Baby, it’s cold outside and when you’re stuck inside your home with your baby, you’re both sure to get a case of cabin fever! But you can turn that around and create a totally enjoyable time indoors with your baby, using our 5 tips:

1. Build a fire.

If you’re lucky enough to have a fireplace in your home, you really should take advantage of it and build fires during the day and night! If you don’t know how to build one, now’s the time to learn because a fire is the perfect way to create a toasty atmosphere. Its smell, warmth, and the time you spend cozying up to it with your baby will become memories you will look back on and totally cherish.

Wiki How to Build a Fire in a Fireplace

2. Bake or cook something together.

Even if your baby is just laying in her lounger near you in the kitchen, making something fills your home with the smells of the season and adds to the atmosphere you’re creating. If you’re baking, think cinnamon buns or coffee cake. If you’re not a baker and prefer to cook, think stew or beef bourguignon — yummmmy!

Here are some recipes we found that are perfect for a wintry day:

10 Recipes for Cozy Winter Baking

Simply Recipes: Julia Child

3. Stay in your pj’s all day!

When was the last time you got to do that? You’re creating a mood and comfy jammies are another way to achieve that. Just think: between the warm fire, the yummy smells coming from your kitchen, and the cozy feel of your pajamas and slippers…you’ll actually start to hope for more snow days at home with your baby! On the other hand, if you’re sick of being in your pj’s day after day, get showered and totally dressed! That’s sure to cure your cabin fever a little bit.

4. Read more, play more!

When you’re stuck inside, reading more to your baby and playing more with her becomes a treat for you both. Set aside some time before each of her scheduled naps and read and play by the fire!

Read up on our Storytime and Baby Playtime Activities  posts.

Storytimeplaytime activities art

5. Organize something.

If you’re feeling the need to be productive, this is the perfect time for organizing your baby’s clothes or nursery. Put away what doesn’t fit her anymore and pull out the sizes that do. Make a list of what you need to buy. Get the changing table reset. Or organize your own purse, a junk drawer, or your closet!

Here are our Nursery Organization Must-Haves and Changing Table Essentials posts to help you get started.

nursery-must-haves1 (1)changing-table-r050414

Then again, you could choose not to organize anything and not to feel guilty about it!