Preparing for a Baby: The Top 8 Tips

An estimated 385,000 babies are born worldwide every day! This means many are becoming parents for the first time.

Though you love your child with all of your heart, a newborn can be stress-inducing! Lack of sleep and new parent anxiety can leave you in a tizzy as you try to accomplish your daily responsibilities while caring for a newborn.

However, preparing for a baby can help reduce stress and anxiety, as your organization and planning will help you focus on bonding with your newborn.

If you’re unsure what you should do before you welcome your little one into the world, keep reading for some of the top tips all expecting parents should keep in mind.

1. Get the Nursery Ready

One of the most exciting and fun ways to prepare for a new baby is to set up their nursery! This can also help you learn how to deal with pregnancy, as it will help keep you eager to meet your little one.

You’ll want to start by investing in the essential furniture pieces for the room. These include a crib, dresser, changing table, and comfortable chair. Though your little one won’t be an infant forever, consider investing in high-quality pieces as you will use them daily.

Next, you can move on to decorating the room. Many parents opt for a themed nursery, whether it be floral, animals, or even book characters. However, you can choose to leave it neutral.

Choosing soft, calming colors for the walls is essential to help soothe your little one. You can also opt for a patterned wallpaper that can intrigue your baby. Finally, choosing soft textures and other decore pieces like photos and stuffed animals can make this a cozy space.

2. Stock up on Supplies

Once your baby arrives, you’re going to dread leaving the house. Rather than making dozens of trips to various stores, stocking up on everything you need before the baby arrives is crucial.

You’ll want to stop at your local drug store to pick up any medication, medical supplies, pregnancy vitamins, and your Citranatal Bloom prenatal supplement. You’ll also want plenty of postpartum supplies like pads, peri bottles, and ice packs readily available.

Another thing you’ll want to start saving is supplies for the baby. This includes diapers, wipes, formula, baby clothing, bath supplies, and bibs. You’ll thank yourself later!

3. Get Your Home Ready

Next, you’ll want to prepare the rest of your home for the new baby. If you have half-completed projects around your house, now is the time to finalize them. 

You’ll also want to do one last deep clean of your home before the third trimester kicks in. This will help keep your house sanitary and tidy, as clutter can lead to further stress and anxiety.

If you have family that plans on visiting after the baby arrives, preparing your guest room is essential. Clean the sheets, wash the towels, and dust the room to ensure your guests are comfortable. 

Finally, it’s never too early to begin baby-proofing your home! Your little one will be crawling and exploring in the blink of an eye, so preventing accidents before they are even a threat is crucial.

Investing in cabinet locks, baby gates, outlet covers, and table cushions can help keep your baby safe from harm. Similarly, you should move dangerous materials like cleaning products or mediations to high shelves.

4. Meal Prep

When you’re sleep-deprived and hangry, it can be a recipe for disaster! This can lead you to skip meals which deprives you of essential nutrients and fuel and lead you to eat less than stellar food options.  

Before the baby arrives, you want to make meals to keep in your freezer so you don’t have to worry about cooking while caring for a newborn.

Preparing meals doesn’t mean you’ll need to spend an entire week cooking. Instead, you can double meals as you make them help make this process much simpler.

You’ll thank yourself in a few months when you can enjoy a yummy and nutritious homemade meal. The best part is you just have to stick it in the oven and let it heat up.

5. Pack Your Hospital Bag

Next, you’ll want to start packing your hospital bag. Ensuring this is packed and ready to go as soon as possible is crucial. After all, as your due date gets closer, the baby can come at any time. 

Choosing a large, durable bag that you can easily transport is essential. After all, you’ll want to keep this bag with you any time you travel, as it is crucial to keep it with you in case you go into labor unexpectedly.

You should keep the following in your bag:

• Two sets of pajamas
• Homecoming outfit for baby
• Homecoming outfit for mom
• Hygiene products
• Electronic chargers
• Snacks and water
• Extra underwear
• Eye mask and ear plugs
• Shower flip flops

Finally, as the day gets closer you’ll want to ensure you and your partner know how to fasten the carrier into the car safely and securely.

6. Look Into Assistance

Many moms think that they need to do it all. However, this can lead to stress and anxiety, sleep deprivation, and in some instances, confusion that can cause unintentional harm.

However, you shouldn’t have to settle for doing everything yourself. Taking advantage of family members who offer help is crucial, as they will assist for free.

You may also want to look into other forms of assistance, like a doula, a nanny or daycare for older children, or a pet sitter to help you care for your fur babies. 

You can also look into cleaning services to help you take care of your home as you look after your newborn. Setting funds aside for these services can help ease the stress of deciding whether or not these are right for you.

7. Prepare People and Pets

If you have older children or pets, talking to them about the change is something you’ll need to tackle before the baby arrives. You’ll want to be the one to tell your children about their new sibling instead of them finding out from someone else.

You’ll need to tell your children that they are going to become big brothers or sisters. You should also let them know that the baby will require a lot of attention, but that you will still be there for your child.

You can involve your children in the preparation, as this will help them feel as if they are valued and loved. Have them help you pick out baby clothes and toys, as this can foster a sense of pride and responsibility.

You’ll also want to inform them of any daycare or childcare that they’ll experience while you’re in the hospital delivering. This will help them feel informed and respected, as opposed to left out of the loop.

When it comes to pets, exposure is essential. This includes introducing your pet to the sounds of babies crying, letting them smell the baby’s clothing, and creating barriers. Though you may want to transform your pet’s space to accommodate the baby, ensuring they have a designated area is essential.

8. Practice Self-Care

Finally, you’ll want to look after yourself. Once the baby arrives, you’ll find yourself forgetting to shower, barely running a comb through your hair, and considering it a good day if you change your shirt.

Taking time for yourself while you still can is critical to keeping you relaxed and sane. Not only does this include treating yourself to a massage or mani-pedi, practicing pregnancy yoga, or getting a new haircut, but it also includes resting.

Spending your free time with your feet up can help you stay related before your due date. Whether you want to binge a tv show, indulge in a good book, or just take a nap, looking after yourself is essential. 

You can also plan fun date nights with your partner, as it can be challenging to spend time together when looking after a newborn. This can be a fun chance to rekindle your flame and spend time appreciating each other. 

Preparing for a Baby: Everything You Need to Know

Though it can be stressful, preparing for a baby early is one of the best pregnancy tips as you’ll thank yourself for staying ahead.

If you on how to prepare for parenthood informative, you’ll want to check out the rest of our blog. There, you can find more helpful parenting and pregnancy tricks to help you navigate bringing a baby into the world.