I go back to work in November after 12 months maternity leave (very fortunate this time round) and the closer I get the more nights I spend fixating on it and upsetting myself.

With my first I had to go back to work at 5 months pp. it was awful but I adapted quickly and my mum cared for him and would visit at lunch time some days. I always thought this second time round would be easier (9 months pp.) because I’d done it before, but I’m absolutely dreading it.

My firstborn is hard work, has been from the day he was conceived honestly. Going back to work allowed me some time to feel like myself and adapt to being a mum and an individual. But my second born is the easiest, chillest, happiest little boy who I barely want to leave for even a couple of hours. I don’t want to be anything but mum anymore (to both my boys of course). I don’t feel the need to reclaim my identity and professional goals are something I don’t really care about right now.

I have a good career, I’m studying my Masters, I only need to work two days a week and yet every time I think of leaving my boys to go to work I end up nearly crying.

Has anyone else found they’ve struggled going back more the second time? How did it go for you?

I’d love some advice around dressing my one month old in Melbourne weather. Since today was warm, I just kept her in a grow suit without a singlet inside.

But not sure what I need to do at night. I’m so much confused because I couldn’t find proper guidance around this. How do you know whether your baby is too hot or cold? I’m losing sleep over this since I worry that my baby won’t be comfortable especially at night time.

Hi everyone looking for good quality, comfortable, lightweight but still sun safe fishing shirts for my young kids. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated. Thanks

My 3 month old currently sleeps 8 to 10 hours a night and sleeps well through the night...but we go to bed around 10pm to 11pm hence that is when she sleeps too...

I hear most parents are putting their babies to sleep at like 7pm to 8.30pm... should we try to enforce that too/do babies need early bedtimes?

Thanks in advance!

Hi, I am moving to Melbourne and I’m so confused about how daycare works! My son is almost 3 and I’ve called a few centres that say they don’t have LDC positions, but they do have 3yo kindy positions, but with kindy it seems the hours are the same?

Can someone please break it down for me like I’m a fool… I’ve been googling and I just don’t get it. Thanks!

Would welcome any thoughts or sense check about this comment from MIL during a recent visit to see LO, and whether I am right to feel disappointed.

We expressed that we feel under the pump with our LO who is 2 months old, and that we don’t have much help from our village.

In response, she states that she is only willing to “help look after our LO once he can walk”. For context, MIL has constantly expressed how adorable LO is, asks for updates, and comes to visit on and off to see LO.

This response made me feel quite disappointed and unsupported, and as though she only wants limited or conditional involvement/relationship with LO.

Am I being unreasonable in feeling this way?

ETA: she is retired. My parents on the other hand have been as involved as they possibly can whilst still working full time jobs - bringing us meals where possible, dropping in to change LO’s nappy or soothe him so we can have a short break.

Hi all - we’re looking at getting our 18mo a play couch. Heard lots of good things about Nook and Possum but I’m wondering if Kmart is a good enough dupe - I’m looking at this particular one

If anyone has any of the three I’d love to know if you like it and if there are any cons

Hi, I'm 32, 165cm tall and weigh 100kgs. I also have moderate sleep apnea. I've had my apnea since my teenage years and adulthood when I was thin so I know if I lose weight the apnoea won't go away (it may get better though). I suspect I may have PCOS/PMOS and/or insulin resistance too.

But I was wondering if anyone has any similar factors and age to me had additional complications in their pregnancy because of these and/or how it may affect a baby, please? I'm becoming extremely concerned that these factors could really affect a baby and their development and whether I should have children at all 🫠

My MIL has been giving me lots of breastfeeding advice lately, and I know she means well. She's raised her own kids and I genuinely appreciate her wanting to help. But the thing is, if I don't follow something she suggests, she'll bring it up again and again.

I feel like I'm doing homework and she's checking whether I've completed it lol.

I know she's coming from a good place, which somehow makes it harder to say anything. I just wish I could figure things out with my baby without feeling like I'm constantly being assessed.

My little one (19 months) has started attending daycare three days a week, and we're into our eighth week. So far, she isn’t able to nap there except for one day.

The educators have tried both the cot room and a floor bed but my lo has refused both options. Since she's breastfed, she's always relied on feeding to fall asleep at home.

Although she's clearly tired and will sleep instantly when she gets home, she's not having it at daycare. I'm aware it'll take time for her to adjust and feel comfortable enough to sleep there.

Has anyone else experienced this, and if so, how long did it take for your little ones to start napping at daycare?

Any tips to make the transition easier?

I have offered her expressed milk in a sippy cut but she isn’t interested.

Apart from nap, she's doing really well otherwise. Seems happy to go there. I would start working full time soon so need her to nap there.

Thank you!

My partner and I have a day off soon and would like to go look at a range of prams, bassinets, car seats. Does anyone have any recommendations for stores in Sydney with lots of floor stock?

We have a 20 month old who is super social and loves the gym creche.
Right now the sets of grandparents do Monday and Tuesday for me to work. I just work two days.
That’s all they have capacity for at this stage.

we have been tossing up if we should do day care.
I am finding it really hard to do all the household items, Wednesday is swim lesson day Thursday library day Friday play dates.

we are out all the time and she is starting to drop naps.
I am also pregnant so been thinking..,

should we start day care?
send her one day a week for a bit, I can do my antenatal appointments and clean the house whilst she is there.
also I was thinking be good for her to have a fun day out when we have a newborn and I don’t have to entertain her all day.

but then we are worried she will bring back all the usual germs to a newborn.
also having major mom guilt over feeling like I need a day just to do thing….

we are so torn

but honestly I think she would love it. She is so social and not a super Velcro kid.

Fundal measurements

Just looking for some reassurance - Today I had a midwife appointment and my 28.5 week baby measured at 31.5 on the fundal measurement. Two weeks ago at 26.5 we had a measurement of 26.5. I got my GD test results back Friday and I don’t have GD so I can rule that out but doctor has got me in for a growth scan. I’m feeling so anxious and flat, we’ve been lucky and this is our first midwife appointment that wasn’t all fine and positive so my mind is going wild. Anyone else had an experience similar to this and what ended up happening?

My 20 month old child has been attending daycare for 9 months.

She came home yesterday, and pinched my hand and said “pinch” “(insert educators name)”. She repeated this a few times over the evening. She didn’t seem upset and thought it was funny.

I’ve never taught her this.

Obviously my first thought is educator is pinching her.

Any advice as to next steps? (If any)

hi all, hoping this post is appropriate in this group-

34F with an AMH test that has dropped from 4.8pmol/L in March this year to 3.1pmol in October. Have been told I need to go see someone and get ball rolling soon for egg freezing, however where do I begin? How do I know what clinic I should be going to and if there are bad ones?

It’s all been a bit of shock (in March and then again when it seemed to have dropped again and by what I think is heaps) and I don’t know anyone personally who’s done egg freezing or the likes.
Obviously everyone has different experiences and all that but hoping I can maybe get some helpful advice please🤞🙏 thank you

I am based in Newcastle too

Hi all!

As we are coming into a very warm summer the nights are already so warm inside my house with the bedroom sitting between 20 and 25.

My 6 month old has not been sleeping well the last few nights and I really want to get him back to his long stretches.

How are we keeping our rooms cool and dressing baby?

Our daughter is 9 and a half months and she has been crawling and pulling to stand for quite some time now.

Our entire house is tiled except for the bedrooms, we have decent size play area for her with a muscle mat for softness, we also have one in our living area where our couch is.

Anyway, we’re at the point where we let her crawl around the house, pull to stand on various types of furniture with either myself or my husband following close behind but we are TERRIFIED she’s going to fall and smash her head on the tiles.

We obviously don’t want to be bubble wrap parents but we also don’t want her to sustain a head injury.

Are other parents just letting their babies just crawl around tiles/hard surfaces? Do we just let her do her own thing and hope for the best?

Just found out we are pregnant again, and husband has been wanting to book a holiday for next year, so we’re looking at options for a Feb/March babymoon! I’ll be around 5-6 months pregnant by then so still good to fly, we are based in WA.

Husband was originally thinking Bali for a cheapish resort holiday (we just want a week of nothing lol) as that’s the location we are most likely to be able to convince the in-laws to babysit for us in, but after reading about Zika virus and the associated risks, I’m reconsidering.

If you were 6 months pregnant and wanting a relaxing week away in Australia, where would you go? Bonus points if it’s toddler friendly 🙏🏻

Doesn’t happen at naps. Only bed time. Last 4-5 nights. Taking upwards of 30 mins to fall asleep. Talking a lot in cot and babbling heaps. We’re on one nap, usually 1.5-2.5hrs a day. No matter the length same result. All of a sudden a change! He’s standing heaps. Not sure if about to walk?! Previously went to sleep so easily not sure what’s happening

My baby is almost 6 months old and I’ve been exclusively pumping from day 1 due to latching issues.
Between pumping, feeding, naps and play there is no time left for anything else.
Getting out of the house with him (for anything longer than a 20 mins walk) feels like an impossible task when trying to time it up between all of the above.
On top of all this, his naps have consistently been 20-40 mins for the last few months, he just can’t seem to connect sleep cycles.
If anyone else has been in a similar situation, how did you do it? Are there any tricks I’ve missed?
I just feel like my days are on repeat and getting out to do a grocery shop when my husband clocks off work is the highlight of my week.
TIA - a very dejected first time mum

My partner hasn't visited a single daycare or preschool with me. He has loads of opinions but for the most part thinks "she'll be fine". Hes very keen to do pickups but hasnt once even driven past with me just to see where they are. Is this normal? Is one parent responsible for daycare/preschool management while the other does the glamorous afternoon pickup?

Just adding im feeling super pissed off because hes so opinionated about them (particularly if something bad happens) but hasnt once stepped inside to see for himself!!!! All the responsibility is sitting on my shoulders to make the right decision and he just tells me "I trust you!"