Having a child is a major life change that requires a lot of preparation. There are numerous preparations and circumstances for which you must prepare. It’s also a great period that you’ll want to remember for the rest of your life. There is so much to do that it can feel overwhelming, but you will have a lot of aid and support from family and friends, so make use of it.
Getting the Nursery Ready
We often spend more time worrying about the nursery’s design and furnishings than we do on making sure it’s equipped with the necessities to make your life (and your baby’s) easier! Try to get everything set up and ready to go at least 6 weeks before your due date.
Babies have a knack for surprising us when we least expect it, so don’t put off doing this until the last minute or rely on family and friends to do it for you while you’re in the hospital!
Getting a bassinet or crib for your baby as soon as possible is an excellent idea. You don’t want to deal with the inconvenience of scheduling a delivery while you have a baby at home, even if you won’t need it right away.
Another great addition to the nursery is a rocking chair. Make sure it’s comfortable because you’ll be spending a lot of time in it as a parent. Set up a side table while you’re feeding your baby to keep essentials like burp rags within reach.
For us, we have chosen to use a pink rolling cart to keep all of our daily baby essentials on. Having a rolling cart allows you to roll it all over the house no matter what room you are in.
If you have enough space, don’t forget a changing station. A changing station is an excellent addition that will make diaper changes easier. To modify your baby’s room as he or she grows, you can use a standard dresser with a changing table top. Make sure you always have nappies, wipes, rash cream, and a change of clothes on hand near the changing station in case of an emergency.
Getting the Rest of Your Home Ready
Make any necessary changes to the remainder of your home while keeping it clean. Check for mold and dust in locations where your baby might be. They are brand new to the world, thus such things might have a significant impact on them.
To make it easier, tackle one area at a time, and enlist the support of family and your partner to avoid overworking yourself. It is critical to maintain a clean and safe environment in your house.
Although your new bundle of joy won’t be crawling around yet, you might consider babyproofing your home by covering plug sockets, putting bumpers to corners, and ensuring sure there are no easily accessible wires.
If you have ever scrolled Pinterest for preparing for a baby, one type of pin that you may see a lot encourages new parents to make a major shopping trip for household essentials ahead of time.
This included paper towels, toilet paper, laundry detergent, dish soap, hand soap, and other household essentials should all be available. Stock up on hand sanitizer as well – everyone will want to hold that new baby, so having some on hand in your common areas is a good idea.
Additionally, you will want to examine all of your over-the-counter medications to ensure you have enough pain relievers, cough/cold remedies, bandaids, and other essentials. To avoid having to rush to the pharmacy, talk to your doctor about getting an extra month’s supply of any prescriptions.
Lastly, clean your carpets and rugs with care. Many expecting mothers overlook this because they don’t realize how much time they (and their baby) will spend on the floor.
These low-key activities will put you up close and personal with your carpet and rugs, from tummy time to diaper changes to playing on an activity mat. So, before the baby arrives, get them professionally cleaned or rent a heavy-duty carpet cleaning machine from your local hardware store.
Get The Things You’ll Need As A New Mother
You will also require items for yourself as a new mother. For the first few weeks, wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing because you may be hurting if you had a C section and may still be uncomfortable and weary.
You want to feel as relaxed as possible while you navigate motherhood. You’ll also need some nursing bras that are both comfy and practical for feeding your new baby. There are so many to choose from, so read reviews of the best nursing bras to learn from other moms which one is the most practical and comfy for you.
Don’t skip on the bralettes! Bralettes are another great thing to get as they are comfy and won’t be tight which can help when you get uncomfortable if you are full of milk. Shop for bralettes here and wear them during pregnancy and after you have given birth.
Final Thoughts
While this is not a full list of everything that you should do before baby comes, but it is definitely some important things to consider doing early on.
