Babies are a joy, and raising one is an adventure for the household. Before you bring your little one home, you’ll need to get your house and everyone in it ready for this precious arrival. We’ve assembled a guide to preparing your house for a baby, so you can focus on welcoming your little bundle into the world. Newborns are a lot of work, but it feels less overwhelming when you have a plan of action.
Get Your Household Ready
Everyone in your household should feel ready for the new arrival, whether this is your first, second, or even third child. If you already have children, hold a family meeting to explain how things will change. Your young kiddos may not understand why you and your partner have less time to play with them, especially if they’ve been an only child until this point.
Consider having young children and even pets stay with a trusted relative for those first few days after giving birth. This will give you and your partner time to adjust to a new routine.
Invest In Baby Essentials
The next step in this guide to preparing your house for a baby is to stock up on must-haves like pacifiers, bottles, diapers, and more. While newborns spend most of their first days sleeping, babies grow fast, and it’s better to have a supply of items ready even though you may not need them yet. For example, one of the most important things you’ll need is a quality teether since you’ll want to keep your little one comfortable when they reach the teething milestone.
Pro Tip: Preparing for a baby isn’t just about buying the items you’ll need to care for your little one—this is especially true if you’re a first-time parent. For your sanity and your baby’s comfort, look into the best ways to soothe a crying baby so you can quickly calm your little one.
Keep Things Organized
A baby shower is a time to ask close friends and relatives for essential items like baby clothes, furniture, toys, and more. Rather than leaving things packed away, prepare the crib and changing table well before your due date. Keep essentials like diapers and bottles within reach. Ultimately, think like your baby’s already here. Once the big day arrives, you’ll be thanking your past self for handling all the prep work.
Create Baby Spaces
The nursery shouldn’t be the only room in your house dedicated to your little one. Take a walk around your home and determine where you might place other baby care items; you may need to add a playpen or baby swing to the family room. Likewise, you’ll need to create a new spot at the table for your little one’s high chair. Placing these larger items early on will allow you to get comfortable with having them in your home, and they can be used right away. Parenthood isn’t always easy, but you’ll be ready to leap into action with a well-developed game plan.
For other great ideas on what you can do for your child see our article for ideas of what all parents should do.
