Double Down - Mom "Hack"

I've been doing this Mom-Thang for over 20 years.  

Every parent stashes a few survival tricks up their sleeve.  With the internet and great wide web world, we can now share our moments of genius with more than just our playgroup friends.

Occassionally, I've shared one of my most enlightened ideas with a few friends or family on Facebook or even at a baby shower.  Usually it is well received.  So I just decided to share this tip on my blogs today.

Sleep is sacred in our home.  From the day we brought home our first little one, we longed for every precious second of sleep we could squeeze from each precious night.  However, we quickly discovered that the nighttime hours hold numerous, unexpected, mysterious challenges for parents.

Frankly?

Poop,

Pee,

&

Puke

just happen!

Waking in the middle of the night faced with the task of not only calming a child and meeting their nighttime needs while simultaneously juggling dirty bedding and remaking a bed to achieve a clean and dry sleeping area created an exhausting adrenaline rush. 

Call me lazy!  

There had to be a better way!

I had discovered the wonders of Waterproof Mattress Pads!  These were amazing for preventing damage to our mattress, but there had to be a way to maximize their powers for good...

DOUBLE DOWN

Materials needed:

2 sheet sets

2 waterproof mattress pads

(These are the minimun required.  You could increase the quantity, dependent on your needs.)

1.  Place a waterproof mattress pad on the bed.  

2.  Make the bed with the first sheet set; however, do not place the pillowcases on the pillows.

3.  Lay the pillowcases flat at the head of the bed.

4.  Cover the sheets with the second waterproof mattress pad.

5.  Make the bed with the second set of sheets.

Tah-dah!

That's it!

Now, when the next middle of the night crisis happens, you just slip off the first layer of sheets and toss them into the washing machine.  Underneath is a freshly made bed!  Slip your little one back under the covers and dive into your own bed as quickly as possible.

I will admit that there have been nights when the next step, after round two or three, was to toss out a sleeping bag until sheets and bedding were clean and dry.  Most times, having at least that extra layer was enough to calm and comfort a child back to sleep.  A whole lot less stressful on them and me!  

As my college girl has discovered, this family trick has also worked well in her storage challenged, microscopic dorm room.  Her roommate throught she was a little crazy on that first day but has later agreed that it works really well.

Even in our large family's home, it saves a tons of linen closet storage space to store extra sets of sheets on the beds.