Hardly anything in life beats the excitement of getting ready to give birth and welcome a new member into your family. However, things can get quite tense and electric as your due date approaches, so it’s a smart to get prepared in time.
There are two key preparations to make: prep the house and shop for baby stuff. Your home should be thoroughly cleaned, safe, baby-friendly and equipped with all the essentials that will make the whole process of adjustment at home as comfortable as possible.
However, with so many things to think about, you can easily get overwhelmed, so here’s a practical to-do list to get you ready in time.
Prepping your home
Preparing your home in time and not when you’re sleep-deprived and exhausted, is the key to a successful transition into a new-baby-at-home situation. Give your home a safety test to make sure all hazardous materials and objects, such as cleaning products, medication, laundry and dishwasher pods, and are out of the way. Store them out of reach in securely locked cabinets.
Your next step is making sure your kitchen and bathroom are germ free, as these are the two rooms you’ll be using the most. According to research, kitchen sinks, countertops, towels, cutting boards, faucets, handles and toothbrush holders are the dirtiest places in a home.
You will soon find out that your little miracle will start taking over the house quickly, including the kitchen. In a blink of an eye, there’ll be baby spoons, dishes, bowls, bottles, sippy cups, bibs and pacis all over the place! Reorganize your kitchen in time – lose those appliances you hardly ever use and make room for a baby food maker, bottle sterilizer and a bottle rack.
Moreover, you’ll need to reorganize your fridge as well. Even though your baby will probably be on an all-mommy-milk diet, you will need room to store breast milk and formula, if needed. Plus, you’ll have to find the way to store all those delicacies your family and friends bring when they come over to see you. Empty your fridge, clean all the shelves and the door with a water-vinegar mix, rinse it off and wipe dry.
Your baby’s taking over the house doesn’t stop there! Soon, there’ll be mountains of dirty laundry every day, so you should consider buying a larger hamper. Also, make a stash of mild, baby-friendly detergent and an enzymatic stain remover for all the future stains caused by poop, urine and spit ups.
In addition, as you’ll probably have overnight guests, your mom, sister, or best friends, stock up on spare toothbrushes, toothpaste and toilet paper.
Buying baby closet essentials
It’s so easy to get carried away when shopping for your new baby. Everything is so adorable that you feel you must have it all, and that’s why young parents end up buying things the baby will either never need or use in a year. Upon your return from the hospital, you won’t need fancy clothes and shoes, swings and bouncers, or a ton of toys.
Instead, you’ll need practical and useful baby accessories to make your life easier, such as a car seat that meets all the safety regulations, a stroller with enough storage and a reclining seat, and a baby carrier so your little one can snuggle close to you when you’re on the go.
Be practical and focus on good quality baby clothes in newborn size for 3 to 6 months, such as body suits, one-piece outfits, shirts, baby leggings, fleece jackets, socks, booties and pajamas. You might not need a crib immediately, but you can opt for a bassinet or a co-sleeper. No need to splurge on fancy bedding as you won’t even use all the quilts, bumpers and pillows. All you really need is three or four fitted crib sheets and a waterproof mattress cover. With a few swaddling blankets, your baby will be warm and comfy all the time.
Finally, buy a well-made, sturdy baby bath, soaps and shampoos that are easy on your baby’s skin, three to four soft-hooded towels and five to six washcloths.
Follow the tasks on this list and your preparations will be a breeze!
