Family Travel (old)

How to Easily Get Baby to Sleep In A Crib

Pulling your hair out trying to get your baby to sleep in a crib? Don’t worry, I’ve been there!

There’s nothing better than knowing your little one is safe and sound, dreaming of sweet zzzz’s in the comfort of their own crib.

Getting your baby to sleep in a crib is a really big accomplishment. The great news is, it’s not as difficult as it may seem!

The most important keys to getting your baby to sleep in a crib are:

Try to start as early as possible
Associate the crib with positivity,
Start daily routines, and
Go at your baby’s pace.

Let’s talk all about the realistic and practical steps and ways of getting your baby to sleep in a crib easy and stress-free!

How to get baby to sleep in a crib in 7 steps

1. First thing first, start a nap and bedtime routine

Let’s talk about routines!

I believe that a strong and consistent nap routine and bedtime routine is the KEY to your baby sleeping better. Not only does a routine help your baby sleep better and longer, but it also gives you the ability to incorporate the crib into the routine.

For example, I started my daughters daytime nap routine when she was 11 weeks old, and within 1 week she was napping in her crib every nap.

Making the crib a part of your routine is one of the best ways to get your baby to sleep in a crib. Grab my free routines to help your baby sleep in his/her crib now!

Download my Free Sample Nap Routine Now!

AND

Download My Free Sample Bedtime Routine!

2. Start as early as possible

One of the best steps you can take to getting your baby to sleep in a crib is to transition them as soon as possible.

I actually started putting my baby in her crib the first night we brought her home from the hospital. She was sleeping so well in the little side of the bed bassinet in the hospital that when we got home I just wanted to see how she did in the crib. And she did amazing!

It was a little bit of an extra step because I was breastfeeding and had to go to her nursery to feed her at night. But it didn’t bother me too much because I knew that in the long run getting her used to a crib early was important to me.

BUT don’t get too discouraged if your newborn was sleeping in a bassinet or in something else at first! You can easily transition your baby to a crib. Just remember, the younger they are- the better! Start the transition as soon as you feel it is time and don’t wait too long.

That’s why the first step is to have a solid bedtime routine. If you’re sticking to that consistent routine then your baby will get used to their crib easier.

3. If you didn’t start right away, integrate the crib slowly starting with naps

If your baby did not sleep in a crib from an early age then DO NOT WORRY! You can always start now.

The next step is to integrate crib sleeping with naps first. Getting your baby used to sleep for shorter amounts of time in the crib will set the stage for sleeping a longer stretch of time in the crib at night.

I can’t stress this enough- be sure to have (or start!) a solid and consistent nap routine with your baby. This routine will help your baby adjust to the new sleep surrounding.

For example, if your baby is used to sleeping in a swing or rock n’ play, then start your baby on a routine where they now nap in the crib.

You want to take baby steps and not do everything at once. Getting your baby used to one change at a time is good enough! Then after a week or 2 when your baby is used to the change and it has become a normal, then you can begin another change.

4. Don’t associate negativity with the crib

If you want your baby to sleep in a crib, then you have to make the crib a positive place. The last thing you want is for your baby to associate the crib with a time out!

Make sure that you are not associating the crib with any negative connotations. If your baby is used to crying and crying in the crib, then your baby is not going to like being in a crib. You want to make the crib a safe haven for sleep. Just like we feel about our beds!

If your baby is getting used to sleeping in a crib then, of course, there is going to be a transition phase where he/she cries for a bit. But don’t let that become a habit!

I would not advise sleep training AND transitioning your baby to a crib at the same time. You do not want to associate sleep training crying with being in the crib for the first time.

5. Give your baby something they love

One of the best ways to get your baby to sleep in a crib is to give your baby something he or she loves in the crib. Whatever it is that makes your baby feel safe and happy- offer it to them in the crib. Just like we don’t want to associate negativity with the crib, we want to make sure we are associating positivity with the crib.

You can do this by offering your baby the pacifier or a favorite blanket or a stuffed animal. (Remember to ask your doctor about SIDS reduction and what you can or cannot place in the crib with your baby!)

My daughter loved the swaddle, so we used that to our advantage and swaddled her each time she was in the crib. She began sleeping amazingly! Then as she got older, we let her sleep with her favorite blanket. And to this day she loves she crib and even wants to be in there to go to sleep!

6. Make the crib a comfortable place

You want your baby to love the crib, so you have to make the crib as comfortable as possible! Here are some tips to making sure the crib is a comfortable place:

Make sure to have a comfortable crib sheet
That the room can is a good temperature.
The crib is in a place where you can have darkening curtains so your baby can sleep better.
I also started using a sound machine when my baby was still a newborn and even to this day that sound signals sleep and she wants to go in her crib.

So, make sure you are setting the crib up in a room that has all of the things that would make your baby feel comfortable!

7-. Sleep in the baby’s room to help with transition

If you see that your baby is having a hard time transitioning to the crib then you can make the transition easier by sleeping in your baby’s room.

This way, your baby will know that you are there and will feel a sense of peace and normalcy. You don’t have to do this for a long time, just until you see your baby is better transitioning.

THEN- you can just put a piece of your clothing at the bottom of your baby’s crib or tuck your shirt under the mattress so your baby can still smell you and be comforted by you but you don’t have to actually be in the room!

OR if you want to skip sleeping in your baby’s room altogether and just put a piece of your clothing in the crib or room for comfort, then that’s totally ok too! I used both of these tips and they have worked like a charm.

So, there you have it! How to get baby to sleep in a crib in 7 steps!

Remember, the most important keys to getting your baby to sleep in a crib is to try to start as early as possible, associate the crib with positivity, start daily routines, and to go at your baby’s pace.

Don’t become overwhelmed by the transition, just ease into it in baby steps. You don’t want to overwhelm your baby by implementing so many changes at once. Start by making a nap and bedtime routine and get your baby used to consistency.

Get the Free Nap & Bedtime Routines!

Don’t forget to get my Free Nap and Bedtime Routine so your baby can start getting great sleep!

I worked soooo loonnnggg creating routines that actually work and when it found it- it was like gold! After weeks of trial and error of figuring out what works and what doesn’t, I created a nap routine and a bedtime routine that actually works! And I want to share it with you!

Get the Free Nap Routine Now!

Get the Free Bedtime Routine Now!

As always, feel free to email me with any questions or write your questions in the comments below! Do you have any tips to help babies sleep in a crib?? Let us know in the comments!

You got this mamma!

Wait! Do You Love free printables??

Become part of the Mastering Mom Life Insider tribe and get instant, FREE, private access to my resource library filled with printables + worksheets to make mom life easier!

Importance of a Baby Bedtime Routine

Baby Routines

Do you want your baby to sleep better and longer through the night? You are not alone! All parents wish for their baby to sleep peacefully through the night. One of the main keys to getting your baby to sleep through the night is a solid baby bedtime routine.

You may not think a baby bedtime routine is important, but I have found that a bedtime routine can make all the difference in the world to helping your baby sleep better and longer!

Bedtime routines are so crucial because it helps your baby know it is bedtime, helps them fall asleep faster, and ultimately stay asleep longer!

Find out all of the amazing reasons why having a baby bedtime routine will improve your child’s nighttime sleep and even their overall day!

Before I start telling you the awesome reasons why you should have a bedtime routine, I wanted to give you my personal baby bedtime routine that has helped my daughter sleep through the night 10 hours from 8 weeks old! I use the same bedtime routine now that she’s 2 and she still sleeps 12 hours through the night! AND she takes amazing naps! I can’t tell you how priceless an amazing bedtime routine can be.

Steal my baby bedtime routine by downloading the routine below!

So let’s get down to it!

5 Reasons Why a Baby Bedtime Routine is Important

Help’s Baby Signal Nighttime Sleep

I love routines and schedules because it helps your baby know what is happening next and ultimately helps you anticipate their needs. A bedtime routine does just that as well!

Having a baby bedtime routine will help your baby know that it’s time for nighttime sleep. Which is different than daytime sleep because during your day your baby just naps and then wakes up after a shorter period of time. You want your baby to be able to distinguish between daytime sleep (naps) and nighttime sleep.

The sooner your baby knows the difference between those 2 sleeps, the better! The last thing you want is your baby waking up at night every 3 hours because he thinks it’s daytime and time for play. Of course, if your baby is still dream feeding or needs feedings throughout the night, they will wake up to eat. But after the feeding, your baby will go back to bed.

Bedtime routines will help your baby KNOW that nighttime sleep is coming. Doing the same routine consistently each night before bedtime will let your baby know that nighttime sleep is coming. Then after a couple of days, when you start to do the routine your baby will automatically know that it’s bedtime.

Nap routines will help your baby do the same thing- it will signal that it’s time for a daytime nap. Having a strong nap routine will greatly affect your baby’s nighttime sleep because your baby will know the difference between the nap routine and bedtime routine. (And ultimately daytime sleep and nighttime sleep).

I can’t stress enough the importance of a nap routine as well! Get my sample nap routine to help your baby nap consistently and longer every day by clicking here!

Helps baby fall asleep faster (& self soothe)

Because a bedtime routine helps signal nighttime sleep and let’s your baby know that it’s bedtime, your baby will be able to fall asleep faster. When you put your baby down for sleep without any routine, your baby is crying waiting for you to pick her back up. But when you have a strong, consistent bedtime routine, your baby knows it’s time for sleep and it will reduce the causes of your baby crying and not falling asleep.

You want your bedtime routine to be comforting to your baby and fill them with everything they need before they go to sleep. When your bedtime routine is filled with loving hugs and comforting acts, then it will prevent your baby from being upset before going to sleep.

Your bedtime routine will ultimately help your baby self-soothe and fall asleep on their own. As time passes, this will help your baby fall asleep faster!

Finding a solid bedtime routine that works is like striking gold! Don’t forget to download my Sample Bedtime Routine that has helped my baby sleep through the night since 8 weeks old! Get the bedtime routine now!

Helps baby sleep longer

Since your baby now knows that it’s time for bedtime and is falling asleep faster, your baby will start to sleep LONGER. Doing a bedtime routine each night will show your baby consistency which will give your baby predictability and rest. When your baby is well rested and in a good schedule groove, your baby will start to sleep longer.

No more waking up after 5 hours one night, 4 hours the next night, and 7 hours the next night. A baby bedtime routine will help your baby sleep through the night for a consistent amount of time!

Helps baby’s overall mood

When my baby is sleeping peacefully and consistently through the night I notice that she is also having consistent naps during the day. The last thing any parent wants is for their baby to experience bad sleeps! Having your baby get a good night sleep and taking full length naps each day will help your baby’s overall mood.

That is why having a nap routine and a bedtime routine is SO important. These little details will help your baby thrive on a day to day basis because your baby is getting the sleep they soo need.

Helps baby day to day schedule

Like I mentioned before, I LOVE having my baby on a schedule will consistent routines. It gives me the sanity I need because I know what my baby needs and when but also helps my baby know what is happening and what will happen next. Having a schedule gives your baby consistency and helps them thrive all day long!

When your baby is waking up rested because they slept through the night they are more likely to complete full feedings, nap consistently, and play happily! Once you introduce strong, consistent routines into your baby’s life you will begin to see a positive shift in their overall daily schedule!

(Find out more about how to tell if your baby has had a full feeding by clicking here!)

Don’t Forget- Consistency is KEY!

Keep in mind that it does NOT happen overnight! It will take time for your routine to be established. In every situation that I have used this routine, I started seeing beneficial results in 1-2 weeks. So, do not be discouraged! This routine should be done EVERY night before bed. After a week or so you should see the benefits and your baby sleeping longer and consistently!

Download my Miracle Bedtime Routine!

If you’re totally convinced that you need to start a baby bedtime routine but don’t know how to actually start or what do- I’m here for you! I want to give you my very own baby bedtime 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 and nights trying to figure out the best bedtime routine and once I did it was magic!

Not only did my daughter start falling asleep faster, but she also started sleeping through the night!

Sooo I wanted to share my baby bedtime routine with you so you can print it out and have! Be sure to download the Sample Baby Bedtime Routine now!

So, there you have it! Here are 5 super amazing reasons why a baby bedtime routine is so important. Starting a bedtime routine for your baby will make nighttime sleeps feel like a breeze and will ultimately improve your baby’s overall sleep. What do you have to lose??

Be sure to start your baby on a bedtime routine today and start seeing these awesome benefits!

Already have your baby on a bedtime routine that works?? That’s great! Feel free to share your tips in the comments below!

Wait!! Do You Love Free Printables??

Become part of the Mastering Mom Life Insider tribe and get instant, FREE, private access to my resource library filled with printables + worksheets to make mom life easier!

Tips For Living on One Income: Stay At Home Mom Edition!

Homemaking

Inside: The key to living on one income as a stay at home mom is to have a budget game plan, set goals, and stay encouraged. Find out more tips now!

Being a stay at home mom is not easy. You are constantly chasing your kids and watching them like a hawk every second of every day. It’s a full-time job that gives you no vacation, no weekends off, and least of all, no pay.

Choosing to be a stay at home mom often means choosing to live on one income. But don’t let that discourage you!

Since I left my career to become a stay at home mom, I’ve found tips and tricks to help live on one income successfully!

The key to living on one income as a stay at home mom is to have a budget plan, set goals, and stay encouraged.

So, let’s get down to it!

Tips to Living on One Income Successfully

Budget, Budget, Budget

I wasn’t always a big budgeter but once I became a stay at home mom I realized that I needed to budget if we were going to survive.

Surprisingly, it was really easy to do too!

All I did was sit down with my husband and go over our finances. We discussed the actual amount my husband was bringing in each week and then went over our expenses: rent, utilities, groceries, internet, and miscellaneous expenses (Amazon, Hulu, Netflix, etc.)

I’m going to be brutally honest- going over your finances and expenses and setting a budget is extremely overwhelming! BUT- it’s going to make your life so much easier.

Also, try to set a budget for extra expenses. So you can maybe splurge on things that you would like each week. My husband and I were able to come up with $300 dollars each month for extra little things that we want.

Some people may think this is dumb but for me, having that little bit if extra makes me feel free and not too tied down to a penny by penny budget. Or you can use that extra money to go into extra savings account for a special vacation or splurge item.

Don’t get overwhelmed by setting a budget either. Don’t feel like you have to live dollar to dollar.

Budget in a way that takes the stress off of you and not in a way that makes you more stressed! Having a budget will just help set that structure so you never feel like you don’t know what you can or cannot afford.

Get on the same page as your spouse

Living on one income is really difficult sometimes, but it doesn’t have to be impossible. One of the most important things you can do is to get on the same page as your spouse. This goes hand in hand with budgeting too.

You don’t want to be at odds with your spouse over money. Trust me, it isn’t pretty.

Find a way to effectively communicate about money and come to a mutual decision about how you spend and how much you can spend.

After all, marriage is a lifetime of compromise and mutual respect!

Don’t waste

Another important tip for living on one income is to reduce waste.

Since your money is super valuable, you don’t want to purchase things that are going to be a waste or purchase too much of something where the excess is a waste.

For example, don’t buy the mega amount of eggs if your family only eats a couple of eggs a week. You may think that the cost of the large quantity is cheaper, but if you are throwing away half of the amount of food, then ultimately, it’s a waste.

Try to come up with household tips that would help your family reduce waste too. Such as, not using a brand-new paper towel each time you wipe down a surface. Instead, use a towel or clean rag that can be washed and reused.

Spend wisely

This really goes without saying but to live successfully on one income you need to spend wisely. Try to eliminate expenses that are unnecessary or redundant. And when you want to purchase something, ask yourself:

Do I need it?
Can I get it cheaper somewhere else?
Will I use it (consistently)?

Simply questioning each thing you purchase will help your expenses! It also exercises self-control but also helps you to not deprive yourself.

Bonus: Don’t forget to get your FREE copy of the mini Mommy & Me All-in-One Planner! No mom can think of and remember absolutely everything all at once. We all need a little help in planning and organizing our day and family’s life. Easily plan your day AND track your baby’s activities in ONE place!
Get the FREE mini Mom Planner by clicking HERE!

Meal Plan

I know you probably hear about meal planning all the time but it’s seriously a great way to stay on budget AND to feed your family efficiently.

I started meal planning when I became a stay at home mom and when my daughter began to eat table food. I started by finding recipes that my family would like and then just put them in a recipe binder.

When I would plan my meals for that week, I look at the local grocery store sales and make meals that contained the sale ingredients!

If you already meal plan- that’s great! If you don’t, be sure to check out my post “5 Easy Steps for Meal Planning”. The post even comes with a free Easy Meal Planning Toolkit! Read it now!

Set goals

I absolutely love setting goals because it gives me determination. I also love to set goals for my family because it brings us together and gives a common purpose.

Setting budgeting goals and savings goals can greatly help you and your family! It can take living on one income from being daunting to being possible and achievable!

Click here to get a FREE #MomGoals 2019 Goal Planner to help you set goals for yourself and your family this year!

Remind Yourself…

it’s okay to be a stay at home mom!

Sometimes when I’m really overwhelmed about money, all I do is look at my sweet daughter and how far she’s come. And in that moment, all of my worries go away.

Of course, I would LOVE to be bringing in the bucks and not have to worry about budgets, but I wouldn’t trade my role as a stay at home mom for anything.

When you feel consumed, just remember, it’s OKAY to be a stay at home mom. No matter what anyone may tell you, no matter how you may feel demeaned sometimes, know that your choice to stay at home is valid!

Get The Free All-In-One Mommy Planner!

The Mommy & Me Planner is a 10-page, all-in-one mini mom planner 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!
Create an overall schedule for your baby that is structured yet flexible to your family’s needs.
Set goals for yourself and your baby so you can accomplish new milestones together!

Help plan your schedule PLUS track your baby’s feedings and naps all in one place! Get the FREE Mom Planner NOW!

>>And there you have it! Here are 7 tips to living on one income successfully!

Remember:

Don’t forget to budget
Make sure you and your spouse are communicating effectively
Reduce waste
Eliminate unnecessary expenses
Meal plan
Set goals
Remind yourself it’s ok to be a SAHM!!

As stay at home moms, we may not get sick leave, or be able to sleep in on weekends or see our bank account rise every Friday. But our “pay” is so much greater than any dollar amount. You are choosing to sacrifice your life and raise your children– being a stay at home mom is an amazing job title to have!

Living on one income takes dedication but it’s totally worth it when you wake up in the morning to see your little running to you with open arms!

Wait! Do you love free printables??

Become part of the Mastering Mom Life Insider tribe and get instant, FREE, private access to my resource library filled with printables + worksheets to make mom life easier!

Tips to Prepare for Your Child’s Surgery

Parenting Life

Finding out your baby needs surgery is one of the hardest things you will ever hear. A million different questions and worst-case scenarios go flashing in your mind and you wonder how your child will recover. But knowing the best tips to help you prepare for your child’s surgery will give you peace of mind and help you through this difficult time.

No matter how big or small the procedure is, or how young or old your child is, knowing that your child will have to have surgery isn’t easy.

One of the best things you can do to help you prepare for your child’s surgery is to actually do just that- prepare. And to help you take any added stress out of an already stressful situation, I’ll give you all of my tips that were a lifesaver when my baby had surgery!

First things first: Print a Checklist

To really help you prepare for your child’s surgery, you want to make a master checklist of everything you need and everything you need to get done. You’ll want to think of all thing things you need to bring to the hospital for your and for your child. I created this Preparing for a Child’s Surgery Master Checklist. It includes a Hospital checklist and a Checklist template for you to have a place to write down everything you want to do and don’t want to forget.

Get the Master Checklist for FREE Now!

So let’s get down to the awesome tips!

Tips to Prepare For Your Child’s Surgery

Get support!
One of the number one things you want to do is get support. You will need support and your baby will need support. Tell your family and your friends of the situation, the diagnosis, and the procedure. Surround yourself with support and encouragement. Trust me, you are going to need it!

Now is the time to get on the same page with your spouse and immediate family. Have as many people praying for you and giving you support.

Even invite people to come to the hospital to wait with you during the surgery and even let them bring you food and take care of you.

Make a packing list

Whether your child will be in the hospital for 1 day, 1 night or 1 week and 5 nights, you’re going to want to have a packing list. There is so much that your mind is trying to retain that the last thing you want to do is forget important items at home.

Take 5 minutes to clear your head and think of things that your child will need in the hospital and be sure to write it down.

That’s why I made a Master Hospital Checklist for you! It includes everything that you’ll need to pack and even optional items that most people forget!

Download it now!

Bring a notebook and pen

One thing in the hospital I couldn’t live without was a notebook and pen. I wrote down all the different nurses and doctors that I would talk to and documented what they said and at what time. I even tracked my child’s activities in the hospital, such as her mood, feedings, and naps.

Because your mind is so drained and stressed, you don’t have to leave any room for you to forget anything important.

Even write down any medication that they gave your child and at what times. You’ll be so grateful that you’re keeping track because it’ll be easier for you to remember what certain doctors and nurses said once you get home.

Take off of work

Not all parents have the luxury to take off of work easily but I strongly suggest that you let your job know the situation and take a time of leave. My husband was able to take off of work for a full week while our daughter had surgery and recovered. That time was so special to us because my daughter craved our presence in this time of pain and recovery.

Smooth out insurance dilemmas

One of the worst things in the world to me is calling the health insurance company. No one ever seems to know any solid information and I’m constantly put on hold. But when you find out that your child needs surgery, most of the time the insurance company needs to approve any overnight hospital stays and the procedure itself. Don’t leave this call for the last minute. Call your insurance company as soon as possible so they are on the same page as the doctors and insurance coordinators at the hospital.

Take a breath

Make sure you are taking care of yourself. It’s so easy to prepare for tour child’s surgery and get wrapped up in your baby that you forget about yourself and your health. Be sure to eat regularly, take vitamins, and stay hydrated. You’re going to be put in some tough situations and you want to make sure your body doesn’t fail you!

Talk to your child about the procedure

If your child is old enough to comprehend what is about to happen, then be sure to take a few minutes to talk to them about the procedure. Let them know what to expect, what not to be afraid of, and that you are going to be there every step of the way! This will bring them so much comfort at a time of fear and uncertainty.

Ask a lot of questions

I cannot stress this enough- DO NOT BE AFRAID TO ASK YOUR DOCTORS QUESTIONS! Even if you don’t have a question, ask them what is the easiest way to contact them when you do have a question. And remember, no question is stupid. This is your child. This is your family. This is your life. You have a right to ask as many questions as you need to help you get through this time. You want to make sure you know all of the details of everything that is happening so you never feel confused.

Make your child as comfortable as possible

No matter what age your child is, you want to do everything you can to make them comfortable. Whether that means bringing their favorite toy or blanket. Or downloading their favorite show or movies on an iPad or laptop. Make them feel as comfortable as possible, at all times. Your child will be going through so many new things that they will need a constant that will bring them comfort.

Make sure your home is clean and everything in place before you leave to prepare for recovery

One of the best things I did was make sure my house was clean before we left for the hospital. You want to leave everything in tip top shape so when you come home after a long, hard couple of days your home is inviting and in order. The last thing you want to do when you get home is clean dirty dishes that have been there for a week.

If you have family that helps you, maybe ask them to straighten up your house before you get home so it’s one less thing you have to do. Make sure your child bed is comfortable and has fresh sheets and pillows so they have a comforting and clean recovery space!

Pediatrician and pharmacy info

You’ll need to give the hospital your child’s pediatrician information and contact information for the pharmacy of your choice in case your child needs to be sent home with medication. I find it best to have this information ready and available, either as a note on my phone, or I write it in the first page of the notebook that I am bringing with me. Several doctors will be asking you for this information so it’s smart to have it on hand!

Make sure to have the pediatrician’s name, address, phone number and fax number. And the same for the pharmacy!

I also created an “Important Information” template in the Hospital Master Checklist Bundle for you to print and use to save and store all of your important phone numbers and addresses! Get it below!

Research the facility

If you’ve never been the hospital or the pediatric floor on the hospital where your child is having their surgery, then I always research the facility so I’m prepared. I find out if I can stay with my child bedside at all times, even through the night. I also find out if my husband can stay with us at all times, or does he have to go to another room for the night. I find out what I can bring and what is not allowed, and any other details that are on my mind!

Don’t forget to download the Free Preparing for Your Child’s Surgery Master Checklist!

Take the stress off of thinking about everything you need to do and bring by getting my free Hospital Master Checklist now!

What the checklist includes:

A master checklist of everything you need for the hospital
A checklist template for you to create your own list
A “To-Do” template for you to track everything you need to get done in prioritized sections

I created the Master Checklist to take stress off of you during this difficult time! Download the checklist now!

Well that’s it! I know that preparing for your child’s surgery is not an easy thing to do, but hopefully, I was able to take some weight off of you by giving you tips to get through it!

As always, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions! Or if you have any other tips to help other families, please share them in the comments below!

Wait! Do You Love Free Printables??

Become part of the Mastering Mom Life Insider tribe and get instant, FREE, private access to my resource library filled with printables + worksheets to make mom life easier!

How to Celebrate Valentine’s Day as New Parents

Marriage Life

Inside: Find out how to make Valentine’s Day as new parents special and romantic yet cheap!

It’s not every day that you get to focus on your marriage…

Especially when you are constantly cleaning, cooking, making bottles, pumping, and running around after little humans!

You may be thinking Valentine’s Day isn’t even worth celebrating…

But your Valentine’s day as new parents doesn’t have to be dreary and forgotten. I’ll help you easily celebrate this day of love without spending tons of money & without any stress!

I absolutely love Valentine’s Day because I get to dedicate a whole day to celebrate the love I have for my husband. Which if you ask him, he’ll tell you how he always feels invisible since our daughter has been born.

But just because you’re a parent now doesn’t mean you forget that you’re still husband and wife!

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be an expensive night out or some elaborately planned event.

Instead, I’ll give some amazing tips and ideas to help you spend your valentine’s day as new parents focusing on your love for each other while still being devoted to your parental duties.

So, don’t worry about spending a ton of money on gifts and being worried about the fact that you can’t go out to that expensive restaurant you love. I’ll tell you all about how to make this Valentine’s Day special and romantic yet low-key and enjoyable!

FREE DIY PRINTABLE “WHY I LOVE YOU” & LOVE COUPON BOOKLET

Because you are new parents and probably don’t have the time (or money!) to fully dedicate everything you have to Valentine’s Day for your spouse, I created this really fun and romantic “Why I Love You & Love Coupon Booklet”!

Give your spouse something heartfelt and handmade and spend the night just enjoying each other’s company!

It’s super easy to make—all you have to do is print it, cut out the boxes, and fill out each box to let your spouse know how much you love them.

The best part of this printable booklet is that it’s fully customizable and can be as special as you want it to be! Trust me, your spouse is going to love it 🙂

Download the printable booklet now!

So let’s get down to it!

How to Celebrate Valentine’s Day as New Parents

Make time for each other

As a new parent, you typically don’t have a lot of spare time, let alone time to just spend with your spouse. And that’s totally normal!

Since you’re in this new season of parenthood, spending time with your spouse may seem like a rarity. But Valentine’s Day is a great way to show your spouse how much you love them by simply spending some quality time with each other.

After you put the baby to sleep, wash the bottles, fold the laundry, and clean the house- be sure to intentionally make time for your spouse. Even if that means you leave the dishes in the sink, leave the unfolded laundry in the basket, and sweep the house later.

Sometimes there is no greater gift than the gift of some quality time together. Especially when you haven’t been as close as you were since your new addition came into the picture.

Send each other special texts throughout the day

Another way to make Valentine’s Day as new parents special is to send each other cute texts throughout the day.

If you and your sweetie are apart for most of Valentine’s day, whether you’re both at work or one of you are home with the baby and the other is working- it’s super fun to let each other know that you guys are thinking of each other.

You may not be in each other’s physical company, but you can keep each other on your minds by sending fun, cute, and flirty texts to each other.

Send one every other hour or even every hour!

Cook or order out your favorite meal

As new parents, you may not be able to get a baby sitter and go out to your favorite restaurant. Especially if your little one is still an infant and you don’t feel comfortable leaving your baby to go for a night out.

Another great option is to make your favorite meal or your spouse’s favorite dish for dinner. Or you can make your favorite dessert!

It’s a way to say “I love you” without the pomp and frills.

You can also order take out of your favorite meal! That way, one person isn’t cooking and slaving away for the other person. You can both have a fun, relaxing, low key but romantic night without any dirty pots and pans — score 🙂

Give your spouse something they love

Valentine’s Day as new parents doesn’t have to be expensive.

You don’t have to buy expensive earrings or expensive gifts.

You don’t have to worry about racking your brain thinking about what your spouse will love.

Instead, go back to basics and think of things that you KNOW your spouse loves.

Maybe it’s a special item from the bakery that you can pick up, or maybe it’s something silly like a fun pair of novelty socks. And if you don’t have time to go out and actually buy a gift then you can just go online and order something.

Amazon is perfect for last-minute gifts because most things are delivered within 2 days!

Take a picture as a family

How can you have Valentine’s Day as new parents and not involve your actual baby? One of my favorite things to do on Valentines Day since becoming a parent is to take a family picture!

You can dress up or having matching clothes or just all wear red or Valentine’s color.

Another sweet thing to do is put red paint on your baby’s hand or foot and make an imprint of it on a piece of paper or a card. It’s a great way to remember each year on that special day of love.

Watch your favorite movie and snack out!

Everyone loves a date night in!

Your first Valentine’s Day as new parents doesn’t have to fancy but it can be exciting and fun. All you have to do is hop onto Netflix, Vudu or Amazon Prime Video and watch your favorite movie or tv show.

Parenthood is often super selfless and busy with everything being revolved around your baby so you don’t usually intentionally plan time to sit down and watch a movie together.

Now is the time to do it!

Plan a movie date night in and don’t forget to stock up on snacks and drinks.

If you’re looking for fun date night in ideas, download this free printable Date Night-In Idea Kit! It comes with ideas for date nights and includes a checklist of everything you need for each date night idea!

Click here to get the FREE DATE NIGHT IN KIT!

Make the “Why I Love You” & Love Coupon Booklet

I created this awesome and fun DIY gift to give to your sweetie to make them swoon!

Sometimes we get caught up in the business of life, parenthood and mom life that we forget to tell our spouse how we feel about them, how much we love them, and why we love them.

Love and appreciation can go a LONNNGGGG way in a marriage. Simply saying “Thank You” can be the best gift you can give your spouse.

Tell your spouse how much you love them with my free, fun “Why I Love You” & Love Coupon Booklet!

It’s super easy to make and is a 100% free instant download!

Simply print out the pages, fill out the boxes, cut them out, and tie/glue them together in booklet form. Or just cut them out and leave them in random areas for your loved one to find!

Download the “Why I Love You” & Love Coupon Booklet Now!

Well there you have it!

I hope I was able to give you some ideas to help you make your Valentine’s Day as parents special, fun, memorable, and romantic!

Remember, just because you are a parent now doesn’t mean that you forget that you are still husband and wife.

It’s not about how much money you spent or where you are eating that makes Valentine’s Day special- it’s about spending quality time together as a family and as husband and wife!

So leave the bottles in the sink, don’t worry about folding the clothes in the basket, and just focus on each other’s company.

After all, you were husband and wife before you were mom and dad!

Want more tips on how to focus on your marriage after becoming parents??

Take the FREE Marriage Revival Challenge to help you and your spouse fall back in love and focus on your marriage! Click here to enroll now!