Step One: Lay the blanket flat and fold one corner, creating a straight edge.

Step Two: Place the baby with his head above the folded edge.

Step Three: Bring baby’s right arm down and cross the right side of the blanket over his body. Tuck in the blanket under baby’s back. (If you have a wiggly one who prefers to have arms free, just cross the blanket under the baby’s armpit.)

Step Four: Fold the bottom corner of the blanket up.

Step Five: Cross the left side of the blanket over baby’s body

(with baby’s left arm at his side or with the blanket under his right armpit.)

Step Six: Tuck in the blanket under his body.

Step Seven: Snuggle your baby!

Remember- swaddling is not about keeping the baby immobile. You don’t want to end up with a baby straight jacket, but a soft place where they can feel secure.

Make sure you leave room for the baby to move his legs. Swaddling an infant with his legs in an extended position increases the risk of hip dysplasia, the instability of loose joints that can result in dislocation. The International Hip Dysplasia Institute recommends the hips and knees be slightly flexed when swaddling, and leave some space for free movement.

Special thanks to our baby model Sam Palmer, and his parents, Baby Bump readers Nick and Savannah of Richmond.

• Hand out envelopes to your guests to address to themselves and leave in a cute basket before they leave. This makes mailing thank-you notes much easier.

•  Have a secretary. When opening gifts ask a friend to sit beside you with a notepad. She can write down a brief description of each gift and who gave it, for thank you notes.

•  Hold a “Diaper Raffle.” Guests “buy” raffle tickets by bringing a pack of diapers. Have a nice prize for this event, the diapers you get will be worth it!

•  Disposable cameras aren’t just fun for wedding receptions. Have one at each table and ask guests to play photographer.

•  Have a potluck. Ask friends to bring an appetizer or dessert to cut down on the cost and work for you. Even your culinary-challenged friends can bring drinks, or paper plates and cups.

•  Stick to foods that are easy to snack on while you mingle.

•  Cupcakes instead of one big cake are easier to eat and decorate. “Centerpieces” can be made from toothpicks and stickers, squishy candies, scrapbooking decorations, or plenty of items found at a dollar store.

•  If you are doing gifts for game winners, have a few extra on hand in case of a tie.

•  Consider games where you can play throughout the shower instead of declaring a “Game Time” and getting everyone’s attention.

•  Name tags! Especially if you have a demographically diverse guest list.

• Have a cute notebook circulating for guests to write a note to the baby. When your baby is older you can give her the book to see how loved she was before she was even born!

Save and print our baby shower coupon below if you are looking for an inexpensive, unique shower gift! You can fill in your name and what gift you are giving the new mom- a night of babysitting, a home cooked meal, a day of house cleaning, or maybe five loads of laundry. Any new mom will appreciate the help of her friends.

Our fan page offers readers the chance to win great prizes, read the latest headlines from our web site, answer the call for reader reviews and be informed about pregnancy and maternity news of all kinds.

Become a fan of our Facebook page now!

Some upcoming prizes include a gift card from Baby’s Room and Kids Too!, Rock’n'Roll Lullabye cd’s, and classic Sandra Boynton books. So hit that “Like” button and get involved!

These are my top picks for Mother’s Day gifts for a mom who is still housing her baby come May 13.

• “Mom” jewelry. Much nicer than a future tattoo on your child’s bicep. I still wear the “Mommy” necklace I got at the hospital. Blinged out or simple and sleek, you can find “Mom” necklaces or bracelets at any jewelry store this month.
• House cleaning gift card. Bonus points if this one doesn’t have an expiration date.
• A prenatal massage. A massage is a great gift for mothers at all times, but some relief from pregnancy aches and pains will be much appreciated.
• A body pillow. Special body pillows contour to the shape of a pregnant woman sleeping on her side. Even if you don’t think she needs it now, she will.
• A pretty maternity or nursing top. Yes, they do exist. Go to your local maternity store and find something that suits her pre-pregnancy style.
• A decaf gift basket. If your pregnant lady was a coffee addict, make a cute basket full of decaffeinated coffees and teas. (And a “World’s Best Mommy” mug wouldn’t hurt.)
• A fancy date night. You will spend plenty of time in family-friendly restaurants for the next decade of Mother’s Days. Take her somewhere nice where you can cherish the remaining time you have as a free couple.

Whatever you end up buying, try to avoid baby gear. This day is about celebrating mom. The baby will get plenty of gifts over the next few months, so let this day focus on the woman who is carrying your precious little one and what she means to you.

Register to win a $25 Gift Certificate from Baby’s Room & Kids Too!

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starla bradshaw

Amy Welch

Nikki Hansen

Amanda Marksbury

Tiffany Roland

Brenna MacMillan

Madison Smith

Kristin

Michael Jackson

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lindsay

School:  Sayre School
Grade: 12th
Sport: Basketball, soccer
Academics: Madison is a National Art Honor Society member, editor of the school yearbook and has a 3.5 GPA.
Parents: Beth & Sam

Don’t blame Sayre School senior Madison Mitchell for making Tennessee her college choice – it had nothing to do with athletics.

A 1,000-point scorer and MVP of the Sayre basketball and soccer teams, Madison roots for UK and could have played in college.

But her choice had everything to do with Tennessee’s excellent art and design programs.

Madison, 18, carries a 3.5 GPA, has taken two AP classes and is a member of the National Honor Society. More importantly to her, she is also a member of the National Art Honor Society.

“I really like the art teachers at Sayre,” said Madison, who has taken painting, drawing and 3-D art classes and plans to study interior design at Tennessee.

“I’m jealous of their art program at Sayre,” said Madison’s mother Beth, who has worked as an interior designer. “They do neat things there.”

Madison’s street scene painting was displayed at the New Editions Gallery in Lexington, and her favorite piece was a 6-foot fork sculpture with papier-mache pasta wrapped around it.

She also worked with clay and made jewelry at Sayre and plans to load up at Tennessee with art classes.

She’ll do well in academics, too. Madison is an avid reader – school favorites are “The Great Gatsby” and “All the King’s Men,” and she has whipped through “The Hunger Games” trilogy.

She has combined her verbal and design skills as the editor of the Sayre yearbook.

“I’m excited about our design theme, which is to make the yearbook look like a brochure you see on a hiking trail,” she said.

And every night, Madison beats a trail to her schoolwork with no prompting from her parents.

“She works hard and has learned to use her time wisely,” her mother said.

Along with her busy sports, academic and yearbook schedule, Madison serves on the school’s Title IX committee to make sure equity exists between boys and girls sports at Sayre.

Of course, Madison worked to eliminate equity on the soccer field and basketball court, doing her best to dominate the opposition.

In soccer, she was the team MVP last season, and was a team captain and an all-district selection as a junior and senior.

In basketball, she was a four-year starter and scored more than 1,200 points. No. 1,000 came in a victory over West Jessamine.

She also was team captain the past two seasons, an All-City second-team selection and has been invited to try out for the state all-star team.

“She is very competitive and determined,” her mother Beth said. “She takes control and encourages her teammates.”

Sounds like an ideal scholar-athlete.