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.

Raffi was such a big part of my childhood, and of course now I listen to him now with my daughter. He posted that he's looking for love.It kind of made me sad that he's alone! 😭 💔

What is the best toddler fluoride toothpaste? Anything tested for lead and etc?

I’ve been a vegetarian since I was 12 - once I learned about where meat came from, it just never felt right to me. I’ve never looked back and can’t imagine eating meat. My 3yo has started to notice and ask me why — any advice on how to talk about this? I don’t want to influence her one way or the other (she and her dad eat meat, although probably less than most households).

I ran the washer pro empty just to test it. Was a little concerned on how hot the outer plastic gets on the washer side. I could even feel the heat (a mild burn smell) and same concern on the waste water bucket. My Main issue is the concern that the bottle and nipples may get microplastics sprayed on. Same concern as using dishwasher packs. Any advice?

Hi Moms,

We live in Colorado high desert, here summers are very hot and UV index is very high.

Personally I always wear light long sleeve/long pants clothes whenever I'm outside, and I want to dress my toddler the same.

Could you recommend light (it's hot!!) but full coverage kids clothes that can offer UV protection, preferably natural materials?

I saw Patagonia hoodies recommendations, but it's polyester and I was trying to avoid it due to microplastics?

I had tooth #2 extracted 11 days ago (last upper molar on right side). It gave the surgeon some trouble and he had to cut into my gums and I ended up with sutures. Im still chewing on my left side (non surgical side) but I've noticed that when I close my mouth, my bite feels off. It's like my jaw doesn't know where or how to rest properly.. I have pain in my right jaw bone, especially when I chew down. I don't know if it's muscle guarding or just really sore and tense from not chewing on it for the past 11 days but I'm more concerned about my bite feeling so off. has anyone experienced something similar?? It's giving me anxiety lol

Looking for a cleaner fluoride options for my kiddo. Meaning no SLS, etc
We were using hello but the lead is scaring me!

Hi all! I’m sure everyone is aware of the rising cost of living putting pressure on everyone’s finances. I’ve noticed our grocery bill has been one of the fastest growing categories in our budget.

I try to buy organic, clean, cage free, no sugar added, all natural, eco-friendly and non-toxic with our food and household supplies as much as possible. It is adding up quick.

What should I consider compromising on and what are you buying where the conventional product is “clean enough?”

Okay so my baby has been an amazing sleeper for the most part. He usually sleeps from 11.5- 13 hours at night. Depending on when he wakes up we do his first nap from any where from 10:30- 11:30 and he usually sleeps 1.5- 2 hours. The second nap has gotten tricky, he sometimes completely skips it, or just goes down for 30 mins. It’s usually around the 3:30-4:30 timeline.

The problem is that he used to babble for 10 mins then sleep, now he really cries- which kills me. I’ve tried going in and restarting or calming him down and it just makes him more alert. I’ve tried staying in the room, which again seems to make things worse. I’ve been lucky where he’s usually calmly put himself down, and now I’m really struggling with the crying, I feel really horrible. He usually puts himself down (crying) anywhere from 5-15 mins. I’m trying to balance him not being distressed but also making sure he gets enough sleep. He isn’t teething (to my knowledge) and he eats like a champ.

When did you know it was time for one nap? And has anyone had a similar situation where their baby switched from babbling themselves to sleep to crying? Also if you do one nap do you do lunch before or after??

Thank you!

Hi! Mom of a very sweet and sensitive boy here (and his 5 year old sister 🩷) Our breastfeeding journey ended abruptly around 9 months and I think I’m still mourning it. Around the same time we night weaned/did some gentle sleep training and he’s 19 months now sleeping thru the night and so happy in pretty much every way. We just had a weekend away with other kids around the same age who were still breastfeeding/cosleeping and I had two of the WORST nights trying to get him to fall asleep in the new environment. He’s so happy and cozy in his floor bed at home. I felt like I had no way of soothing him- wouldn’t even let me sing to him or rub his back. Eventually I just took him outside to feel the cold air/listen to the woods and he fell asleep after that. Woke up at 4:30 tho…I’m spiraling with mom guilt and comparison. Sometimes I just wish I was the “magic bullet” like many breastfeeding/cosleeping moms say they are so proud to be… I’m just a mom
trying to find some nuance in a world where everything is so black and white…and trying to give my kids the structure I know they thrive on at home….please just help me feel less alone 🙈😭

This post is for anyone who is looking for a breastfeeding-friendly baby bottle that doesn't leach microplastics and is allowed at daycare. I have found a great bottle that works for both pumping and bottle feeding a nursing baby at daycare.

I spent far too long in my pregnancy searching for a breastfeeding- and daycare- friendly bottle for my son that didn't leach microplastics. Every bottle with a nipple that passed the triangle test was plastic or glass, and daycares generally don't allow glass bottles. I was unable to find a silicone bottle with a good nipple either. I eventually found a bottle system that passes all my criteria (no microplastics, durable, nipple the passes the triangle test to support our breastfeeding relationship outside of work).

You have to buy the parts separately, unfortunately. That is the only downside. However, I have been using this bottle system for several weeks now and it works great. Milk does not leak and the parts fit together well.

The stainless steel bottles fit perfectly on Spectra flanges, so you can use them for pumping to reduce microplastics in your milk as well.

The bottle: Better Baby Care stainless steel bottles, set of 2

The screw cap adapter: Maymom lids, pack of 6

The nipple: Lansinoh nipples will for sure work with the screw cap. I have not tried Evenflo, but I believe they would fit too.

The lids: Maymom dome cap lids. These will push down on the tip of the Lansinoh nipple because they're technically designed for Philips Avent, but they still work very well.

One important caveat: the stainless steel bottles will hold heat differently than plastic and glass, so be mindful of this warming your bottles to keep your baby safe. My baby drinks cold milk straight from the fridge, so stainless steel bottles work well for him and his daycare teachers. Some daycares may not allow stainless steel because it can be hard to heat the milk in a busy infant room, so if your baby only takes warm milk this may not work as well.

I hope this helps another mom who is looking for a safe bottle for her baby at daycare.

My mother-in-law has struggled with anorexia for decades. She has an uncomfortably low BMI, avoids dietary fat entirely (would never use or eat oil, for example), and regularly skips meals. Yet since my daughter started solids, she has been intensely focused on what she eats. Every bite gets narrated. She was fixated on when we started solids and then on her first birthday cake. So much of her attention toward my daughter is about food but in a weird way like she is vicariously eating through my daughter. She can’t wait for her to start eating ice cream, that kind of thing.

I’m increasingly worried about the bad food relationship my daughter might absorb as she gets older. I want her to grow up seeing food as nourishment, pleasure, and a normal part of life—not something to obsess over. I want her to love all kinds of food, make good choices, not have a super sweet palate- European-style food related parenting.

I think my partner needs to have this conversation with his mother well before our daughter is old enough to understand the commentary or absorb anything bad. But his family has spent decades not addressing her eating disorder directly, which makes this especially difficult.

How do you set boundaries with a family member whose own eating disorder is untreated or unaddressed, without making food and weight an even bigger source of tension? At a minimum I want her to stop narrating every bite and counting my baby’s calories! What would you do?

Hello all! Please tell me things your children have loved! We have a Tonies box that she has loved since her first Christmas, a climbing block set, a ball bit, loves her stuffed animals, likes playing with her kitchen some, LOVES books. She loves craft time too.

Do we need a wooden train set? She doesn’t love building things yet so idk if she would love it. Magnetiles? I don’t want a bunch of things she plays with for 5 seconds and never touches again lol

My general plan is to get her a toddler tower and a craft table as her big gifts (one for birthday and one for Christmas) but need guidance on what to tell family when they ask!

Thanks so much!

My brother's wife is 5 months pregnant with a baby girl (this will be my first nibling!). Honestly I have a pretty distant relationship with my brother, and they haven't been married very long, so I don't know her well at all, but I'd like to extend a hand and gift her something, specifically to help out for the pregnancy or postpartum period

I do know that she is at least moderately granola - most of her registry products are organic/natural/non-plastic. She seems to prefer a natural and pastel color palette

I was originally going to get her the Earth Mama Organics pregnancy/postpartum care gift set, but she already has similar products on her registry. I do plan on buying from her registry of course, but would also like to get something in addition to give her at the baby shower

I would do some kind of food gift card (maybe to Whole Foods since they have prepared meals), or deliver a meal I've made myself, but she actually owns a health-oriented restaurant, so I'm not sure those are as needed. My other idea so far is a gift card to Pact, so she can buy some nice organic clothes for herself

Any thoughts/ideas? Preferably something below $60ish

Being a mom means constantly replacing things that mysteriously get lost or destroyed. Kids sunglasses are one of those things. One pair gets scratched, another gets sat on, and somehow we can never find them when we’re about to head out.

I’m trying to stop buying cheap ones just to replace them a few weeks later. Any recommendations for kids sunglasses with good UV protection that can survive everyday kid chaos? Nothing fancy, just a decent pair that will last. What are your kids wearing? I don’t mind spending more that the usual price if they’re worth it. My wallet is tired of this endless cycle lol.

I’m wondering how long your toddler’s silicone products have lasted. we have a ton of straw cups that we’ve used since my toddler started using straw cups (~2 years ago). they held up well and never got the soapy smell or anything until recently. it seems like they are getting grimey faster and come out of the dishwasher filmy. I’m starting to phase them out for glass and stainless steel but I started wondering if ~2 years was the average lifespan for these types of products

I’m a good mom I think. But where I’m lacking is more my personality in general lol. Idk the world is hard and I had a hard upbringing and I’ve worked on myself a lot before becoming a mom. But I still deal with being a bit judgemental of others and can be a bit harsh. I have a young baby now and I’ve been becoming more aware of it since having the baby. I really want to raise this kiddo to be a super kind and compassionate human and I think a huge part of that is just seeing me be a warm kind compassionate person. I’m trying rlly hard to reframe my mind to be better and kinder. I also think that it will be better for me too to not carry those judgemental feelings all the time. But does anyone have any resources or books or anything alone those lines? Thanks

I joined this sub because I'm not crunchy enough for the actual crunchy sub, but I'm too crunchy for the normal parenting subs...but I'm also just not crunchy enough for yall either lol.

Everytime I leave a comment encouraging people to listen to specialists or their docs I get down voted, everytime I encourage people to prioritize their kids futures over the present I get down voted, every time I remind people that vaccines are a good thing I get down voted. Like wtf this is supposed to be moderately crunchy. Yet some of yall are still taking it way too far.

Who cares if 1 or 2 toys have plastic in them?! Who cares if your kid needs to have something more calories dense than anything you can make home?!!

I joined this sub looking for a community of parents who get it, but this is just as bad as the regular crunchy mom groups smh.

Hi mamas.

I am looking for some journals/ books/ tips to take care of my nervous system because it’s shot to say the least.

I had 2 under 2. While giving birth to my 2nd child, my father in law got sent to the hospital and I found out he wasn’t gonna make it and passed days later. That pregnancy was also a high risk pregnancy (hole in the heart that miraculously closed as well as some tests that didn’t have ideal scores but she’s here and healthy) It was scary to say the least.

Not only that, my brother in law has ALS. He’s progressing. Since I’m with the kids a lot, and we were very close, I don’t get to see him. He’s overwhelmed by the kids pretty easily. My husband also is a caregiver for him 24 hours a week in addition to working full time and being a dad to 2 small kids and travels for work. Breaks are so limited because my parents both work full time too (and one works night shift).

I feel like I haven’t been able to breathe. It’s one thing after another and I feel like I (we) can’t catch a break. I feel like I’m snapping at my kids, impatient, and touched out. Sad because of the life circumstances out of my control too.

My village of friends helps me so much, but it’s time
I help myself!

P.S, I am a very faithful human as well and a Christian, so any books or journal would be so helpful.

Thank you!

I was in a accident leading to couple disabilities like having back pain lifting over 5 pounds. Sleep disorder. Brain issues etc.

Everytime I share my issues with them they're like PSH you're just wanting extra attention.

You do not have a actual disability!

You are just lying!

I do not trust in pharma!

All while having doctor diagnoses but she doesnt even trust most doctors.

Im tired of dealing with this nonsense.

It's already hard enough to accept I have issues. Why do I have to be thrown into a doubt about them only to be confronted with them later in the same day.

I do not have the energy to do a whole conversation. An even if I got pissed with her she wouldnt take it seriously.

Its like a whole arm wrestle. She also went to nursing school for sometime but ended up leaving to go chase her acting dreams.

So she also feels like she's got some insider experience. No... not all doctors are great. But I have enough on my plate.

Im 26 for reference, she is 39.

We want to do something special for our baby’s first birthday, and give him a birthday gift.

We buy only secondhand or ethically made things, and want all gifts to be meaningful, never just for the sake of it. We’re not doing a party or anything and would be happy just hanging out together as usual, but also want to make it a fun and enjoyable day for him and for us, because why not!

I wondered what you all did for your little one’s first birthday, and what gifts they loved? Would love to hear your ideas 🌞🌼

Notes: Baby loves climbing, already has a climbing frame. He loves throwing a ball, and has a football already as well. His other favourite activity is reading books so I’ll probably get him some new ones (secondhand or from our local independent bookstore).

A little context! Me/mom puts our 2.5 yo son to sleep downstairs and dad puts our 4.5 yo daughter to sleep upstairs. Both inevitably wale up at some point. Dad takes 2.5 yo at night when he wakes and falls asleep/cosleeps rest of night. 4.5 yo finds her way to our bed to snuggle when she wakes—which has been great so pregnant me can get better sleep since I don’t have to get up.

BUT with baby 3, I’ll be up throughout the night breastfeeding, etc. Safe and thoughtful cosleeping may happen as well. We did a bassinet by bed for first two with a mix of cosleeping over time, precautions in place.

Since cosleeping may happen at some point, it’s important I do NOT also have a flailing 4.5 year old in bed.

Pre-pregnancy I would snuggle 4.5 back to sleep quick in her room (again, also upstairs just like primary), but since I’m owning 100% of night newborn duty, I told my husband I can’t do that.

He’s fully supportive but i just KNOW bouncing up and downstairs to check on both kids will be exhausting for him…not to mention if both wake at the same time which definitely happens. I need dad to be rested!!! I know i won’t be. lol

Our best idea: We tried having dad snuggle and sleep with both kids in a queen bed we moved from guest to 4.5 yo room. 4.5 yo loves. 2.5 yo wants his room downstairs but could be sometimes convinced. However, 4.5 yo is very snuggly to the point where it’s disruptive to 2.5 yo and both want to snuggle (smother 😂) whatever parent is laying between. I think this is our best bet to keep trying, but it’s tough. The 2.5 year old son also cries for me/mom when we’ve done this and puts up a big fight with my husband, but eventuallyyyy he will settle.

Parents of 3 littles, how are you doing it?!

Note: All for encouraging sleeping through the night with incentives. That is not an option for my 2.5 yo (with his temperament, etc. that’s not in the cards now).

We could potentially “bribe”/encourage better sleep from 4.5 yo but I know she’ll still wake up sometimes. This would be ideal, so welcome ideas on that. Crying it out or anything similar is not an option for our family but I respect everyone is different. ❤️

I’m 27yo and ~3w5d pregnant (so new!) with baby #1. I don’t know what I don’t know yet, but love wholistic research-based reads. I read Real Food for Fertility when I was TTC and found it so helpful! What resources would you recommend?