Whether you’re 90 days or 9 months pregnant, you probably have a lot of ideas, especially how to get ready for your newborn! Preparing for the upcoming baby is a daunting task. But don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. Here are the most important things to do at home before your baby goes home
Prepare Your Baby and Your Future Needs
While it may seem strange to anticipate your future needs – especially if you’re truly living in the moment – a little foresight can go a long way. Prepare, cook, and freeze extra meals. Stock up on household essentials like laundry detergent, paper towels, toilet paper, and other cleaning products. Dispense medications and keep them as up-to-date as possible. And, even if you don’t plan on using formula, you can buy some baby bottles and a can of formula. In the future you may thank you for what you did.
Rapid Infant Protection
Having a baby in the house who can climb into the kitchen and open a cupboard full of toxic chemicals may seem like a lifetime affair, but any parent will tell you that this is not the case. Since babies are able to move almost overnight, baby protection is a must. It’s easier to prepare now than later when you’re sleep-deprived.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, cleaning products (including laundry and dishwasher boxes) and medications should always be stored in a securely locked cabinet out of sight and reach. According to Darla DeMorrow, owner of HeartWork Organizing and author of Organizing Your Home with SORT and SUCCEED, using magnetic locks on cabinets within easy reach: “They work with almost all types, are easy to install, and don’t pinch your fingers.”
If you have a firearm in your home, remove the ammunition and lock it away from the firearm. Store these keys in a different place than you would store your home keys. Finally, inspect or install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Be Prepared for Visitors if You Wish
The early days of parenthood are a blur, full of sleep deprivation and visitors. If you’re planning to host guests for the night, you may want to prepare for their visit right away. Stock up on toothpaste, toothbrushes, and toilet paper. Change the bed linen and put an extra fan in the room to eliminate the white noise. You should also prepare extra towels and soap.
That said, it’s important to note that under no circumstances should you feel obligated to receive, place, or host guests. This phrase always holds true, but it also applies now, when you become a new parent. There’s nothing wrong with saying “no” to a visitor after birth.
Target the Red Area
The areas in your home with the most germs aren’t the light switches, keys, and doorknobs you might suspect. Research by the International National Sanitation Foundation shows that kitchen sinks, rags, stove knobs, sponges, faucet handles, countertops, refrigerator handles, cutting boards, and toothbrush holders are the places with the most bacteria.
To get your baby home and enjoy a tidy life, ask your partner to check everything while you’re recovering in the hospital.
Make Room for the Refrigerator
While your baby may be on an all-liquid diet, your fridge needs enough space to store excess breast milk, infant formula, or just a delicious casserole dish brought by your friends and family. So, when your fridge is almost empty (preferably before you go to buy food), clean it well. Work from top to bottom, get everything out and throw out expired or unrecognizable food.
Sterilize Bottles and Breast Pump Parts
You’ve got a breast pump, a pacifier, a pacifier and a bottle, but what now? I mean, they might look clean – especially if they’re all shiny new – but are they? not really, at least not yet.
“Before first use, sterilize the nipple and bottle in boiling water for 5 minutes,” explains an article from the Nemour Children’s Health System. “After that, you don’t have to sanitize your baby’s bottles and supplies every time you feed your baby. Wash bottles and nipples in hot, soapy water (or in the dishwasher) after each use.”
You can also buy store-bought sterilizers. These are usually placed in the microwave and/or placed on your countertop, but they are not required.
Make a “Care” Basket
From diapers and wipes to water bottles and parent snacks, there’s a lot of what you want at your fingertips. (Trust me.) As a mother of two – who has been trapped under her sleeping newborn on several occasions – the latter is especially important. Prepare a “care” basket full of essentials for you and your little one, and keep it close to your bed, couch, or both. Don’t forget to get a spare jumpsuit and shirt for you! From spit to explosion, the costume needs to be constantly changed.
Wash Clothes
While doing laundry may seem like a matter of course, you’ll want to wash everything before your baby comes home. This includes onesies, pajamas, and bed sheets. Remove the packaging and any labels or labels that may irritate sensitive skin, and use a cleanser that is free of dyes and fragrances, or a cleanser marketed specifically for babies.
Install the Car Seat
Technically, it’s not a family trick or trick, but it’s important. Installing an infant car seat before the baby is born is a huge step forward that should not be overlooked. You should also test the buckles and straps now so you know how to secure your baby in them later. And keep the instructions handy. You will feel exhausted after birth, and arguing with a car seat will be the last thing you want to do.