Preparing your home for a baby while you are pregnant saves you lots of stress and confusion. Having a newborn has a huge implication on your household as nearly every room will have to be adapted to cater to the baby. The planning process might leave you feeling overwhelmed and like you are running out of time. This article will help you figure out how to prepare your house for a newborn.
11 ways to prepare your house for new baby
Declutter your home
Comb through your home during the first or second trimester when you have the energy and get rid of items you no longer need. Use the three-box method of decluttering. Dedicate one box to items you want to keep, another for items you can donate, and the last box for items you should discard.
Decluttering your home makes it look bigger and more spacious and allows you to be neat. During the third trimester, when your nesting instincts kick in, you will be in a better position to rearrange your house when you have gotten rid of most of the junk.
Identify suitable storage solutions
You don’t have to buy brand new storage units, so start by repurposing existing storage solutions. You can use bins and baskets to store dirty laundry before being washed, and you could install shelving units to store supplies, creams, medicine, and toys. Clear storage units come in handy as they allow you to locate whatever you are looking for without much of a hustle.
Plan for your baby’s nursery
Before the baby arrives, you should plan where you intend to set up the nursery and how you will arrange the furniture. It is not advisable to paint the nursery in colors that you cannot sustain for future use. Opt for neutral paint colors that are not too chaotic.
Also, if you know the gender of your baby, you can go for a baby girl room décor or baby boy décor instead of painting the room. Write a list of the must-haves in your nursery, such as a crib, hampers, changing station, and a comfortable chair.
Baby proof your home
Get on all fours and crawl around the house to get your baby’s perspective to catch any safety risks. Cover all the electric outlets with child-safe covers and ensure all cabinets have safety locks to avoid your baby from coming into contact with cleaning supplies and detergents.
Install baby gates at the base and top of the stairs and anchor furniture to the wall to prevent them from falling over. Be sure to childproof your window guards to prevent your curious child from falling out of high windows.
Do your laundry in advance
It can be very daunting coming back from the hospital to dirty laundry. Take advantage of your nesting instincts and put all the dirty laundry, bed sheets, and linen in the laundry and arrange everything neatly in place when you are done. Make sure you wash all baby clothes and shawls even though they are brand new to avoid the risk of skin allergies.
Rearrange your master bedroom
If you do not have an additional room you can convert into a nursery, move things around in your bedroom to make space for the newborn. Assess how much space the furniture will take up and put into consideration the storage solutions. Add a work table and chair so that you can work near the crib.
Prepare your baby’s wardrobe
Ensure that all the onesies, rompers, and jammies are cleaned before storage in the closet or the dresser. Make sure not to buy too many newborn clothes because they will not likely fit your baby after two weeks. After all, they are better off wearing big clothes than small ones. Arrange the baby shawls and wraps nearby for use during the first year.
Make all other rooms baby-friendly
Your child will not only spend time in the bedroom and living room, but they will also make use of other rooms in your house, such as the bathroom and kitchen. Keep a baby tub in your bathroom and have a section for bath toys, combs, baby shampoo, and toothbrushes. Organize your living room to accommodate your baby by installing a playpen, feeding chairs, and bringing in a couple of toys.
Make room in your freezer to store pumped breastmilk, and ensure your fridge has plenty of room to store baby food. Your kitchen should also have a separate place where you store breast pumps, bottles, cups, and bibs.
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Prepare and stock up multiple changing stations
Since you will most likely spend time in places other than the nursery, you need to prepare multiple changing stations. Each station should include diapers, baby wipes, a cover for the changing table, baby lotion, and toys to distract the baby. You might also want to pack a change of clothing to avoid running up the stairs to get clean clothes.
Deep clean your house
Take some time off and give your house a thorough, deep clean before the baby comes home. Get into all the crevices and get rid of messy piles around the house. Research has revealed areas with the most germs include countertops, fridge handles, cutting boards, and faucet handles. Clean and disinfect the floors and sweep the rugs to make your home spic and span.
Set multiple feeding stations
Your child will need to feed multiple times during the day, especially when they are young. You need to set up multiple feeding stations, especially if you live in a house with multiple stories. Each feeding station should have a comfortable chair, a table or stool, burp cloths, and wet wipes.
Nursing mothers tend to feel hungrier after every feed, so you should also have some healthy snacks and water within your reach. Setting multiple feeding stations makes it convenient to nurse or feed your child on-demand in any room.
Final remarks
Preparing your house for a baby is a big responsibility that can leave you feeling overwhelmed and out of control. Luckily, these tips discussed above will help you feel better prepared and make your home a safe place for your baby. Do not procrastinate till it’s too late because the baby might arrive earlier than anticipated.
