Whether you are ready or not, your baby is going to come and change up your whole life. Even if this is your third or fourth child, adding a new baby to the mix can be a difficult but amazing time. To make this time a little smoother, there are some things you can do to help prepare yourself and your family for the impending bundle of joy.
Being prepared is my first tip for most parents. If you can think ahead, preparing yourself for the things that might take place makes most situations easier. From putting extra outfits in your car to carrying crayons for restaurants, being a parent requires staying one step ahead of your, very fast, child.
Here are my ten things to do before baby arrives, in no specific order.
- Take Each Sibling Out for a Date: Not only is your life about to change, but your other children are also about to have their little world rocked. If you have one child, they are about to share your attention with another baby. If you have more than one child, your youngest is about to be bumped up to the older sibling. Taking the time to focus on them before the baby arrives is important for both you and your child.
2. Date Your Spouse: This is an obvious thing to do, but it can be difficult when you lack in babysitters. No matter how hard it is to find a babysitter, make the effort so you can get some crucial one on one time with your spouse.
3. Finish the Nursery: Whether you have a designated nursery or not, the last few weeks before arrival is the time to get all of the details done. If you have a special nursery, get all the decorating finished. Put together and set up all of the furniture. Trust me, putting together a crib with a frequently nursing newborn is a real treat.
4. Freezer Meals: As your due date approaches, it is time to stock your freezer with easy dinners, snacks, and breakfast foods. Having a full freezer makes life a lot easier after having a baby. Also, I always stock my house up with groceries and any necessities beforehand, which gives my husband and I a break from having to worry about heading to the store for little items. Some of my favorite things to freeze are pancakes, French toast sticks, banana muffins, ham and cheese pockets, lasagna, buffalo chicken macaroni and cheese, rustic chicken stew, and Italian chicken. I plan most of my freezer dinners as slow cooker meals. I put all of the frozen ingredients into the slow cooker and come back in a few hours to a lovely meal. It doesn’t get simpler than that!
5. Schedule Newborn Photos: Make sure your photographer knows your due date and has a tentative date onto the schedule. Of course, babies don’t always arrive at the time we hope and plan, but you want to make sure your photographer isn’t booked so far in advance. Newborn photos are precious, and a great reminder of your newborn was when they are older.
6. Have a Girls’ Day: Taking care of yourself frequently takes the backburner as a mother. However, this is an excellent time to take a few hours with your close friends to focus on you. See a new movie, get a pedicure, have a fancy dinner out, or just plan a girls’ night at your home. Whatever you decide to do, focusing on yourself helps you feel relaxed before birth. I would also recommend getting your haircut now because you never know the next time you will be able to escape to get one.
7. Take a Road Trip or a Babymoon: If you can swing it, taking a road trip or a babymoon with your husband is so worth the time and money. Most babies don’t enjoy the car, so it may be the last time you can enjoy a winding, country road.
Stay in bed and breakfast, while sleeping in late. I cannot recommend enough indulging in time to yourself and with your spouse before your baby arrives. Marriages frequently take the backseat when children come; connect now and stay that way throughout your marriage.
8. Pack your Hospital Bag: Most mothers pack and repack their hospital bag a dozen times before it is go time. However, unless you live in a remote village, your husband or family member can fetch any item you forget so don’t fret too much. Here are some of the things I love to bring with me when I have my babies:
- Dry shampoo
- Phone charger
- Breastfeeding pillow
- Extra snacks (I am always famished the days after birth. Instead of bothering those poor nurses all day, I pack a lot of snacks.)
- Comfortable, thick socks
- Nipple cream
- 3 or 4 sleepers for baby
- One cute, coming home outfit
- Change for the snack and drink machine (for the reason listed above)
9. Install the Car Seat: Unless you want to live in the hospital forever, you need to have an installed car seat in your vehicle. They are required by law to verify a secure car seat is in place before you are allowed to take the baby home, which is typically just a quick check. However, you want to make sure it is installed correctly. When installing the car seat, you may need help from your spouse because the baby bump can make it difficult.
10. Read: If there is one thing I miss in the early days of motherhood, it is the unlimited amount of time to read. So, take the time to read everything – newspapers, magazines, a novel, parenting books, or whatever you enjoy. Having a young baby in the house means you will either be too busy to read or too exhausted to keep your eyes open when you do have a few moments.
These are just a few of the awesome things you can do before your baby arrives. You will want to get all of the clothes and sheets washed, the house cleaned up, and your birth plan prepared. However, make sure to spend the last few weeks enjoying this precious time before your baby arrives. Your life is going to change forever, in a beautiful and extraordinary way.
***
This post was written by Natalie Michele, who is a general physician and pregnancy consultant who aims to inform and assist current or expecting mothers to a smooth transition to maternity. You may find her on her blog or on Twitter.
Leave a Reply