While many sleep experts encourage parents to teach their babies to fall asleep independently, contact napping is a practice widely used around the world by new moms as a way to soothe and comfort their little ones, promote healthy sleeping habits and build strong parent-child bonds. After spending nine months in mommy’s warm, cozy and safe belly, babies often find it difficult to adjust to life outside the womb and may need extra comfort during daytime naps.

What age is the hardest to parent?

In addition to promoting a sense of security, research shows that babies who are held while they benefits of contact napping have better overall health outcomes than those who are put down in a crib. These include improved digestion, lower risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and stronger immune systems. Newborns also struggle to regulate their body temperature, and their parent’s skin to skin contact helps them stay warm during a nap.

However, accidental nodding off during a contact nap is a risk for both baby and caregiver. In fact, a 2022 study found that 36% to 66% of all neonatal falls in hospitals involved a caregiver nodding off while holding their baby! To avoid this, enlisting another adult to keep watch is an important step for new moms who choose to contact nap during the daytime.

If you’re able to safely contact nap with your baby and it works for your family, go for it! But if you aren’t able to successfully contact nap, or want to try and work towards it further down the road, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that either.

Tea blends allow you to explore the fascinating universe of tea leaves, fruits, herbs, and spices in combinations that entice the palate with intense flavor nuances. Creating your own herbal blend is a fun craft that any tea lover can do at home. We spoke to two tea experts, one the founder of a specialty tea company and another a chef with tea-blending bona fides, for some tips on how to make your own flavorful tea blends.Check this out:https://teastory.blog/

Seasonal Flavorful Tea Blends You Need to Taste

Nicolaus Balla, the owner of COAST Big Sur in California, recommends starting with the purpose of your tea. For example, if you’re creating an immune-boosting tea, consider ingredients with antimicrobial properties like licorice root, echinacea, and elderflowers. Or, if you’re creating a tea that helps to reduce anxiety, try lavender, lemon balm, chamomile, and valerian root. Next, consider any “supporting” ingredients that add a complementary effect or flavor. This could include herbal berries and flowers like rose petals, cinnamon bark, or hibiscus. Culinary herbs like thyme, oregano, and dill are also great options to help add a bit of flavor to your tea blends.

Once you have your core ingredients, consider a “final ingredient.” A cooling herb is ideal to add to any tea blend, especially for summer iced tea. This may be as simple as mint, or as complex as borage.

Once your tea blend is complete, store it in a dry, airtight container until ready to use. It’s important to avoid mixing any wet or damp ingredients in your tea blend, as this can lead to mold and bacteria.

A great home staging services company knows how to capture buyers’ hearts for a successful, top-dollar sale. Staging companies all over the country and the world are masters of the fine art of photography, understand the latest design trends, and know exactly how to arrange furniture and decor to make homes look their absolute best.

Most real estate professionals believe strongly in the value of staging a property before listing or beginning marketing efforts. Many will offer recommendations for how a homeowner can stage their own home, or even work hands-on in the staging process with a client. Some stagers specialize in particular markets, including luxury homes or vacant homes.

Portable Perfection: The Power of Professional Staging Services

When selecting a home staging company, ask to see examples of their work. Look for the same style of furnishings throughout the photos, as well as a clear sense of layout and flow. Then, find out how long they’ve been in the business and whether or not they have experience staging homes within your market or price range.

Some homeowners may choose to perform the staging themselves or to work with a staging company that offers furniture rentals to help people stage their homes without spending much money upfront. However, the cost of staging can be significant. If you decide to go with a full-service staging company, be sure to get quotes for each room and the total project before making your decision. Also, be sure to ask about any additional costs, such as a charge for carrying furniture up or down stairs in a two-story house.