16 things to do before baby arrives
First of all, these 16 things to do before baby arrives are in no particular order. You can chop and change and do all or some. It’s up to you!
Buy (or hire) a baby car seat. You, of course, need this from day one when you are about to bring baby home from the hospital (unless you have a home birth). I hired mine as newborns have a habit of growing really, really fast, which means a new car seat in a very short time.
Do an inventory of all the clothes and other items you have for the new baby. Often we have hand-me-downs given to us, which is fantastic as, again, newborn babies grow really fast and also have the habit of getting themselves damp, so need to be changed very often…
Have a baby shower. This one I reckon is ESSENTIAL. Usually a friend or relative put this on for you. If no one has been forthcoming (everyone is so busy these days), give someone close to you a nudge and make sure they organise one for you. They are so much fun and you end up with so many of the essentials that will make your life easier in the early days.
Do another inventory after the baby shower and then go shopping for anything that you think you might need. It’s best to do this before baby arrives.
Wash EVERYTHING (hand-me-downs and new items included). Hang them in the sunshine if possible so they are as fresh and clean as possible. Often, if things have been sitting around, even if they are clean, they get a bit musty and you don’t want musty on your new baby! New items can sometimes have a kind of dressing or starch on them, so give them all a wash so they are soft and fresh and clean for brand-new skin.
Spend time checking what pushchair/stroller to get. Can it be used for newborn and then adapted for when they get older? Check reviews for safety and durability. Make sure it’s suited to your lifestyle, for example, if you’re a jogger, get one that can handle that as you don’t want to stop.
Cook some meals for the freezer. Think bolognese or lasagna — things that are easy to reheat and have some salad with. You really don’t want to be thinking too much about what to have for dinner each night in the early weeks and you will still want to eat … believe me!!
Engage your mum, sister or a friend to come and stay for the first or second week you’re home. Even if they are just doing the cleaning, it’s an incredible help. I am eternally grateful to my sister.
Have a haircut. This is a really good idea to feel as good as you can about yourself.
Go to the dentist! Again, nothing worse that having a toothache when you have the new baby just come home. A hygienist visit and dental check-up keeps any issues like that at bay until things settle down again.
Book a weekend away with your partner, husband, wife or friend, just to put your feet up and not think about day-to-day stuff for a couple of days.
If you’re working full-time, try and leave two to four weeks prior so you have time to settle into your new and exciting life (life for a while anyway). This gives time for questions from work to stop, your mind to stop thinking about work, and then you’re more free when bubs comes along.
Make sure your other half is included in everything so it’s easy for them to share in it all from the start – whether it’s the fun stuff or the work side of things. It’s so much easier to do your things if your other half (or nana, sister, etc.) is abreast of how things work in your household.
If you have other children, make sure they’re part of everything that’s happening as much as possible. Ensure they don’t feel left out as you don’t want any green-eyed monsters.
Buy bottles. Not everyone is able or wants to breastfeed, so have these on standby. Clean and sterilized, just in case. I would also have a can of formula on hand too. Nothing worse than a hungry baby!
Have your bag packed if going to hospital. It’s easy to grab on the way out. Pack a coming home outfit for you and baby plus other essentials. I always took something loose as even though you will get back to normal — just like Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge — there may be a need for a slight extension around the tum for a short while. Remember to put in the bag anything you might need for yourself: make-up, a hairbrush, hair ties — this is very important.
Good luck x
Author bio
Robyn Pearce
Robyn’s the mum of two wonderful girls — she has to say that, one of them is Hatchling creator Lara Wyatt! Lara approached Robyn to write for Hatchling’s blog as Robyn has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to raising kids, and what better opportunity to get mum involved in the Hatchling world right?