Welcoming a new baby brings excitement, uncertainty, and so many other emotions, especially if it’s your first baby! New parents often find themselves preparing in a number of different ways before welcoming their first child.
They often need to begin by adjusting to the idea of being a parent, which can be accomplished by reading the endless supply of baby books that exist or receiving advice from their own parents, friends, or even in-laws.
Then there are considerations regarding space, where will the baby sleep? Where will all this new stuff that the baby needs go? Soon-to-be parents may be considering long-term financial planning to create stability. All that to say, there are so many things to think about. Here we review a couple of practical considerations for welcoming a new baby into your home.
1 – Diapers, Diapers, Diapers
There’s really no way to prepare a new parent for the amount of time that you’ll spend changing your new precious child’s diaper in the first few months. However, once that reality starts to sink in, those of you who stock up on quality diapers before bringing home your little one will be grateful that you did!
There’s a wide variety of diapers out there, but given the number you’ll be going through daily, I recommend that parents use eco friendly diapers that are gentle on both your baby’s skin and the environment. Once you’re ready to venture out into the world with your baby, you’ll need to be able to bring diapers and a full changing station with you everywhere you go.
Finding the right diaper bag doesn’t have to be a challenge! There are bags out there that balance being comfortable and roomy while being cute and stylish. The important message here is to stock up on (maybe even subscribe to a regular delivery of) eco-friendly diapers and pre-select the diaper bag that will hold everything you need in one place before your new child arrives.
2 – “Clean” Cleaning
Cleaning may feel like even more of a chore when you initially bring home your baby and settle into being a parent. This makes it all the more important when you find time to clean the growing number of messes (clothes, bottles, and swaddles, oh my!). After all, you’re using products that you can trust to clean your home deeply and protect against bacteria and viruses.
Eventually, your little one will start to explore your home and, well, put things in their mouth. It is at these moments that having plant- and mineral-based cleaning products is most important. Reduce the risk of your baby ingesting or wearing toxic chemical residues by cleaning the home and washing your baby’s clothes with cleaning supplies you can trust.
3 – Home Organization
One of the enjoyable parts of preparing to welcome a new baby is shopping for adorable and tiny baby outfits. All the baby clothes, swaddles, toys, and other baby-related products will need to go somewhere and can easily contribute to a feeling of messiness if you don’t have an organization method in place.
Finding ways to organize your home will help tremendously, and finding ways to organize your baby’s closet and drawers will be even better. Using small baskets or containers can help keep similar items together, which will help you if you need to grab a new bib or change clothes in a hurry!
Final Thoughts
All in all, preparing for a baby can feel overwhelming, but it can also be a beautiful and exciting time. By taking some steps to prepare your home you’ll be able to enjoy the first days and weeks of bringing home your baby more, rather than having to spend time picking up diapers, worrying about the chemicals in your cleaning supplies, and rifling through piles to find clean baby clothes.
