Getting ready to welcome a new person into your life is an exciting adventure. It can also feel like you have a million things to do and nowhere near enough time to fit them in before heading to the hospital.
Once your baby is here, you’ll have even less time than you do now. Luckily, checking the items off this list will help you prepare for your new baby and set yourself up for success in the precious yet challenging newborn stage.
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Set up a Registry
Setting up a registry is one of the first things you’ll want to do in your journey to prepare for the baby. You’d be surprised how early and frequently your loved ones will start asking what they can get you. It’s invaluable to have an already established place to send them for your wish list. Add everything you could possibly want or need to your registry since most businesses will give you a discount on any leftover items. It’s a great way to save money.
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Baby-Proof the House
It’s never too early to start baby-proofing your home. Little ones are mobile before you’d even imagine possible, and they get into everything. Get on your hands and knees to see your space from their vantage point. Remove anything that might be a choking hazard. You should also put plug covers on any exposed electrical outlets. Anchor heavy furniture to the walls to prevent tipping, and swap out corded blinds for cordless ones to avoid accidents.
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Fill Out the Nursery
After your baby shower, take a hard look at everything left on your registry. Use discounts to purchase the final things you need to fill out the nursery. Prioritize essential items before decorative or nice-to-have accessories. The last thing you want to do is overspend on baby things and feel strapped for cash once they arrive.
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Take a Birthing Class
Are you preparing for a natural birth, or do you know you’re getting an epidural? Maybe you aren’t even sure yet. A birthing class can help you get ready for any possible delivery style. You’ll learn about pain management, effective birthing positions and breathing techniques. They can also teach how to take care of a newborn. These classes are essential for first-time parents and a good reminder when you have more kids.
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Squeeze in Some Alone Time
Many couples go on a babymoon before their new little one arrives. You can travel to a tropical destination if your budget and comfort level allows. Otherwise, you could stick closer to home. Either way, you’ll want to get a little R & R with your partner. If you have other children, you may also want to spend some extra special bonding time with them.
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Make Freezer Meals
Once you’re home with your precious baby, friends and family will likely bring you meals at first. However, even those will taper off after a while. A freezer full of options will help when you’re busy with your newborn. Batch-cook several one-pot or crockpot recipes and freeze them for later. Add the date you made them, so you know when they might expire.
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Have a Sit-Down With Your Partner
You and your partner must get on the same page before the baby comes. You should discuss your plans for child care. Will anyone stay home? Also, what are your expectations for the division of household responsibilities once you have a newborn? You should also make a few decisions pertinent to delivery, like cord blood donation.
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Create a Birth Plan
You probably have a vision of how you want your labor and delivery to go, but in the heat of the moment, you may not be able to articulate yourself well. A birth plan helps your providers know your wishes. You can be as specific as you like, but some standard inclusions are your ideal environment, who you want in the room and what type of delivery you prefer.
Birth plans aren’t a guarantee — things come up all the time and necessitate changes — but at the very least, they’ll give you a starting point.
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Prepare the Whole Family
If you have children or pets, you’ll want to take some extra time to prepare them for the upcoming changes. Discuss with your kids what bringing home a new baby will be like. You could pick up a few books about becoming a big brother or sister. You’ll also want to make a plan for your pets while you’re in the hospital. See if a friend or family member can take care of them for a few days.
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Pack the Hospital Bags
Don’t wait until the night before your due date to pack your hospital bags. Babies come when you least expect them, and you’ll want to be prepared. A few weeks away, gather all the items you can live without for a while. Keep everything else close together so they’re easy to grab at a moment's notice.
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Get Your Affairs in Order
The least enjoyable of all these pre-baby tasks is getting your affairs in order. You’ll need to arrange with your health insurance provider to include the new member of your family. You may also want to increase your life insurance or find a policy if you don’t have one.
Lastly, you should work with a trusted lawyer to establish a will for you and your partner. A legal plan for what happens to your child in case of an accident will give you peace of mind — even if it isn’t fun to think about.
Enjoy This Time
Whether this is your fifth child or baby No. 1, your whole world will change in a matter of months. Having a new family member is exciting and surely something to be celebrated, but take a while to enjoy the way things are now. It can be all too easy to get lost in a long list of to-dos and forget to embrace the period of life you’re currently living.
