u/ladygroot_

I doubt anyone will read this or that this will get to who it needs to go to, but I would like to get this off my chest.

We camped at New Brighton this week. We were between two families that either knew each other or had made friends with each other, both with several kids. The kids kept playing inside our campsite. Like literally, inside our bear box, hiding behind our bear box and climbing the tree in our site.

My husband kindly asked them to not play inside our campsite last night. They were inside "our" tree yelling at 7 this morning, waking my family up. I finally asked them to play in their trees and the kids were kind, but the parents were absolutely not policing their children. I'm a mom of two, I get it, I'm tired too, but I would not allow this.

Waking my infant son up an hour earlier than usual quite literally ruined our whole day. Packing was harder. Driving home was harder. No good naps, just screaming, all day.

Not sure if I'm out of the loop on new rules, we are lifelong campers and know there is a sense of community in a campground, so please tell me if I'm out of line but I thought it was impolite to "trespass" on other people's campsites.

Happy camping ❤️

TW discussion of amounts and nursing

FINALLY A WEARABLE THAT WORKS FOR MEEEEEEE.

At first it was a little pinchy and I was like oh great this is gonna be just like the last ones. I've tried them all. Literally all of them including that last eufy. But I just went about my business and it got better and maxed out the heat and massage settings and then bam! Almost a whole ounce in 7 min!!!

This was an end of day pump after nursing, I've been power pumping to increase supply after transitioning to more breastfeeding (EP x 5 months). For me, these pumps at this time of day are 0.5 to 1 oz on my Medela symphony in 15-20 min so comparable to my primary pump. I'm normally very sensitive to pumps and flanges and need minimal suction and I was able to increase to half max strength comfortably (on suction).

I go back to work next month and I work 12's so it was important to me that I pump on the way to and from work.

All in all I'm kind of sad I like it because it's so expensive and I was hoping to return it lol but here we are! Anyone have any questions?

I am 6m pp and have recently noticed on days I get a workout in I am dry as a bone that night. I am eating enough calories (whatever I gd want), drinking plenty, electrolytes, the whole shabang. It's currently 1am and my son has latched 57 times in the last two hours and is getting dust it feels like.

My daughter is 3.5 and is extremely attached to me, which I love, but I'm really worn down right now. I’m naturally introverted and I feel like I never get even 30 seconds of mental space (and we have a new baby in the house, who was a preemie and needs a lot still). She is a constant stream of talking and bidding for my attention, I'm well aware that's what she's doing, and I conjure what I can to serve and return as much as possible.

But seriously, she follows me into every room, cries if I leave the room for a minute, even if I announce it ("mommy is going to grab the sunscreen and I will be right back"), wants to watch me go to the bathroom/change clothes, and constantly wants me to watch her do things and narrate/react to everything she does. EVERYTHING. I know that’s normal toddler behavior to an extent, but it feels nonstop and she does not take no for an answer. I can’t look at my phone to answer a text or add something to a shopping list, I need to be clear that I use brick to block my apps and regularly go all day without scrolling, so I'm not saying I want to scroll, these are necessary communications or tasks. We cosleep though due to the new baby, she is sleeping with dad. She has panic about sleeping alone, which I'm not worried about her not sleeping independently but I am worried about how she panics about it. It shouldn't be that scary. Or is this an unrealistic expectation of me? (I'm an only child and very independent, I don't know where she gets this ??codependency from... not sure if that's the right word but not sure what else to call it)

My own mom says she is overly demanding our full attention, my mom who is the OG gentle parent, has the patience of a saint, and adores her, is exhausted after watching her for a few hours.

I spend a ton of one-on-one time with her already, as much as possible with a new brother around. We read together, play together, cuddle, do activities, crafts, sensory stuff, and I really try hard to make sure her emotional needs and connection needs are met. I make sure she is fed and has water before trying to say, sit down and pay bills. She has an appropriate amount of toys (pared down after having way too many being the only granddaughter/first grandchild on one side), activities, attention, affection, all of it. But if I ask for literally five minutes of quiet time or say “please don’t climb on me right now,” she melts down almost immediately. Today she lasted maybe 30 seconds before whining in my face and climbing on me again. I feel guilty even posting this because I love her so much and I know she just wants connection, but I’m so overstimulated and touched out that I am finding myself snapping at her and that is probably making the problem worse.

How do you gently teach a toddler that mom is allowed to have boundaries, space, and thoughts that are not centered on them every second of the day while maintaining that I love her? And how do you respond to the constant “watch me watch me watch me” without feeling like a monster for eventually saying “I can’t watch you jump off the bench another 400 times”? Are there toddler appropriate books for promoting independence?

TLDR: Is child therapy ever indicated for this level of separation anxiety/distress at this age, or does this still fall within the realm of normal toddler behavior that just needs boundaries and time? I genuinely can’t tell if this is anxiety, temperament, a reaction to the new baby, or if I’m accidentally reinforcing it somehow.

My daughter is 3.5 and is extremely attached to me, which I love, but I'm really worn down right now. I’m naturally introverted and I feel like I never get even 30 seconds of mental space (and we have a new baby in the house, who was a preemie and needs a lot still). She is a constant stream of talking and bidding for my attention, I'm well aware that's what she's doing, and I conjure what I can to serve and return as much as possible.

But seriously, she follows me into every room, cries if I leave the room for a minute, even if I announce it ("mommy is going to grab the sunscreen and I will be right back"), wants to watch me go to the bathroom/change clothes, and constantly wants me to watch her do things and narrate/react to everything she does. EVERYTHING. I know that’s normal toddler behavior to an extent, but it feels nonstop and she does not take no for an answer. I can’t look at my phone to answer a text or add something to a shopping list, I need to be clear that I use brick to block my apps and regularly go all day without scrolling, so I'm not saying I want to scroll, these are necessary communications or tasks. We cosleep though due to the new baby, she is sleeping with dad. She has panic about sleeping alone, which I'm not worried about her not sleeping independently but I am worried about how she panics about it. It shouldn't be that scary. Or is this an unrealistic expectation of me? (I'm an only child and very independent, I don't know where she gets this ??codependency from... not sure if that's the right word but not sure what else to call it)

My own mom says she is overly demanding our full attention, my mom who is the OG gentle parent, has the patience of a saint, and adores her, is exhausted after watching her for a few hours.

I spend a ton of one-on-one time with her already, as much as possible with a new brother around. We read together, play together, cuddle, do activities, crafts, sensory stuff, and I really try hard to make sure her emotional needs and connection needs are met. I make sure she is fed and has water before trying to say, sit down and pay bills. She has an appropriate amount of toys (pared down after having way too many being the only granddaughter/first grandchild on one side), activities, attention, affection, all of it. But if I ask for literally five minutes of quiet time or say “please don’t climb on me right now,” she melts down almost immediately. Today she lasted maybe 30 seconds before whining in my face and climbing on me again. I feel guilty even posting this because I love her so much and I know she just wants connection, but I’m so overstimulated and touched out that I am finding myself snapping at her and that is probably making the problem worse.

How do you gently teach a toddler that mom is allowed to have boundaries, space, and thoughts that are not centered on them every second of the day while maintaining that I love her? And how do you respond to the constant “watch me watch me watch me” without feeling like a monster for eventually saying “I can’t watch you jump off the bench another 400 times”? Are there toddler appropriate books for promoting independence?

TLDR: Is child therapy ever indicated for this level of separation anxiety/distress at this age, or does this still fall within the realm of normal toddler behavior that just needs boundaries and time? I genuinely can’t tell if this is anxiety, temperament, a reaction to the new baby, or if I’m accidentally reinforcing it somehow.

My daughter is 3.5 and is extremely attached to me, which I love, but I'm really worn down right now. I’m naturally introverted and I feel like I never get even 30 seconds of mental space (and we have a new baby in the house, who was a preemie and needs a lot still). She is a constant stream of talking and bidding for my attention, I'm well aware that's what she's doing, and I conjure what I can to serve and return as much as possible.

But seriously, she follows me into every room, cries if I leave the room for a minute, even if I announce it ("mommy is going to grab the sunscreen and I will be right back"), wants to watch me go to the bathroom/change clothes, and constantly wants me to watch her do things and narrate/react to everything she does. EVERYTHING. I know that’s normal toddler behavior to an extent, but it feels nonstop and she does not take no for an answer. I can’t look at my phone to answer a text or add something to a shopping list, I need to be clear that I use brick to block my apps and regularly go all day without scrolling, so I'm not saying I want to scroll, these are necessary communications or tasks. We cosleep though due to the new baby, she is sleeping with dad. She has panic about sleeping alone, which I'm not worried about her not sleeping independently but I am worried about how she panics about it. It shouldn't be that scary. Or is this an unrealistic expectation of me? (I'm an only child and very independent, I don't know where she gets this ??codependency from... not sure if that's the right word but not sure what else to call it)

My own mom says she is overly demanding our full attention, my mom who is the OG gentle parent, has the patience of a saint, and adores her, is exhausted after watching her for a few hours.

I spend a ton of one-on-one time with her already, as much as possible with a new brother around. We read together, play together, cuddle, do activities, crafts, sensory stuff, and I really try hard to make sure her emotional needs and connection needs are met. I make sure she is fed and has water before trying to say, sit down and pay bills. She has an appropriate amount of toys (pared down after having way too many being the only granddaughter/first grandchild on one side), activities, attention, affection, all of it. But if I ask for literally five minutes of quiet time or say “please don’t climb on me right now,” she melts down almost immediately. Today she lasted maybe 30 seconds before whining in my face and climbing on me again. I feel guilty even posting this because I love her so much and I know she just wants connection, but I’m so overstimulated and touched out that I am finding myself snapping at her and that is probably making the problem worse.

How do you gently teach a toddler that mom is allowed to have boundaries, space, and thoughts that are not centered on them every second of the day while maintaining that I love her? And how do you respond to the constant “watch me watch me watch me” without feeling like a monster for eventually saying “I can’t watch you jump off the bench another 400 times”? Are there toddler appropriate books for promoting independence?

TLDR: Is child therapy ever indicated for this level of separation anxiety/distress at this age, or does this still fall within the realm of normal toddler behavior that just needs boundaries and time? I genuinely can’t tell if this is anxiety, temperament, a reaction to the new baby, or if I’m accidentally reinforcing it somehow.

My ex preemie is FINALLY on the boob!!! It's been a little over two weeks- he's five months old. The damn bottle preference was so hard! EP was awful, I commend anyone who does it.

Long story short, ole lefty is a slacker. The flow is visibly slower while pumping, storage capacity and refill rate are 50-75% less than the right boob (my star). With my first, I would do one boob at a time just anticipating she would be hungry again sooner after a left boob feed. But my son and his preferences, 🙄 half the time he refuses the left boob. Not always though!

FWIW, we did have a tongue tie, subsequent release, rehab and got body work for unilateral tension (which I guess can cause them to refuse to eat on one side sometimes??)

Do I keep offering? Just pump that side for comfort? At what point do I just commit to only feeding from my good boob? Anyone else been through something like this?

My son is five months old chronologically today, almost four months adjusted. He was growth restricted/small gestational age, pretty much everything I've read is to not cosleep with them. I started bedsharing with ss7 strict when my daughter was six months old but she was full-term and normal sized. My son is actually developmentally advanced comparatively to her in motor skills. Tiny but mighty as they say.

We got rid of the crib with my first planning to do the same thing with my second, but I'm scared because he was premature. He is exclusively breast-fed finally, we transitioned from EP two weeks ago. We fortified breastmilk for the first two months of his life with formula but he's otherwise been getting exclusive breastmilk since then.

We have the capability to set up pretty much any situation. I've seen sidecar cribs, mats in a play yard, travel cribs... currently we use a snoo and he loves it, but he still is arms in swaddled (considered safe due to the clips). I know I need to start getting him use to arms out because he is supposed to be out of the snoo around six months old.

I guess I'm just looking to hear what other preemie moms have done in this situation, if I should commit to teaching him to use the crib and if so how...