Decorating your baby’s nursery and deciding on their first #OutfitOfTheDay is exciting but here are some practical things that you will need to do to make sure that your home environment is almost as perfect as your newborn baby.
Here are some of the most important things you should do to prepare your home for your little masters’ arrival.
1.Prepare for future you’s needs
While it may sound weird to plan for your future needs now, when you are actually living for and in the now, a little planning can go a long way. Meal prep in advance and freeze some for a rainy day. Load up on non-perishable food staples and cleaning supplies. Schedule the delivery of prescription meds way in advance.
2.Baby proof EVERYTHING
The thought of your baby starting to crawl can seem far fetched right now but it’ll arrive sooner than you think. Little, crawling explorers can be a hazard to themselves but there is alot that you can do to make the environment safer for your little explorer. Babies become mobile almost immediately, and it’s better to sooner rather than later when you’re running on 3 hours of interrupted sleep. Keep cleaning products and medication out of reach and sight in locked storage.
3.Prep for Your “Sip and See”, Or Not
Early parenting days are a constant cycle of sleep deprivation and visitors. If you intend to host overnight visitors or have people over for extended periods of time to help with the baby, you should start planning immediately. Buy the bare necessities – extra toothpaste, toothbrushes, and toilet paper. Change the linen and get fresh towels and soap. That said, it’s imperative to highlight that you should never feel forced to have and entertain visitors. This is always true, but it is especially true when you are a new parent. It’s okay to decline guests after birth.
4.Clear Out Your Fridge and Freezer
While your newborn is on a liquid diet, you’ll need space in your fridge for extra breastmilk, formula and those “ready to eat” meals. Hold off on your weekly grocery run to get your fridge as empty as possible so you can do a thorough clean ahead of your first grocery run with baby in mind.
5.Sterilize Bottles and Breast Pump Parts
Breast pump *tick*
Bottles *tick*
Teats *tick*
But first, sterilise them! They may appear clean, especially if they are glossy and new, but unfortunately they aren’t quite. Before you use them for the first time, sterilize the bottles and teats in boiling water for 5 minutes. You could also buy a sterilizer (pro tip: include this on the gift registry for your baby shower). These are easy to use – simply pop some water and into the microwave they go.
6. Create a “Care” Basket
From nappies and wipes to bottled water and treats for the parents, you’ll want everything at arms length. (Trust us.) Make a “care” basket filled with necessities for you and your baby and put it near your bed, sofa, or both.
7. Do the washing
While getting your laundry done may seem like a no-brainer, you should wash all of baby’s clothes before they arrive. Start by removing any wrapping, stickers, or tags that may irritate sensitive skin, and use baby safe washing powder or soap that’s preferably odourless.
8. Set Up The Car Seat
This isn’t really an at-home tip but it is crucial. Familiarising yourself with a baby’s car seat before they arrive is an important element step that should not be missed. Put the buckles and straps in place so you know how to put baby in it later and keep them safe. Also, keep the directions close at hand. You’ll be fatigued after giving birth, and the last thing you will need is to battle it out with the car seat.
