All parents to be have wondered the exact same thing, what do you need to do to prepare for a baby? Well here I am sharing 12 things that you can do to help YOU get prepared and ready for your newborns arrival. You have probably all heard it, once the baby comes along you will have no time to…blah blah…and well, its mostly true, you will be busier than ever, but that’s why getting ahead and finding how to prepare for a baby is important. You want to avoid feeling overwhelmed, so this post will give you 12 things you can do to feel organised and prepared for babies arrival.
It really can be a little overwhelming thinking about all the things that you have to do to get organised and prepare for baby but the easiest way to do it is to break it down into areas, like baby clothes, baby furniture, meal prep etc.
Don’t forget to enjoy all the planning and preparation too, it’s the most exciting time! It’s not a time to get stressed, so if you don’t get through your to do list, then its OK! Stick with what you believe is most important stuff first and anything you get through after that is a bonus. This list is what I would call the ‘important’ stuff, so lets get into it, how to prepare for a baby – 12 things you can do!
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1. Meal Prep
This is number one on the list as having meals prepped is, honestly, such an unbelievably big help. If you are only to do a couple of things from this list, let this be one of them! When your little baby comes along, all that matters and all your time will be spent looking after you are and your baby (yes, its also very important to look after yourself also Mum!). Making sure you have a decent meal at dinner time is important as in order to look after baby, you have to look after yourself, and the last thing you want to be doing is standing over the cooker making dinner every evening when instead this could be a time you could be resting.
Nearing the end of your pregnancy (don’t leave it too late, maybe around the 36 to 38 week mark) get that pen and paper out and get cracking on a list of meals that you want to have prepped and in the freezer. Maybe you just want dinners, maybe you want dinners and lunches? Once you have your list head to shops and get all stocked up. Next, set yourself a day that you want to spend meal prepping and away you go! If you have other kids in the house, you can definitely meal prep for them too. If you can, try to make enough for at least a full week, two weeks is even better.
2. Wash And Organise All The Baby Clothes
This is much more fun than meal prepping! Getting all the babies clothes organised is really helpful. You should wash all baby clothes and blankets after you buy them. So it takes a little time to get these all wash and dried, sorted into sizes and hung up or put into drawers, however you prefer to store them. its also a great way to see exactly what you have for baby.
3. Do Your Research On Baby Products
Having your research done on baby products that you haven’t bought yet (because you are not sure if you will actually need them) is a tip that I really recommend. OK, to explain what I mean is, lets say that you are planning on breastfeeding. Then for whatever reason, maybe baby won’t latch or you have decided that you don’t want to breastfeed anymore, you are either going need to buy a breast pump, if you want to exclusively pump, or buy baby formula. Doing research on baby products when you are sleep deprived is not fun! AND it may be hard to find the time to research properly and compare ALL the different products out there, it can sometimes be a little overwhelming when there are soooo many types of the same thing! Having the research done so you can just pop out and buy or order what want need is definitely less stressful.
Related: How To Have A Baby On A Budget
4. Tour The Hospital
This is something that is so worthwhile doing if you are a first time Mum. When it comes to the labour and delivery the thoughts of it is, well its all a little, or a lot, daunting! If you are planning on going to antenatal/prenatal classes, then usually a hospital tour is part of the classes. Otherwise, contact the hospital that you planning on going to and see if they offer tours, they may even offer virtual tours. Seeing what the assessment and delivery rooms actual look like brings a little peace of mind!
Related: Newborn Essentials – That You Really Need
5. Prenatal Classes
Following on from the hospital tour, like I mentioned above, if you take prenatal classes, then a tour of the labour and delivery ward is usually part of it. Although it may feel like a lot of your time to give up, taking prenatal/antenatal classes is well worth it. You can learn a tonne and chat with other nervous Mums and Dads to be! The classes will give you lots of info, covers all topics like breathing techniques, pain relief and answer any concerns that you may have. It is a great way to prepare for a baby!
6. Pack Your Hospital Bag
You should, at the very latest, have your hospital bag packed by 35 weeks, but ideally 32 weeks. It is best to be prepared and it is peace of mind that you are all ready to go when the time comes! You can check out my post on what to pack in our hospital bag – and bonus you can get a free printable checklist!
7. Install The Car Seat
This is a must to to prepare for baby, you definitely do not want to be scrambling trying to get the car seat installed the day you are supposed to leave the hospital. You want to make sure you take your time and install car seat correctly and safely.
8. Find A Pediatrician
Give yourself plenty of time to find a pediatrician that checks all the boxes you want. You will probably want someone who’s doctors office is located pretty close to your home. If you are not sure how else to find a pediatrician, then ask your friends or co-workers who theirs is!
9. Arrange Child Care For Any Other Kids
A very obvious one but definitely a priority for preparing for baby. Usually it’s not an issue if you are lucky enough to have family near. They can usually just come straight over if you go into labour in the middle of the night. BUT if you don’t live near any family and are relying on friends to help out, then you may need to be a little more prepared. If you planning on dropping your kids off at your friends when you go into labour, then have the kids little overnight bags packed and ready to go at the same time as you have packed your hospital bag and keep them together so you can easily grab them all at the same time. It is also a good idea to have a list inside one of the kids bag with the last minute items you will need to put in like toothbrushes, baby monitors, favourite teddies etc.
10. Take A Weekend Break
Whether you prefer to have a stay-cation or head off on a plane, having a little break away is a really nice thing to do before baby comes along.
11. Stock Up On Groceries
Its a good idea to stock up on certain groceries before baby comes along. Things like washing powder for both you and baby, toilet roll, cleaning supplies. Things that are not on your weekly shopping list but that you definitely do not want to run out of!
12. Get Nesting
Once maternity leaves comes, its so nice to take some time at home and get the house organised. Getting all the cleaning done, stocking up the babies changing unit, getting the moses basket or bassinet ready, prepping the meals, stocking up on ambient groceries, this will leave you feeling completely prepared to bring baby home!
Like I mentioned in the start of this post, don’t get too stressed trying to get everything done. Everyone has their own way how to prepare for a baby, but to get started, pick what you think is the most important things and you will be doing great! You’ve got this Mama!
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