yes...this is certainly not a new practice, but it seems to be more commonplace and widespread now.
Just read some of the mommy bloggers.
In the sixties, for me, Mommy time was a cup of tea and Time magazine while they took their afternoon nap.
My daughter seemed to always be asleep - I worked when she was small so I wanted her awake as much as possible. I quit working when I had my son and he NEVER slept.....;^)