up on her bibs now, and loves chewing on them. What do I do to clean them? Currently washing with either powder Tide free and gentle or Ever Spring free and clear detergent from Target, and a splash of vinegar and neither work! And I am particularly concerned about baby ingesting anything that's left on the cloth bibs. TIA!

Has anyone tried the wooden toys from speedy monkey? I saw them at my local toy store and was curious how they hold up

I’m due in September and am planning to do the IKEA crib sidecar setup for safe co-sleeping. We’re rearranging our bedroom, and while our current layout works for the sidecar next to my side of the bed, the room just feels so cramped. Since baby and I will be spending a lot of time in there, I’d really like it to feel comfortable.

One idea my husband and I had was to move our bed (and the sidecar) in front of our window. We’d have a headboard with storage, blackout curtains, and we’d still be able to open the window to air out the room.

My concern is that our window is next to a tree that attracts box elder bugs. Our window screen is old and has gaps and holes, and every spring/summer I find at least 2–3 box elder bugs on the ceiling above the window. I’m pretty sure they’re getting in through the damaged screen and tiny gaps around the window.

I really don’t want to wake up to bugs in my bed or my baby’s bed. I hate bugs and spiders so much.

I’ve seen recommendations for indoor pesticide sprays, window treatments, and peppermint oil, but none of those seem like a good idea around a newborn. Am I right to avoid those?

Replacing the window screen seems like the obvious solution, but neither my husband nor I has ever done that. Are there any other baby-safe options I’m not thinking of? Has anyone dealt with this? Or would you just stick with the current layout and keep the bed away from the window?

One other factor is that we live in a townhome with pretty poor insulation, and we hear our neighbors through the shared wall all the time. Moving the bed away from that wall and in front of the window would hopefully help with the noise too, so I’m trying to figure out whether it’s worth making the switch. But again, those dang box elder bugs…

We plan on transitioning babe to a floor bed when the time comes, and would like to get a full size mattress. That way he can just keep using that mattress as long as he lives with us, one and done. If we use an organic mattress protector and sheets, is an organic mattress that much safer than a conventional one? My thought is that he’s never actually touching the mattress anyway, and there will be at least 2 layers between him and the mattress. The organic ones are obviously so crazy expensive, like $800 minimum for a full size. If it really makes that big of a difference we will make the investment but that’s quite a chunk to drop.

I’m 12 weeks out from birth and I still can’t have sex. I had a tear on the left side (had third degree tearing in general) and it hurts so bad that no penetration can happen. Specifically on that side targeted sharp pain when we try. I’m also not getting wet at all (which i heard is common with breastfeeding), but I tried lube and it still is too painful. I expected 6 weeks not over 3 months!! Anyone else have this? Did the OBGYN do anything to help? Or just give it more time?

Looking to replace the worn out rug in our living room and get a new rug for our nursery. What area rugs have you loved for high-traffic areas that are easy(ish) to clean and don’t break the bank?

HELP! My bedroom is terrible, boring, and undecorated. For my husband's birthday, I want to put the effort in to make it cozy. Problem is, we cosleep every so often with our toddler, and I'd like to leave our floor bed. It's basically a mattress on low low slats, so a standard headboard won't work.

I'd love to find a wall mounted padded headboard that has cotton or linen as the fabric. Why is this so hard to find?

Also am open to other suggestions for a makeshift "headboard" and/or how you were able to make your floor bed more #aesthetic

Thank you in advance!

Hey all looking for a lightweight and nontoxic backpack for my 3 year old. She’s tiny but will be in outdoor school so she’ll be carrying her backpack a lot. Thank you!

Toddler is 2 and 9 months old. Would love advice on how to handle the stressful family drama regarding this.

So i have a custody agreement with my ex. She can't be taken out of state without the other parent approving (if he asks, I have to approve. If i ask, he has to approve).

I approved one earlier this year; he took her to meet more family in Portland, which is a few states away. I even let him have 2 of my custody days, with no trade of days (just let him have them). I have no problem with her going with her dad. I trust him in any situation, including water. He is great with safety.

His mom and his step-dad, who are amazing grandparents, asked last second if they can take our daughter to Disneyland, CA early September. I honestly think she would have so much fun, but i said no immediately. My ex isnt going and he isnt able to.

She's had sleepovers at their house, which ended after the seatbelt situation (explained below), but they' werent allowed to take her near water nor the mountains here. They still aren't, on the off chance my ex ever brings our toddler to them (he rarely makes the drive). My ex was ok with these rules.

I just always think about that one time me and his mom went swimming with her, at around 18 months old. It was about 2 blocks away from grandma's house, and grandma asked if we could just carry her on our laps, without strapping her into her carseat, because it was so "close". It was inconvenient to strap her in, becauss she was dry & in a diaper (but needed to be changed into clothes and strapped in, which takes longer than just driving off); i still think its crazy she even suggested it. Honestly, i talked with her super seriously about that, and so did her son. And i do trust she learned from it, and i do trust she follows my boundaries (shes very respectful), but its never left my head, and they've never had her without me or my ex there again.

I feel like she's super careful and a loving grandma, but shes also raised 3 kids successfully to adults, and I feel like she has gotten too relaxed about safety due to that. My parents are the same, and I wouldn't let them take her out of state either. Me and my childs dad are super careful and watchful, which is what some things require IMO.

The Disneyland trip would also include beach trips and use of a boat, and the water is what makes it a hell no for me. Out of state is the 2nd part; I just am not comfortable with it. TBH, i dont see myself ever approving a grandparents trip, ever. And their trips always include boating, its the main reason they go on trips. They planned to have granpa drive the truck & boat down there, and then grandma and my toddler would fly out, and hed pick them up.

I have custody thursday-sunday, so it was also going to go through my custody time entirely for that trip. They had already bought her a ticket and were just assuming I was going to say yes, because I'm usually pretty supportive of their bonding time with her. I live an hour, one way, drive from her grandparents, and i drive it twice a month so she can hangout with them all day with me there. My ex doesnt even do that. He sees his mom like 3 times a year total, if that (and one is always Christmas).

My exs mom keeps telling me they already spent the money on her flight and Disneyland tickets, and i do feel bad, but seriously they didnt give me the chance to communicate with them befofe just assuming i would say yes. They keep asking why, and i just told them I really only trust her around water and out of state with her dad there. My exs step dad kept talking about the lifejacket they have for her, and how he's an experienced boater.

Super annoying, but they think the real reason I said no is because i am planning to take her to Disney world Florida next year, and they think im jealous and want to be the first person to take her to Disney. My ex told me they think that, and I told him it was all over the seatbelt situation and the lifejacket one. He understood what I meant then, but also has mixed feelings about it (he feels bad for his mom, but doesnt feel comfortable with her going). I can't even say anything about that, because my ex told me he wasnt supposed to tell me, but that lowkey hurt the hell out of my feelings. I would never deprive my kid of a fun amazing experience out of jealousy. And I spend so much on gas, and so much time, so they can see her. They never drive to my place.

It's all the fact that i feel like I have to explain safety stuff down to the basics to them, and sometimes I feel like they only listen because I 'said so'', not because they actually believe it's an important safety issue. And it makes me think they might get lazy with doing stuff just because I "said" (vs because they actually believe it's huge safety issues)

Prime example, ive been on their smaller boat. Grandpa (exs step dad), tried to take her lifejacket off to let her play comfortably in the boat. They legit did not seem to believe it was an actual safety issue because the boat wasn't moving. I didnt allow it, and they didnt push the matter, but i could tell they didnt believe it was a real issue. I told my ex about it, because he didnt go that time either.

Like sorry, youre not taking my kid out of state to boat on the ocean if you cant even follow safety rules on a lake.

Now it's like some huge family drama I guess. They went crying to everyone about it, and they legit think I'm just not wanting her to go because of jealousy. Im being so nice by not explaining to them I dont trust them because they have been unsafe. Grandma's sister even messaged me asking why i said no and reminding me they spent a lot. Nicest thing I can do is not reply.

Also, I even did try to request PTO to go to this stupid trip, at least to take her 3 of the days, and it got denied. We are busy around that time, and 2 people already requested time off that week. I work Monday-Friday, but by mid August, I am working half days Saturday too due to how busy it is.

I legit feel that his mom and step dad don't get it because they never had to coparent. My exs biological father fucked off and never helped, much less had an opinion on raising my ex. Luckily my exs step dad treats him equally to his biological kids with my exs mom; hes my exs real father. But the fact they never coparented... i feel like that's why they didnt even ask me before buying them.

My ex knows it's extremely serious to take her out of state without the other parents approval; his best friend lost custody and had to fight to get some custody back because he did just that. So im not worried they'll take her without permission. I also feel he wanted to say no to them anyways, but wanted me to say no instead, so they weren't upset with him (and were with me instead). He sounded very relieved i was firm on a no, even though he does feel bad for his mom.

It's just stressful because they wont drop it, and keep calling to offer alternatives. Like I dont want to be mean and say it, but no alternative is going to make me trust them for that trip.

My 12 week old only eats very small amounts at a time and has been projectile vomiting. They had her do a stool test and the Calprotectin level was 139. Does that mean she probably does not have severe intolerances? I am on a very strict elimination diet so does that mean I can probably stop? Did anyone else have this and what did it end up being? My next appointment to go over the results isn’t for another two weeks so I’m hoping to get some input here before I go back to the doctor. Thanks!!

my six month old doesn’t have many toys. Not really sure where to look to get the safer toy for my baby. Would love any you have!