Studies have shown that even with a hard-working and dedicated father, moms take on the bulk of childcare responsibilities. Whether this is through necessity such as breastfeeding or through personal preference, you hardworking moms deserve a break. The trick is finding time for one.

If you’re struggling to find time for yourself, you need to comb through your day and schedule to locate any missed opportunities. If there aren’t any opportunities you’ve missed, you simply need to create one.

Move Bedtime Earlier
The end of the day is rough on little ones as it is, but when you keep them up past when they should be in bed, their moods get sour fast. Instead of keeping baby up late in the evening to enjoy his company, put him to bed early –as early as six o’clock, and not only will you now have evenings to yourself, you’ll also have a happier and well rested baby to spend time with in the mornings and after work.

Take a Lunch Break
For mothers who work outside of the home, there is a temptation to work through lunch or to use that time to run errands. Instead, you should make this time your own for something you enjoy doing. Take a class during your lunch hour or use the time to walk around the local shops. Even heading to your car for a nap might be just what you need to refresh yourself.

Use Your Babysitters
While a husband isn’t a babysitter, you should take him up on his offer to watch the kids while you do whatever you’d like to do. Even if you’d prefer to be with your children, allow your mother to come and help you for the afternoon. Just having an extra pair of hands can lighten the load of motherhood considerably.

As a second timer, I thought I’d write a little something to help new mothers pack wisely to the hospital.

Here’s the short list

For you:

Labor and after:

• Pillow (in a printed pillowcase so it doesn’t get mixed up with the hospital’s)
• Sucking candy or lollipops
• Hairbrush, rubber band, barrettes or hair band
• Cell phone, charger and phone card (for long distance calls)
• Lip Moisturizer
• Baby Book- give it to the nurses to keep, so they’ll stamp the baby’s prints in there when they do the birth certificate.

After Labor:

• A little bit of make-up
• Travel sized and pleasant smelling shampoo, conditioner and lotion.
• Travel sized toothbrush and toothpaste
• Razor
• 2 pairs of plain roomy underwear (leave your Victoria’s Secret Bikinis at home)
• 1 pair of supporting underwear to wear over your undies, to begin reshaping and supporting your belly.
• Nursing bra, nipple cream, breast shells, ultra soft nursing pads
• Socks and slippers
• Comfortable clothes and shoes to go home in
• Plastic (shopping) bags to sort and store dirty laundry and other stuff

For your partner:

• Camera
• Snacks
• Couple of bottles of water
• Chewing gum
• Tylenol (or other pain reliever)

For the Baby:

• Car Seat
• Baby outfit, hat, scratch mittens, season appropriate blanket, and a bundler if it is cold.

Other things to consider:

• If you are have other kids, I hear it’s good to bring along some present for your older children (as if from the new baby) so they’ll have pleasant associations.

• Don’t bring entertainment- if you have a chance- rest, during and after labor. Basically rest and sleep every chance you get.

• If you plan to continue breastfeeding, bring your pump so they can show you how to properly use it in the hospital, but don’t expect to have great milk supply during the first couple of days.

• Don’t bring too much of your own clothing for the hospital, at most bring a top robe. It might all get soiled, and you also want to provide easy access for doctors and nurses to check you out. Hospital gowns should do.

• Same goes for pads- use hospital pads, they are bulky, but they are the only thing that will do the trick for you during the first 5-10 days.

Hope this helps. Good luck and enjoy your achievement!

Moms are constantly on the go, and that often means meals are grabbed through drive-thrus or simply not eaten at all. Energy comes from caffeine and sugar, and the crash that inevitably follows is handled with another round of the same treatment. What every mom needs to remember is that nutrition isn’t just important when it comes to her children – her nutrition is essential for keeping the entire family at prime operating condition.

Water, Water, and More Water

The number one item missing from the diets of many mothers is water. Coffee and soda do not contain the kind of pure water your body craves to run at optimal condition. Lack of water can spur headaches, fatigue and actually make you feel ill. So grab a big bottle of water and carry it with you. Opt for water or other caffeine and sugar free drinks when eating out, and you may be surprised at the amount of energy you have without your daily lattes and giant cup of soda.

Snacks

Most adults should be eating every two to three hours. Meals, of course, are at regular times, but in-between meals, healthy snacks help keep your metabolism burning and regulate your energy levels. Grab some of the new portion controlled snack pouches, fresh fruit and snack bars to take with you. Raisins, whole grain crackers, and granola bars can stay in your glove box and bag for easy retrieval when the urge to snack appears. And don’t be afraid to grab a few diet program snack bars as these often contain extra vitamins but taste great.

Meals on the Go

When you’re on the road and ready to eat, you have two options. Many fast-food restaurants now offer healthier alternatives, but moms know that you can’t eat a salad while driving. So, you can order that salad on your way to pick up a child, and then take some time to sit and enjoy it in the parking lot rather than the highway. Or, you can pack your own lunch in a small cooler to take with you on the road. With that option, you’re munching on a healthy ham sandwich while you drive car-pool rather than a greasy burger.

Supplements

Finally, every mom should be taking a daily vitamin – especially mothers who are breastfeeding. No matter how much you plan and attempt to get all of your nutrients from food, which is ideal, you should take a vitamin to cover any gaps you might have in your daily diet.

Everyone likes to look good, but many moms find themselves last on the list for personal attention and grooming. All hope is not lost for frantic mothers, however. A few quick beauty fixes might be just what you need to boost your spirits and feel great about yourself.

Wash and Wear Wardrobe

The first thing to tackle is your wardrobe. Assemble a new Mommy wardrobe that is quick and easy – in all ways. Skip the dry cleaning and find items that easily mix and match, but are stylish. You can’t go wrong with jeans and a cute top. Throw on a sweater or fitted jacket and you instantly look stylish. Alternate your jeans with khaki pants and ditch the athletic sneakers in favor of some trendy flats that are just as comfortable, but much more stylish. Save gym clothes for the gym.

Easy Hair

Find a hairstyle that is stylish, but easy to manage. It may be that you just cut bangs to dress up your constant ponytail, but consult with your stylist to find something that you can wash, style and wear in less time than it takes for a bottle to warm. If you have especially stubborn hair, design a style that can be done at night after the kids are in bed. Then, simply refresh the look in the morning and you’re good to go.

Tone Down Make-up

Today’s mothers are in luck. Minimalist make-up is very fashionable, and cosmetic companies are offering combination kits that make things even easier. Grab a light foundation and coordinating powder. Use a bit of brightener on the insides of your eyes and your cheekbones. Swipe on blush, apply dark brown or black mascara and you’re ready to go. Your lip gloss doesn’t require liner, and it travels easily in your bag to be applied after you kiss your kids good-bye.

Stand Up Straight and Smile

Standing up straight can take off ten pounds in a heartbeat and make you feel more confident. It’s amazing how many opportunities mothers have to slouch with all the babies and gear they carry. When you realize you’re slouching, draw yourself up like a puppet on a string and take a few deep breaths. Then smile to show the world how much you love your busy life, and you can also benefit from the way that smile brightens your face.

Hello Everyone, 

It’s been a long time since I’ve wanted to start writing about my parenting experiences and gather advice and parental knowledge from anyone who is willing to share. My name is Amy. My husband Seth and I have been married for almost three years. I am a 26-year-old stay-at-home mom to our one-year-and-nine-month-old son Elijah. We both love him to death and treasure every moment we get to spend with him. 

My husband is a workaholic entrepreneur, who wants to conquer the business world before he gets too old and runs out of energy. I am a licensed Physical Therapist. However, since Elijah was born, I’ve been staying at home. To make sure that I do not become bored to death, my husband suggested that we open some sort of a business that I can do from home. So he put my Photoshop and designer skills to use, and I work from home as a Graphics Designer. My passion and Full time job remains being a mother to my wonderful little boy. 

What had prompted me to begin writing was the fact that last week Seth and I found out that we are expecting our second child. It wasn’t a surprise, since we’ve been planning to conceive, but it was pleasant news, nonetheless. So this time around, I figured I’ll share with the “world” my experiences, in hope to gather some advice from other parents who’ve “been there, done that.” It seems to me that with my son approaching “the terrible two’s” I will be in need of all advice I can get. 

Thank you all and I will speak to you soon. 

Regards, 

Amy

Any woman who’s become a mother has daydreamed at least once of trying motherhood out in the celebrity style. How much easier would it be to lose those stubborn pounds if you had a personal trainer and dietician standing by?

The thought of a nanny or “manny” standing by to relieve you of a fussy baby is a dream, and how do celebrity moms always manage to look so pulled together while you barely manage to find a semi-clean pair of sweats to wear every day? Celebrity style mothering has its perks, but definitely has some drawbacks, too.

We all need to maintain a healthy diet and get plenty of exercise. In fact, one of the most critical times for good nutrition and a healthy amount of exercise is immediately following delivery. Your body is trying to get itself back to something resembling normal, and you may be nursing and need to provide the best for your baby.

Celebrity moms have it a bit easier than the rest of us on the diet front. They are able to afford personal trainers and nutritionists to help whip them back into shape. It’s always inspiring to hear how hard a particular celebrity is working to lose the weight they gained, and it does make us a little less jealous to hear of three hour work outs and highly restricted diets when we see how great a new mom looks on the red carpet.

Not only do celebrity moms need hours in the gym to recover as quickly as they do, they need childcare while they work out. The daycare down the street simply won’t do for a high profile baby, so nannies and the male version, mannies, are probably more a necessity than a luxury. Most of these celebs are famous for a reason, and to maintain their careers, they must work like the rest of us. Their childcare options are just slimmer than ours.

Of course, as much as we want to lose the weight and get back into tip-top shape, nobody is forcing us to. It doesn’t matter too much if you wander down the street in your pajama pants, but if our favorite celeb made that fashion choice, the world would know almost instantly. Pictures taken in your house probably lean toward a slightly younger (and possibly cuter) subject matter, and millions of people aren’t shocked or amazed by how much weight you gained or lost.

Your battle is more personal not with the paparazzi, which means you may have to fight it on a more personal level. Just be grateful you’re not recovering in the public’s eye.

The world is full of mothers and not all of them fit the stereotypical role model. Sure there are still plenty of June Cleavers out in the world with minivans and pearls, but plenty of nontraditional mothers are stepping up and getting the job done as well.

Most individuals with children will agree that nurturing and raising a child is one of the most challenging and rewarding things you can do. Nothing is predictable and everything can, and does, change in an instant. Mothers are generally considered to be the all-knowing and all-powerful being in a household with the power to assign a timeout and magically heal boo-boos with a kiss at the same time.

Babies who are born weighing under approximately 3 pounds tend to have developmental delays. A study published in the May issue of “Pediatrics” found that babies who have a very low birth weight showed stronger cognitive development when their mothers were highly responsive to their needs during infancy. Being responsive has benefits for babies of all birth weights, explains Karen Smith, one of the authors of the study. She suggests that parents respond promptly and in a warm and sensitive manner when Baby offers cues such as crying or fussing. It’s also important to pay attention to what your baby is interested in and help him explore that for as long as he is able or interested. For example, if he’s playing with blocks, talk about them with him. Say things like, “This block is blue,” or “See how we can pile them up?” Avoid redirecting his attention to another toy until he loses interest on his own.

It’s a well known fact that getting baby to sleep through the night is a common challenge for parents. I came across a recent study, which indicates that the more time you spend holding or cuddling up with your little one the more helpful it may be. Researchers looked at several groups of parents and how much time they spent holding their child and whether or not they slept with baby. The fact that parents did or did not sleep with their baby was not very instrumental and seemed not to affect baby’s sleep, however the baby did benefit from lots of physical contact. “I would recommend that parents give their infants a lot of physical contact during the day, not only when the infant is crying, but also when the infant is content and awake,” says Marissa Alvarez, one of the study’s authors. “At the same time, I would remind them that even babies who are being held and well cared for have periods when they cry and cannot be consoled.”

Toddlers are tricky business. Just when you think you’ve got them figured out, something changes. He will only eat carrots on Monday, but by Tuesday seem to think carrots are lethal. She is willing to let you pick out an adorable outfit, but must pair it with rain boots and a tiara. These quirks are small in the grand scheme of toddlerhood. Some things present far greater challenges and can cause tremendous amounts of strain in a household. Potty training is high on the list, but the number one fear factor of toddler parents is bringing home a new family member.

Bringing Home Baby

From the moment a mother discovers she is expecting a second bundle of joy, her thoughts spend a great deal of time dwelling on the dreaded sibling rivalry. How will her precious first born ever adapt to the intrusion? Will there ever be love in and amongst the squabbles? Will the young family survive? While some form of sibling rivalry is to be expected with the arrival of a second baby, there are ways to help your toddler adjust with little or no damage.

Make the Toddler Special

The moment the new baby arrives, as hard as we try, the toddler in the family seems to suddenly be shoved out of the spotlight. If we are able to let the light shine awhile longer, little boys and girls will be less likely to throw tantrums or accidentally hit their new brother. Every time the new baby gets a gift, offer a gift to your toddler.

The gifts can be fun, yet practical such as a Minimink Fur Hat or B/G Merino Wool blankets by ducduc. Another solution would be to offer something truly special, such as a toy piano. These gifts not only intrigue the older child, but can offer some welcome distraction from the overwhelming amount of baby admiring going on in the house these days.

Build Up a Toddler Reputation

Being a big brother or sister is a very important role. It is crucial to play this up for your reluctant young hero. Big boys and girls get to do so much more than babies. Babies just lie around all day; they certainly can’t do fun things with Mom like make cookies or build a fort. Baby jewelry, such as the “Big Sis” and “Lil Sis” bracelets make it easy to celebrate the difference between the big girls and babies in your household.