https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:01:10 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-tippinggifting-dilemma#post-2861879 Thu, 13 Dec 2018 11:08:44 +0000 LBee 2861879@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would give gifts to all involved. Nothing crazy - I'm giving just little gifts to the floater in my son's class (Anthro volcano candles). The director (and her assistant who I also gifted to) of our school has done SO MUCH for us behind the scenes. She has let my son fall asleep in her arms when he suddenly spiked a fever, when I forgot to turn in next fall's registration papers she put my kids down anyways.... the list goes on. I totally get how expensive it feels gifting to all the various "teachers" -- I just added it up and I've spent over $600 (2 nannies, 2 classrooms) -- but I can't help but think that they keep my babies and make it possible for me to comfortably work knowing they are safe and loved. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-tippinggifting-dilemma#post-2861876 Thu, 13 Dec 2018 11:02:13 +0000 Foodnerd81 2861876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lioneyes: does the director necessarily own the school? I even if they are “in charge” I don’t think it means they own it, right? Plus this isn’t a tip, it’s a Christmas gift. </p> <p>What about a very small gift for the assistant who you will ask for the names, like a little box of chocolates or something, so you don’t have to feel awkward. She won’t know if you do bigger gifts for the teachers. I would personally include the director/ teacher since it’s just a way to show your appreciation for teaching your child, not a standard 15% too for a waitress or hairdresser or something. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-tippinggifting-dilemma#post-2861849 Thu, 13 Dec 2018 09:48:39 +0000 lioneyes 2861849@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know this topic is cause for discussion (and stress!) </p> <p>Another holiday tip/gifting question- my son attends 2 preschool programs. School #1, the class parent asked for a large cash donation that will cover gifts for all the teachers, staff and the director. I don’t personally think the director should get a holiday gift because that’s like how you don’t tip the owner of the salon or the manager of your building but maybe that’s just me and I’m letting it go.<br /> Now, school #2 is a smal program where the director is also my sons teacher. She has a non-teaching assistant who manages the scheduling/payments etc and then there are 4 young teaching assistants. I want to give the girls holiday gift cards but need to email the assistant for the spelling of their names, so then do i need to give her a gift too? And how about the director, i mean she is his teacher? </p> <p>Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/returning-to-work-share-your-advice-tips#post-2556705 Thu, 26 May 2016 05:02:40 +0000 Kemma 2556705@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: yep! Last week I was a bit of a blithering mess but I've now got my childcare sorted so I'm feeling calmer! I wasn't actually sure I wanted to go back but the job pays well and it's part time and not an opportunity I'm likely to be offered again. The plan is to go to work then start trying for another baby in the new year...</p> <p>@JoyfulKiwi: @looch: @MamaCate: @catlady: thanks for all the good advice! Fortunately I'm only working three days a week (twenty hours plus commute) so hopefully it'll be a nice balance and not too stressful for us all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/returning-to-work-share-your-advice-tips#post-2556036 Wed, 25 May 2016 09:47:47 +0000 catlady 2556036@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You've gotten some good advice about prepping, etc. Logistically, yes, definitely try to make it as easy on yourself as possible. One other thing to consider is the emotional aspect. When I got back to work, I was overwhelmed with guilt for awhile. I felt guilty for leaving LO, guilty for actually enjoying my job instead of wanting to be with LO, guilty that my DH had taken on so many responsibilities, guilty that I wasn't immediately as good at my job as I was pre-LO (i.e. when I was actually getting sleep), and on and on. Mine eventually went away after a month or so and ever since, I've been really happy about being a working parent and I see it only as a positive thing. But take care of yourself if you have negative feelings at first and try to not get too caught up in them. For me that part was almost harder than the logistical stuff (since I had planned for that aspect).</p> <p>Best of luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/returning-to-work-share-your-advice-tips#post-2556030 Wed, 25 May 2016 09:40:35 +0000 MamaCate 2556030@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You can do it! I think the night before prep has been key for me and meal planning helps a ton too.</p> <p>I think it takes a while to find your new normal so whatever you can do to ease that transition is helpful. So planning for a night when you pick up dinner out, or pizza Fridays to celebrate surviving the week, etc., are worth it!</p> <p>Just be gentle with yourself and your family during this transition--good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/returning-to-work-share-your-advice-tips#post-2555943 Wed, 25 May 2016 06:41:38 +0000 looch 2555943@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Give yourself a good, long time to make the call that things are good. I took two years off and it took a good three months before we got our routine down. I had not expected it to take so long and require so much tweaking, truth be told.</p> <p>I also pick out my clothes for the next week on Sunday, down to the tights, shoes, tank top, etc. I just don't have the time or mental space to deal with those things during the mornings.</p> <p>I invested in a great haircut...sounds silly, but it's such a time saver and I know my hair at least looks good. I get regular trims.</p> <p>Best of luck!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/returning-to-work-share-your-advice-tips#post-2555913 Wed, 25 May 2016 01:48:40 +0000 Cherrybee 2555913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow! Good luck! How are you feeling about it? </p> <p>I second the above - get everything ready the night before. Plan activities for the kids to do while you're getting ready (we have a TV in our room to keep her out of trouble). Pl an to leave the house half hour earlier than you actually need to! </p> <p>Good luck :goodluck: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/returning-to-work-share-your-advice-tips#post-2555878 Tue, 24 May 2016 22:14:30 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 2555878@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With 2 kids, I've found being all prepped the night before is my saving grace. Kids bags are packed, my lunch is made &amp; in the fridge, coffee is pre-made &amp; just waiting for creamer, clothes are laid out, etc.<br /> I started using a white board each evening with a space for each family member and "home" category. I write down everything that needs to be done before leaving the next morning and any special events (like "diaper laundry" or "work late"). It helps me keep from forgetting anything.<br /> I also make breakfast muffins on Sundays which makes mornings quicker. Basically, I'll do anything I can beforehand in order to sleep 5 more minutes!</p> <p>Good luck and congratulations on your new adventure! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/returning-to-work-share-your-advice-tips#post-2555876 Tue, 24 May 2016 22:04:29 +0000 Kemma 2555876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, after almost four years of being a SAHM I'm going back to work on Monday and I'd love it if you could spam me with your best advice and tips for making life easier!</p> <p>Aaaaaand go! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-from-other-moms#post-2318947 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 08:50:56 +0000 MtnBiker 2318947@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was/am irrationally terrified of leaving LO in the car. A coworker suggested that whenever LO is the car, I put my purse under the seat the car seat is installed on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-from-other-moms#post-2318927 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 08:46:15 +0000 Mama Bird 2318927@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When B was like 2 months old and I was struggling with bedtime, a coworker suggested putting him in PJs every night before bed. I think it really helped clue him in that it's time to sleep! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-from-other-moms#post-2318921 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 08:45:00 +0000 Happygal 2318921@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Here's the best advice from a friend: think of the people you know who you think are doing this parenting thing right and go to them with your questions.</p> <p>Another broad, yet helpful, tip: keep doing what works until it doesn't work anymore. I think it's easy to get caught up in thinking ahead and worrying about "what-ifs." Babies change so much, so fast, so focus on what you're dealing with in the moment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-from-other-moms#post-2318912 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 08:41:58 +0000 mediagirl 2318912@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This one actually came from Hellobee - white noise. We have used white noise since M was first born. It's amazing. </p> <p>@blackbird: hahaha. that's awesome. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-from-other-moms#post-2318873 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 08:28:05 +0000 Ajsmommy 2318873@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>oh man.. I know I have a bunch of these but I can't think of them!! I did get the same advice as @tanjowen however I actually never did it </p> <p>I do remember when I was told why the infant onsies have the weird shoulders and my mind was blown! LOL.. so obvious yet I had no clue! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-from-other-moms#post-2318860 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 08:19:54 +0000 Winterbee15 2318860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS was super constipated in the beginning and one of my friends suggested bicycling his legs and rolling his knees up to his chest..worked like a charm! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-from-other-moms#post-2318833 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 07:57:07 +0000 blackbird 2318833@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Tanjowen: That's a good idea. </p> <p>I just move T to another not wet part of the bed, HAHA! Terrible. </p> <p>My IRL friends are a lot more chill. Sometimes...online parenting is very intense and all or nothing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-from-other-moms#post-2318824 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 07:50:10 +0000 mediagirl 2318824@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Tanjowen: yes! We did this, too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-from-other-moms#post-2318726 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 06:27:40 +0000 Tanjowen 2318726@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I posted this one before, but a fellow mom told me to double layer the crib bedding - pad and sheet, then another pad and sheet. So when LO leaked - which he did SO MUCH the first year - I only had to strip a top layer and put him back down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-from-other-moms#post-2318643 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 22:48:43 +0000 Mrs.KMM 2318643@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So many of us read tons of blogs, books and websites to get ideas and such for raising our kids. But sometimes the best tips come from people you know.</p> <p>What is the best tip your gotten from another mom (or parent)? Something you hadn't seen or thought of before but turned out to be awesome!</p> <p>For me, it was my DH's former manager. She had her second baby about 3 months before we had our first and when they were going over his eval for their last project, they were also talking kids. DH mentioned that LO had some cradle cap and she said to wash her hair with Selsun Blue a few times and the cradle cap would go away. We tried it an it worked perfectly! DD's head looks so much better! :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipsinfo-to-leave-caregivers#post-2135619 Tue, 07 Apr 2015 18:10:43 +0000 Adira 2135619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HabesBabe: Mostly! My mom really appreciated having everything written down so she could refer back to it whenever she was unsure about something. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipsinfo-to-leave-caregivers#post-2135566 Tue, 07 Apr 2015 17:09:34 +0000 HabesBabe 2135566@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: Did your parents read it all and adhere to all of your instructions?</p> <p>We're going out of town for a week and having our moms watch the kids at our house (4 nights with my mom, 2 nights with MIL). I'm not sure if it'll help, but my mom SWEARS that the kids are better when they have something that smells like me. So I'll leave an old sleep shirt and my mom will place it on her chest when she gives H a bottle before naps/bed, etc. and Char will have one as a lovey (which I'm sure she'll toss aside for her real lovey). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipsinfo-to-leave-caregivers#post-2135451 Tue, 07 Apr 2015 15:33:01 +0000 SeptMomma12 2135451@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Chillybear: My dad is a lawyer so he drew up a pretty detailed one, but I've seen simple templates online. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipsinfo-to-leave-caregivers#post-2135309 Tue, 07 Apr 2015 14:12:22 +0000 Adira 2135309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went a little crazy when my parents watched Xander. I created care instructions that had the following information:</p> <p><b>Our Information</b><br /> Where we'd be, address, phone number of location, our cell numbers, etc.</p> <p><b>Daycare Info</b><br /> This was in case my parents had to do drop-off or pick-ups. Basically name, address, phone number, hours, entrance code, and what needed to be brought.</p> <p><b>Details</b><br /> Meals (things he liked and how much, what he had for each meal, etc.)<br /> Diapers (how often to change them, which ones to use for overnight, etc.)<br /> Naps (when they occurred, nap routine)<br /> Bedtime (time, routine, etc.)<br /> Medications (all the meds he can have, like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, benadryl and correct dosage and timing)</p> <p><b>Medical Emergency Information</b><br /> Poison Control number, doctor's name, address, and number, closest ER, critical info about our son (name, DOB, weight, medical conditions, allergies), additional emergency contacts, and permission to authorize treatment as necessary</p> <p><b>Meal Information</b><br /> This is the section where I went into real details about what he normally had for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks and when. How much of what, how to heat up certain things, how much hemp milk, etc.</p> <p>Then I had an entire page of where everything was located (they were watching him at our house).</p> <p>I also made sure the diaper bag was packed if they took him anywhere (diapers, wipes, Desitin, travel medications, change of clothes, a couple small toys and books, etc.). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipsinfo-to-leave-caregivers#post-2135288 Tue, 07 Apr 2015 14:03:20 +0000 Chillybear 2135288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lady grey: she's pretty flexible with sleep, both grandparents have pnps and i'll pack her monkey that makes lullaby/jungle sounds. the houses are small enough that i think they can survive without the monitor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipsinfo-to-leave-caregivers#post-2135283 Tue, 07 Apr 2015 13:55:47 +0000 gingerbebe 2135283@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh yeah we have a PNP with the Dream on Me mattress at both grandparents. DS sleeps great on that mattress. And both parents know to keep his room dark and use his Marpac Dohm. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipsinfo-to-leave-caregivers#post-2135241 Tue, 07 Apr 2015 13:25:05 +0000 lady grey 2135241@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What about a baby monitor and white noise machine (if your lo uses one). Does your LO sleep in a dark room? Do the grandparents have black out shades? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipsinfo-to-leave-caregivers#post-2135231 Tue, 07 Apr 2015 13:19:02 +0000 purrpletulips 2135231@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I came up with a "medical release" in case they needed to obtain medical treatment; we gave our babysitter a similar document. It basically read </p> <p>"I, (my name), hereby authorize (care provider) to act on my behalf in the care of my dependent. The above mentioned person has my authority to request medical treatment for my dependent in the event of an accident, injury, sickness, etc while in his/her/their care." I then included my LO's name, DOB, current medication, allergies in addition to my and DH's contact information, primary care physician and dentist contact information. I signed/dated the document and because I can be OCD included a copy of the front/back of all relevant insurance cards at the bottom.</p> <p>I wanted to make sure that if I wasn't reachable that care wouldn't be withheld while they were trying to reach us (mainly because the place we went had horrible cell service). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipsinfo-to-leave-caregivers#post-2135221 Tue, 07 Apr 2015 13:08:29 +0000 Chillybear 2135221@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>She's 18m so I did a loose schedule and a list of go to foods that she'll def eat</p> <p>@MaisyMay: I'll just pack my ipad since some apps are already on that and a few DVDs she likes </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tipsinfo-to-leave-caregivers#post-2135212 Tue, 07 Apr 2015 13:00:53 +0000 gingerbebe 2135212@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Here is the one we used. <a href="http://singleparents.about.com/library/Printable_Medical_Release_Consent_Form.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://singleparents.about.com/library/Printable_Medical_Release_Consent_Form.pdf</a> </p>