It’s a natural instinct for an expectant mother to want to “nest.” This could mean anything from a little bit of tidying up to an entire home renovation. It’s not necessary (or advised!) to go as far as the latter. However, there are some vital changes you should make to prepare your home for your newborn’s arrival.
Prepare Your Home for Your Newborn’s Arrival
There are so many things to consider and remember during pregnancy that it’s easy to forget some essential home improvements. But, with this helpful information, you should be able to establish what you need to invest in without forgetting anything crucial before your big day!
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Do a safety check around your house
There are many dangers around the home for babies, especially when they become mobile. The best way to discover any potential threats is by doing your own safety check. This just means taking a slow walk around your home to identify any risks below hip height. Be on the lookout for cupboards containing chemicals or products that are dangerous for a baby. Then, take precautionary measures. These items should be stored up in a high cupboard.
Its best to put any heavy or sentimental decor in storage until your child is old enough to know the dangers, as a crawling baby can easy reach for a table leg and pull it. That might cause a heavy object that is on top to come crashing down onto them below. Be aware of any sharp corners on furniture, and block access to the stairs.
Ban bacteria
When you’re preparing for your newborn’s arrival, it’s essential that you have a clean and hygienic space for when they come home from the hospital. Newborns’ immune systems are sensitive in their first few weeks of life. Having a clean home will help to keep them from many germs. Since you will be holding them most of the time, you want to make sure you’re not passing germs to your newborn. The areas that house the most germs are places like sinks in your kitchen and bathroom, handles on appliances and cupboards, and things like sponges and washcloths.
Since it’s not recommended that pregnant women use harsh chemicals, use natural cleaners like ATTITUDE Eco-Friendly Products that kill germs but aren’t harmful to you or your baby. Get 10% off of your first order and get the natural products you want to use when you have a new baby in the house!
Replace any sponges and wash all sheets, blankets and towels on a high heat. This gets rid of the possibility of germs or bacteria reaching your little one’s skin.
Free up your fridge
As you prepare your home for your newborn’s arrival, you should go through your refrigerator to prepare extra space. Empty it completely and wash the interior with warm soapy water. Allow to dry and return items to the fridge that are well in date and will actually be used, and throw any remaining products away. Dedicate some space to store breast milk and formula. You don’t want to be doing this after your newborn has arrived. Believe me, you’ll be too exhausted.
It’s important that you keep your refrigerator clean and sterile by washing it at least twice a month. Use those natural cleaners! Furthermore, always remember to sterilize your baby’s bottles before use.
Get the right equipment
Making sure that you have all of the necessary equipment you need at home for your newborn’s arrival is an important step that should be planned out in advance. There are many technological devices that are commonplace in a new parent’s house, such as baby monitors to listen in from another room, and temperature gauges to supervise the heat of your little one’s sleeping environment. You will also need to create a small stockpile of some basic things you’ll be using regularly from the start; having things like diapers, baby wipes, rompers, pacifiers, and bottles on hand ahead of time will save you a lot of hassle later.
Purchase their new crib and put their clean sheet on it, so it’s ready for your newborn. Do a quick search online, and you can find lots of helpful resources about getting a nursery ready in detail. But these basics should be enough to get you started. Plus things you may have forgotten can be purchased at a later date. Take advantage of services like Amazon, so you won’t have to go out! Don’t forget to use the baby registry there too!
Prepare yourself
It’s all well and good to prepare your home ready for your newborn’s arrival, but if you aren’t prepared for the birth then the stress will still be overwhelming. Prepare your hospital bag well in advance, and remember to include the basics like a dressing gown, something to occupy yourself like a good book or a few magazines, and any self care items like a hairbrush and ties, and some rich body lotion. In the weeks leading to your due date, track your progress with a Bloomlife contraction timer, so you can identify the real from the fake and know when to head to the hospital.
It’s a very stressful time, but there are many beautiful moments during pregnancy that you will treasure forever. Try to accept the mishaps and struggles and appreciate the bigger picture. When your little one arrives, every ounce of effort and pain will have been completely worth it. If you are struggling to come to terms with the changes to your body and life, it might be beneficial to dedicate some time each day to pray or talk to your own mom about how you’re feeling.
Hopefully this information can help you prepare your home (and yourself) for your newborn’s arrival. It’s a beautiful time that you will look back on with happiness for years to come. Make the most of the whole experience and never take any time for granted. Just be sure you take these extra steps to protect your little one when you bring them to their new home, and have the right equipment ready to start your life together as a new family.
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