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Routines for littles made easy!

Baby Tips

How to Make a Structured But Flexible Baby Schedule

Baby Routines

How to Make a Structured but Flexible Baby Schedule

One of the greatest things you can choose to do for your baby is to put them on a schedule. Not any old schedule, but a schedule that helps them eat consistently, wake at normal times, sleep better, and nap longer. I’ll show you how to create a flexible baby schedule that is right for you and your family!

A baby schedule doesn’t have to be a rigorous weight on the day, but if done right, can be flexible to your day and environment!

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A flexible baby schedule is an absolute treasure because it gives you the structure of a schedule that your baby needs but also leaves room for all of the different things life throws at you each day. Such as going out, staying over a relative’s house, eating out, napping in the car, going on vacation, etc.

I define a flexible baby schedule as a schedule that your baby can stick to no matter where you go and can function the same in almost any situation.

Building flexibility into your baby’s schedule is super easy to do and will save you so much headache in the long run! Just because your baby is on a schedule doesn’t mean that your life has to be over or so rigorously planned that you miss out on life.

Your goal is to build a schedule for your baby that it goes with the flow of your life but also that is structured so you can anticipate your baby’s daily needs.

To help you start a perfect flexible schedule for you and your baby, I created the Mommy & Me All-In-One Planner! The Mommy & Me Planner has everything you need to not only start a schedule with your baby also helps you track your baby’s including naps, feedings, and playtime, AND comes with 10 different planner template pages to help you plan your personal activities, to do list and agenda!

Download the Mommy & Me All-In-One Planner Now!

 

So let’s get down to it!

 

How to Make a Structured But Flexible Baby Schedule

 

First things first, if you’re not totally convinced on WHY your baby needs a schedule, then check out my post all about the importance of a schedule for your baby and how it benefits your baby and you!

Dad and baby reading

Starting Your Schedule

The key to having a flexible schedule is to actually have a schedule. Some parents think that you make a schedule and THEN put your baby on it. But it’s actually the opposite.

To start a great schedule that works for you and your baby, you want to first document what your baby is doing and at what time each day. Do this for about 2-3 days so you can see some consistency.

Then you want to take those activities and those times and tweak them to make a schedule that works for you and your baby. Insert the times that your baby eats, sleeps, wakes and plays into a houred schedule.

For example, if you see that your baby is eating every 2-3 hours and then napping afterward and then waking to play then you want to make that into a schedule. But then you see that your baby is entering their nighttime sleep at inconsistent times.

Then, you make a schedule that will allow your baby to eat every 3 hours, ultimately ending with the last feeding being at 8pm so you know that every night your baby will be put down for bed at that same time.

You also want to make sure that you are adding in your nap and bedtime routines every day so your baby can get used to a particular routine for sleeping. Read all about the importance of nap routines and how to start one here!

Baby Napping

Spend 7 consistent days doing the schedule and routines that you found work

Now that you are starting your baby on a schedule, you want to reinforce the schedule by doing in consistently each day. It won’t be like this very long, but you want to make sure that at least for 5-7 days you are following the same schedule and routines. This will get your baby used to the times that are feedings, playtimes, and naps.

Having a schedule that is consistent will help your baby feel comforted because they know what will happen next. And it’s ultimately beneficial for you too because you can, in turn, know what to expect from your baby each day and at each time of the day!

How to Make a Structured but Flexible Baby Schedule

For each activity on your schedule, start a routine

I personally believe that routines are the main reason schedules work. Having a routine for each activity in your baby’s schedule will help your baby know that no matter where they are or what they are doing that it is time for a particular activity. This, in turn, is the lifeline for having a flexible baby schedule.

The key to adding flexibility to your baby’s schedule is having routines! There are usually 3 main activities that will make up your baby’s overall schedule: feeding, sleeping, and wake time. You want to have a consistent routine for each of these 3 things.

For example, you would want to make a solid nap routine to help your baby know it’s time to nap and a feeding routine to help your baby know it’s feeding time. Then a playtime routine to help your baby know it’s playtime and wake time. Lastly, a solid bedtime routine to help your baby know it’s time for nighttime sleep.

Want to steal my nap routine that has helped my baby take long and consistent daily naps?? Click here!

Baby Nap Routine

Add in one activity that you do occasionally to that consistent schedule

Because a flexible baby schedule is a structured schedule that you can do anywhere, you need to start slowly adding in different scenarios and situations to your baby’s schedule so your baby can get used to the flexibility.

Some different scenarios include napping in the car during a trip to the store, sleeping in a pack and play at grandma’s house, napping in the stroller during a shopping trip instead of napping in the crib, eating out at a restaurant, etc.

Choose one activity that you know you will eventually be doing and add that activity to your baby’s schedule. Be sure to do that same routine for the activity. For example, if your baby is sleeping over at a family members house in a pack un ay instead of a crib, make sure to do the same bedtime routine. This will bring comfort to your baby because it is something familiar to them in the midst of being in an unfamiliar situation.

I recommend you only do one a week so your baby isn’t overloaded with too many unstable environments at the same time.

Go out with your baby for playtime

Continue to add one of those activities each week

Like in the step above, you want to add one new environment or activity a week to help build flexibility into your baby’s schedule. This way, because your baby is so accustomed to the structured schedule and solid routines, they will be able to follow the schedule no matter where they are or where they go.

This can be so liberating because a lot of parents think that because you have a baby that your life is over because everything revolves around your baby. And this is somewhat true, but it doesn’t mean that you are confined to your house and stuck waiting every 3 hours to feed your baby.

Adding flexibility to your baby’s schedule helps you stay sane as well get your baby acclimated to your life. You want your baby to become a part of your daily life, not have your life completely stop just because you have a baby. Having a flexible baby schedule help you do this!

If you want to see what my baby’s daily schedule looks like, click here!

Mommy & Me All In One Planner | Mom Planner Post Image 1

Free Mommy & Me All-In-One Planner

The Ultimate Mommy & Baby Planner is a 10-page, all-in-one resource to help you easily plan your days, weeks, and months all while tracking your baby’s schedule, feedings, naps, and activities! Master your flexible baby schedule by tracking your baby’s activities AND in the same place plan your to-do list, agenda, and appointments!

I designed the planner to help you:

  • Create a daily schedule for your baby so you can see your baby’s patterns and allow those patterns to help you anticipate your baby’s needs.
  • Track your baby’s feedings, including how much they ate and what they ate so you never have to forget what they ate.
  • Track your baby’s naps so you can see how long your baby is napping and at what time. This helps you create a nap routine that can help your baby sleep longer and consistently!
  • Create an overall schedule for your baby that is structured yet flexible to your family’s needs.
  • Easily plan your days, weeks, months, and even year so you can clearly see your schedule at a whole!
  • Focus on your day to day tasks, including to-do lists, appointments, and chores so you never forget to do anything!
  • Complete your tasks easily and effortlessly and be able to check things off your to-do list!

Get your free Mommy & Me All-In-One Planner Now!

 

Well, there you have it! Here are all the tips and steps to make a structured and consistent yet flexible baby schedule!

Remember, your goal is to build a schedule for your baby that it goes with the flow of your life but also that is structured so you can anticipate your baby’s daily needs. Flexibility will help ease your baby’s schedule and not make it feel so rigorous and exact.

As always, if you have any questions please feel free to reach out to me via my contact page!

Do you have a flexible baby schedule?? Let us know all about it in the comments below!

Always With Love, Brianna

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How to make your baby's schedule Flexible | Image of notebooks and planner on desk

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January 14, 2019 · 8 Comments

Why a Steam Bath For Baby Is a Miracle

Baby Routines

Why a steam bath is a miracle for your baby’s cough and cold

There is nothing worse than a sick baby!

When your little one’s nose is stuffy, eyes are puffy, and has a cough, then it’s time to jump into overdrive and try to do everything we can to make our baby feel better.

One of the BEST things to help my daughter feel better quicker is a steam bath. Trust me, a steam bath for baby is like a miracle!

A steam bath for baby is one of the best ways to help your baby get better from a cold and cough because it can:

  • loosen up all of the “stuffed” mucus
  • provide relief from clogged passages
  • help them breathe easier
  • and ultimately shortens the length of their cold and cough!

A win-win-win-win!

What is a steam bath?

A steam bath is when you make your bathroom nice and steamy so you can sit with your baby in the steam and let the steam loosen the clogged passageways.

This post contains affiliate links. Mastering Mom life is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please view Mastering Mom Life’s Terms, Disclosure & Disclaimer Policy and Privacy Policy. I wholeheartedly believe in all of the products I recommend and use them all! 

How to make a steam bath

You make a steam bath for baby (or any child!) by turning your shower on super-hot and let your bathroom steam up like a steam room. You sit with your baby in the steamed bathroom for 15-20 minutes with the door closed, and your baby’s cough and clogged nose will begin to loosen up! Let your baby breathe in the warm, saturated air. It’s so easy!

You do NOT touch the shower or the hot water. Do NOT put your baby in scalding hot water. You’re just using the hot water to create steam.

Pro Tip: I even started purchasing these essential oils and dropping them in the shower as the steam is going because it further opens up clogged passages!

To help you track your baby’s symptoms and progress, download my FREE Mommy & Me planner and baby tracker combo! Plan your tasks plus track your baby’s activities in ONE place!

Benefits of a steam bath for baby

Loosen up phlegm

One of the major contributors to a child’s cough and cold is phlegm.

Babies don’t know how to blow their noses or intentionally cough up excess phlegm as adults can do. Because of this, they just continue to suck in and all of that nasty mucus gets caught in their throat and chest.

The best way to loosen up and get rid of this trapped mucus is a steam bath for baby. The steam from the shower will begin to loosen the mucus and it will slowly drain from your child’s nose- riding it from their throat and chest!

Baby Napping

Relieve the sinus pressure

A cold can bring about some crazy sinus pressure, especially when you have a sinus cold!

It feels like you have a heavyweight glued to your forehead and all the pressure builds up in your nose area.

When a baby feels this way, they tend to get very frustrated and agitated because they cannot relieve the pressure. A steam bath for baby helps relieves this sinus pressure because as the steam loosens the mucus it helps relieve the intense pressure that your child may be feeling!

BONUS: Don’t forget to grab the FREE Mommy & Me Planner to help you plan & track you and your baby’s day! CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD NOW!

Why your sick baby needs a steam bath

Open clogged passages

As I mentioned, a steam bath for baby can loosen the mucus and phlegm that is stuck in your baby’s nose, throat, and chest. Because the mucus is being relived and is now draining because of the steam, it is opening the clogged passages that are making your baby “stuffy”.

A steam bath will reduce the stuffy nose and open up their passages to breathe easier! No more clogged and stuffy nose when your baby is eating! AND the steam works immediately so your baby’s next feeding should go so much smoother because your little one can breathe better!

Why a steam bath is a miracle for your baby’s cough and cold

Prevent further build-up

One of the reasons a baby is sick so long is because they cannot voluntarily get rid of mucus in their nose or cough out built up phlegm. Because a steam bath loosens all the mucus, relieves the sinus pressure and opens the clogged passages, it prevents further mucus build up.

So instead of having the music build up for days and days and wait for it to drain, you can sit with your baby in the steamy bathroom every night for 20 minutes and it can prevent any more mucus build-up!

Shorten the length of coughs and cold

I love the steam bath because it not only works immediately but it also essentially shortens the length of my baby’s cough and cold!

Because all of the mucus and pressure are being released and my baby;’ passages are being opened, it helps my daughter get over a cold in about 3-4 days, instead of 7-10 days!

Pro Tip: Once the bathroom is nice and steamy and the bathroom door is closed to keep the steam in, you can run your baby a bath with this awesome soothing, essential oil Epsom salt and have your baby sit in a warm bath with the surrounding steam! It works wonders!

Free Baby Sick Journal | Help track Your Baby's cold & cough symptoms and medications/remedies!

Download the FREE Mommy & Me Planner & Baby Tracker

The easiest way to keep track of your baby’s symptoms and medications/ homeopathic remedies is to actually write them down!

To help you easily track your baby’s symptoms I created an awesome Baby Illness Tracker you can print and use every time your little one is sick!

It’s also a mommy planner/baby tracker combo that you can use every day to help make your day go as smoothly as possible.

Download the FREE Mommy & Me mini Planner Now!

So, there you have it! I absolutely love steam baths and every time my daughter has a cough or cold the steam baths immediately start to make her feel better! So if your baby is starting to get a little cough or stuffy nose know that a steam bath will help loosen their phlegm, relieve sinus pressure, open clogged passages, and shorten your baby’s cold!

Always With Love, Brianna

Related articles to help your little one get better faster:

  • How to Care For Your Sick Baby
  • How to Keep Your Baby Healthy & Prevent Colds

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Please know that I am not a doctor or physician and I am not medically trained. All tips and advice given is based on my own experience and given to me by my own pediatrician. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your doctor. This post is solely to offer encouragement from my experience and not designed to offer medical advice or treatment.

4 reasons a steam back is a miracle for your sick baby

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Shorten your baby’s cold and cough with this number one easy tip! A steam bath for baby is one of the best home remedies to help your baby’s cold and cough. This baby tip will help your children get better faster! Best baby cough remedy! #parentinghacks #coughremedy #parenting #babytips

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November 28, 2018 · 8 Comments

2 Key Ways to Prevent a Baby Cold

Baby Routines

Keep Your Baby Healthy This Cold & Flu Season | Prevent a Baby Cold

There is nothing worse than when your baby is sick. I mean, my heart melts at the very sound of my baby’s first faint cough and nose sniffle. While I love the Fall and Winter seasons, I also dread them because I know it’s prime “sick time”. And I absolutely hate when my little one has a baby cold. But I have found some REALLY awesome tips to keep your baby healthy during this cold and flu season. Hopefully, after this post, you’ll be prepared to face this season with the tools you need to keep your baby cold free and healthy!

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The not-so-secret, super important keys to preventing a baby cold and keeping your baby healthy this season is to reduce the spread of germs and to give your baby immune boosting foods! I know, it sounds really cliché but ever since I started really focusing on reducing the spread of germs and keeping my daughter away from germs, I found that when other babies were getting sick, my daughter wasn’t.

I don’t want to overcomplicate this, so I’ll leave it at this: there are 2 keys to preventing your little one from getting a baby cold: 1) sanitize, sanitize, sanitize and 2) make sure that your baby is healthy- meaning, eating healthy and immune boosting foods.

Keep Your Baby Healthy This Cold & Flu Season | Prevent a Baby Cold

I also created FREE Cold & Flu Prevention Ultimate Cheatsheets to help to keep your baby and family sick-free! The cheatsheets include a sample toddler meal plan to help you incorporate healthy, immune boosting foods in your baby’s diet, a BUNCH of tips to keep your house germ free, and a checklist of everyday essentials needed for a healthy environment! Download the Free Cold & Flu Prevention Cheatsheets now!

 

Trust me it works!! I have experienced it first-hand too! I have always prided myself on being able to keep my daughter healthy and reduce the risk of her getting sick. Of course, there are times when you can’t totally prevent your baby from getting sick because getting sick is normal and a part of life. But I have tried certain tips and tricks since my daughter was first born and I am relieved to admit that she has only caught a baby cold twice and has never had the flu.

I’m looking forward to continuing to use these tips for this upcoming cold and flu season and would love to share my tips with you!

 

Tips to Prevent a Baby Cold and Keep Your Baby Healthy this Season

 

This post contains affiliate links. Any purchases you make through these links, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you! Mastering Mom life is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please view Mastering Mom Life’s Terms, Disclosure & Disclaimer Policy and Privacy Policy. I wholeheartedly believe in all of the products I recommend and use them all! 

As I mentioned before, the 2 key ways to preventing your little one from getting a baby cold are to sanitize and make sure your baby is eating healthy immune boosting foods. I have several tips to help you accomplish these keys so I wanted to easily list them below!

Clean Public Items Before Use

1. Sanitize:

I can’t stress enough how keeping things clean and sanitized can really help prevent sickness. I know some mothers who either think it’s too much work to clean things constantly, or that take sanitizing to another level and never let their baby touch anything. I don’t really believe in these 2 extremes and fall somewhere in the middle. I believe in keeping my baby’s environment as clean as possible, meaning I did everything I could to wipes down certain areas and clean toys that will be going in her mouth.

I obviously cannot clean EVERYTHING, but I feel better when I know I took certain precautions to make my baby’s environment clean and sanitized. It’s only logical for me to wipe down a chair that I just saw someone sneeze on- I mean who wouldn’t! So just trust your mom instincts and find a balance of cleanliness that works for you.

Here are the tips that I use on a regular basis to help me keep my baby healthy!

When you are out and about:

  • Make sure your diaper bag is stocked with disinfectant (I always carry these Lysol Disinfecting On the Go Travel Wipes, and a Lysol Disinfectant Travel Spray)
  • Clean down the changing area in public bathrooms with disinfectant wipes or spray
  • Disinfect that changing pad after you use it and before you put it back in your diaper bag
  • Keep an eye out for people with a cold and make sure to steer clear of them
  • Wipe down all surfaces that your baby will be coming into continual contact with (such as tables, high chair, and shopping carts)
  • Carry hand sanitizer for people who want to touch or pick up your baby
  • Wash your hand whenever you get a chance and often
  • Consistently clean your baby’s hands and face with a wipe
  • Use your instincts!

Clean baby toys to reduce the spread of germs

For the Home:

  • Clean down your baby’s toys at least once a week (I disinfect Baby L’s toys twice a week the Seventh Generation Disinfectant Spray because is it all natural and contains no bleach.)
  • Change your baby’s sheets once a week
  • Have everyone who comes in contact with your baby wash their hands when they enter your house
  • Use Lysol Laundry Sanitizer once a week when you wash clothes
  • Clean doorknobs throughout the house on a regular basis, especially when company is over

 

Toddler in Kitchen

2. Eat Healthy, Immune Boosting Foods:

Another way to prevent a baby cold is to keep your baby healthy! I have to admit before I was a parent I thought that those moms who feed their baby specific foods were crazy. But man was I wrong! I didn’t realize how important it was to eat properly not because of weight gain, but because you want your body to be functioning at its best. And if I want that for myself, then I sure as heck want it even 100 times more for my baby!

So needless to say, if you’re feeding your baby vitamin-rich foods and keeping their immune system nice and strong then when sickness comes around the chances are that your baby may not even get sick or he will only get sick for a short amount of time. So here are the different immune boosting foods that can keep your baby healthy this season!

Prebiotics:

Prebiotics boost the useful bacteria in your baby’s body that defends the immune system from harmful bacteria. Foods with prebiotics naturally boost your baby’s immune system! Here are some foods with prebiotics that you can add to your toddler’s everyday meals:

  • Bananas
  • Tomatoes
  • Asparagus

Iron:

Iron helps form hemoglobin, which is the protein in red blood cells that carry oxygen around the body. A lack of iron in babies can sometimes lead to an ineffective immune system. When your baby gets iron on a regular basis, you are helping them reduce immune infection! Here is some everyday food with iron:

  • Whole grains
  • Leafy, dark vegetables (spinach)
  • Dried Fruit

 

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Vitamin C:

Everyone knows about Vitamin C! Vitamin C helps white blood cells fight infection. It also protects cells and can keep your baby healthy, longer. Help boost your baby’s immune system by feeding them Vitamin C on a regular basis! Some popular food with Vitamin C is:

  • Broccoli
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Oranges
  • Citrus fruit
  • Kiwi
  • Grapefruit

Vitamin A:

Vitamin A helps the antibodies and the purpose of the immune cells. High functioning immune cells help your baby stay healthy! Here are some foods with Vitamin A:

  • Cheese
  • Eggs
  • Yogurt
  • Carrots

Cold & Flu Prevention Cheatsheets

Free Cold & Flu Prevention Ultimate Cheatsheets

Don’t forget to download your copy of the FREE Cold & Flu Prevention Ultimate Cheatsheets to help you prepare for this sick season! The Cheatsheets will help you add healthy, immune boosting foods in your baby’s everyday meals, give you tips and tricks to keep your baby and family sick-free this season, and I even include an essentials checklist! The Cold & Flu Prevention Cheatsheets is a 3 page printable that can be used for all families! Keep your family healthy with these super awesome tips and tricks! Download the Free Ultimate Cheatsheets now!

 

IF your baby gets sick….

As much as we can try to avoid our children getting a baby cold, it’s ultimately inevitable! If your little one does come down with a baby cold, I wrote all about the awesome tips that can help your baby shorten the length of the cold and recover faster! Be sure to check out my post Tips For Caring for Your Sick Baby.

You can also click the image below to read the post!

How to Care for Your Sick Baby

And there you have it! Remember, there are 2 keys to preventing your little one from getting a baby cold: 1) sanitize, sanitize, sanitize and 2) make sure that your baby is physically healthy- and eating healthy and immune boosting foods.

No one likes when their little one is sick with a baby cold. I hate to see my daughter sick and helpless so I always vow to prevent sickness from her as much as I can. I know it sounds crazy to always be cleaning and disinfecting everything, but trust me- you will be thanking yourself when everyone around you is sick except for your baby!

Always With Love, Brianna

 

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Want to learn the secrets to keeping your baby healthy and preventing a cold and flu? Check out my post on how to prevent your baby from getting sick or from catching a cold or flu! Find out to best baby tips on how to keep your baby healthy and boost their immune systems! #babytips #momlife #parenthood #toddlermeals #healthyeating

October 17, 2018 · 1 Comment

The Complete 12-18 month Old Perfect Baby Schedule

Baby Routines

12-18 Month Old Baby Schedule | Daily Baby Schedule Template

Inside: Wondering what your 12-18 month old baby schedule should look like? Don’t worry! Read on to find out all of the 12-18 month old transitions and milestones!

In the blink of an eye, my little squirt went from crawling around the house to sprinting up and down my hallways, wreaking havoc on anything that got in her way. I chaotically entered the 12-18 month stage!

Is your sweet baby 12-18 months old already? So exciting! You may have noticed how much your little one has grown and changed over the past year. Watching your baby grow from a newborn to the beginning toddler stages is so precious.

It’s important to know as your baby continues to grow, their everyday schedule will begin to shift and change.

Having a sample 12-18 month old baby schedule can help you follow a schedule that not only works for you but is tailored to your baby’s growth and enhances their milestones and transitions.

 

Sample 12-18 Month Old Baby Schedule

Your baby’s schedule will go through several changes as your baby completes different transitions. There are 2 pertinent transitions:

  • feeding transitions: when your baby eats more or less of a type of food or liquids
  • nap transitions: when your baby starts to sleep longer during certain naps and begins to drop another nap

This sample 12-18 month old baby schedule has tremendously helped me when my daughter was in transition stages because it allowed me to see what stage of growth she was in so I could assist her and make those transitions easier for her.

Having this schedule also helped me track her milestones because as the schedule slightly changed, I was able to see her growth based on the changes she made in her daily schedule.

(If you are thinking to yourself, “why does my baby even need a schedule?” then be sure to check out this post that will explain the importance and benefits of a schedule for your baby: “Why a Schedule For Your Baby Is So Important”).

 

Okay so let’s get down to the 12-18 month old baby schedule!

 

12-18 Month Old Baby Schedule

Please know that I am not a doctor or physician and I am not medically trained. All tips and advice given is based on my own experience and given to me by my own pediatrician. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your doctor. This post is solely to offer encouragement from my experience and not designed to offer medical advice or treatment. You can read Mastering Mom Life’s full disclosure, disclaimer, and terms here. 

 

7:15-8:00 am Wake

  • Your day will start at the time your baby normally wakes. My daughter sleeps 11-12 hours through the night depending on the day so this is around the time that she normally wakes up.
  • As soon as she wakes up I sing her a little good morning song to get her smiling and then change her diaper.

 

7:45-8:15 am First Feeding

  • At the one year mark, your baby can start drinking cow’s milk (see your pediatrician before making the switch) so at 12 months old we began to introduce cow’s milk. We started in increments and began with 25% cow’s milk/75% formula then 50%/50%.
  • At 13 months she drank a 6-ounce bottle with 75% cow’s milk/25% formula and by the end of 13 months, she was fully on cow’s milk.
  • At 15 months this first feeding was considered Baby L’s breakfast. I would feed her a bowl of plain Cheerios with a side of fruit. Then she would have a 4-ounce bottle. (After 18 months she should be weaned from this morning bottle)

I know some parents have their baby completely weaned from the bottle by 12 months. This is personally not my approach and taking the bottle away from my daughter that soon was not something that worked well.

Be sure to do what works best for YOU and YOUR BABY! Work on weaning as it flows best for you and remember to talk to your pediatrician if you are unsure of what to do or when.

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8:45-11:00 am Playtime

  • At 12 months old after breakfast, I began to sit with Baby L and read her 2 books. I would read with her every morning before she turned 1 but as she is getting older she is getting more involved with reading my turning pages and running her finger along with words and pictures. I continue to read with her every morning. I usually read from 9-9:30 am.

 

  • At 13 months old I began to teach her “blanket time”. This is where I sit down on the floor with her on a blanket and we play together. This is teaching her to stay on the blanket as she plays so eventually I can teach her to independently play while she is on the blanket and I know she won’t run and get into something she isn’t supposed to.

“Blanket time” comes in handy when you need to do the dishes or fold clothes and you know your baby will be playing on his/her blanket.

 

  • At 15 months old she was successfully playing at “blanket time” by herself and would stay on her blanket for about 15 minutes!

 

  • At 16 months old Baby L would play with me, then independently, then in the living, then in her room. By 18 months she was fully playing with blocks, books, building boxes and so much more! Having this playtime really allowed her to grow and teach herself new things!

Dad and baby reading

 

10:00 am Morning Nap

  • At 13 months old, Baby L transitioned out of her morning nap. When she did take this nap, she did not have any food before she went down to nap and slept for about 45 minutes.

 

  • If your baby is still showing tired cues at morning playtime then your baby may still be taking the morning nap. That is perfectly fine!

 

  • Some signs to look for that your baby is transitioning out of this nap: sleeping longer in the night and waking up a little later, starts crying when you put them down and they did not do this before, they do not show tired cues.

 

Don’t forget your nap routine! If you want to read more on the awesome benefits of a nap routine, read my post “The Importance of a Nap Routine.”

Baby Nap Routine

 

11:00 am Second Feeding

  • At 12 months old I made “breakfast” foods at this time for Baby L since she was eating only her milk at the first feeding. I would make a meal schedule at the beginning of the week and just follow the plan. It was easier for me to make a meal plan so every day I didn’t have to think “umm what should she eat today?”.

Organizing her meals made life easier for me! Some foods she ate included: eggs, pancakes, oatmeal, French toast, peanut butter toast, etc.

  • At 15 months old when she started eating food for her first feeding, this feeding was heartier and was more of a Brunch than just a straight up lunch. I always started this feeding with fruit, usually bananas, strawberries, blueberries, or cantaloupe.

Related Reading

If you’re having trouble knowing if your baby is full be sure to check out my post “Feeding to Get Your Baby Full” so you can know your baby’s hunger cues. A full feeding is vital for a good nap!

Full Feeding Schedule | Feeding to Get Your Baby Full | Baby Tips | Feeding Schedule | Mom Life Tips | #momadvice #parenting


11:30 am/12:00 pm Nap

  • At 12 months old, Baby L was drinking a 6-ounce bottle with her second feeding before this nap.
  • At 13 months old, this nap became her only nap of the “morning”. I call it morning because it’s easy to get confused if you call it afternoon if your baby is still taking an afternoon nap.
  • When Baby L was taking an early morning nap at 10am this nap started at 12:30/1:00pm and was not too long (maybe 1 hour).
  • After about 14 months old, if your baby has dropped the 10am nap then this nap will get longer and your baby will sleep for about 1.5-2 hours.
  • Around 16 months old is when I started to wean and begin to drop this 4-ounce bottle.
  • Remember to do your nap routine for each nap that your baby has!

BONUS: Download the FREE 12-18 Month Old Baby Schedule so you follow the perfect schedule and create your own awesome baby schedule! Click here to get it now!

2:30 pm Third Feeding

  • At 12 months old, your baby will wake up from the nap and want to eat. Baby L would normally eat a 4-ounce bottle at this time.
  • At 13 months old, when your baby is drinking a full bottle in the first feeding and the second feeding is breakfast, then this feeding is lunch.
  • At 14/15 months old when your baby has transitioned out of the full morning bottle and is eating solids for the first and second feedings, then this feeding becomes a snack.
  • After 15 months old this feeding is just a snack, like fruit, yogurt, oatmeal, etc.

Full feedings are the key to great naps!

 

3:30-5:00 pm Playtime

  • This is more downtime and activity time for your baby to be developing their senses and activities! Sometimes I take a long walk to get Baby L outside.

Or if you have a yard then you can play outside. Or if you have to run an errand you can take your baby out for a drive. The sky is the limit for things to do with your baby!

The beauty about knowing your baby’s schedule is that you can anticipate what they need and when so if you have a few hours that you know your baby is content, fed and well rested then use those hours and do something that YOU need or want to do!

After all, it’s so important to still focus on yourself as a mom!

Go out with your baby for playtime

5:30 pm Fourth Feeding

  • At 12/13 months old this feeding is a light dinner.
  • After about 14 months old and your baby is eating a full breakfast, lunch, with a snack in the afternoon, this meal becomes full dinner!

 

6:00 pm Cat Nap

  • At 12 months old, your baby may still be taking the late afternoon/early evening nap. Depending on what time your baby’s bedtime is, this nap will be very short.

But some babies still need this nap because it would be 4 hours after they woke up from their last nap. One of my baby schedule principles was for my baby to be up for no longer than 4 hours at a time.

But now that your baby is getting older, they will be up for longer stretches of time but also sleep for a longer amount of time.

  • Around 15 months old, Baby L started dropping this nap. This nap was the last to be dropped, followed by the first morning nap. After this nap is dropped, your baby will only be napping that once after the second feeding.

 

  • Even at 18 months old, if your baby had a long, busy day your baby may need a nap around this time! Just because a nap may be “dropped doesn’t mean that it’s impossible for your baby to take this nap every once in a blue moon.

Be sure to look for tired cues and follow your baby’s lead!

12-18 Month Old Baby Schedule | Daily Baby Schedule Template

7:30-8:30 pm Bedtime/Last Feeding

  • Remember to have your bedtime routine before every nighttime sleep!

 

  • If your baby is still taking that last cat nap then your baby’s bedtime will be more towards 8:30ish. At 12 months, I started Baby L’s bedtime routine around 7:45pm and she had her last 8-ounce bottle at 8:30pm.

 

  • If your baby had dropped that last nap then your baby will be ready for bed around 7:30pm. At 16 months when that last nap was dropped, I started Baby L’s nap routine around 6:45 and she had her last 8-ounce bottle at 7:30pm.

 

  • Baby L started to sleep 7-8 hours through the night at 8 weeks old! This was made possible because started her on a daily schedule at 6 weeks and began a nap routine and bedtime routine at 6 weeks as well.

By 6 months Baby L was sleeping about 10-11 hours through the night!

12-18 Month Old Baby Schedule for an Easy Day

Tip About Night Time Sleep

Remember, the length of time your baby sleeps at night will be affected by how long their naps are and the overall daily schedule they have. To ensure the best long lasting sleep effects, be sure to have your baby on a daily schedule that is working for you and your baby, and that they are accomplishing full feedings and full naps.

These factors will greatly increase the consistency of your baby’s nighttime sleep!

And there you have it! This is a sample 12-18 month baby schedule!

 

12-18 Month Baby Sample Schedule

Free 12-18 Month Old Baby Schedule

I created this Ultimate 12-18 Month Sample Schedule in an accessible format for you to print out and follow daily!

This Ultimate Schedule has extra details about when to start nap transitioning and bottle weaning in these 6 months as well. Instead of worrying about all the different schedules, transitions and weaning’s, spend more time focusing on playing with your baby because you have this master schedule!

As a bonus for downloading the ultimate schedule, you also get a free Create Your Own Daily Schedule Template.

That way, you can “follow” the sample schedule but also have somewhere to track your baby’s individual, unique schedule that will be specifically for your baby! After all, that’s what you REALLY want to accomplish- creating a schedule with and for your baby that works best for them and enhances their growth.

You won’t want to miss these 2 awesome resources!

Get Your Free Ultimate 12-18 Month Baby Schedule and Schedule Template Now!

Remember, having a schedule for your baby doesn’t mean that you are confined in every minute of the day. Having a schedule allows you to anticipate your baby’s needs and know what they need and when!

Don’t let a schedule box you in and make you feel like you have to be at home all day. As long as your baby is getting full feedings, is napping well and is playing productively that you are going to have a good day!

I hope I was able to help you see the stages of growth and transitions that your baby will be experiencing in this new stage of life by showing you my sample 12-18 month old baby schedule.

Don’t chaotically enter the 12-18 month stage– embrace this new season with expectation knowing that you prepared!

Pin this post to pinterest

Always With Love, Brianna

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Related Reading
Nap Schedule | How to Start a Nap Schedule with Your Baby | Parenting Tips | Motherhood | #momadvice #momlife #babysleep

 

12-18 Month Sample Schedule to Make Your Baby Happy & Healthy! This 12-18 month old schedule includes 12-18 month activities, nap schedules, feeding schedules and toddler transitions. It’s a comprehensive, detailed baby schedule to help your baby grow and develop! #parenting101 #babytips #Parenthood #parenting #freeprintable

12-18 Month Baby Schedule | toddler schedule | daily schedule | free printable schedule | mom advice |baby tips | baby nap | baby feeding tips #momlife #baby

September 8, 2018 · Leave a Comment

5 Reasons your Baby Needs a Nap Routine

Baby Routines

Baby Nap Routine with Free Nap Routine to Help Baby Sleep Longer Everyday

Inside: Want to know the amazing benefits of a baby nap routine? Keep reading!

I was about to lose my mind. I glared at the clock…each minute felt like an hour. It had been 6 hours since my daughter woke up and she was refusing to go down for a nap.

It took me to go through this dreaded day to realize what my baby was missing — a nap routine.

Are you tired of having to worry about if your baby is going to go down for a nap?

Starting a baby nap routine will help you teach your baby to not only go down for a nap but also sleep for longer stretches and help with your overall sleep schedule.

Having a baby nap routine will set the stage for your baby learning how to nap during the day and can also even help them sleep longer through the night!

So, let’s get down to all of the terrific benefits of a baby nap routine!

The Importance of Having a Baby Nap Routine

 

1. Teach Your Baby to Nap During the Day

A nap routine really does teach your baby that it’s time to sleep. If your baby is having trouble with actually sleeping, I seriously recommend focussing on a strong nap routine. Babies are accustomed to sleeping during the day because that’s what they did for so long in the womb as newborns.

You really aren’t “teaching” your baby to nap, because they already know how to do that! What you’re doing is setting up the stage for them to understand that NOW it’s time to nap.

Your baby will automatically want to sleep during the day because their bodies will tell them that they are tired.

But it’s also possible for them to fight that urge to go to sleep. That’s when you have an overly tired, cranky baby on your hands! A baby nap routine will begin to gently teach your baby that this routine is the signal for sleep.

Once your baby gets used to this routine, every time that it’s nap time they will know that it’s sleep time.

That’s why it’s also important to have a nap schedule in place, so your baby will know that those certain times during the day are for sleeping. If you want to start your nap schedule along with your nap routine, be sure to read my post “How to Start a Nap Schedule With Your Baby.” It will help wonders!

The best hack for better baby naps

2. Consistent Naps

As we discussed, a baby nap routine can help teach your baby to sleep during the day, and it also teaches your baby to nap consistently during the day.

It’s all fine and dandy to get your baby to sleep once during the day, but if your baby is still little and needs 2 or 3 naps during the day then you need to make sure they are taking all of those naps and not just one.

Having a baby nap routine will help your baby consistently take their naps during the day because the nap routine is signaling that it is time for sleep.

When your baby has associated the nap routine with sleeping, every time you do the nap routine it should be telling them “yes, we are about to go to sleep soon”. You will find that your baby will begin to really enjoy their nap routine because they know that they will be sleeping.

And since their bodies are telling them it’s time to sleep, you are simply guiding them in the right direction and helping them flow with their natural instincts to go to sleep.

BONUS: Get the FREE sample Nap Routine that works! Don’t go through trials and errors– use this nap routine as your guide! CLICK HERE TO GET IT NOW!

Why your baby needs a nap routine

3. Help Solve Your Baby’s Nap Problems

Most times, a baby is crying during naps because they either were not ready to sleep, they are used to falling asleep doing something else, or they are uncomfortable.

If you are having a hard time with your baby during naps because your baby just cries, be sure to check out my post “A Step By Step Guide to Help Your Baby Nap”.

I find that most parents’ issue is resolved when they start an effective nap routine with their baby. When your baby is not ready to be put down for a nap it can be because they were not properly “signaled” that it was nap time.

When you have a strong nap routine in place, it can become a great signal for your baby that it is time to nap (but it really signals that it’s time for them to go to sleep).

When your baby has established that the nap routine is the signal for sleep, it teaches them not only that it’s time for sleep but it’s also easier for them to fall asleep because they know that’s what they are supposed to do.

Baby Nap Routine

4. Fall Asleep Better at Night

Your baby’s daytime nap routine will definitely enhance your baby’s nightly bedtime routine. Just as it’s important to have a daytime nap routine, it’s equally important to have a bedtime routine that signals to your baby that it’s not just nap time but bedtime.

Having your baby used their baby nap routine will help them understand that when they have their bedtime routine, it means sleep. Your bedtime routine does not have to be difficult or elaborate. It’s simply a little bit of a longer version of your nap routine.

For example, my daughter’s bedtime routine included a bath and a nice rub down with lotion added to everything I do for the nap routine. These 2 routines help her fall asleep better because she knows that we signaled that it is bedtime.

When you don’t have a nap routine and bedtime routine in place, your baby doesn’t know that its bedtime so when you go to put your baby down for sleep, they are crying and fussy. To prevent that from happening, just start working on your nap routine and bedtime routine!

Baby Napping

5. Baby Sleep Longer Through the Night

When your baby starts to get into the rhythm of the nap routine leading to good naps, then your baby will also expect a routine before bedtime to prepare them for nighttime sleep.

This is so important because a good daily nap routine combined with a good bedtime routine is the secret sauce to accomplishing your baby sleeping through the night!

A lot of new parents think that having your baby sleep through the night is a very hard thing to accomplish- but it’s not! The secret is so simple- a strong nap routine and a strong bedtime routine.

 

The Goal of a Nap Routine

Your goal for your nap routine is to not only get your baby to sleep during nap time, sleep long during nap time, and sleep well at night. The goal is to teach your baby to fall sleep on their own- which is called self-soothing. Your nap routine should leave room for your baby to be put down to sleep tired, but not fully sleeping.

You want to be able to have your baby fall asleep on their own, without you holding them or rocking them. When your baby is able to sleep unassisted by you, they are able to fall asleep without constantly having to be with you.

This is a HUGE achievement because you want your baby to be able to fall asleep on their own. It’s a major milestone! Your nap routine should not include you rocking your baby to sleep and then putting them in the crib fast asleep.

The routine should be allowing your baby to get tired enough to fall asleep once you leave them.

It’s not easy- but it’s definitely possible. And you don’t have to just let your baby cry it out.

Find out the true importance of a baby nap routine and how it can help your baby nap better, nap longer and nap consistently. Having a nap routine is an amazing baby tip that can truly improve your baby’s naps! #newmom #baby #parenthood #parenting #parentingtips

(Like mentioned above, be sure to read my Step by Step Guide to Help Your Baby Nap if you want to know the exact steps I used to teach my baby to self-soothe without crying it out.)

Patience, Patience, Patience

Keep in mind that it does NOT happen overnight, but it takes time for your routine to be established. That is why I recommend following a nap schedule so within that schedule at every nap time you are doing your same routine. This routine is done every time your baby goes down for a nap. In your nap schedule, you will be adding this routine before each nap.

After a week or so- you should see the benefits of the routine and your baby sleeping during naps consistently.

Sample Nap Routine

Download My Sample Nap Routine!

So now that you’re convinced of the amazing benefits of a nap routine, you might be wondering “what does a nap routine look like?”

Don’t go through a million trial and errors like I did. Steal my routine!

I worked really hard on my daughter’s nap routine and tried a ton of failed routines but once I FINALLY found the perfect nap routine, she not only began to take long, consistent naps and started sleeping through the night within ONE week!

So, I wanted to share my baby nap routine with you!  Feel free to print it and put it up in your baby’s room so you always remember it. Or if your baby gets babysat it’s really simple to give to a babysitter to follow.

This nap routine is so flexible and can be adjusted to your family. I take my daughter on road trips, vacations, to spend the night at family’s homes, and she STILL naps like if she is at home because of the nap routine that we have in place. Be sure to get access to my nap routine below!

Trust me, I’m sure it will help you!

Download your free copy now!

 

That dreaded day where my daughter was awake for more than 6 hours without napping was over a year ago…

and you know what….

it hasn’t happened again!

Why?

Because I started implementing a nap routine!

And my sanity thanked me for it.

So don’t go through miserable, sleepless days anymore. Start a baby nap routine and see how your baby’s naps will change!

Trust me, you will be thanking yourself a week from now when your baby is peacefully sleeping for 2 hours and you have some free time all to yourself 🙂

(And be sure to steal my nap routine too!)

Don’t forget to leave a comment or contact me directly if you have any questions or would like to share your nap routine!

Always With Love, Brianna

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5 Reasons your baby needs a nap routine

September 5, 2018 · 6 Comments

Necessary Baby Furniture (Choose What You Need & Don’t Need!)

Baby Routines, Pregnancy Life

Necessary Baby Furniture Featured Image: Choose What You Need and Don't Need

Every parent has some advice to give new parents about what furniture they should be buying for their new little addition. When I was pregnant I got some great recommendations and some not so great recommendations that ended up being a waste of my money. What I really wanted was advice on what exactly was the necessary baby furniture I would need, and what I wouldn’t need.

While advice on what your baby will need is great, it’s so important to keep in mind that necessary baby furniture will be based on where you live, how much space you have, how much you can afford, and the choices you make for your baby.

(Don’t have time to read this now? That’s ok! Save it to read for later by pinning it to your favorite Pinterest board by clicking here!)

When I was pregnant and trying to find what baby furniture I needed and didn’t need it was hard to find a list that worked for me. All baby furniture lists were either telling me items what I absolutely needed or didn’t need at all (with no real reason why). What I wanted was a master list of everything I could possibly need with the pros and cons of each item that could allow me to choose for myself what I needed. So, after my first baby, I made a master list myself and want to share it with you!

Necessary Baby Furniture Featured Image: Choose What You Need and Don't Need

That’s why my ultimate list of necessary baby furniture is designed to help YOU choose what you need and what you don’t need. It not only includes the item you will need but also the rank of how important it is and the pros and cons of each item!

That way you can assess for yourself if you need the item based on your family’s needs- not just because someone told you to get it and wanted you to be “trendy”.

Not only does this post include my list of necessary baby furniture with information to help you choose what you need and don’t need, but it also includes my “Necessary Baby Furniture Worksheet” which is a place where you write down all your personal details about each item you need such as which store you are buying it from, a cost comparison chart, where you are going to place it in your house, and more. My awesome baby furniture assessment worksheet will help you organize and prioritize what you items you need and don’t need! It’s a real time saver and life saver and takes the “task” out of finding what furniture you want to buy and makes furniture shopping easy and fun! Be sure to get it below!

So, let’s get down to the ultimate list of necessary baby furniture!

 

The Ultimate List of Necessary Baby Furniture!

I purchased all of these items on Amazon and some of the items were purchased for me from my Amazon Baby Registry.

Mastering Mom life is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please view Mastering Mom Life’s Terms, Disclosure & Disclaimer Policy and Privacy Policy. I wholeheartedly believe in all of the products I recommend! 

 

Crib

 

We chose a 4 in 1 Transitional crib so the crib can grow with my daughter!

Rank of Importance– Obviously, a crib is a necessary baby furniture item!

You have a couple options when it comes to your baby’s sleeping arrangements.

  • Some people chose to have their baby sleep with them in their room in a bassinet
  • Others chose to put their baby in a crib from the beginning

If you’re going for option 1 then you will need a bassinet for your room and a crib for when they transition out of the bassinet. If you choose to put your baby in an actual crib then you’ll need a crib right away.

Pro– it is a crib, a toddler bed, and then can transform into a full-size headboard and footer. We thought this would be the most cost efficient since we can use it for years to come as she gets older

Con– In order to use for the future, you have to keep it in good condition so it can last.

My husband and I chose to put Baby L in her crib from day one so we wanted to buy a crib that had great durability and was long lasting. Our bedrooms shared a wall and our doors were literally 3 inches away from each other so we chose to put our daughter in her own room in her crib from the day she got home from the hospital. Personally, this worked very well for us!

We purchased the: Fischer Price Transitional 4 in 1 Crib

 Necessary Baby Furniture- Crib and Mattress

Crib Mattress 

 

Rank of Importance– If you are using a crib for your newborn baby and not a bassinet than a crib mattress, out of a scale of 1 to 5, is a 5!

You want to make sure to get a mattress that is comfortable yet firm. It is advised that babies do not sleep on very soft surfaces due to SIDS. (I am not a doctor but I received this information from my pediatrician so be sure to ask a professional about the exact mattress that is recommended.) You also want to make sure that the mattress is waterproof!

We purchased the: Serta Sertapedic Fiber Core Crib and Toddler Mattress (Waterproof)

 

Baby Furniture Must Haves | Necessary Baby Furniture | Everyday Nursery Essentials | Everyday Baby Essentials | #nursery #babyessentials #babyfurniture

Bassinet

 

Rank of Importance– If you are not using a crib right away and choose to have your baby sleep in a bassinet in your room or their own room, then you will definitely need a bassinet.

I personally had a crib and a bassinet. I put the bassinet in the downstairs living room and had my daughter’s crib in her nursery. The bassinet actually came bundled with our stroller so it was not an added cost for us. The stroller we purchased actually had the option to attach the bassinet the stroller- it was VERY multifunctional. We purchased the UPPA Baby Vista Stroller (With Included Bassinet).

Pro– I enjoyed having the bassinet because I was able to put my baby to sleep anywhere that I set the bassinet up. It is also where my daughter slept when we stayed at my parent’s house during the first couple months of her life. It is A LOT more portable than a crib and a lot more comfortable than a pack and play.

Con– Though I liked the bassinet for her early stages, my daughter quickly outgrew the bassinet and it became rather useless.

 

Necessary Baby Furniture - Bassinet 

Changing Table

 

Rank of Importance– on a scale from 1 to 5 I would say our changing table is a 4, for everyday baby necessities.

Pro– The changing table had 2 built-in shelves. I was able to use the bottom shelves of the changing table to organize her diapers and make organized baskets of her lotions, creams, diapers, wipes, socks, and onesies.

Con– It can take up a bit of space if you only have a small room to work with. Our daughter’s room was small but we decided to add the changing table because it was practical for us.

I know many people who say a changing table was absolutely unnecessary for them and was just a waste of space. For us, the changing table was super helpful! We had a changing table in Baby L’s nursery upstairs and one downstairs in the living room as well. But we used the changing station that came attached to her pack and play (this item is below). I wasn’t a fan of changing her on odd and ends surfaces. Of course, we were fine when we had to change her on a bed or couch when needed, but we loved having a designated place to change her in our house.

We purchased the: Child Craft Arched Top Changing Table with Pad

 

Don’t forget to get my “Necessary Baby Furniture Worksheet” with detailed baby furniture assessments to help you personally write out what you need and don’t need. Get the awesome FREE worksheet below!

 

Pack and Play with changing pad and sleeper

 

Rank of Importance– On a scale from 1 to 5 I would say this pack and play is a 4 for us, for everyday baby necessities.

Pro– The pack and play has a changing station attached to the top and right beside it was a bassinet insert as a sleeping station. It also has 2 organization pockets hanging from the changing station so you can store the diapers and wipes

When we had Baby L we lived in a 2 story duplex. So, for half of the day I was upstairs with the baby and the second half of the day, I would bring the baby downstairs. Because of this, I liked to have a second “set” of things downstairs of necessities so I didn’t have to keep running up and down the stairs with a newborn. We kept the pack and play in the living room (our floor plan is open so it connects through to the kitchen and dining area). The pack and play has a changing station attached to the top and right beside it was a bassinet insert as a sleeping station. This really helped me because I was able to change her and lay her down all in one area and didn’t have to run upstairs.

Con– It is quite big. If your house has a layout that allows you to access her changing table or crib without an issue then I could see how some parents can view this as unnecessary. Or if you have a bassinet and don’t need a changing station then you may not need this.

We purchased the: Graco Pack N’ Play Playard with Newborn Napperstation DLX

Setting up your nursery? Find out all about baby furniture, what baby furniture is essential, and what bay furniture you can skip! Plus a free printable to help you plan your nursery and figure out what baby necessities you need! #babyessentials #babyfurniture #baby #pregnancy

Swing/Rocker

 

Rank of Importance– On a scale from 1 to 5, I would say these items are a 3 for everyday baby necessities.

Pro– Baby L had borderline colic so having a swing/rocker really helped soothe her during her difficult days. It was also a safe place to put her in when I had to do dishes or run to the bathroom.

Con– It’s sort of a waste of space if you don’t feel like you need a device to “soothe” your baby. It can also be a potential sleep prop- meaning your baby get so used to being in there that they can’t sleep in anything else that isn’t rocking or vibrating.

We purchased the: Graco Simple Sway Baby Swing and the Fischer Price Deluxe Auto Rock N’ Play Sleeper with Smart Connect

The Fischer Price Deluxe Auto Rock N’ Play Sleeper with Smart Connect was a lifesaver! My daughter has a bit of colic for a couple weeks and this rocker was the only thing that would soothe her. It comes with a free app that allows you to turn it on without even touching it! It also has a bunch of sounds, music, and vibration. It was amazing!

Necessary Baby Furniture - Baby Glider

Glider

 

Rank of Importance– On a scale of 1 to 5 a glider for us was a 3. I do not think it is a necessity to all parents but it was definitely beneficial to us.

Pro– We really loved having a glider for Baby L. We still use it to this day and she is well over a year old. I used it for nursing her, bottle feeding, and soothing her. It also became a staple of where we read to her every day. We were blessed to be able to have a family member buy a glider for us.

Con– I can see how parents may feel like this item is unnecessary. It can also be quite expensive if you cannot afford another piece of baby furniture. A glider can also take up space but you can find ones that are space saving.

We purchased the: DaVinci Upholstered Swivel Glider with Bonus Ottoman

 

High Chair

 

Rank of Importance– A high chair is not necessary before your baby starts to eat solids but once your baby begins solids a high chair is definitely a necessary baby furniture item.

There is a countless amount of options for high chairs these days, including a full high chair that has multi-functions such as reclining, detaching, and so much more, or you can buy a basic high chair for much cheaper. You can also purchase a high chair seat which is just a tabletop seat that can be placed anywhere you want your baby to eat! The options are endless!

We purchased the: Graco Duo Diner 3-in1 Convertible High Chair

 Necessary Baby Furniture - Dresser

Dresser/Storage Area

 

Rank of Importance– Having a storage is or dresser area to store your baby’s clothes and personal items is a must!

Your Options: You can choose to use bins for shelves or a closet with a combination of hangers and shelves. Or you can choose to purchase a full dresser with a bunch of drawers. Remember, think of your space and plan accordingly. My daughter’s room was not large at all so we used a combination of shelves in her closet, a small rack for hangers, and utilized the shelves under her changing table for storage bins. The possibilities are endless! Be sure to research an intuitive nursery/baby organization system and you will find a bunch of resources!

Necessary Baby Furniture: Choose What You Need and Don't Need| Nursery Furniture | New Baby | New Parents | Mom Life Tips | Free Worksheet | #newmom #babynursery

And there you have it!! This is the ultimate list of necessary baby furniture! Remember, not everything on this list is things that you will want. Talk to your spouse about what you will actually need, what you can afford, and how much space you have. The last thing you want to do is purchase a bunch of furniture and baby items and realize that 1) you didn’t even use it or 2) you don’t have space for it.

This list was designed to help YOU choose what you will need and won’t need for your new little addition to the family. Ask your friends and relatives what they really used and what was a waste. Make sure to purchase things that you know you will need! Also, keep in mind that something someone didn’t use can actually be the very thing that you need. You’ll never know what you’ll need until you sit down and plan!

Baby Furniture Assessment Worksheet | Free Printable

That’s why I created the “Necessary Baby Furniture Worksheet: Baby Furniture Assessment”! Be sure to download and complete the worksheet to help you plan what items you need, what items you want, and what items you don’t need. It will help you organize your thoughts and give you an easy overview to help you shop or create your registry. Let’s face it, as a pregnant woman and expectant parents you don’t need to do things that are overly complicated and that take a lot of work. My goal is to make things as easy as possible for you!

Get my FREE Necessary Baby Furniture Worksheet Now!

I hope this list and my “Necessary Baby Furniture Worksheet: Baby Furniture Assessment” will help you easily and efficiently figure out what baby furniture you need and don’t need!

Always With Love, Brianna

Wondering what other baby necessities you’ll need?? Check out my post on what everyday baby necessities I used by reading my post “Ultimate List of Everyday Baby Necessities” here.

Want to Remeber this Post? Save “Necessary Baby Furniture” to your favorite Pinterest Board by clicking here!

August 23, 2018 · Leave a Comment

Step By Step Guide to Help Your Baby Nap

Baby Routines

Step by Step Guide to Help Your Baby Nap: Helping Your Baby Who Just Cries During Naps | parenting tips | nap schedule | baby daily schedule | nap routine | #momlife #babyschedule

Does your baby just cry during naps?? Don’t worry! Keep reading to find out the easy steps you can do to prevent your baby from crying so they can have an amazing nap!

How to prevent your baby from just crying during naps | Image of baby

It took me a while to finally master putting my baby down for naps. Make sure you don’t make the same mistakes I did! I’d love to share with you my tips and tricks to help your baby accomplish a successful nap.

Since this post is about what to do when your baby just cries during naps, I recommend you read “How to Start a Nap Schedule with Your Baby” first.

This way, you can get accustomed to the nap schedule that I am talking about in this post. If you have already read that post, great! Let’s talk about what to do when your baby just cries during naps.

If you’re baby just cries during naps don’t worry because there are things that you can do to help figure out why this is happening, how you can prevent it, and how to help your baby nap better. We’ll talk about all of these things!

Step by Step Guide to Help Your Baby Nap: Helping Your Baby Who Just Cries During Naps | parenting tips | nap schedule | baby daily schedule | nap routine | #momlife #babyschedule

To better help you if your baby just cries during naps, we’re going to discuss the following topics in my step by step guide:

  • How to Put Your Baby Down for A Nap
  • What to Do if Your Baby Just Cries During Naps
  • How to Figure Out Why your Baby is Just Crying
  • How to Prevent Your Baby from Just Crying During Naps

 

The Step by Step Guide to for What to Do When Your Baby Just Cries During Naps:

 

Step 1: Start a Nap Routine

 

How to Put your Baby Down for a Nap

Before we can access why your baby just cries during naps, its best to go over the routine to put your baby down for a nap. Most times, a baby is crying during naps because they either were not ready to sleep, they are used to falling asleep doing something else, or they are uncomfortable. (We’ll get more into how to prevent crying during naps in a minute.)

I find that most parents’ issue is resolved when they start an effective nap routine with their baby. This routine is done every time your baby goes down for a nap. In your nap schedule, you will be adding this routine before each nap. This nap routine can be used for babies of all ages (just tweaked a bit to accommodate their age).

So what does that routine look like?

Get My FREE Sample Nap Routine so you can start a nap routine that actually works!

This sample is a solid nap routine. Not only does this nap routine help my baby take a successful nap, but it also helped my baby start sleeping 8 hours through the night at 8 weeks old!

Keep in mind that it does NOT happen overnight, but it takes time for your routine to be established. That is why I recommend following a nap schedule so within that schedule at every nap time you are doing your same routine. After a week or so- you should see the benefits of the routine and your baby sleeping during naps consistently.

 

Baby Nap Routine

Step 2: Choose What to do When your baby is crying

It is VERY possible that after you complete this routine and put your baby down that they can begin to cry. Here are a couple of options that you have and techniques that I have personally used.

 

  • Option 1: Soothing Technique

If your baby starts to cry, offer them a soothing technique such as a pacifier or their favorite blanket. (Do not worry about them getting attached to something right away. Your goal at this point is to accomplish a nap- your next goal can be weaning them off of soothing technique when they are ready.)

A soothing technique is just to soothe them- it is NOT a sleeping prop. A sleep-prop is something that the baby cannot sleep without. There are some soothing techniques that can turn into a sleep prop- such as your baby will refuse to fall asleep without a pacifier.

At this point, if your baby is still young and a newborn, do not worry about your pacifier turning into a sleep prop. Take things one step at a time.

If you’re worried about sleep props, try to avoid your baby only napping in things that auto vibrate or auto swing. If your baby falls asleep in one that’s fine- but do not make it a part of their specific nap routine.

What To Do When Your Baby Won’t Nap | Guide to Help Baby Nap | Baby Nap Tips | Help Baby Nap | Baby Just Cries During Naps | Nap Training | Baby Sleep | Nap Better | New Parent Tips | Baby Tips | Baby Life Hacks | Baby Tricks | #babytips #momtips

  • Option 2: Stay in the Baby’s Room but out of sight and sing or shush

I have done this a NUMBER of times. As soon as I put my daughter down to nap and she began to cry I would stay in the room out of sight and begin to sing softly. Sometimes I would sing and sometimes I would just do a soft shushing sound.

Your baby may just be so used to being with you that when they get put down to nap they instantly miss you being there and the comfort you bring. If they can hear your soft and quiet voice then it can calm them down and allow them to drift into sleep. You may have to do this a couple of times. (See bullet point below about how long to do the soothing technique.)

 

  • Combination of 1 and 2

You can certainly combine both options. If your baby begins to cry you can offer her a soothing technique and then remain in the room out of sight. If your baby continues to cry then offer him a soothing technique again. If your baby is still crying, then remain out of sight and start to quietly sing or shush.

Now, they should have their pacifier (or other soothing technique you choose) and will be hearing your voice. This should help them feel comforted enough to go to sleep.

Like I mentioned in Option 2, this may take a couple of cycles before your baby actually falls asleep. That’s ok, just remember it will get better after you begin to consistently implement the routine. Eventually, your baby will fall asleep and settle themselves.

If your baby is still starting to cry a couple of minutes after you leave, I suggest adding another minute to your waiting after each time you go in to soothe her. This way, your baby isn’t getting used to you going in there every 5 seconds.

Baby Napping

  • Option 3: Figure Out What Is Wrong

After you have tried options 1 and 2 with no improvement, then it’s time to figure out exactly what is wrong and why your baby is just crying during naps. I would recommend trying soothing options first and if there is no improvement then it’s time to access a little further why this is happening.

Most of the time parents immediately jump to “Oh my gosh what is wrong with my baby?!” instead of giving the nap routine and the soothing options any time for there to be an improvement. But what we DON’T want is for your baby just to perpetually cry.

Unless you prefer the “cry it out method”, I would recommend trying to figure out what is preventing your baby from napping. This is Step 3.

 

  • How long do you let your baby cry until you do the soothing technique?

If my baby started to cry as soon as I put my daughter down to nap I would wait about 30 seconds to see if she settled herself. If she continued to cry, then I would use the soothing technique.

If she settled down and then started to cry again, I would wait another minute and then go in again to offer her the pacifier. If she started to cry again then I would wait 2 minutes until I went in. if she cried again then I would wait 4 minutes.

After every time, I would add 2 minutes of waiting so I could give her time to settle herself. You may have to do this a couple of times until your baby finally goes to sleep. That is the nature of the nap routine- it will get better with time.

The key is consistency! Also, do not soothe right away in a way that your baby now expects you to run to him every time he cries. The goal is for him to go to sleep, not expect you to come every time he cries.

Step by Step Guide to Help Your Baby Nap: Helping Your Baby Who Just Cries During Naps | parenting tips | nap schedule | baby daily schedule | nap routine | #momlife #babyschedule

Step 3: Figure out Why Your Baby Just Cries During Naps

Remember, if your baby is fully fed, has had activity time, is up to their nap in their daily schedule and is showing tired cues then your baby should be going to sleep.

If you already did steps 1 and 2 thoroughly then it’s time to start figuring out why your baby just cries during naps. Here are a few reasons why this could be happening. (Be sure to read them carefully and honestly access which reasons could be happening.)

 

  • Baby is used to being held or rocked to sleep in arms:

One main reason your baby is crying can be that they want to be picked up. I know this sounds super obvious but if your baby is used to be being picked up and being held to sleep then he isn’t going to be happy about the fact that he now has to sleep in his crib.

If you find yourself always rocking your baby to sleep then it could be a major contributing factor as to why she isn’t sleeping. She may be tired but can’t sleep without you holding her because that’s what she is USED to. Remember, babies thrive on schedules and routines so if this was part of their sleep routine then this is what they are used to.

  • Baby is used to being rocked to sleep:

Being rocked to sleep is different than being held and rocked to sleep. Some babies are used to being specifically in a rocker. Rockers can definitely turn into a sleep prop. Don’t get me wrong, I really loved our rocker. It was a safe place to put Baby L when she was a newborn and I had to get things done around the house or even just jump into the shower. Rockers can be great!

But rockers can also be dangerous. If your baby is just used to being in a rocker then they will have a hard time being in something else. Like anything, an excess of something can be dangerous. If you are only putting your baby in the rocker for everything all day then they will only be used to the rocker, especially when they sleep.

Proven step by step tips to help your baby nap longer and better! Find out the easy baby nap tips to help baby nap better. I’ve used these tips help my baby nap too! Try this cry-free nap training now! Plus a free sample nap routine. #babytips #momtips #parenting #parenthood #parenting101

  • Baby is used to being in another sleeping area:

Sometimes your baby is used to being in another sleeping area or is not used to their crib. For example, if you have been co-sleeping or if your baby has been sleeping in a nestled bassinet then they might have a hard time transitioning to the spacious crib.

This can just be a transition adjustment. If you strengthen your nap routine and go through the soothing techniques, over time your baby will acclimate to their crib. See the steps above to help the transition go as smooth as possible.

  • Baby is still hungry:

As parents, sometimes we can overcomplicate things. If your baby is still just crying during naps then is quite possible that they are still hungry. If you haven’t read my post on “Knowing Your Baby’s Full Feeding Schedule- Accomplishing the Full Feeding” then I really recommend you check it out.

In short, when your baby has not had a full feeding (feeding to be full) it can disrupt their whole schedule including their sleep. I encourage you to read my full feeding post and access if this is what is happening with your baby.

If you find that THIS is the reason why your baby just cries during naps then the solution is easy- increase their feeding by your pediatricians recommended amount. All babies grow and develop at different rates so don’t be discouraged!

Full feedings are the key to great naps!

  • Baby is uncomfortable:

Always check to see if your baby is comfortable. I know it sounds really simple but in reality, it is! Double check your baby’s mattress, clothes, and the area where they are sleeping. Is it too cold? Too hot? Too humid? Too dry? Is your baby congested? DO they have gas? It can be anything! Just like us- we get uncomfortable, and so can your baby!

If your baby’s room is too dry then I would suggest a cool mist humidifier. It can help your baby breathe easier, sleep better, and help with dry skin as well.

If your baby is uncomfortable, try the swaddle! It can work miracles! Babies like to feel nestled and snuggled so this can be a lifesaver for when they sleep.

If your baby has gas, start to track what your baby is eating and figure out if something is making them gassy. If you are breastfeeding you may have to change your diet or eliminate something you are eating.

Make sure your baby is always going to sleep with a clean diaper, clean clothes, and remember to remove any tags and plastic from the clothes. You’d be surprised what can keep a baby up. Especially since they cannot properly communicate what they are feeling!

 

  • Baby has colic:

If you have tried all of these things and still are finding that your baby is crying at the same time every day for a long time then it is time to consider colic. Colic is diagnosed when the baby cries for more than 3 hours, more than 3 days a week, for more than 3 weeks. I know, no one ever wants to hear that their baby has colic!

Start to track when your baby cries and for how long. I recommend tracking everything your baby does the whole day. That way you get a better look at what times the crying begins. You can also track what they are eating and when and see if it has any correlation to the crying. If this is the case, talk to your pediatrician!


You may like these posts too!

Full Feeding Schedule | Feeding to Get Your Baby Full | Baby Tips | Feeding Schedule | Mom Life Tips | #momadvice #parenting

Nap Schedule | How to Start a Nap Schedule with Your Baby | Parenting Tips | Motherhood | #momadvice #momlife #babysleep


>> There you have it!! The Step by Step Guide to helping your baby if she just cries during naps!

Remember, all of these steps take time and most of all dedication. It will be hard work some days, mostly for you, but keep pressing on and keep to those schedules and routines. After a couple of days and weeks, you WILL see the benefit and the positive results of your hard work.

Be sure to keep track of everything- your baby’s daily schedule, nap times, and feeding times. This will immensely help you! If you want to see what my baby’s daily schedule looks like check out my post “What my Baby’s Daily Schedule Looks Like”.

Keep in mind that the schedule will change as your baby grows!

Just because I am writing this post do not think by any means that I “have it all together”. I have learned these tips from A LOT of hard days and sleepless nights. I have tried a million things in trial and error and these are the things that have helped me get through the rough days and the naps where all Baby L did was cry. Do not lose your faith- do not give up!

Don’t forget to Get Your Free Nap Routine Now!

Have you had any success with these steps? Do you have any tips of your own? Feel free to share in the comments below!

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Always With Love, Brianna

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August 1, 2018 · 2 Comments

Newborn Baby Discharged with Jaundice: What to Know and Do

Baby Routines

Newborn Baby Discharged with Jaundice: What to Know and Do | parenting tips | new parents | #newmom #parenting

There’s nothing better than knowing that you can take your newborn baby home after delivery! Sometimes there are complications that arise after your baby is born and jaundice can definitely be one of them. I personally went through my baby showing levels of jaundice the day we were set to go home. So how do you care for your newborn baby discharged with jaundice?

It’s important to ask your doctors for specific instructions for what you have to do, what signs to look for in case things get worse, and what signs to look for that your baby is getting better It’s very important to make sure you feel confident knowing you can take care of your baby.

Please know that I am not a doctor or physician and I am not medically trained. All tips and advice given is based on my own experience and given to me by my own pediatrician. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your doctor. This post is solely to offer encouragement from my experience and not designed to offer medical advice or treatment.

 

What is jaundice?

Jaundice is a very common condition in newborn babies that takes place because the baby’s liver is still immature. Your baby’s liver is trying to get rid of bilirubin, the substance in red blood cells that builds up in the blood after your baby is born. When bilirubin levels become high, it can negatively affect the growth of your baby’s brain and nervous system. The doctors will see signs of high levels of bilirubin because babies will begin to turn yellow. To diagnose your baby with jaundice, doctors will check for the level of bilirubin. There are different levels of jaundice (caused by different levels of bilirubin).

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My Experience:

My baby did not have alarmingly high levels of bilirubin but she did have higher levels than normal. When Baby L was born she was sent to a care unit because she needed to be put on antibiotics for 2 days. On the last night before I was set to go home with her, the nurses informed me that Baby L was turning a shade of yellow and they needed to check her levels of bilirubin. The test came back in the morning and she was borderline medium/high so the doctor’s thought they would have to keep for her another day. I was supposed to be discharged at 11 am but I chose to wait until 5 pm to see if she was improving so I could take her home with me.

At 2 pm the doctors informed me that they did not see signs of improvement but that I would be able to take her home only if I scheduled an appointment with her pediatrician for the next day. They gave me a packet of discharge information but did not specifically tell me what to do concerning jaundice. At that point, my newborn baby was discharged with jaundice. As a new mom, I was so worried that I wouldn’t know what to do and I was worried about my daughter’s health.

So, the next day at Baby L’s pediatrician appointment, the pediatrician gave me great tips for helping my baby. The pediatrician also conducted a blood test specifically to check the levels of jaundice so she could see if the levels went down. She also gave me the confidence I needed in myself to know that I was able to take care of Baby L.

Was your newborn diagnosed with jaundice and discharged to go home? Here are the ultimate tips to help you care for your baby that has jaundice and to get your baby feeling better. Find out what to do so you don’t feel overwhelmed and are taking care of your baby. #infant #babytips #parenting101

Tips To Helped your Newborn Baby Discharged with Jaundice

 

1- Listen to doctor’ instructions:

If you have a newborn baby discharged with jaundice it’s so important to follow the doctor’s instructions. Do not leave the doctor’s office without clear instruction and knowledge of the situation. Yes, you can always call the doctor’s office but I find it better when I ask questions in person and receive the full explanation in a way that I can understand. I always find it helpful to have the doctor write down or print anything that I am supposed to do.

 

2- Be aware of worsening signs:

When you have a newborn baby discharged with jaundice you need to be aware of worsening signs. In line with listening to your doctor’s instructions is to make sure you know the signs to be aware of if the jaundice is worsening. My doctor told me to watch for the color of yellow spreading throughout my baby’s body. If the yellow spreads make sure to contact your doctor. The yellow will usually spread from the eyes to the face, to the skin, to the arms, and then to the feet. Be sure to ask your doctor what signs you should be looking for.

Mama Love

3- Know the signs of improvement:

When you have a newborn baby discharged with jaundice knowing signs of improvement is just as important as knowing worsening signs. I love to know what signs of improvement I should be looking for because it gives me hope that things will get better. One of the signs that my pediatrician told me to look for that shows Baby L was improving from jaundice was the return of her natural skin color. When the yellowness was beginning to fade is when I felt a wave of relief.

 

4- Practice Doctor’s instructions:

It’s easy to know your doctor’s instructions but it’s different to actually practice the instructions. One of the instructions for healing jaundice was to make sure your baby was breastfeeding as much as possible because the bilirubin is removed from the body through the baby’s stool.  So it was suggested for me to breastfeed 8-10 times in a 24 hour period. At the time, I was breastfeeding during the day (and pumping) and supplementing with formula in the evening.

(I was going through my own struggles with breastfeeding so I needed to make sure Baby L was still eating as often as she should be to produce stool steadily). If you are bottle feeding, make sure to ask your doctor how many bottles or how many ounces you should be feeding your baby.

Another important instruction was to put Baby L in the window with as much natural light as possible. If it was possible, even take a walk with her and get natural direct sunlight. The pediatrician said natural sunlight helps reduce the yellowness in the skin and helped reduce the levels of bilirubin. (I never researched this for myself- I just listened to my amazing pediatrician and it definitely helped Baby L quickly improve!)

Make sure to actually practice what the doctor instructs you to do. if you feel that it is something that you are unable to do then speak up and be honest. Do not be afraid or intimidated- you are your baby’s caregiver and parent so you are entitled to speaking your mind and asking for clear instructions.

Baby Napping

5- Document signs/symptoms:

The doctor didn’t tell me to do this but I did it out of my own motivation. I wanted to make sure that I remembered how my daughter was progressing and kept track of when she was passing stool and how it looked. This came in handy because there was a day that she turned a little yellow again and when I called the doctor they asked me if I had any memory of what her past 3 stools looked like. If I didn’t write this down I would have never remembered.

As a new mom, your body goes through so much healing and your mind can easily get tired. Don’t put too much strain on yourself to have to remember everything. Just write everything down and keep track of how your baby is doing daily and it will give you peace of mind!

 

6- Follow Up With Your Doctor:

Be sure to follow up with your doctor accordingly. Sometimes doctor’s will not call you back right away with the bilirubin test results so you may have to call. Your doctor may also tell you to keep an eye on certain symptoms or signs and call them if anything worsens, gets better, or if you have questions. Know that you can take them up on this! Do not be afraid or shy to call your doctor if you have any questions!

If you feel like you cannot properly explain your baby’s signs or symptoms over the phone then do not be afraid to ask if you can bring your baby in for an emergency appointment. I’ve done all of these things countless times and even though I was afraid of looking like a worried mother, the peace of mind it gave me far outweighed my shyness.

Newborn Baby Discharged with Jaundice: What to Know and Do | parenting tips | new parents | #newmom #parenting

How you may be feeling:

Like I mentioned before, you are going through a lot as a new mom. Your body just produced the miracle of life and you are certainly healing from it. Each mother goes through different delivery experiences and different strains, difficulties, and tears. On top of your body physically healing you may be figuring out breastfeeding, latching, deciding whether to formula feed or trying to pump. As mothers, we go through A LOT after labor and delivery. It’s totally normal and definitely more than fine to not feel 100%. In fact, no one expects you to feel 100%.

Because you’re experiencing all of that, having your baby diagnosed with jaundice can definitely send you into a crazy spin! Just remember to take one day at a time. I would even dare say to take it one HOUR at a time. Keep in mind that you need to heal properly so make sure to be taking care of yourself too!

One day at a time!

When the nurses told me that my daughter was being taken in to get her bilirubin tested I thought I was going to pass out. Then when they told me she was going to have to stay longer until her bilirubin levels went down I certainly thought I was going to faint. The nurses had to send me to my room so I can lay down- that’s how worried I was!

Of course, some new mothers could have handled this better and maybe some people thought I wasn’t “strong enough” to handle it- but at that moment I couldn’t even fathom the thought of my precious new baby girl going through anything that was going to cause her discomfort or pain.

As a new mom- this is totally normal! Remember, take it one day, one hour, one minute at a time! Be sure not to fall down the rabbit hole of comparing yourself to other mothers!

Mommy & Me All In One Planner | Mommy Planner| Free Planner

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Mommy & Me All-In-One Planner is a 10-page, all-in-one resource to help you easily plan your days, weeks, and months all while tracking your baby’s schedule, feedings, naps, and activities!

I designed the planner to help you:

  • Easily plan your days, weeks, months, and even year so you can clearly see your schedule at a whole!
  • Focus on your day to day tasks, including to-do lists, appointments and chores so you never forget to do anything!
  • Track your baby’s feedings, including how much they ate and what they ate so you never have to forget what they ate
  • Track your baby’s naps so you can see how long your baby is napping and at what time. This helps you create a nap routine that can help your baby sleep longer and consistently!
  • Plan your workout times and even track your water intake!
  • Set goals for yourself and your baby so you can accomplish new milestones together!
  • Ultimately plan and track you and your baby’s day to day schedule in an easy way!

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I hope my experience with a newborn baby discharged with jaundice helps you and your family! Remember, it’s important to ask your doctors for specific instructions for what you have to do, what signs to look for in case things get worse, what signs to look for that your baby is getting better, and very important to make sure you feel confident knowing you can take care of your baby.

You can do this!!!

 

Have any of your babies every been discharged with jaundice? Feel free to share your experience in the comments!

Always With Love, Brianna

Want to remember this? Post “What to Know About Your Newborn Baby Discharged with Jaundice” to your favorite Pinterest board!

 

 

July 27, 2018 · Leave a Comment

The Ultimate List of Everyday Baby Necessities

Baby Routines

Everyday Baby Necessities | Ultimate List with Pros and Cons | Baby Registry | Baby Nursery | New Mom Tips | #momlife #parenting

Inside: Wondering what baby items you’ll actually use? Keep reading to find out my ultimate list of everyday baby necessities plus a pro and con list for each item!

My mother in law told me I needed a bassinet…

My mother told me I needed a crib….

My friend told me I needed a diaper warmer…

My head was spinning from all of the different baby items that everyone told me I needed!

Figuring out what baby items you need is overwhelming– especially for a new mom! Every parent has some sort of advice to give new parents about what they should be buying for their new little addition.

After getting through the first 6 months of mom life, I composed a list of things that are an absolute necessity to have. Not just because the item was useful, but because I used it EVERY. SINGLE. DAY!

And today I want to share with you my ultimate list of everyday baby necessities. (These items are for infants and I used most of them from 0-12 months.)

My ultimate list of everyday baby necessities includes:

  • a list of pros and cons for each item
  • a rank of importance
  • where you can find the item for the best price

That way, you can assess for yourself if you need the item based on your family’s needs- not just because someone told you to get it and wanted you to be “trendy”.

So, let’s get down to it!

My Ultimate List of Everyday Baby Necessities

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I purchased all of these items on Amazon and most of the items were purchased from my Amazon Baby Registry. (You can purchase these items yourself by clicking on the link of each item below!)

 

Bottles

 We purchased 2 sets of bottles: Tommee Tippee and Dr. Brown’s

Rank of Importance: Bottles are an essential everyday baby necessity if you plan on bottle feeding (whether breastmilk or formula).

I added bottles to my registry just to have even though I was planning on breastfeeding– and I’m so glad I did because I ended up having to supplement and I’m so grateful we didn’t have to run to the store to buy bottles.

Tommee Tippee Bottles

Pro: These bottles have a “closer to nature” function so the nipple is wide and makes it an easy transition between bottle and nursing. These bottles are also affordable and can find them on sale.

 

Dr. Brown’s Bottles

Pro: The bottles are designed for gas relief and have a system of airflow that lets the bubbles/air pockets out the milk before the baby drinks it.

Con: The bottles have multiple parts and it can become quite tasking to clean every part thoroughly every single time you have to wash bottles. It also takes up more space on drying racks and takes a second longer to assemble the bottle.

 

Stroller

Rank of Importance: A stroller is definitely essential is a 5 for everyday baby necessities.

Choosing a stroller can be hard! This was the only baby item that really took me a long time to make up my mind. Make sure to do research, maybe a cost analysis, and see which stroller will be long-lasting and make the best of your money.

After all, a stroller is an investment.

Choose a great one and you can use it for years and maybe even not have to buy a new one if you have another child down the road.

My husbands family blessed us with the Uppa Baby Vista stroller. It was on my wish list but I couldn’t afford it and his grandma surprised us with it!

Pro: This stroller is long-lasting, durable, a great size, and can accommodate up to 3 children (with added parts). It also comes with a bassinet and has a connecting car seat.

Con: The stroller is kind of pricey in comparison to other travel system strollers. We were blessed to have a family member buy us this stroller as a gift! (If you have it on your Amazon Registry, maybe a few family members can chip in together for this gift!)

A Second Stroller Option

We were going to purchase the Britax Travel System with included infant car seat. This stroller has great reviews and is so durable and afforable!

Car Seat

Rank of Importance: A car seat is an essential everyday baby necessity, especially if you own a car!

Pro: Having a car seat will allow you to be able to take your baby in the car with you and travel. I recommend getting a car seat that comes with a travel system stroller. That way, all of your travel gear locks into each other and is interchangeable.

Con: There really aren’t any cons to have a car seat. BUT I live in New York City and surprisingly know some parents who do not own a car seat because they do not have a car and only use mass transportation.

(But I recommend investing in a car seat because most hospitals won’t let you leave with your baby unless you show them your car seat.)

We purchased the matching car seat for our Uppa Baby Vista Stroller: the Uppa Baby Mesa Car Seat

High Chair/Booster Seat

Rank of Importance: For us, buying a high chair/booster seat was probably only a 2 (since we didn’t need it for the first few months). But after our baby starting eating solids, having a high chair or booster seat was a 5 for everyday baby necessities!

Pro: Having a highchair/booster seat is a safe seat to place your baby in order to feed them.

Con: Depending on which one you buy, they can be quite pricey and take up a lot of space. We didn’t start using one until Baby L was about 5 months.

We purchased the: Graco DuoDiner 3-in-1 High Chair

And for my mom’s house (which we visit often) she purchased a booster seat so we didn’t have to lug our high chair with us every time we stayed with her. She purchased the Fischer-Price Space Saver High Chair for Baby L.

Baby Monitor

Rank of Importance: Definitely a 5 for everyday baby necessities.

Pro: A baby monitor can be very useful when your baby is in another room and you want to be sure to hear your baby. It is helpful when the baby is sleeping, playing, anything!

This baby monitor can be charged and doesn’t just run on batteries.

Con: I can’t really think of a con for a baby monitor!

We purchased the: VTech Audio Baby Monitor (with 1,000 foot range, vibrating sound alert, and talk back intercom)

 

Nest Camera

We had a baby monitor but as first-time parents, we wanted some sort of camera in Baby L’s room since she was going to be sleeping in her crib in her own room from such an early age.

We purchased the: Nest Camera

Rank of Importance: For us, this was a 5! Hands down! (Could possibly be a 2 for other parents though.)

Pro: The Nest camera in my daughter’s room gave me indescribable peace as she slept every night knowing that I can watch her throughout the night right on my device.

The Nest Camera functions with an app and can be used on any device- phone, tablet, computer. We put a tablet on our nightstand throughout the night to be able to watch her.

The camera is not just a live feed but can also record the footage for up to 30 days so you can rewind and watch the footage.

This was a HUGE help to us when Baby L would be tired after waking and we could go back to footage from 12 hours ago while she was sleeping to see what she was doing in her crib.

Con: Some parents may think the camera is a waste of money or a redundant device (especially if you already have some sort of monitor or security device). It is an extra cost and does need constant WIFI to function properly.

 

Breast Pump

Rank of Importance: A breast pump for me was important. I was a first-time mom but so I never experienced breastfeeding before but I knew I wanted to try to breastfeed and eventually pump.

With health insurance, on most plans, pregnant women can receive a free breast pump!

If you are planning on breastfeeding and do not wish to pump, I would personally recommend getting one for free (if it is on your insurance plan) just to have in case you need it. My plan is to always keep my options open!

I chose the Spectra Baby S2

Pro: Having a breast pump can relieve pressure off of you to constantly be the only one to feed your baby. It was a great deal of help to me to be able to pump and have my husband feed my daughter for certain feedings while I rested (especially during the first month). It also allowed my mother to help me when my husband went back to work after paternity leave.

Pumping has the benefit of feeding your baby breastmilk from the bottle, without compromising having to feed them formula.

Con: Breastfeeding your baby directly from your breast can be different than giving your baby pumped breastmilk in the bottle because it doesn’t require the “latch” between mom and baby. (This personally was a big thing for me to get over but once I felt that my baby and I were bonding with the bottle as well I felt so much better!)

 

Boppy Pillow

Rank of Importance: On a scale from 1 to 5, the Boppy Pillow for us was a 3

The Boppy Pillow is a U-shaped pillow that is great for breastfeeding, tummy time, or when your baby just wants to be propped up. We purchased one because  I was planning to breastfeed and I heard great things about it.

Pro: I used it often when I was breastfeeding the first couple of weeks. Then I used it to lay Baby L down on for her to be propped up. It definitely came in handy at times because she even used to nap in it while I was laying next to her.

Con: I can see if some parents think the Boppy Pillow is unnecessary or just “another” item to have.

We purchased the: Boppy Nursing Pillow and Positioner 

Cool Mist Humidifier

Rank of Importance: For us, we found the cool mist humidifier to be a 4 out of 5.

Pro: Having a cool mist humidifier in your baby’s room has a number of benefits including prevention of dry skin, prevention of congestion in baby’s nose/sinuses, reduce the amount of time your baby has a cold, helps your baby sleep better, and so much more.

We use the humidifier every night for the first 4 months since Baby L was born and then we would use it when she was congested, sick, had dry skin, or needed to sleep better.

Con: Some cool mist humidifiers can be expensive so be sure to do your research and if you want to buy one check for the best ones that you can afford. Humidifiers can also be quite large and take up space so if you are limited on space try to find one that is compacted.

We purchased the: Crane USA Filter Free Cool Mist Humidifier

Baby Carrier

Rank of Importance: A baby carrier for us definitely came in handy but we didn’t use it all the time so it is a 4 out of 5.

Pro: Having your hands free and being able to still hold your baby is amazing. Having a baby carrier also helps with bonding in the early stages and allows your baby to feel nestled into you.

Baby L had a bit of colic so babywearing was a lifesaver for us because it was one of the things that would calm her down.

Con: There are literally hundreds of different kinds of baby carriers and they all have different extra functions and features. They can range from cheap to really expensive as well.

So I recommend to do your research and visit a store to see which ones you are interested to test them out before you purchase the one you want.

We purchased the: Infantino Flip 4 in 1 Convertible Carrier

Burp Cloths/Bibs

Burp cloths and bibs can be found in any baby store, where baby items, are sold, and any type of fabric can serve as a burp cloth or bib.

Rank of Importance: I used burp cloths and bibs every day, all day! I would say this is a 5 for everyday baby necessities.

Pro: Burp cloths are used every time you feed the baby. If the baby spits up and I have the burp cloth on my shoulder, it’s so much easier to clean the burp cloth than to change my clothes every 3 hours after a feeding.

Con: Babies do spit up quite often in the infant stage so I went through about 4 or 5 burp cloths a day! It’s best to have a lot of them on hand just in case. If you only have a few, then you could be washing each one after every feeding.

We purchased the: Gerber Baby 3 Pack Terry Burpcloth Set

 

19 Baby Essentials: The Ultimate List to help you prevent wasting money| Image of baby
 One Piece Body Suits

One-piece bodysuits snap around the bottom of the diapers. Footies are one-piece bodysuits with legs and feet and snap down the baby’s belly to their feet (can also be a zipper). You’ll see these in most baby clothing stores!

Rank of Importance: Super essential!

When Baby L was first born she LIVED in onesies and footies. It really helped me as a new mom when it came to changing her.

Pro: Your baby can just be in a onesie and it eliminates the need for separates (such as having to dress than with a separate bottom and top).

When the onesie gets dirty it’s easy to remove from the baby and very easy to wash and dry. It’s easy to change a diaper because the snaps are right at the bottom of the diaper so you don’t have to remove all of their clothes just to change their diaper.

Con: Some brands aren’t well made and it can easily tear or unravel stitches.

Here are some brands we purchased:

Carter’s Baby 6-Pack Short Sleeve Body Suit

Luvable Friends Infant Baby Infant Basic Body Suit

Disney Baby Minnie Mouse Body Suit Set

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Swaddle

Rank of Importance: On a scale of 1 to 5 we found the swaddle to be an absolute 5! It was definitely an everyday necessity.

Pro: A swaddle was the number one thing that allowed our daughter to sleep. It also helped her sleep through the night at such an early age (4 months).

We used it every night and it prevented her from waking herself up involuntarily when she moved her arms in her sleep.

It also gave her the comfort of being “snuggled” because the swaddle kept her nestled inside of the sleep pouch- this resembled us holding her.

Con: Some people say a swaddle in unnecessary because a baby doesn’t NEED it to sleep. There are also many kinds of swaddles that work and don’t work so you have to choose which one works best for you.

Here are types of swaddles that we purchased that were successful:

Swaddle Me Original Swaddle 3 Pack

Swaddle Me Pod

Halo SleepSack

Sound Machine

Rank of Importance: I would definitely say a sound machine is a 5 for everyday baby necessities!

Pro: A sound machine can help your baby sleep, it travels well and is portable and comes with about 6 different sounds.

Con: I can’t really think of a con for a sound machine other than if someone just doesn’t want to use one.

We used the sound machine from the first night that we brought Baby L home from the hospital. It quickly became part of her bedtime routine and eventually became a cue for her that its time for sleep.

We use it during naps and nighttime sleeping.  I personally believe it also helped her sleep through the night so quickly.

We purchased the: Homedics White Noise Sound Machine
Wipe Warmer

Rank of Importance: For us, this was a 2 for everyday baby necessities.

Pro: A wipe warmer does just that- keeps the wipes warm. It’s a container where you insert a stack of wipes and when you turn the warmer on it keeps the wipes warm all the time.

It doesn’t startle the baby with a cold wipe when you change their diaper and clean them. It’s soothing and warm for their fragile baby bottom.

Con: It does have to be plugged into the wall and can take up unnecessary space if you are space limited. Some babies don’t mind the cold wipes so it could possibly be a waste.

This wasn’t on my baby registry but someone ended up buying it for us anyway so we ended up using it for the first 3 months.

We were given the: Munchkin Mist Wipe Warmer

Diapers

Rank of Importance: A 5 for everyday baby necessities!!

Diapers are obviously essential every day. Your newborn will go through many, many diapers! You have 2 options: disposable diapers or reusable diapers (cloth diapers).

Once you choose your diaper preference, then you can find the brand that works best for you and your baby.

We went the disposable diaper route and personally love Pampers Swaddlers. We tried Luvs, Huggies, and wholesale warehouse brands. Pampers cost a little more than other brands but not much.

It never gave Baby L a rash and it has a wet indicator so there a line that turns blue on the diaper when she peed. This really helped me as a new mom when I couldn’t distinguish when her diaper was dirty or not!

We purchased: Pampers Swaddlers Disposable Diapers

20 Baby items you actually need

Diaper Cream

Rank of Importance: For us, diaper cream was a 5 for everyday baby necessities! (We found this out after having Baby L)

I thought diaper cream was only used when the baby has a diaper rash. Our pediatrician recommended purchasing a diaper cream that can be applied to every diaper change as a preventative measure.

Our pediatrician told us that most babies get diaper rash because they don’t have cream/moisturizer.

We purchase the: Cera Ve Baby Healing Ointment for Treating and Preventing Diaper Rash

Pro: This diaper cream is the best! It is light, lasts a long time and my daughter has NEVER got a diaper rash because of it! We use a small amount every diaper change and if she’s at all red down there- by the next diaper change the redness is gone!

Con: It is a bit more expensive than other diaper creams you can find.

We tried MANY different brands but love Cera Ve the most because even though it costs a little more you only have to buy 1 a month, compared to having to buy 2 of the other brands a month.

 

Baby Bath

Rank of Importance: I would say a baby bath is about a 3 for everyday bay necessities.

Your newborn doesn’t need a bath every day, only about every 3 days. This is why some people chose to get an infant bath that can fit in a sink and then just bathe their baby later in the tub. You can also buy a transitional baby bath, one side is for infants and the other side is for when your baby can sit up.

Pro: A baby bath is a safe place for the baby to take a bath. It’s also earlier to give them a bath when they are laying back in a semi-sitting up position like the baby baths are shaped. As a first-time parent having a bath for her helped us! We used it until she was about 11 months.

Con: It can be a waste of money if you are on a tight budget. It also does take up space because you will need to store the tub somewhere when you are not using it.

We chose to purchase a transitional baby bath. We purchased the: Moby Baby Bath Tub 3 in 1

Pacifier

Rank of Importance: A pacifier’s importance is based on the parent. No one can decide whether you will give your baby a pacifier except for you.

After birth, my daughter had to go to the special care unit for antibiotics. The nurses in the unit gave her a pacifier to soothe her when I wasn’t in the unit and she would cry.

When we went home, we decided to keep giving her the pacifier for a little while. By 4 months, she was completely off the pacifier and didn’t even want it!

Pro: Having a pacifier can help soothe your baby and can help them fall asleep.

Con: Some parents are afraid that giving their baby a pacifier will cause an attachment and even nipple confusion. (This personally never happened to us but I know some parents who agree to this.)

We purchased the: Avent Soothie Pacifier 

(This was the pacifier they gave us in the hospital and we just continue to purchase the same one.)

 

Comfortable crib/bassinet sheets

Rank of Importance: Sheets for your crib or bassinet are essential everyday baby necessities!

Pro: Having good sheets will help keep your baby comfortable. Itchy, scratchy sheets are no fun.

Tip: Try having a couple of sheets so when it gets dirty you can have another sheet set on hand and available.

We purchase the: Burt’s Bees Baby Solid Fitted Crib Sheet

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Baby Laundry Detergent

Rank of Importance: For us, this was a 4 on a scale from 1 to 5 for everyday baby necessities.

Pro: Having baby laundry detergent gives you the peace of mind that your baby’s clothes will be cleaned with good ingredients and chemical-free.

Baby detergent also specializes in cleaning baby-related stains such as urine, poop, milk, and so much more. I even use it on my clothes when I can’t get a stain out!

Con: It can be an extra cost if you are on a tight budget. You can always buy another form of laundry detergent that is safe for baby skin.

We purchase: Dreft Stage 1 Hypoallergenic Liquid Baby Detergent

 

Recordkeeper (for keeping track of baby’s napping/feedings)

Rank of Importance: Having a record keeper is not super necessary but having one for me helped me tremendously! For me, on a scale from 1 to 5, it is a 4 for everyday baby necessities.

Pro: Writing down your baby’s naps and feedings can help you keep track of your baby’s daily schedule. It also helps when your baby is having an off day, you can see when it started or after which activity or feeding.

Having a place to write this information down can be super helpful! Be sure to write down milestones too so you can always remember them! You can use your phone, a printout, or a journal.

Con: Writing down your baby’s naps and feedings can be just “one more thing” you have to do.

Get the ultimate record keeper and baby tracker in my Mommy & Me All-In-One Planner below!!


How to Purchase These Items

Amazon Baby Registry:

If you’re still creating a list of things you will need for your registry, ALL of these items are available on Amazon. Think about making an Amazon Baby Registry!

I used Amazon’s Baby Registry when I was expecting and it was quick to sign up, easy to start, and everything I wanted was available!

It’s also really easy for friends and family to access to purchase something off of your registry. You get Amazon perks too! (A free welcome box filled with goodies, easy returns, and 10-15% completion discount!)

Amazon Family:

If your bundle of joy is already here and you don’t need a registry anymore, Amazon Family is the way to go!

Amazon Family is for Prime Members and offers exclusive coupons and discounts on baby/family-related items. You also receive up to 20% off of subscriptions to baby food, diapers, everyday baby necessities and more!

(This is how I purchase diapers, wipes, diaper cream, baby detergent, and other baby stuff.)

The best part is that you order online, save money, and it comes right to your doorstep. No more running errands for baby-related things! Spend that time cuddling with your new addition.

Not an Amazon Prime Member? You can sign up today for a FREE 30 Day Prime Trail by clicking here!

 

Free Mom & Baby Tracker!

Mommy & me planner: Image of desk and flowers

Plan your mom schedule AND track your baby’s feedings, naps & activities all int he same place! Get the free 5-page mini mommy & me planner!

 

And there you have it!!

Turns out, my mom was right…I did need a crib.

But my friend was wrong…I didn’t need a diaper warmer.

Now you can assess for yourself what everyday baby necessities you’ll need based on your individual family needs!

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Always With Love, Brianna

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July 18, 2018 · Leave a Comment

What My Baby’s Daily Schedule Looks Like

Baby Routines

Baby Daily Schedule | What My Baby's Daily Schedule Looks Like | Motherhood | Baby Schedule | #momlife #parenting

Having a schedule for your baby is so important! We talk more about the awesome reasons to have a schedule for your baby here (Why Having a Baby Schedule is Important). But what if you’re totally convinced that you need a daily schedule for your baby and have no idea what it should look like??

Question Answered! Here is a sample daily schedule for your baby that I used for Baby L from birth. I adjusted the activities and times as she grew and took away some naps and feedings as she got older.

Baby Daily Schedule | What My Baby's Daily Schedule Looks Like | Motherhood | Baby Schedule | #momlife #parenting

 

Want a place to track your baby’s daily schedule?? I’m here to help! I created a Daily Baby Schedule Template for you to write down all of your baby’s feedings, naps, and activities. Having a place to easily track your baby’s day is a HUGE help when you’re trying to figure out your baby’s daily schedule, nap schedule, and feeding schedule.

My Daily Baby Schedule is super flexible and easy to use because all you have to do is plug in the what activity your baby is doing at what time and for how long and you’re done! Be sure to download your copy of my free Daily Baby Schedule Template!

I’m not going to use specific times in this daily schedule but just specify activities so you can accurately use this as a template for your daily schedule. The time of the schedule also doesn’t matter because it will change from day to day depending on when your baby wakes up and starts their first initial activity of the day. We want to focus on each activity and length in between each one. Not exactly focusing on the exact clock time of the activity.

 

Important Schedule Tip: You want to be feeding your baby around every 3 hours and having no more than 2-2.5 hours in between each nap. Following the length of time between each activity is what will help you create your schedule- not the clock time.

 

(For those of you are interested in times, I will include times in parenthesis in case you wonder how the schedule timeline is). I suggest writing down everything your baby did during the day, documenting when they woke, when they ate, how much they ate, how long they are sleeping and so on.

 

Baby Daily Schedule | What My Baby's Daily Schedule Looks Like | Motherhood | Baby Schedule | #momlife #parenting

Sample Daily Schedule:

 

Morning

  • Wake: Baby wakes in the morning. If your baby is still waking for an early morning feeding and going back to sleep, that’s fine! Just add that to your schedule first. (Wakes at 7:00 – 7: 30 am.)

 

  • Feeding: Baby should eat a full feeding. You can read more on full feedings here. (Starts feeding between 7:45 – 8:00  am.)

 

  • Playtime: Play for a small amount of time or read a morning book until baby shows tired cues (rubbing eyes, yawning). This is usually no more than 45 minutes in my experience. Use this time to set a schedule for what you would like to do every morning with your little one. Make sure its time you have together, good body and eye contact so you can continue to bond. (Activity time from 8:30 – 9:00 am.)

 

  • Nap: Put baby down for a nap. Take note of how long baby naps so you can see if there is a pattern for the next couple of days. This will help you with your nap schedules. (We talk more about nap schedules here). This nap is also the second to be dropped when your baby is about 10-12 months old. When this nap is dropped the next nap will get longer. Another side note for nap times- I never let Baby L be up for more than 2-2.5 hours. I find this is the optimum time between naps for her to have time to play and still be tired enough to nap but not overtired. (Start nap routine at 9:15 am.)

 

Mid-Morning

  • Wake/Feeding: Depending on your baby’s age, this is the feeding that usually solids are introduced. It serves as their “brunch” but does not substitute milk. (Your baby will sleep between 45 minutes to an hour so wake time will be around 10:00 – 10:20 am and each feeding is about 3 hours apart.)

 

  • Playtime: Feel free to insert here what you would like your baby to be doing. Maybe it’s time on a play mat or a swing. Or maybe its tummy time or time you play together. Maybe it’s a combination of everything. You can also mix things up and do one day a week a different activity. Be creative! Make sure to check for hunger cues like you did in the morning. (This playtime is usually a little longer than the first activity of the morning. I usually start this playtime activity around 10:30 –  10:45 am.)

 

  • Nap: Put baby back down for a nap. Be sure to continue to take note of how long she sleeps. (I start the nap routine roughly 2 hours after the last nap routine, which is around 11:45 am – 12:00 pm.)

 

Early Afternoon

  • Wake/Feeding: If your baby is old enough for solids this feeding is usually still all milk and they do not eat solids at this meal time. (I start feeding my baby around 12:45 – 1:00 pm.)

 

  • Playtime: Another opportunity to include some sort of activity. Maybe this is the time you want to take your baby out for a walk or playtime in the park. Or maybe you want to run errands. Don’t feel boxed into staying home to follow the schedule by the minute. Do something you and baby can enjoy together! (Playtime is 1:30 – 2:30 pm.)

 

  • Nap Time: Put baby back down for a nap. Be sure to continue to take note of how long she sleeps. (I start my nap routine again at 2:45 – 3:00 pm.)

 

Afternoon

  • Wake/Feeding: If your baby is on solids then this meal is considered “dinner”. Or if your baby is on a combo of milk and solids then you can feed him milk first then use the activity time as the mealtime sitting int he high chair at the table. (This time can be anywhere around 4:00 – 4:30 pm.)

 

  • Playtime: Usually the baby’s mealtime is incorporated into this activity. Maybe you want to sit at the table and eat dinner together as a family activity. It’s great to introduce baby to table time as a family. Simply pull up your baby’s high chair or seat to the table! (This is usually around 5:00-5:30 pm.)

 

  • Nap: Depending on how old your baby is, this nap may be a short cat nap or this usually one of the firsts to drop. When this nap is shorter or dropped, your baby’s bedtime will most likely be a little earlier. Knowing your baby’s cues comes in handy here! (If your baby is still taking this nap then it will be a short cat nap starting somewhere around 6:00 pm.)

 

Evening

  • Night Time Routine: Having a night time routine that you do every night before your baby goes to bed is very beneficial. Doing the same thing every night before your baby goes to sleep helps your baby understand that it is time for nighttime sleep, which is different than naptime sleep. Nighttime sleep will begin to stretch longer and longer as your baby grows. (If your baby is still taking that last cat nap then they will be up around 6:45 pm and have a little activity.

You can begin the bedtime routine during this activity such as a bath or reading books together. If your baby is still taking the last nap then the naptime routine will start at around 8:00 pm. if your baby is transitioning and dropping that last nap then the bedtime routine will begin at 7:30 pm.)

 

  • Feeding: This is the “last” feeding of the day. If your baby is still waking for a midnight “dream feed”, that’s fine! Usually, this is considered the last feeding of the day that the baby is fully awake until the next day where your schedule starts all over again.

 

  • Down for the night! (I followed this schedule from the first month since my daughter was born and she was sleeping 9-11 hours through the night by 4 months old!)

 

Be mindful that your baby’s times for this schedule will change based on their age!

As I mentioned above, be aware that your baby may not follow an exact “time” each day in their schedule. Your schedule will be different some days based on what time your baby woke up in the morning. Don’t get too hung up on the time factor of the schedule- the goal is to follow the full feeding and nap schedule, which should be eating around every 3 hours and being awake for 2-2,5 hours in between naps. If you are following that pattern on a daily schedule then your baby will be good to go!

 

As you can see above, your overall schedule will consist of 2 different schedules- a feeding and nap schedule. To find information on How To Know Your Baby’s Feeding Schedule, click here. If you need information on How To Start Your Baby on a Nap Schedule, click here.

Daily Baby Schedule

Don’t forget to download your copy of my free Daily Baby Schedule Template so you can track your baby’s feedings, naps, and activities for yourself! Track all of your baby’s activities on one sheet- simply print out a new one each day or print out one and use it as a dry erase sheet by laminating it or putting it inside of a frame!

I created the Baby Daily Schedule so you can create your own schedule. I know how difficult it is to try to follow someone else’s schedule and after trying to follow someone else’s schedule for a few weeks, it just wasn’t working for me. So started from scratch and simply wrote down everything my baby did each day for a week. Then I tracked the following 2 weeks and saw an amazing pattern that ultimately became my baby’s schedule!

It was so easy to do once I started using my own daily schedule tracker and followed what my baby was already naturally doing. I hope I can help you start a schedule too! It’s really easy- just download and print the Daily Baby Schedule Template and write down each activity that your baby does, such as feedings, naps, and playtimes. You’ll start to see an amazing schedule form before your eyes! Be sure to download the Daily Baby Schedule!

Get Your Free Daily Baby Schedule Template Now!

Having a schedule for your baby comforts them by giving them something they can expect daily- this, in turn, will benefit both you and your baby greatly! Remember that everything takes a little trial and error and that most things will take a while to adapt to. So definitely keep that in mind as you are beginning your schedule.

Feel free to move things around that you feel are not working or implement more things that you see do work. Also, know that having a schedule will not magically “fix” or “change” your baby. Read your baby’s cues and learn with them as they grow!

You can do it!

Always With Love, Brianna

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May 4, 2018 · Leave a Comment

How to Start A Nap Schedule With Your Baby

Baby Routines

Nap Schedule | How to Start a Nap Schedule with Your Baby | Parenting Tips | Motherhood | #momadvice #momlife #babysleep

One year ago, the words “nap schedule” scared the life out of me. I felt like there was all of this pressure to make sure my baby was napping at certain times every day. What if my baby isn’t tired? What if my baby doesn’t feel like sleeping? What if my baby is crying every time I put her down? All of these questions sped through my head and I felt so defeated that I didn’t even want to try. Man was I missing out!

The goal of a nap schedule is to keep your baby happy by allowing them to nap before they get overly tired and to regulate when/how they sleep so they can establish healthy nap patterns which will ultimately help them have a good night sleep.

 

Nap Schedule | How to Start a Nap Schedule with Your Baby | Parenting Tips | Motherhood | #momadvice #momlife #babysleep

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, pediatrician, or medical professional. My experiences are all my own. Please refer to your pediatrician for questions medical questions you may have. Please read my full Disclaimer, Disclosure, and Terms Policies here.

Making a nap schedule for your baby isn’t about a certain time that they sleep, it isn’t about saying that your baby naps well, it isn’t about anything else other than what’s best for your little one. Finding a nap schedule for your baby that works for both of you will allow you to create an overall schedule for their day that will help you establish a healthy pattern for their growth.

We already talked about the importance of having your baby on a schedule here, and how to accomplish a full feeding schedule here. So now it’s time to dive into what that the nap schedule should look like.

 

How to Start a Nap Schedule

 

First Things First: Start a Nap Routine

Nap routines are golden! I find that most parents’ issue is resolved when they start an effective nap routine with their baby. This routine is done every time your baby goes down for a nap. In your nap schedule, you will be adding this routine before each nap. This nap routine can be used for babies of all ages (just tweaked a bit to accommodate their age). I personally used this nap routine for my daughter since she was 1 month old and I still use it and she is turning 18 months soon.

So what does that routine look like?

Download my Free Printable Nap Routine Now! 

 

Important!

Keys to make sure your baby is ready to be put down include:

Baby has had a full feeding, has played enough, and is showing tired cues. At this point, your baby should be fully fed, did an activity and is ready for a nap. (This also will be a part of your baby’s daily schedule.)

Keep in mind that it does NOT happen overnight, but it takes time for your routine to be established. That is why I recommend following a nap schedule so within that schedule at every nap time you are doing your same routine. After a week or so- you should see the benefits of the routine and your baby sleeping during naps consistently.

Feel free to make your own routine. Maybe you want to read them a book instead of singing a song. Or maybe you want to just stand up and hold them instead of sitting down and rocking them. Do what makes you comfortable- just be sure to follow the routine for EACH nap and avoid letting baby fall asleep in your arms. The goal is to put them down tired not sleeping. This will help them self-soothe and settle themselves, which is a great thing for them to learn as they develop!

Each nap in your baby’s daily schedule will begin with the nap routine. Your nap routine will be the cue for your baby to let them know that they are about to go to sleep!

How to start a baby nap schedule | Image of mom putting baby in crib

Track all Nap Times

Make sure to take a day to write down all the times your baby sleeps, where they sleep and how long they sleep. This can allow you to see the pattern that they already have. Most times as parents we just have to slightly adjust what the baby is already naturally doing. We are not disrupting their whole lives by making them follow OUR schedule but taking what they do naturally and adjusting it.

After writing down a couple days’ worth of patterns, make a list of things you want to accomplish with your baby’s nap schedule and start from there. For example, maybe baby sleeps in the swing all the time and never sleeps in their crib/bassinet and you want to start transitioning baby to their bed for some naps. Create goals that when accomplished they will grow with your baby and establish a healthy schedule.

 

Don’t forget to download your Baby Journal so you can track each of your baby’s naps everyday! When you track your baby’s naps, you begin to see a pattern for their schedule. Download your copy of the Baby Journal below!

 

Have the Same Nap Routine for Each Nap

A lot of people do not give their babies sleep props. Sleep props are things that will help baby fall asleep and stay asleep because they are comforted. Some sleep props are pacifiers, swings, vibrating swings, or special blanket. While there are some sleep props that I do not think a baby needs there are some that I used early on and it helped establish a nap routine. This means for every nap you give your baby the same things and they know it’s time for sleep. Maybe it’s a special blanket or pacifier or maybe you sing a song and then turn the lights off.

For baby L I used the pacifier they gave her in the hospital (the soothie) and a special blanket I would wrap her in. I’m a firm believer in the swaddle and I would swaddle her with a nap blanket for every nap. Some naps she slept in her swing but I would still give her that blanket. After a week or so when I would start to put her down she knew she was going to take a nap by just the environment that I was creating.

For example, the first 4 months, my daughter had her morning nap in her crib, 2 daytime naps were in her swing, and the last nap was in her crib. I wanted her to get accustomed to her crib but also stay in the swing because during the day when she was fussy this calmed her. The key is to keep your baby happy and go at their pace. Do not try to rearrange or take away everything that they comfortable in.

Baby Nap Routine

Go at Your Baby’s Pace

If you have a lot of different goals and they all seem to jumble up then prioritize the ones that are most important and start with one at a time. Take a week to make each transition and then once you see it accomplished then you can start the next goal. Make sure you aren’t changing everything about how your baby sleeps all at once. That will be catastrophic for your little one. Keep things that your baby is used to and only change one thing at a time. Once your baby is comfortable with the nap schedule or change that you just implemented then you can move on.

 

Know your Baby’s Tired Cues

It’s hard to put your baby down when you don’t know when they are tired. The key is to put them down before they get full on tired. This will help them settle themselves and you teach them to fall asleep by themselves (meaning without you having to rock them). When you know the cues your baby does when she’s tired then you can know it’s time to put them down. Some usual cues when your baby is tired is yawning, rubbing eyes, fidgeting, long blinks and fussiness.

 

How to Start a Nap Schedule with Your Baby | Baby Schedule | Parenting Tips | Motherhood | #momadvice #momlife #babysleep

Nap Schedule:

Here is an outline of what a nap schedule should look like. This is beginning at square one.

I’m not going to use specific times in this schedule but just specify activities so you can accurately use this as a template for your schedule:

  • Wake: Baby wakes for the morning from their nighttime sleep.

 

  • Feeding: Baby eats. Make sure they have a full feeding from the first feeding of the day. You can read more about full feedings here.

 

  • Playtime/Activity: Play for a small amount of time or read a morning book until baby shows tired cues (rubbing eyes, yawning, etc.) This play time is usually no more than 45 minutes in my experience.

 

  • Nap: Down for a nap. When you start to see your baby getting tired or even if you don’t see her getting super tired I would recommend putting her down. If your baby is tired then she will fall asleep but if she isn’t then she might be a little cranky and you may have to try a couple of times to soothe her.

 

  • Wake/Feeding: Wake and baby eats

 

  • Playtime/Activity: Feel free to insert here what you would like your baby to be doing. Maybe it’s time on a play mat or a swing. Or maybe its tummy time or time you play together. Maybe it’s a combination of everything. You can also mix things up and do one day a week a different activity. Be creative! Be sure to be on the lookout for tired cues.

 

  • Nap: Down for a nap. This will be your baby’s second nap of the day. For most one-year-olds this is will be there last nap of the day. For babies under 12 months they will be needing another nap before they go down for the night.

 

  • Repeat this pattern as needed until your baby is down for the night.

 

If you want to see a sample of my schedule take a look at the post “What My Baby’s Daily Schedule Looks Like.”

As you begin to do this schedule on a daily basis you will notice that your baby will begin to get tired around the same time each day. This will serve as a good foundation for your little one’s overall schedule. You will also notice their tired and hunger cues as you start to use a daily schedule consistently.

Your baby’s nap schedule is going to change as she gets older so don’t get too worried when your baby starts to transition out of a nap or naps longer than usual. Nap schedules will also be affected by major events that are happening in your baby’s life, such as teething, being on vacation, sickness, etc. Don’t stress if your little one is off a schedule for a day or so. Just try to get them back on a schedule that is best for them when things go back to normal.

Get your Free Sample Nap Routine!

If you’re totally convinced that you need to start a baby nap schedule but don’t know how to actually start or what do- I’m here for you! The first thing to do is to start a nap routine! Here is my very own baby nap routine so you don’t have to go through trial and errors and guess what will work.

I went through a whole month of hard days trying to figure out the best nap routine and once I did it was magic! Not only did my daughter start napping consistently and longer, but she also started sleeping through the night! Sooo I wanted to share my baby nap routine with you so you can print it out and have! Be sure to download the Sample Baby Nap Routine below!

So there you have it! This is the basic foundation of introducing your baby to a nap schedule. Remember, the goal of a nap schedule is to keep your baby happy by allowing them to nap before they get overly tired and to regulate when/how they sleep so they can establish healthy nap patterns which will ultimately help them have a good night sleep.

As always, feel free to drop me a comment or email me if you have any questions! Do you have your little one on some sort of nap schedule? How have you seen any benefits? Join the conversation below!

Always With Love, Brianna

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How to Start a Successful Nap Schedule with Your Baby | Nap Routine | Free Baby Schedule | Free printable | Baby tips and tricks | new parents | #babytips #parentingtips #parenting101

May 4, 2018 · 1 Comment

How to Feed to Get Your Baby Full!

Baby Routines

Full Feeding Schedule | Feeding to Get Your Baby Full | Baby Tips | Feeding Schedule | Mom Life Tips | #momadvice #parenting

Inside: What to accomplish a full feeding and find out your baby’s full feeding schedule? Read on for my tips and tricks!

“Why does my baby still seem hungry after a feeding?”

“Why do I need to start them on a feeding schedule?”

…I hear these questions a lot! And they are great questions.

When you think of a “schedule”, you think of a time-stamped activity. But when we talk about your baby’s feeding schedule, we aren’t talking about feeding them only at an exact time every day and not feeding them unless it’s that time.

We’re talking about getting to know your baby and the way she eats, how often he eats, and how much he eats at a time.

This is the full feeding schedule.

It’s important to know that the goal of every feeding is to have a full feeding– this will allow your baby to stay fuller longer and create a feeding pattern for them that works called the full feeding schedule.

There is one fundamental thing to do to help you know (and help create) your baby’s feeding schedule): accomplishing the full feeding.

We already talked about the importance of having your baby on a schedule here, so now it’s time to dive into what that schedule will look like by starting first with the full feeding schedule.

What is a full feeding?

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, pediatrician, or a medical professional. My experiences are all my own. Please refer to your pediatrician for questions about overeating, under-eating, nutrition, and medical information. Please read my full Disclosure, Terms, and Disclaimer Policy here.

A full feeding is making sure that your baby is full at the end of the feeding. Seems obvious right? But in fact, this is hard to do sometimes. This will look different if you are breastfeeding or formula feeding because pediatrician has a maximum number of ounces a baby can drink of formula.

So, while a breastfeeding baby can eat for 15 minutes, a formula feeding baby can eat for only 5-10 minutes because they finished their given number of ounces quicker. Remember, it’s not about time but about being full.

You will know when your baby is full not by the amount of time but by their cues.

 

How do I get to know my baby’s cues when they are full?

Know this will take some time and you will not know this overnight so don’t stress yourself out!

The main thing to look for is what your baby is doing after they eat. These will be the cues you look for. In reality, you are looking for cues that your baby is still hungry after a feeding.

When you know what your baby does when she’s hungry, then you’ll have a better understanding of when she is full.

 

How do I know if my baby is completing full feedings?

If your baby had a full feeding then he will be satisfied and ready for the next activity. This is why it’s so important to know your baby’s feeding schedule because it’s hard to complete your overall day schedule when you don’t have feedings down pact. Also, if your baby is eating at normal intervals, usually 3 hours or so apart, then you know they are getting full feedings.

In my Full Feeding Cheatsheet, I go over in-depth the signs to look for if your baby has or has not completed a full feeding as well as exclusive tips to help you accomplish a full feeding! You can download the FREE cheatsheet here!

Full Feeding Schedule | Feeding to Get Your Baby Full | Baby Tips | Feeding Schedule | Mom Life Tips | #momadvice #parenting

How do I begin to create a full feeding schedule?

First things first, you want to make sure to take a day to write down all the times your baby eats and how much they eat. This can allow you to see the pattern that they already have.

Most times we just have to slightly adjust what the baby is already naturally doing. We are not disrupting their whole lives by making them follow OUR schedule but taking what they naturally do and adjusting it.

Bonus: As a bonus to my exclusive Full Feeding Schedule Cheatsheet, you also get a free Full Feeding Schedule Tracker!

So how do you even begin to start a full feeding schedule?

Let’s start from scratch with a sample schedule!

I suggest writing down everything your baby did during the day, documenting when they woke, when they ate, how much they ate, how long they are sleeping and so on.

(I’m not going to use specific times in this schedule but just specify activities so you can accurately use this as a template for your schedule):

  • Wake: Baby wakes in the morning (if your baby is still waking for an early morning feeding and going back to sleep, that’s fine! Just add that to your schedule first.

 

  • Feeding: Baby should eat the number of ounces/breast milk for the amount of time that he usually does, this will be the start of the trial and error.

 

  • Activity: Baby plays for a small amount of time or reads a morning book until baby shows tired cues (rubbing eyes, yawning). This is usually no more than 45 minutes in my experience. Make sure to check for any hunger cues. If you see some hunger cues then maybe you didn’t have a full feeding but continue what you are doing and wait for the next feeding to confirm.

(If your baby is really fussy and just cannot continue without having more milk then feed them a half-ounce or ounce more. If they do this again the next feeding then you definitely know that they need a milk increase.)

Use this time to set a schedule for what you would like to do every morning with your little one. Make sure its time you have together, good body and eye contact so you can continue to bond.

 

  • Nap: Put baby down for a nap. Take note of how long baby naps so you can see if there is a pattern for the next couple of days. This will help you with your nap schedules. (We talk more about nap schedules here).

 

  • Wake/Feeding: Baby wakes and eats. (If baby woke early and wants to eat then maybe that first feeding wasn’t as full.) Feed your baby the amount that you did in the morning. We won’t know what works and what doesn’t unless we continue the same pattern. (If your baby is obviously still “hungry, hungry” then, of course, feed them but our goal is to pinpoint exactly what their full feeding looks like.)

 

  • Playtime or activity: Feel free to insert here what you would like your baby to be doing. Maybe it’s time on a play mat or a swing. Or maybe its tummy time or time you play together. Maybe it’s a combination of everything. You can also mix things up and do one day a week a different activity.

Be creative!

Make sure to check for hunger cues like you did in the morning. If you see your baby is still fussy/hungry or is acting like she did in the morning after her first feeding then maybe this is confirming that she is not getting a full feeding. Use one more feeding to see if this is a pattern.

 

  • Nap: Put baby back down for a nap. Be sure to continue to take note of how long she sleeps.

 

  • Wake/Feeding: Again, if baby woke too early after a really short amount of time then maybe the feedings are not full enough. Feed your baby the amount that you did the other feedings. After this feeding you will know if she continues hunger cues then the feedings were not full.

 

From here you continue this schedule until the night and the last feeding of the day. If your baby is waking in the night to eat abnormally then that is a clear sign that full feedings were not accomplished.

If your baby is eating well, playing well, napping well then you can safely say you are succeeding at full feedings!

Full Feeding Schedule | Feeding to Get Your Baby Full | Baby Tips | Baby Schedule | Feeding Schedule | Mom Life Tips | #momadvice #parenting

How do I change the amount of milk my baby is eating to get a full feeding?

If you feel like you have to increase breastfeeding time or ounces then do so cautiously and in small increments.

You do not want to overfeed your baby (even though there are some schools of thought that say you cannot overfeed a baby because your baby will let you know when they are done).

I am NOT recommending to feed your baby a huge amount and see when enough is enough!

I suggest to increase a small amount of milk once and take a week to see if your baby is responding to it well and is showing signs of a full feeding. Remember to document and take note of everything during this time, including milk increases.

If you are formula feeding, always ask your pediatrician what the maximum number of ounces your baby can receive a day. Take that amount and divide it by the number of feedings your baby has. Sometimes that number can reassure you that your baby can, in fact, be drinking more.

Remember, as your baby grows, feeding amounts will grow as well. And over time, some feedings will be dropped, such as late-night feedings.

Find a source you can trust to guide you through the ages your baby goes through feeding transitions/dropped feedings.

 

Full Feeding Cheat Sheet

Get the Free Full Feeding Schedule Cheat Sheet (with bonus Full Feeding Tracker!)

Don’t forget to download the Full Feeding Cheat Sheet!

The Cheat Sheet includes exclusive tips and directions to help:

  • you know when your baby has accomplished a full feeding
  • tells you what signs to look for
  • advises you what to do if your baby has not had a full feeding.

It also includes a free Full Feeding Tracker so you can write down your baby’s feedings and track how much they are eating and what time. Trust me, you won’t want to miss out on this amazing resource!

There you have it!

This is a basic foundation for knowing how to accomplish a full feeding schedule with your little one!

Feel free to use this schedule as a guide to your baby’s day and feedings. Also, use that full feeding schedule to guide your nap schedule and then you can begin to see your overall daily schedule forming.

When you accomplish full feedings, your baby will automatically create their own schedule and feeding pattern that works for them. It takes some effort but it is well worth it!

You can do it, mama!

As always, feel free to drop me a comment or email me if you have any questions!

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Always With Love, Brianna

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How to Feed to Get your Baby Full| Image of bottle on table

What is a full feeding? | Image of baby food and baby utensils and a bib

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May 4, 2018 · 1 Comment

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