Nap Time Trades: How I Manage Day Trading with a Toddler
When I first started trading, my baby was barely 6 months old.
Let me tell you — I lost $2,000 changing a diaper and $1,500 making my husband coffee.
Yes, you read that right.
Nothing humbles you faster than missing a stop-loss because you were elbow-deep in baby wipes.
But I kept going.
Because the beauty of trading from home is that you can build it around your family — even if your “office” looks like a playroom exploded.
Fast-forward to now: my son’s almost 4, a full-on climber, and I sometimes make trades with him on my shoulders or literally trying to scale my head like I’m a jungle gym.
It doesn’t even faze me anymore.
This is just my version of a trading floor.
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🍼 Survival Kit for Trading with a Baby
Here’s what kept me sane (and mostly profitable) in those early days:
Diapers & wipes within arm’s reach – I wasn’t running to grab them mid-trade.
Breakfast, juice boxes & snacks prepped early – the fewer interruptions, the better.
My Starbucks in hand by 9:30am ET – because I refuse to start trading without caffeine.
Multiple mini-activities set up – tummy time mat, play gym, bouncer seat. One activity never lasted long enough, so I had backups.
Pro tip: set everything up before the market opens so you aren’t scrambling once things get moving.
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👶 Toddler Trading Strategies (a.k.a. Chaos Control)
Trading with a toddler is a whole new level — they have opinions, questions, and the ability to climb.
Here’s what helps me now:
Independent Play Stations:
Rotating bins with toys he hasn’t seen in a while. Keeps him busy long enough for me to catch a setup.
Safe Climbing Options:
I gave him a foam climbing set so he can do his best Spider-Man can do his thing somewhere safe while I watch my charts.
Visual Timer:
Toddlers don’t get “five minutes.”
But they do understand watching a timer count down. I use a visual timer for “Mommy’s chart time.”
Music or Story Time:
Spotify playlists or an audiobook he likes = quiet trading session for me.
Snacks (Again):
A toddler with snacks is a toddler not hanging off my head — enough said.
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💡 Bonus: Naps = Power Hours
Nap time is GOLDEN. If your kid still naps, that’s when you can:
Do a deeper market review
Journal trades
Plan the next day
Breathe
Once my son dropped his nap, I started waking up earlier to get my pre-market prep done in peace.
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🧘 The Mindset Shift
The biggest change wasn’t just logistics — it was mindset.
Instead of getting frustrated that trading felt “distracted,” I reframed it:
This is why I trade — to be home with my son, to be here for the chaos, to sip Starbucks while watching him grow up.
So yes, sometimes a winning trade takes longer to catch because I had to change a diaper or rescue someone from climbing the bookshelf — but that’s okay.
Because I didn’t choose trading to escape my life.
I chose trading to live my life — with him right here.
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Your turn:
Moms, what’s the craziest thing you’ve done while trying to trade?
(If you’ve ever placed an order with a toddler on your head, we should start a club. 😂)
Tag: VWAP
Trading Lingo Explained Like You’re Texting Your BFF
Okay, so you’ve finally decided to peek into this whole “trading” thing — but the minute you open a chart or watch a video, you’re hit with words like VWAP, strike price, support, resistance, theta decay… and suddenly it feels like you’re back in math class wishing you had paid more attention.
Don’t worry. I got you.
Let’s break this down like we’re texting on a lazy Sunday morning — coffee in one hand, phone in the other.
☕ VWAP — “Where Everyone’s Hanging Out”
Think of VWAP (Volume Weighted Average Price) as the popular table in the cafeteria.
It’s where the average price is — weighted by how many shares actually traded there.
- If price is above VWAP → buyers are running the show.
- If price is below VWAP → sellers are calling the shots.
Traders love VWAP because it shows where “fair value” is for the day. It’s literally the market saying:
“This is where we’ve been hanging out most of the day — are you joining us, or nah?”
🎯 Support & Resistance — “The Floor and Ceiling”
Support = the floor where price tends to stop falling.
Resistance = the ceiling where price tends to stop rising.
Imagine price as a bouncy ball:
- When it hits support, it often bounces back up.
- When it hits resistance, it often smacks into it and comes back down.
The fun part? Once price finally breaks through support or resistance, those levels can flip.
It’s like kicking a hole in the ceiling — now it’s the new floor.
🎟 Strike Price — “Your Ticket to the Show”
Options traders, this one’s for you.
The strike price is basically the price your ticket says you can buy or sell the stock at.
- Buy a Call → You’re betting the stock will be above your strike price by expiration.
- Buy a Put → You’re betting it’ll be below your strike price.
Think of it like buying concert tickets:
- If you got a ticket for Row 5 at $100 but the same ticket is now selling for $200?
You’re thrilled. You could flip it and make a profit. - If ticket prices drop to $50? You overpaid, and that hurts.
⏳ Theta Decay — “Your Option’s Expiration Countdown”
Theta = time decay.
If you’ve ever left an avocado out too long, you get it.
Options lose value as time passes — even if the stock price doesn’t move.
That’s why I say, “Your options are like avocados — use them while they’re fresh.”
🧠 Why This Matters
Trading isn’t just numbers and charts — it’s language.
And once you understand the lingo, you stop feeling like an outsider and start seeing the story the market is telling you.
You don’t need to memorize every single term on day one — just start with a few and practice spotting them in real time. Before you know it, you’ll be throwing around words like VWAP and support levels like you’ve been doing it for years.
Your turn:
What trading term totally confused you when you first started? Drop it in the comments — I might just turn it into the next “Trading Like You’re Texting Your BFF” post.
How to Trade When the Market is Insanely Volatile
Recently the stock market flushed $4 trillion and most stocks that have a history of being reliable , have been anything but. Options trading when the market is this volatile is very risky and due to higher implied volatility, premiums are much higher. If you have experience and feel confident with it, you can play puts and calls all day and hope your fingers move fast enough. This is definitely not the time to begin options trading if you’re new, but here’s a safer alternative that will allow you to cash in on the insane volatility..
There are numerous directional ETFs that profit from either upside or downside of a particular stock..Since many are down substantially, you may consider getting a bull ETF or if you see that it’s still dropping , get a bear ETF. Here are some of my personal favorites:
TSLZ- Tesla Bear
TSLL- Tesla Bull
NVDU- NVidia Bull
NVDL- NVidia Bull
NVDD- Nvidia Bear
MSFU- Microsoft Bull
MSFD- Microsoft Bear
AAPU- Apple Bull
AAPD- Apple Bear
There are many others to pick from and if you have any questions about any please let me know . I’m happy to help.
Gold is another area you might consider
UGL and GLD have been rising pretty steadily .
Disclaimer : I’m not providing financial advice , just providing information and insights on the stock market and possible trading strategies. I am not a licensed financial advisor and I am not charging for the information I’m providing.
How to Play this Earnings Season Part 1: TSLA, META, AAPL
Just a quick disclaimer, if you’re new to my blog … I am not a licensed financial advisor and any investment carries risk , so always do your own due diligence before investing. I have been a full time day trader for two years and the information I am providing is based on my opinions and research but it in no way is intended as financial advice . I try to focus on strategy more than specific plays for this reason ..I hope to educate you and you can make decisions based on what you’ve learned here.
That being said … I absolutely love earnings season and this one in particular has some set ups that are looking like a few easier slam dunks than the last few earnings.
TSLA reporting January 29th
Deliveries were down, they have a Morningstar rating of one star which means they’re significantly overvalued, Wall Street analysts have an average price target of $336.96 which is about an 18% drop. On the surface, it sounds like it will be a miss and puts would be the way to go . However, if they’re guidance rocks ( robotics, cheaper cars, etc) .. they could miss earnings and the stock could go through the roof. If I play this, I’ll be getting a very expensive straddle ( a put and a call) .
META reporting January 29th
Meta is expected to beat expectations. They’ve increased ad revenue using generative AI, they’ve reduced costs, and already addressed their 2025 capex of $60- $65 billion for advancements in AI and state of the art data centers . It looks positive but anything AI related might continue to get hammered until the Deep Seek price tag is determined to be a lie.
Public service announcement:
With Mag 7 stocks during earnings, there is very high volatility and high volume . The safest way to play earnings is right up until the bell and close out and then start up again in the morning when you know what direction the wind is blowing. If you can’t afford to or you neglect to buy a put AND a call , you’re not daytrading… You’re gambling. Earnings is as high risk as it gets and there is no way to know you’re right if you only do one or the other.
AAPL reporting January 30th
Disappointing innovation, lower demand particularly in China, expectations on this one are a little bleak with an expected 15.5% downside .
Charts : Best for Newbies -Ichimoku
The Ichimoku chart is a comprehensive technical analysis tool that provides information on support and resistance levels, trend direction, and momentum. It’s particularly useful for day traders as it offers a holistic view of market dynamics.
Key Components of the Ichimoku Chart:
Tenkan-sen (Conversion Line): This is a short-term moving average that represents the midpoint of the highest and lowest prices over the last 9 periods. It’s a quick indicator of market momentum.
Kijun-sen (Base Line): This is a longer-term moving average calculated over the last 26 periods. It provides a more moderate view of the market’s momentum.
Senkou Span A (Leading Span A): The average of the Tenkan-sen and Kijun-sen, plotted 26 periods ahead, forming one edge of the “cloud.”
Senkou Span B (Leading Span B): Calculated as the average of the highest and lowest prices over the last 52 periods, also plotted 26 periods ahead, forming the other edge of the “cloud.”
Chikou Span (Lagging Span): This is a simple moving average that plots the current price 26 periods in the past. It provides a visual representation of the current trend and can be used to identify potential reversals.
How Day Traders Use Ichimoku:
Identifying Trend Direction: When the price is above the cloud, it signals an uptrend, and when it’s below the cloud, it indicates a downtrend.
Spotting Potential Reversals: Crossovers between the Tenkan-sen and Kijun-sen can signal potential trend changes. A bullish crossover (Tenkan-sen crosses above Kijun-sen) suggests a potential uptrend, while a bearish crossover (Tenkan-sen crosses below Kijun-sen) suggests a potential downtrend.
Identifying Support and Resistance Levels: The cloud itself acts as a dynamic support and resistance level. The thickness of the cloud can also indicate the strength of the support or resistance.
Confirming Trend Strength: The Chikou Span can be used to confirm the strength of the trend. If the Chikou Span is above the price, it suggests a strong uptrend, and if it’s below the price, it suggests a strong downtrend.
Remember:
The Ichimoku chart is a powerful tool, but it’s not foolproof. It’s important to use it in conjunction with other technical analysis tools and indicators.
Day trading can be risky, so it’s crucial to have a solid understanding of the market and risk management strategies.
Always use stop-loss orders to limit potential losses and practice with a demo account before risking real money.
By mastering the Ichimoku chart and combining it with other techniques, you can gain a valuable edge in the market.
Daytrading: To Straddle or To Strangle
Understanding the nuances between an options straddle nd a strangle is essential for choosing the right strategy based on market conditions and your risk appetite. Both are volatility-based strategies, but they differ in structure and risk profiles. Here’s an explanation of each, followed by guidance on how to determine which one might be better for a particular situation.
Straddle:
Strategy Overview: A straddle involves buying both a call and a put option on the same underlying asset with the same strike price and same expiration date. This strategy profits when the underlying asset experiences significant price movement, regardless of direction. It’s ideal for situations where you expect high volatility but are uncertain about whether the price will go up or down.
For example, if you buy a call and a put option on a stock that’s currently trading at $100, both options would have a strike price of $100. You would profit if the stock moves significantly in either direction, e.g., to $120 or $80, as long as the movement is large enough to offset the cost of both premiums.
Advantages:
– Unlimited profit potential if the stock moves significantly in either direction.
– Suitable when you expect a big price move but are unsure about the direction (e.g., after earnings reports or major news announcements).
Disadvantages:
– Requires a large price move to become profitable, as you must cover the costs of both the call and the put options.
– Higher premiums because both options are bought at-the-money.
Strangle
Strategy Overview: A strangle is similar to a straddle but with different strike prices for the call and put options. Typically, a strangle involves buying an out-of-the-money call and an out-of-the-money put with the same expiration date. Like the straddle, the goal is to profit from significant price movement in either direction, but it requires a bigger move due to the out-of-the-money nature of the options.
For example, if the stock is trading at $100, you might buy a $105 call option and a $95 put option. You would profit if the stock price moves significantly above $105 or below $95.
Advantages:
– Lower premiums than a straddle because both options are out-of-the-money.
– Still offers the potential for unlimited profit if the stock moves substantially in either direction.
Disadvantages:
– The stock has to move even further than with a straddle to become profitable, due to the out-of-the-money nature of the options.
– Requires a larger price move to cover the cost of both options, especially when the stock is near the middle of the two strike prices.
Key Differences:
– Strike Prices:
– Straddle: Both the call and put options have the same strike price
– Strangle The call and put options have different strike prices (out-of-the-money).
-Cost:
Straddle: More expensive because both the call and put are bought at-the-money.
Strangle: Less expensive because both the call and put are bought out-of-the-money.
Profit Potential:
Straddle: Profitable with any significant price movement in either direction, but the move must cover the higher premiums.
– Strangle: Requires a larger price movement than a straddle to become profitable, but it’s cheaper to enter.
So, which is better?
To determine which strategy is better, consider the following factors:
1. Volatility Expectations
– Straddle :Best for situations where you expect
massive volatility and believe that the price will make a significant move but are uncertain of the direction. For example, if there’s an earnings announcement or a major geopolitical event that could cause a big price swing.
– Strangle:: Ideal when you expect moderate to high volatility, but are not as confident in the magnitude of the price move. The stock price must move a significant distance from the current level, but it is a cheaper strategy to set up.
2. Risk Tolerance
– Straddle : More expensive and requires a smaller move to break even, so it’s better suited for traders who are comfortable with higher costs but want to capture a larger profit if the stock moves.
– Strangle :More cost-efficient, but requires a more significant move to break even. It’s suited for those looking for cheaper exposure to volatility and willing to accept the risk that the stock may not move enough to cover the cost.
3. Market Conditions
– Straddle: Choose when you believe the market will experience a huge move in a short time, such as around an earnings release, FDA decision, or a major economic report.
– Strangle: Better in environments where you expect volatility but are less certain about the extent of the move. It’s also useful in markets that are choppy but not trending strongly in one direction.
– Choose a straddle if you expect high volatility with the potential for a large price movement, and you’re willing to pay a higher premium for the chance to profit from smaller price swings.
– Choose a strangle*if you believe the market will be volatile, but you’re looking for a more cost-effective way to profit from larger price movements in either direction.
By carefully considering the level of volatility, the expected price movement, and your cost tolerance, you can determine which strategy aligns best with your market outlook.
Daytrading: Options Strategies if You Have a Low Risk Tolerance
The key to effective options trading lies in employing strategies that match your risk tolerance and market outlook. Here are three of the best options trading strategies for income generation from premiums and lower risk than an uncovered call, along with guidance on how to determine the best entry and exit points for a position:
1. Covered Call
– **Strategy Overview**: A covered call involves holding a long position in a stock and selling a call option on the same stock. This strategy generates income through the premium received from selling the call, while the stock provides potential for capital appreciation.
– **Entry Point**: This strategy is most effective when the underlying stock is expected to show mild to neutral price movement. Enter when the stock is trading at a price you are comfortable holding, and sell an out-of-the-money call with a premium that provides sufficient income.
– **Exit Point**: Exit the position if the stock price rises significantly above the strike price of the call option, as the upside potential is limited. Alternatively, you can buy back the call option if it loses value and the stock price moves in your favor.
2. Protective Put
– **Strategy Overview**: A protective put involves buying a put option on a stock you own to limit downside risk. This strategy acts like an insurance policy for your stock holdings, providing protection if the stock declines in value.
– **Entry Point**: This strategy is ideal when you want to protect gains or reduce the risk of holding a stock in volatile or uncertain market conditions. Enter by purchasing a put option that corresponds to the price range you want to protect.
– **Exit Point**: Exit when the stock price increases significantly, as the protective put may become unnecessary. Alternatively, you can sell the put option if its value rises due to market volatility.
3. Iron Condor
– **Strategy Overview**: An iron condor is a neutral strategy that involves selling an out-of-the-money call and put, while simultaneously buying further out-of-the-money call and put options to limit risk. This strategy profits from low volatility in the underlying asset, with the goal of all options expiring worthless.
– **Entry Point**: This strategy works best when you expect low volatility in the stock or index. Enter when the underlying asset is trading within a range, and you believe it will stay within that range through the expiration of the options.
– **Exit Point**: Exit if the stock price moves significantly outside the range set by your sold options. If the options are nearing expiration and the price is still within the desired range, you can close the position early to lock in profits or minimize losses.
Determining the Best Entry and Exit Points:
– **Technical Analysis**: Use charts, support and resistance levels, moving averages, and indicators like the Relative Strength Index (RSI) and Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) to identify trends and overbought/oversold conditions.
– **Implied Volatility**: For options strategies like covered calls and protective puts, monitor implied volatility, as higher volatility typically increases option premiums, making it a good time to sell options. For an iron condor, lower volatility is ideal.
– **Market Sentiment**: Understand the broader market context—if the market is bullish, a covered call may be more appropriate, while a protective put is better suited in a bearish or uncertain environment. For an iron condor, neutral sentiment works best.
By combining a solid understanding of each strategy with technical analysis and market sentiment, you can determine the best times to enter and exit trades.
Daytrading Rules to Live By: Know Your Charts – VWAP Deep Dive
When it comes to mastering day trading, knowing which stock charts to focus on can make all the difference. Top traders swear by a few key indicators to guide their moves: the RSI (Relative Strength Index) helps you spot overbought or oversold conditions, while the VWAP (Volume-Weighted Average Price) shows the true market direction throughout the day. Ichimoku offers a complete picture of trend and momentum, and the Stochastic Momentum Index gives insight into price reversals. Last but not least, Williams Percent Range helps identify potential entry and exit points by measuring overbought and oversold levels.
First let’s deep dive into VWAP!.
The Volume-Weighted Average Price (VWAP) is a popular technical indicator that day traders use to gauge the average price of a security, weighted by its trading volume. It is an essential tool for making intraday trading decisions, helping traders determine market trends, entry points, and exit points.
How VWAP Works:
VWAP is calculated by taking the total value traded (price * volume) for every transaction and dividing it by the total volume traded. This gives an average price, which accounts for the volume of each trade, making it more reliable than a simple moving average (SMA) when volume varies.
The VWAP resets at the beginning of each trading day, meaning it’s only useful for intraday analysis, not over multiple days.
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How Day Traders Use VWAP:
1. Trend Confirmation:
– Above VWAP: If the price is trading above VWAP it indicates that the market is bullish (buyers are in control). Traders often look to go long (buy) when the price is above VWAP.
– Below VWAP: If the price is trading below VWAP it indicates a bearish market (sellers are in control). Traders may look to go short (sell) when the price is below VWAP.
2. Support and Resistance Levels:
When the price approaches the VWAP from below, VWAP can act as a dynamic support level**. If the price bounces off the VWAP, it may signal a potential buying opportunity.
– Resistance When the price approaches the VWAP from above, it can act as a resistance level. A failure to break above VWAP may signal a potential short opportunity.
3. Entry and Exit Points:
– Buying Above VWAP: Day traders often use VWAP as a buy signal when the price crosses above the VWAP after testing it as support. This is seen as a confirmation of the bullish trend.
– Selling Below VWAP: When the price falls below the VWAP, traders may look for opportunities to sell or short the stock, expecting further price declines.
– Reversion to VWAP; If the price is far from VWAP (either above or below), some traders use it as a mean-reversion signal, betting that the price will eventually return to VWAP.
4. VWAP Crossover with Moving Averages (EMA, SMA):
– Traders often use VWAP in combination with other indicators, like moving averages, to confirm trends. For example, a VWAP crossover with a short-term moving average (such as the 20-period EMA) can signal a strong buy or sell signal. If the price crosses both the VWAP and a moving average, this can confirm the trend direction.
5. Volume Confirmation:
– Volume spikes: VWAP is more reliable when combined with volume. A significant move above or below VWAP, supported by higher-than-average volume is generally considered a strong signal.
– Low volume: When the price breaks VWAP but volume is low, it can indicate a false breakout, and traders may avoid entering trades until confirmation from volume is received.
Practical Example for Day Traders:
1. Pre-market and Opening Range:
– When the market opens, the *WAP can act as a key level to watch. If the price is above VWAP shortly after the market opens, the trader may consider buying, expecting the price to continue upwards. If the price is below VWAP they may consider selling or shorting.
2. Intraday Trend Analysis:
– Throughout the day, VWAP helps traders identify whether the market is bullish or bearish. A bullish trend is confirmed when the price stays above VWAP, and a bearish trend is confirmed when the price stays below it.
3. Trade Confirmation:
– For example, a trader might wait for the price to pull back to VWAP and then bounce off it to signal an entry point for a long position if the overall trend is bullish.
– Conversely, if the price breaks below VWAP with volume, a trader might enter a short position or sell to capitalize on a bearish trend.
4. Intraday Reversion:
– If the stock is highly volatile, a trader may use VWAP to look for reversion plays. For instance, if a stock rallies significantly away from VWAP, they might wait for it to revert back to VWAP, entering a position to capitalize on the price return.
Advantages of Using VWAP for Day Trading:
ToReal-Time Trend Confirmation: VWAP offers a real-time view of the market’s direction, which is invaluable for day traders who need quick, reliable trend confirmation.
– Volume-Based Insight: VWAP incorporates volume, making it more sensitive to significant moves than price-based indicators alone (like moving averages).
– Objective Indicator VWAP doesn’t rely on subjective patterns or user input, making it a straightforward, rules-based indicator that can be used consistently.
Limitations of VWAP:
– Lagging Indicator Since VWAP is based on historical prices and volume, it lags the market somewhat. Traders might miss some early moves while waiting for confirmation.
– Not Ideal for Long-Term Trading: VWAP is most effective for intraday trading, and it resets daily. It’s not suitable for longer-term analysis or positions.
– False Breakouts: If a stock is volatile or trading in a choppy market, there could be false breakouts above or below the VWAP, which can lead to losing trades if not properly managed.
VWAP is a highly effective tool for day traders, helping them gauge market direction, identify support/resistance levels, and make well-timed trade decisions based on volume-weighted price data. By using VWAP in conjunction with other technical indicators, traders can refine their strategies and improve their risk management. However, it’s important to recognize its limitations and combine it with other tools like moving averages, candlestick patterns, or volume analysis for better trade confirmation.
Gigify 