The Quilts Zone Blog

Those precious minutes when your little one is napping give you a chance to recharge, regroup, and get things done. It’s easy for new moms to feel frustrated and fatigued due to not having enough time to handle everything on their “to do” lists. When their babies are catching a catnap, the time alone offers a brief – but welcome – respite from an otherwise hectic schedule. The key to keeping your sanity is maximizing those minutes.

Below, we’ll explore some ways in which you can leverage the time your baby spends napping. You’ll learn why you should consider yourself a priority and plan the time around your body’s natural rhythm. We’ll also discuss the differences between your baby’s short and long naps in in the context of spending the time as productively as possible.

Consider Yourself A High Priority

A lot of new moms spend their babies’ naptime frantically getting things done around the house. For instance, they’ll commit themselves to paying the bills and washing the dishes. They rush to toss a load of laundry into the washer or get things ready for dinner. While handling these tasks, make it seem as if you’re being productive, they can make a greater impact on your mind and body over the long run.

Your happiness will be reflected in that of your baby. She’ll be able to detect your stress level when it’s high. When she naps, consider yourself as much a priority as the household chores. The dishes can wait while you enjoy a small bit of rest and solitude.

Plan According To Your Rhythm

Your body works according to it’s own rhythm. Try to pinpoint when your enrgy level is the highest. Do you have more energy in the morning or afternoon? If the morning hours are your peak time, can you plan your schedule to accommodate it?

For example, consider taking showers during the evening to free up more “high energy” time during the morning hours. When your baby takes her first nap of the day, you’ll be able to devote that time to getting more done.

Short Versus Long Naps

Some of your baby’s naps will be shorter than others. The good news is that most babies are consistent in their napping habits. If your baby takes extended naps during the early afternoon, she’s likely to continue this behavior for the foreseeable future. That means you can plan around them to maximize your available time.

For example, when your baby takes a thirty minute nap, use that time to fix dinner, take a quick shower, wash the dishes or return phone calls. While she takes a longer nap, use the time to work out, clean house, throw in some laundry and take a little nap of your own.

Plan To Be Productive

Create a list of action items that need to addressed. This is the first step toward planning to be as productive as possible while your baby is napping. Ensure that your list includes everything you need to accomplish throughout the day. That might include returning calls, cleaning the house, washing the dishes, and scheduling an appointment with your little one’s pediatrician. Prioritize each item.

When your baby takes a catnap, simply go down the list. You’ll know instinctively some action items will require 30 minutes while others can be finished within a few minutes. You’ll be surprised by how productive such a list will make you while your infant is napping.

The responsibilities of being a new mom can rattle anyone’s nerves. The seeming endless list of chores is compounded by the distinct lack of time in which to ge them done. Learn to leverage your little one’s naps. It’s the best plan for being productive while staying, happy, healthy and sane.

Baby showers are the perfect way to show encouragement, support, and best wishes to any soon-to-be-mom.  With her friends and family around her, she begins to feel a little less overwhelmed at the prospect of having a new baby.  It’s even better when she is gifted with the supplies that she needs to arrange the nursery so she’s completely ready for the baby’s arrival. Baby showers are also a great opportunity to get her girlfriends together for a fun time of playing silly games and laughing.

Baby Shower Gifts to Get Mom Prepared

If you are the one hosting the party, be sure your new mom has either enlisted at a local store or online site to give the guests ideas as to what she needs.  An alternative to this would be for her to make a list of what she would like to have, perhaps a baby ottoman, a baby activity center, or even a Baby Trend car seat. Specify the decor she has in mind in the invitations and let the guests do the rest! If she needs a baby booster car seat, be sure to describe kinds that will change as the baby grows. If she needs a stroller, {suggest|recommend|advise} to the guests several types that will {allow|make it easy} for the infant car seat to be set on it for easily going from the car to the stroller. A baby play gym is an especially helpful gift because it lets mom to do things while the little one is being soothed. The most convenient kinds are those that have a carrier that detaches.

Popular Baby Shower Games

Baby showers are known for their funny games and goofy fun.  A game that is particularly popular is “You Can’t Say That” such as “baby” or “girl” or “boy”.  Another favorite is a baby food game where the guests either smell or taste various flavors of jarred food and try to guess what type of food item it is. A game that’s really popular as well is to pass a diaper around, just like musical chairs, and on the inside of the diaper is a scoop of warm chocolate fudge. This one is sure to get tons of laughs from the party guests!  Don’t forget prizes for the winning players; choose girly gifts like lotions that smell pretty, fresh pots of flowers or plants, gift cards, or a gift bag full of something themed such as “everything for a pedicure”.

How to Decorate for the Big Event

Ornaments are always suggested, because they set the joyous vibe for the entire party.  If you don’t know the gender of the baby, choose greens, lilacs, or yellows.  This approach creates a fresh color palette and brightens everyone’s mood!  The cake can even serve as a decoration; add small plastic clothes pins and diapers, etc. that can be purchased from a low-cost party store.  They add uniqueness to the dessert as well as to the topic of the party.
The best showers offer the new mom everything she will need for her new baby. The baby shower is also a wonderful chance for friends and family to support her and have a great time. Nothing’s better than everyone leaving the party feeling that they had the best time!