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Prepare your home for a newborn to make your last pregnancy days and the early days of your baby’s life relaxing. Start early to prepare in the best way possible. The first few days after your baby is born can be overwhelming; feeding, diaper changes, and sleep deprivation. While your pregnancy may seem to last forever, you will meet your baby in no time. Here’s a detailed guide on getting your home ready for your baby and the ultimate baby arrival checklist.
How to Prepare Your Home for a Newborn
Deep clean and organize the house before your baby is born. Declutter to make more storage room. Make a plan on how to switch out and store the baby’s clothes and other items. The baby grows fast, so you need an efficient system for the different sizes of clothes.
How to clean your house for a new baby;
• Steam clean the carpet. Ensure the floors stay clean
• Dust every corner of the house
• Clean the kitchen. You will store the baby bottles and prepare formula or breast milk here.
• Ensure the nursery is dust-free and spotless
• Wash all linen
• Disinfect your home.
Stock up your fridge. When your baby arrives, there will hardly be enough time to cook. Prepare freezer meals ahead of time or buy frozen meals. Stock up on whole grain and organic products to keep you and your baby healthy. Get restaurant gift cards. You could try the following meal plan:
• Prepare some pancake mix. You will only need to add egg and milk.
• Cook several batches of French toast and freeze to toast later
• Prepare spaghetti sauce to freeze. Some noodles will come in handy during those lazy and tired days
• Soups are not only healthy but also go well with all meals. Make some healthy soup to freeze
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Do your newborn’s laundry ahead of time. Remove labels and tags that could irritate the baby’s skin. Use an infant-friendly detergent. Newborns tend to be messy; formula, spit-up, spills, and poop will result in mounds of laundry. Get a stain remover to use on stubborn spots just in case you don’t do laundry right away.
What Do You Need to Prepare Your Home for a Newborn?
You have probably spent a good bit of your time picturing the theme for the nursery. Some nursery essentials include a beautiful crib, a waterproof, quality, and comfortable mattress, changing pad cover, good cotton sheets, and a dresser.
Set up a feeding and nursing station nearby. It will be easy for frequent night-time feeding and changing. Share your bedroom with your baby for the first few months.
Get a car seat, preferably one that can function as a stroller, so it will be easy to carry your baby in and out of the car. Ensure that the car has quality padded seat belts to strap your little one. Click here to get the ultimate baby shopping list PDF.
Make enough room in your fridge. You need to store formula and baby milk. Your friends and family might bring some homemade food as well. Ensure you give your fridge a good cleaning to avoid contaminating the baby’s food.
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What Do I Need to Do Before Baby Arrives?
There are tremendous changes in your life once you have a child. There is a lot to do and research during pregnancy. Don’t forget to have some fun along the way as you prepare for your newborn. You will thank yourself later for doing these things before the baby arrives.
• Select a healthcare provider. Make an appointment with your pediatrician to establish a relationship with them to get all the information you might need about baby care.
• Choose a suitable time for friends and family visits. Do you need to invite someone to stay with you as you recover?
• Take a prenatal class. A tiny new person in your life can be daunting
• Get some in-between clothes. It will take some time to fit into regular clothes after birth
• Find the fastest route to the hospital and try doing a test run.
• Sleep as much as you can.
• Feel the parenthood excitement. You will have more fun with your newborn with the right attitude
• Take a trip even if a baby moon is not your thing
• Learn how to breastfeed and how to use a breast pump
• Pack and organize your hospital bag
• Get a birth toolbox; sanitizers, large pads, panty liners, pain relievers
• Get a good camera to document your baby’s life. You will need those photos
When Should You Start Preparing For A Baby?
It all depends on you. Some things will require more time to fix, while others like cleaning have to be done just before the due date. The most important thing is having everything ready and staying relaxed as you prepare to meet your baby.
Preparing for Baby Arrival Checklist; Everything you need
What are the first things to buy when expecting a baby? Here is the ultimate baby arrival checklist to help you decide what you need to buy;
• Clothing – Get both long-sleeved and short-sleeved undershirts, several nightgowns, newborn hats, socks, cardigans, pants, stretchy sleepers, scratch mittens, swaddle blankets, infant laundry detergent, pajamas, bunting bags, and blankets.
• Feeding- If you are breastfeeding fulltime, you don’t need any equipment. Some nursing mums may need a breast pump, burp clothes, lots of bibs, sore nipple lotion, nursing bras, nursing pillows, milk storage bags, and breast pads.
• Diapering- several dozens of diapers, changing pads, baby ointment, wipes, safety pins, and a diaper pail.
• Bathing- infant tub or a dishpan, washcloths, soft hairbrush, soft towels, cleanser, or baby soap.
• Safety- baby car seat, nail clippers, and scissors, reclining stroller, baby thermometer, baby medication, bulb syringe to suction mucus
• Others- rocking chair, baby carrier, plastic hangers, sunshade for the car windows, pacifiers, baby toys, playpen, night light, diaper bag, monitor, books, white noise machine.
Preparing your home for your newborn can be overwhelming. These tips give you an insight into where to channel your energy before your baby arrives. You don’t need to rush. Start early to buy you enough time to prepare for your baby. Take a day at a time.
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