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5 Reasons your Baby Needs a Nap Routine

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!

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!

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.

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!

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.

(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.

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!

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6 Important Choices to Make Before Birth

Pregnancy Life

Becoming a mother can be overwhelming! There a million things you have to learn and even though you try to prepare as much as you can, you will never really feel “ready”. But there are things you can do to help prepare yourself and your family for your beautiful new addition, such as asking yourself questions and having a plan for when your baby is here. There are important choices to make before birth that can help you relieve the stress of having a 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!

Asking yourself questions and making important choices before birth and your baby arrives will help ease the stress and pressure of trying to figure everything out after your baby is here. You will be consumed with a whole other life and it’s important to get as many things in order as you can before your baby arrives. This will also give you peace of mind and stability when the new journey of motherhood begins, which can be overwhelming and unpredictable.

I always find it best to be prepared and have everything in order that I can beforehand!

These 5 questions by no means covers everything that you need to think about or decide before birth and before your baby arrives. Be sure to download my ultimate checklist of important questions you need to ask before your baby arrives. Making choices based off of those questions will make your life so much easier and get you ready for the roller coaster of parenting! You can access my checklist below!

Asking yourself these questions and making your important choices before birth will help you easily transition into this new season of your life and your family’s life! Once you make these important choices, you will be able to easily and effectively plan what is best for your newly grown family.

6 Important Choices to Make Before Your Baby Arrives

Please know that I am not a doctor, physician, or professional of any kind. All opinions are my own and formed my own experiences. You can read my full disclosure, disclaimer, and terms policies here.

Having these questions already answered will help you so much because when your baby is actually here there will be another million choices and decisions you have to make! I always find it better to get done what you can now so you save yourself stress when things get really hectic.

1- Will I breastfeed or formula feed?

One of the important choices you will have to make before birth is whether you will breastfeed or formula feed. You probably will hear the question (if you haven’t heard it already), “are you planning to breastfeed?”. Some may even be as bold to ask “you’re planning to breastfeed, right?”. This is because one of the most assumed choices people think that you have already made is whether you are breastfeeding or not.

If you haven’t decided yet, don’t worry! There are a couple of different options that you have even though it feels like your choices are just black or white. Here are a couple options you have:

Option 1- plan to fully breastfeed.
Option 2- plan to breastfeed along with pump.
Option 3- plan to breastfeed and are open to formula feeding for supplementing.
Option 4- just formula feed.

(These are not your only options because you can create your own customized option by combining different aspects of these options but for the sake of this post I’m just naming a couple.)

In my opinion, you don’t have to have it ALL figured out. Don’t stress yourself over having a perfect plan. My advice is to prepare as much as you can while being open to change and circumstances to arise. For example, if you are planning to breastfeed then make sure you educate yourself, maybe go to a class, and surround yourself with support. And if you feel comfortable enough, maybe purchase a couple of bottles just in case you have to pump or supplement. This doesn’t mean that you will have to use it, but having a backup plan just in case if you run into issues is always wise.

If you are planning to pump then make sure you research different breast pumps and find one that works best for you. If you are planning to formula feed then make sure you research different formulas and differences between brands.

Also, be sure to decide how you feel about supplementing. If everything goes well and you can breastfeed, that’s awesome! But sometimes health concerns, delivery issues, and other situations can occur that can prevent you from fully breastfeeding and the doctors may encourage you to supplement. Be sure to have a backup plan just in case things don’t run smoothly- hopefully, you need your back up plan!

While I’m totally all for breastfeeding and I understand the incredible benefits of breastfeeding I’m also totally fine with mothers who plan to bottle feed/formula feed. Why? Because I trust that each expectant mother is planning to do what’s best for her baby and for her. I trust that every mother is doing her research and making an informed decision. Who am I to judge or mom shame someone because they didn’t do what I chose??

To make your choice, talk to your husband, talk to your family or those who you trust and choose an option and make a decision that works best for you!

2- Will baby sleep in a crib or bassinet? In your room or another room?

Another important choice to make before birth is figuring out where you want your baby to sleep. These days you have soo many options! Such as, you can have your baby sleep in a bassinet in your room, or you can have a mini crib in your room, or you can have your baby sleep in a bassinet in their own room or a different space such as the living room, or you can have your baby sleep in the crib in his own room right away.

The options are endless because it depends on your living style, your home, and your personal preference.

Many parents chose to have a combination of spaces. For example, the baby will sleep in a bassinet in their room for the first 6 weeks because it’s easier for mom to breastfeed the baby and go back to sleep. Then when the baby is older, the parents transition him to his own room or crib. Some parents choose to not purchase a crib right away and just have their baby sleep in a bassinet until she outgrows it. No choice is right or wrong! It’s all about what you choose and what’s best for your family.

Be sure to stay within the safe sleeping arrangements and beware of SIDS. Talk to your doctor about places where your baby is absolutely not supposed to be sleeping. Make sure all sleeping mechanisms are certified as a baby sleep station.

Some parents even just buy a bassinet and a crib and don’t decide on where their baby is going to sleep until they actually bring baby home. That’s totally fine too! Like I said, make a choice based on what works best for you and your family.

Trying to figure out what you’re baby will sleep in? I have you covered! Be sure to check out my post “Ultimate List of Necessary Baby Furniture” to help you choose what will work best for you and your family!

3- Is mom returning to work?

Oh, the age old question- “Are you returning to work or staying at home with your baby?”. If I had a nickel for every time someone asked me this question I would be rich! It’s important to have a plan and make a choice about what you plan to do about work before birth because you don’t want to be caught off guard the number of things you have to worry about after your baby arrives. Having a plan or even a vague one about whether you will be returning to work and when you will be returning to work will help you with the transition process. Remember, no choice is right or wrong- it’s all about what works best for your family! Try not to compare yourself or your situation or family to another family or mother. Do what works best for your family. Whether that means you return to work or stay home with your baby- anything you choose is commendable!

Don’t forget to download your copy of my Ultimate Checklist Of Important Questions to Ask Before Birth below!

4- Where are you delivering?

A very important choice to make before birth is to actually figure out where you are giving birth. I know, I know…this seems obvious that you will have to make this choice but it’s also worth bringing up because I found that some expectant mothers wait until their second trimester or even third trimester to actually decide about where they are delivering. You can choose the closest hospital near you or a favorite hospital that may be further away or even a birthing center. You might even want a home birth with a certified doula or registered nurse! Choose what is best for you and your family and within your means. I know some mothers who have no idea where they are giving birth simply because they cannot afford some options. Be sure to utilize all of your available help and research as much as you can! Some hospitals do require you to complete a hospital tour before you can actually deliver there so also double check your hospital’s policies and be sure to meet all requirements!

(If you need help finding a doctor or hospital to deliver in, maybe reading my post “How to Find an OBGYN in 5 Steps” will help!)

5- How do you feel about cord clamping and skin to skin?

Another important choice to make before birth is what you want to do after birth. You have a couple of options: immediate cord clamping, delayed cord clamping, immediate skin to skin or immediate weighing. I’ll briefly go through each of these options so can have knowledge of each one.

But I highly recommend you talk to your OBGYN or doctor/nurse to find out the standard procedures/process of the hospital you are delivering at. Also, be sure to do research on each option so you can make an informed decision based on what you feel is best for you.

Delayed Cord Clamping

Immediately after birth, your baby will be still attached to the placenta by the umbilical cord. Some hospitals immediately cut the umbilical cord and then place the baby on mama while others automatically wait a couple minutes to cut the cord, which is called delayed cord clamping.

Delayed cord clamping is the prolongation of time between the baby is delivered and the umbilical cord is cut. Delayed cord clamping lets the blood (and iron) to be transferred from the placenta to the baby. Allowing more of the blood to be transferred to the baby has many benefits. Usually delayed cord clamping is when the umbilical cord is cut 3-4 minutes after your baby is delivered.

Skin to Skin

Another choice to make is whether you want your baby to be placed on you immediately after birth, which is called skin to skin. Some doctors automatically take the baby to be weighed and measured and they do several tests to make sure the baby is healthy. One of the great benefits of skin to skin is the immediate bond you get to make with your baby. If all goes well and your delivery is successful with little to complications then you can request immediate skin to skin and the doctors and nurses will immediately give you your baby. (I’m starting to see that is way more common is hospitals to now automatically give the newborn to their mother for immediate skin to skin!)

Be sure to make your decision and share your choices with your doctor so the doctors and nurses know your wishes before going into labor and delivery so they can oblige your requests. I personally chose to delay cord clamping and wanted immediate skin to skin. These 2 things went hand in hand because as soon as my daughter was born she was placed on me, while still attached to the placenta, and then after 4 or 5 minutes my husband cut the umbilical cord and it was then when they took her for 5 minutes to weight, measure and clean her.

Doctors and nurses are really accommodating and want you to have your best experience! So don’t feel bad letting them know what you want!

6- Which pediatrician are you using?

It’s often overlooked because it’s something that you don’t have to worry about right now, but choosing which pediatrician your coming baby will go to is an important decision to make before birth. Most hospitals need the name and information of the pediatrician before they can discharge you’re and your baby. Do some research, ask friends who have smaller children who their doctor is and take recommendations from people you trust.

You can even ask your doctor/OBGYN if they have any recommendations. Some hospitals have doctors in their program or staff that have affiliate practices. You can even visit some pediatrician’s offices and meet the doctors before your baby is born so you can get an accurate feel for the doctor and the office.

>> So there you have it! Those are the 6 important choices to make before birth. Of course, you’re going to have to make a TON of other choices before birth but these 6 questions sum up the importance of certain important decisions you will need to make. Remember, asking yourself questions and making important choices before your baby arrives will help ease the stress and pressure of trying to figure everything out after your baby is here.

Free Checklist of Important Questions to Answer before Birth

Because these are not the ONLY decisions you will have to make, I created an Ultimate Checklist of Important Questions to Ask Before Birth! That way, you can make sure to check off everything you need to have discussed and decided without feeling like you missed anything. I made this list when I was pregnant and it helped me so much with planning and the preparation of my new little addition. So, I wanted to share my ultimate checklist with you so it can help you too! Be sure to download your copy of the checklist below!

Get your free ultimate checklist of important questions to ask before birth Now!

I hope I was able to help you feel more prepared and less stressed with the coming of your new little one!

Want to remember this post?? Save “6 Important Choices to Make Before Birth” to your favorite Pinterest board!

9 Reasons You Should Use a Daily Hourly Planner

Mom Life

Inside: Want to find out the EASIEST way to master you#momlife schedule PLUS track your baby’s activities?? Find out how a daily hourly mom planner can help you organize your time!

Motherhood took me for a ride.

As a new mom, I found it hard to not only just make my own schedule but actually follow it. All of my regular routines got thrown out the window and it left me feeling like a chicken without a head.

On top of making my own schedule, I was trying to start a schedule for my baby too! I had no idea what to do and felt like with each passing day I was being buried by the number of things I needed to not only do but to track.

Then, like an oasis in a desert, I started using an hourly planner.

Using a daily hourly planner can help prevent you from feeling overwhelmed by a million different schedules and things to do.

It can simplify your tracking process and help you plan and track you and your baby’s day simultaneously. Once I figured out that I needed a daily hourly planner for me and my baby I realized that I needed it on ONE sheet, not two.

This daily hourly mom planner is built to help you plan your day and be able to track your baby all in one place 🙂 Make every day, and easy one!

So that’s why I created the Mommy & Me Mini Planner! It’s a daily hourly mom planner and baby tracker combo. Click the download button above to get it for FREE now!

4 Reasons you need a Daily Hourly Mom Planner

Multitask Heaven

A daily hourly mom planner reduces the need for 2 planner sheets

There are 2 things you need to do during your day: 1) plan your tasks and 2) track your baby’s activities.

This means, essentially, you will be needing 2 different planner sheets. Not necessarily!

With a daily hourly mom planner, you can plan your day and also track your baby’s daily activities all in one sheet. You have no idea how much of a headache saver this is!

When I first started tracking my baby’s activities I used a separate sheet of paper and then I had a separate sheet of paper for all of my daily tasks, my “to do” list, my chore list and so on.

When I started using a daily hourly planner it reduced the need for 2 sheets and combined all of my lists and things to do.

To a busy mom, one less sheet of paper is a victory!

Hello Organization, Goodbye Chaos

The best thing about a daily hourly mom planner is that it helps you plan your day.

Using a this type of planner helps you definitely plan your day in-depth and allows you to get everything you need to do in your day done.

One of the most satisfying things you can do after a long, hard day is to be able to check off everything on your to-do list.

I usually take 5 minutes every morning to think about what I need to get done, including what time I have any appointments, what time I have to leave, what time I have to start getting ready, and so on. Then as my day goes along, I pencil in things I need to do bu hour.

It helps me see what I did, and what I still need to do in real-time.

When my daughter was first born I used to just “wing” things. But then I started to see a trend that I would be late to absolutely every place I needed to be. Soooo I started to plan my day by the hour.

If I need to be at the doctor’s office at 1:00 pm then I have to leave the house at 12:00 pm because the office is 45 minutes away and I want to be there 15 minutes early to do paperwork….

So at 11:00 am, I’ll write that I need to start getting the diaper bag ready and make sure my daughter’s clothes are all ready and picked out.

See? Wasn’t that easy??

Not every hour of the day is filled (thank goodness!) but having my day segmented into hours is really helpful.

It helps you track your baby’s day

It’s so important to track your baby’s day, such as what time they ate, how long they napped, and what play activity they did.

These activities you track will begin to form a pattern and schedule for what your baby’s day looks like.

Once you know your baby’s schedule, then you’ll be able to understand their nap schedule, feeding schedule, and so much more!

(If you want to read more about why schedules are so important to check out my post “Why A Schedule For Your Baby is So Important.”)

Tracking your baby’s day can be tedious and can be something that you forget to do. But having it with the daily hourly planner of your personal tasks can help you track your baby’s day so much easier!

You learn to share time with you and your baby in a stress-free way

As a new mom, you realize real quick that your time is not your own anymore.

ALL your time is ALWAYS all about your sweet little baby.

But as you learn your baby’s schedule and become more familiar with being a parent you begin to fall into a rhythm and see that your time can be perfectly shared with your baby.

In fact, when you completely lose yourself and your personal time you can begin to fall into a downward spiral of depression, confusion, stress, and overwhelm.

Related Post: What My Baby’s Daily Schedule Looks Like

Most of the time when you’re having a bad day, the best thing to do is just remember that you need time to sit and take care of yourself. Take an hour to do something you love, whether that means eating a favorite dessert, taking a long bath, reading your favorite book, or going to a walk.

Learning to share time with your baby will help make your days so much more stress-free! The daily hourly planner can help you actually see the time that you are sharing and help you plan and track in an easy way.

It takes the pressure off of “planning and tracking”

I can be the first one to tell you that I was very overwhelmed by the pressure of having to track not only my baby’s day but also plan out my own.

The pressure of having to “plan and track” was ridiculous! But having one place to easily be able to plan the day has really taken the pressure and stress off of me.

The importance of having a plan for the day and the importance of tracking my baby’s day so I didn’t want to stop doing those things- I just simply needed to do it in an easier way.

I know some mothers who are not planners at all. In fact, they hate to plan and make lists and track things. But after showing them this daily hourly planner they began to use it and actually enjoyed using it! I say that’s a victory!

After all, being a mom is all about having the support and advice of others- learning new things and learning from other mother’s mistakes and successes.

And my goal at Mastering Mom Life is to offer you as many resources that I can to make mom life less stressful and more enjoyable!

Also, don’t forget to download your copy of my Mom Hourly Planner!

I created this template as a way to help me stay organized each hour and then tweaked it to be able to help you!

As I mentioned, using a daily hourly planner is SO beneficial and can really help you plan and track the day in an easy way. Trust me, you won’t regret it!

GET MY FREE DAILY HOURLY MOM PLANNER NOW!

Do you need less stress and more organization?

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The Mastering #MomLife 2020 Organizer is 50 pages of planning templates, trackers, and checklists to help you truly feel in control of ALL of your responsibilities.

Keep track of your baby’s naps, feeding, and activities.
Plan your to-do list and important tasks.
Organize your family’s plans.
Meal plan like a boss.
Track your goals.
Focus on your self-care
Keep up with household chores.

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KICK STRESS TO THE CURB NOW!

I hope this post was able to offer you relief from the stress of having to track and plan you and your baby’s day!

Using an hourly planner can help you:

Get organized.
Easily track your little one’s activities.
Learn how to effectively share your time.
Eliminate the pressure of “planning”.
Save time & energy!

Feel free to share how you plan and track your baby’s activities in the comments below.

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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!

Check out these posts too!

5 Mom Life Planning Hacks for a Successful Week

Mom Life

Inside: Are you tired of forgetting to do things and overwhelmed by the day to day mom life? Find out how starting to use a weekly mom planner can help!

Motherhood hit me over the head like a ton of bricks. I found myself loosing track of my days, weeks, and plans.

One day, I sat in my dimly lit kitchen with my face buried into my hands. That afternoon, I had forgotten to meet my husband at his job to go crib mattress shopping. I was going over my plans for the week and was immediately overwhelmed by the sinking feeling of stress.

Have you ever forgot to do something important because you were so busy??

The smartest way to stay on top of your plans and your to-do list is to use a weekly mom planner! (Trust me, I learned this the hard way…)

Using a weekly mom planner can help you keep track of your whole week in ONE place. No more kicking yourself for forgetting to do something or being overwhelmed by your never-ending to-do list.

So, how do we exactly plan our week??

As a mom, you have a TON of things to do!

But planning your week will help you focus on the tasks at hand and prevent the horrible feeling when you’re forgetting to do something. Ready to learn how to plan your week as a mom? Great! Let’s dive in…

How to Plan Your Week

Set aside a time at the beginning/end of each week to think about the next coming week

The most important step to using a weekly planner and starting to plan your week is to actually make time to sit down, clear your head, and write everything down.

Every Sunday night I usually set aside 20 minutes after my daughter goes to sleep. Sunday is the end of my weekly planner and I always start my weekly planner fresh every Monday.

Brainstorm your tasks for the week.

Use this time (the 20 minutes or however long you are allotting to plan the week) to brainstorm everything that needs to be done that week. Including the plans you already have, things you need to get done, and where you need to be.

If you forget things along the way, just add them as you remember! What you want to do is try to remember the things you need to do so you don’t end up in the middle of the week with that dreaded feeling of you forgot to do something.

I always double-check the calendar on my phone too in case I have things written there.

Talk to your spouse/family about their tasks this week.

I really try to make sure my husband sits with me when I plan the week, even if he’s not giving me his full undivided attention. I always make sure to ask him what plans he has and see if they clash or compliment any of the plans that I have.

Planning your week together will take the headache out of the “I had no idea you were planning to do that” argument that is oh so common as parents!

I even recommend putting your weekly planner somewhere that your spouse can see so they are constantly in the “know” of what’s going on. Sometimes if my weekly planner shows a lot of things that my husband and I have to do together I’ll take a picture of the planner and send it to him via email or text.

Write everything down! Print out your weekly planner/weekly planner template.

Now is the fun part- printing your weekly planner and actually filling it in with everything that you brainstormed for the week.

Ways to use the planner

There are a couple of different ways that I use the weekly planner template:

1. Print out a New One Each Week: You can print out a new planner sheet each week and just store them in a binder when you are done with that week. You can throw it away if you like but I found it really useful to keep them so I have a reference to go back to if I need to remember when I did something.

Every month or so I throw out old ones so I’m not adding unnecessary clutter to my house.

2. Print One Out and Laminate It: If you aren’t so keen on using a new weekly planner sheet each week then you can laminate it and use it as a dry erase board. After every month or so you might have to change the sheet and re-laminate it because it can become quite wrinkled and filmy.

3. Print One Out and put it in a Picture Frame: The last (and my favorite way) to use the weekly planner template is to print it out and place it in an 8.5×11 inch frame. Then I use the glass of the frame as a dry erase board. The glass is clear so you can pretend like you’re writing straight on to the planner sheet itself!

You can find a super cheap frame at your local dollar store or you can get a fancy picture frame and use it as décor in the house- so you’re not only being an efficient planner but it’s also pretty to leave out 🙂

The Miracle Weekly Mom Planner

When I was a first-time mom, I didn’t find a weekly mom planner that I loved because none of the planners included a baby tracker.

I was so tired of forgetting to do important weekly tasks that I created my own weekly planner template! The weekly planner is just ONE sheet- that is able to track everything that you need to do for the week. That way you aren’t juggling 7 sheets of paper for the week.

The weekly planner I created that works like magic for me is called the Mommy Weekly Planner. It includes 6 sections: Plans, Menu, Workout, To-Do List, Chores, and Notes. Trust me, it will get you organized and ready for your week within 10 minutes!

PLUS it comes with a built-in baby tracker so you can plan your day and track your baby’s naps, feedings, and activities all in one place!

Get the FREE weekly mom planner now!

Posts about Easily Tracking Baby’s Activities

“Why A Schedule for Your Baby is so Important”

Tracking Your Baby’s Full Feeding Schedule

How to Use the Weekly Planner

I created the weekly planner with 6 sections:

Plans,
Menu,
Workout,
To-Do List,
Chores,
& Notes

Let’s go over each section of the planner and I’ll also give you some examples of how I use it… but feel free to use the weekly planner in the way that works best for you!

Sections of the Planner:

Plans

This is where you will write your plan for each day of the week. For example, if you have a doctor’s appointment at 11:00 am on Thursday, this is where you will write it. You can write out your whole weeks plans right in those boxes!

There is also a circle in the upper left-hand corner of each box in the “Plans” section for you to write the date of the day.

Workout

It’s so important to try to get some sort of exercise in your day! I am SO guilty of not exercising. I don’t even TRY.

But having this section in my weekly planner motivates me to want to fill it in! Sometimes I’ll preplan a time I want to work out and make sure to do it at that time on that day.

Other weeks, I just wing it and exercise when I can. When I do that, I just write in the exercise that I did for that day in the “Workout” section after I finished the exercises.

That way I can look back at my week and remember what kind of exercise I did for how long. And if you do that consistently and are saving your weekly planners, you’ll begin to see progress in your exercises! And maybe even some weight loss 🙂

(I’m still working on my baby weight…)

To-Do List

I love this section of the weekly planner because it breaks down my “to-do list” into what I MUST do, NEED to do, and WANT to do. This helps me focus on the priorities of what I need to get done.

Batching your to-do list into priorities will help you focus on the things you need to do instead of trying to get everything done on your list meanwhile some things weren’t even a priority.

I choose to look at this section as planning my time efficiently.

If I don’t absolutely NEED to do the 10 pieces of clothing in the laundry then I can use that time I was going to do the laundry as some downtime as my baby naps.

Usually what happens is the things on my NEED to-do list becomes things that I MUST do the following week. Using this system really reduces my stress level of trying to get everything done.

Chores

I created a separate section for chores because a lot of the time my chores end up consuming my to-do list. But when I dedicate my to-do list for things that I need to get done besides chores, I become much more efficient.

Having a separate section for chores can help you batch your time and plan what day you are going to do what chore. (As opposed to just having a long list of chores with no exact day you want to have it done by.)

When you put one or two chores in a chore box with a date on that box, it helps you feel like completing that chore is so much more manageable! Sometimes as a mom you just have to take things one day at a time, one hour at a time, one minute at a time!

Notes

This section in the weekly planner is just for you to jot down any notes you have as your week goes along.

Maybe there’s something you couldn’t get done and in the notes section, you make a note that it needs to be done next week. Or maybe you realized that you’re out of an ingredient for a meal that you planned for that week’s menu. Here’s the place to write any notes that you need!

I LOVE having a place to jot things down because odds are that if I don’t write it down then I won’t remember it!

Don’t forget!

Be sure to grab your copy of the Mom Weekly Planner! I also created a whole 15 page FREE Mom Planner that has the Mommy Weekly Planner in it!

Get it now!!

And there you have it!

Being a mom can be overwhelming but finding ways to reduce stress, such as planning your week, can help you in such a great way.

I hope I was able to equip you to be able to plan your week easily and efficiently!

Say bye-bye to that sinking feeling of stress and overwhelm!

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

Baby Routines, Pregnancy Life

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!

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

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)

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.

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

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!

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

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!

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!

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!

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.

Family Travel (old)

The Importance of Having a Baby Nap Routine

1. Teach Your Baby to Nap During the Day

2. Consistent Naps

3. Help Solve Your Baby’s Nap Problems

4. Fall Asleep Better at Night

5. Baby Sleep Longer Through the Night

The Goal of a Nap Routine

Patience, Patience, Patience

Download My Sample Nap Routine!

Wait! Do you love free printables??

6 Important Choices to Make Before Your Baby Arrives

1- Will I breastfeed or formula feed?

2- Will baby sleep in a crib or bassinet? In your room or another room?

3- Is mom returning to work?

4- Where are you delivering?

5- How do you feel about cord clamping and skin to skin?

Delayed Cord Clamping

Skin to Skin

6- Which pediatrician are you using?

Free Checklist of Important Questions to Answer before Birth

Get your free ultimate checklist of important questions to ask before birth Now!

4 Reasons you need a Daily Hourly Mom Planner

Multitask Heaven

Hello Organization, Goodbye Chaos

It helps you track your baby’s day

You learn to share time with you and your baby in a stress-free way

It takes the pressure off of “planning and tracking”

GET MY FREE DAILY HOURLY MOM PLANNER NOW!

Do you need less stress and more organization?

Keep track of your baby’s naps, feeding, and activities.

Plan your to-do list and important tasks.

Organize your family’s plans.

Meal plan like a boss.

Track your goals.

Focus on your self-care

Keep up with household chores.

Here’s a glimpse of all that you get in the Full Planner!

Wait! Do you love free printables??

Check out these posts too!

How to Plan Your Week

Ways to use the planner

The Miracle Weekly Mom Planner

Posts about Easily Tracking Baby’s Activities

How to Use the Weekly Planner

Sections of the Planner:

Plans

Menu

Workout

To-Do List

Chores

Notes

Don’t forget!

Wait! Do you love free printables??

The Ultimate List of Necessary Baby Furniture!

Crib

Crib Mattress

Bassinet

Changing Table

Pack and Play with changing pad and sleeper

Swing/Rocker

Glider

High Chair

Dresser/Storage Area

Get my FREE Necessary Baby Furniture Worksheet Now!