u/Holiday_Parsnip5

My family and I will be visiting Istanbul for three weeks in the fall and are staying in Kadikoy. I’m looking for childcare for my 3 year old child (a part time babysitter or nanny). I’m specifically looking for someone Turkish and would love someone with a background in education/modern childcare practices. Where should I start my search? Are there reliable services I should look into, or Facebook groups, or anything similar to Care.com in the US?

I’m looking for recs!

Realizing I’m going to be wearing my 5 month old all summer long and I need a super breathable, not bulky carrier with cross/X straps. I’m 5 4 if that’s relevant and will be the main person to use it. Optimizing for comfort and coolness, but a forward facing option would be fun (although very low priority as we’d do this occasionally only as a novelty). Other super low priority but fun thing would be if it could fit my 35lb toddler as well - but also not important at all.

I’ve been looking at Hope & Plum Lark, Happy Baby Versa, and various Tulas.

I have a woven wrap already and like it but need something I can throw on quickly with less adjustment (also have a toddler) and the wrap isn’t that for me yet.

Thank you!!

Yurtdışında yaşıyorum ve çocuğumun Türkçe öğrenmesi için çabalıyorum (3 yaşında). İngilizce kitap okuduğunda kafiyelere bayılıyor - Dr. Seuss, Sandra Boynton gibi yazarları seviyor mesela, basit şiirleri ezberlemeyi seviyor vs. Türkiye’ye gittiğimizde bolca Türkçe kitap alıyorum ona ama çoğunda kafiye yok. Önerebileceğiniz kitap veya yazar var mı? Türk yazar tercihimdir ama Türkçeye çevirilmiş kitaplar bile olabilir. Teşekkürler fikirleriniz için!

My baby is about 13 pounds. When I front carry them using my Didymos wrap, they’re comfortable. However, if it’s been a few hours when I remove them from the wrap, they often have red imprints on their butt and legs from creases in the wrap. I’m not sure these are bothering them, but the marks don’t look comfortable.

Anything I can do to mitigate? Should I be more careful to avoid creases in the wrap (I’m not sure how, but happy to explore)?

Where can I buy Dutch process cocoa on island? Shop & Stop doesn’t carry it per my husband. Any other suggestions?

Sad vent post - hope that’s okay.

I had HELLP with both of my children - the first developed (alongside preeclampsia) during my induction at 37 weeks due to hypertension, and the second at 35 weeks out of the blue. Both of my kids were low birthweight, and the second was in the NICU for three weeks. I talked to an MFM specialist today and learned that the likelihood of repeat HELLP after having it in multiple pregnancies is about 50%.

Unless something drastically changes in the treatment of HELLP, I’m unlikely to pursue another pregnancy. I’m too afraid of needing another preterm delivery. My kids are thriving despite the low birthweight and early births, and another pregnancy feels like tempting fate. I would be so stressed the whole time.

But I’m really mourning the loss of a potential third pregnancy. I wasn’t even sure I wanted three kids, but the loss of choice is gutting. I loved being pregnant, and am sad I won’t be again. I wish I’d gotten to experience being 40 weeks pregnant instead of having abrupt, scary ends to my pregnancies. I also feel guilty for feeling bad for myself - I’m so lucky to have had my pregnancies and to have these healthy kids, it feels greedy and entitled to want more.

Sigh. Just looking for commiseration and hugs from internet strangers 🤦🏻‍♀️

Any suggestions for a stainless steel water bottle *with a small mouth*? I have the Kleen Kanteen plastic free one and am looking for something with a smaller mouth - I end up spilling on myself while drinking and walking with the KK bottle, or in the car. The Pura Vida sport top bottle is perfect except the lid constantly opens in my bag and spills the bottle’s entire contents.