How to Get Ready for a Baby: A Simple Guide for New Parents

Every year, nearly four million people welcome a bundle of joy into their lives. If you’re about to join their ranks, you’re no doubt full of excitement – and maybe a little unsure.

There are a lot of things that can fall through the cracks with all of that excitement. It’s especially true for new parents but even those with experience can lose track of things in their excitement.

No worries, we’ve got a simple guide on how to get ready for a baby that’s a must-have for new parents. Keep this checklist handy and you’ll be prepared for your family’s new addition!

Get on the Same Page

It takes two to tango, and that’s especially true when it comes to becoming parents. But be careful not to assume you both have the same ideas about bringing home baby.

Sit down and have an honest, open chat with your partner. Cover important milestones like labor and delivery, chores, and other expectations.

Talk to Other Parents

The best source of information is other people who have been there. Talk to other parents about their first-time experiences with giving birth and more.

While they’re a great resource, they’re not the ultimate authority. At the end of the day, you’re the one who makes the final decisions regarding your baby.

Prepare Your Pets

Your fur babies might be a bit bewildered by all of the changes going on. Unless you’re Dr. Doolittle, you’ll have trouble explaining to them that they’re going to have a little sibling joining your family soon.

Prepare your pets for changes in their environment. Start bringing in baby items, like large cribs or noisy toys, so that they can get used to them.

Make the baby’s room off-limits. If your friends have a baby, have them bring the baby by so you can watch your pet’s reactions.

Wash Up

You want to welcome your child into a clean, hygienic environment. Also, you won’t have a lot of time to clean so might as well make your home as spotless as possible right now.

If you have the energy, do a deep clean of the entire house. Declutter and throw out the junk so that you can make room for new baby essentials.

Wash all of your baby’s clothes and bedding with a gentle, hypoallergenic detergent. That way they have fresh and clean clothes and sheets that are soft and clean for their delicate skin.

Have Fun

In the middle of all of this prep work, you might forget how fun everything is. Don’t forget to take a moment to marvel at how wonderful it is to welcome a new life into the world.

Go out shopping for newborn baby girl clothes with your friends. Pick out cute toys for your baby to play with.

Take a day to plan out the perfect nursery with your partner. Just because it has to be done doesn’t mean you can’t make your prep work fun!

Get Ready to Go

Don’t wait until you’re about to pop to put together your labor and delivery items. You want to make sure you’re ready to go for when the big day arrives.

Put together a “go bag” for the hospital. Include baby thermal socks, hospital clothes, electronics chargers, and more.

Check your car so that your ride to the hospital goes as smoothly as possible. Put emergency contact numbers into a special list so that they’re right at your fingertips when you need them the most.

Freeze Food for Later

Cooking with a newborn around isn’t always easy. You’ll want to focus on every precious minute with them.

Prepare a few big batches of food and freeze them. Casseroles, lasagnas, and soups are excellent choices for easy-to-reheat freezer meals.

Stock Up on Diapers

Don’t wait to discover the shocking number of diapers a newborn can go through. Start stocking up now for the inevitable.

Besides diapers, get the essentials like a portable diaper changing pad with storage pockets that you’ll need when you are out with your baby. Extras, like wipe warmers or odor-neutralizing diaper pails, are always a plus.

You’ll be grateful to your past self when you have a steady supply of diapers and accessories. Once you think you’ve bought enough, buy a little more.

Boost Your Budget

You’ve already crunched the numbers the moment you dreamed of bringing home baby. It’s good to keep checking in with your finances as the big day draws near.

You’ll be too busy getting ready for the baby to think about daily expenses. Get your basic budget under control, see where you can add more to the final amount, and see if there’s anything you can cut before your baby comes home.

Prepare Your Birth Plan

Giving birth is an incredible experience. It can be beautiful and scary at the same time, and everything else in between.

You know how important it is to have a plan. It’s also important to have a plan B or even C.

A lot of things can happen by the time the moment arrives. Try to create a few alternatives to your ideal scenario just in case you have to make a few different choices in the middle of everything.

Visiting Hours

All of your friends and family are eager to meet the new arrival. Instead of overwhelming yourself all at once, set up visiting hours.

Stagger visits and give yourself breaks. If your friends or family can give you a hand with caring for your newborn, work out a time that’s best for them before you bring baby home.