Congratulations, you’re expecting a little bundle of joy! The arrival of a baby is both exciting and life-changing. Not only do you endure physical changes in the process, but every aspect of your life would have to change to ensure you are better prepared for the journey ahead. Your home is one of the first areas you would have to consider making changes to accommodate the addition of your new family member. But where do you start? Fortunately, you are at the right place! Here are ten ways to prepare your home for your new baby’s arrival.
- Rethink your spaces
Since you’re expecting an addition to the family, you may want to reconsider the space available in your home. Creating a nursery for your baby is a great idea as it keeps your home tidy and organized and ensures safety. Creating a baby’s nursery also gives your baby the space to store their bed, clothes, toys, and so on. In preparing a nursery for your child, there are several factors you must consider. For instance, be sure to include a color palette that makes the room unique and a style that fits the aesthetics of the home. You should also consider the safety of your child and ensure that the right safety measures are implemented, such as placing the crib away from the window or hanging portraits. Although your baby would need a nursery, it would not be required in the first weeks after you bring them home. Your baby would most likely share a room with you during such time. In that case, reorganize your room to cater to the changes, such as a clear and accessible route to their crib.
- Prepare a changing station
As noted above, your newborn would have to sleep with you during the first few weeks of their life. When creating space in your room for the crib and keeping some items they may need, you should also consider preparing a changing station. A changing station promotes convenience as it allows you to give your child a quick diaper change whenever they need it— which is quite regular. Changing stations also helps maintain hygiene within your home, as you have a dedicated spot to do this activity. It also provides comfort for you and your baby and is easy to install. All you need to create a changing station is a flat surface and storage space to keep away supplies such as changing covers, diapers, and wipes. There are also other components you must consider when setting up a changing station, such as choosing the right spot or your preferred form of storage.
- Allocate space for feeding
Babies eat quite frequently within the day, especially during their first weeks. Therefore, you should consider allocating space for feeding your expected baby. This means you would spend a significant amount of time feeding your baby. A feeding area, much like the changing station, is an area dedicated to feeding your child. In a feeding area, you can keep the various items you would need to breastfeed, such as breast pumps, feeding bottles, pacifiers, and so on. A feeding area also makes it easier to follow your child’s feeding schedule, as all you need is conveniently within reach. Speaking of convenience, be sure your feeding area includes a comfortable chair, tissues and wipes, a cloth, burp outfits, and other feeding accessories. All you have to do is get comfortable and start feeding. Therefore, when getting ready for your baby, be sure to allocate space for feeding.
- Start baby proofing
Children are curious little ones, trying to understand everything around them. It may take your newborn some time to get to their stage of exploring; however, it is advisable to start implementing safety measures before the arrival of the baby. The developmental stages for babies seem to happen quite quickly. One minute they can barely crawl; the next minute, they can walk! Therefore, it is better to start baby-proofing to ensure your home is safe and danger-free. There are several baby-proof measures to explore, such as covering all safety hazards, playing safety latches on cabinets within their reach, and hiding aware dangling cords.
- Prevent hazards
As mentioned earlier, you would want to ensure that your home promotes safety for your child. In addition to baby proofing, there are other safety measures that you should consider before the baby arrives. For example, you can install or check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure you are effectively warned when there is a danger of a fire. You should also ensure that cleaning products and other products that contain various harmful products are not in your child’s reach. In some cases, your very sophisticated, aesthetically-pleasing home may include components such as glass that can cause your baby harm as they are sharp and breakable. In that case, you should consider removing such items. For instance, a glass decor piece should be kept away or placed where your child cannot be harmed by it. It would help if you also considered your furniture when preventing the hazards the child may be exposed to. Be sure to secure any furniture that has a likelihood of tipping and remove furniture, such as square coffee tables, that may have sharp edges. You can also prevent hazards by installing a baby monitor in your baby’s crib. Thanks to technology, baby monitors have revolutionized to make it easier for parents to watch their children. So, no matter your location, you can check in on your baby to ensure their safety.
- Get your home ready to host visitors
Once you have your baby, everyone will want to share in the joy of having a child with you; others will want to check on you. Some people would also like to give you some advice. Therefore, your home would be flooded with people visiting your new baby. After you’ve had your child, cleaning up and freshening your space to host visitors would be an almost impossible task. Therefore, carrying out this activity while you are expecting is advisable. However, it is understandable that you may not be open to seeing anyone else, just a few friends and family members. It is important to remember that you are not obliged to have visitors during this period, as you may not be up for it. Don’t be afraid to say “no” during such occasions.
- Deep clean your home
The last thing you want to do is bring your newborn baby to a foul-smelling, untidy, cluttered, and disorganized home. While your baby may not be able to judge you for this, you do affect their health negatively. Additionally, you wouldn’t be able to attend to the state of your home after childbirth as you need to recover and get accustomed to having a child. Also, you risk your child’s health if you bring them to such a home environment. Therefore, it is advisable to ensure that you clean your home before your baby comes. Be sure to target supposed “red areas,” which reportedly harbor a large number of germs, dirt, and other unhealthy components. Research shows that large volumes of germs, dirt, etc., can be found in kitchen sinks, stove and door knobs, faucet handles, and cutting boards, to name a few. Be sure to target such areas before you have your child. You should also ensure that you remove the clutter in your home to avoid trips and falls after birth, which can be dangerous for both you and your baby. Although this, before the baby comes, does not eliminate the need to do so, you do not need to put in rigorous work. For example, after a deep clean of your kitchen before giving birth, all you need to do now is use sanitary wipes to occasionally clean the counter to prevent the build-up of these components.
- Make space in the fridge
When preparing for a new child, many parents forget about the fridge! However, a fridge is integral in preparing for the journey ahead. First, you need to restock your fridge with your dietary needs. As you embark on this journey, you will soon realize that time is a luxury! There would be very little, if ever, time to do anything, such as cooking. Therefore, it is advised to prepare for this by batch-cooking your meals for some time. You also need to make space in your fridge. Although your baby won’t eat solids for a while, you still need storage space in the fridge to place various items for them. For example, you need to place excess breast milk or baby formula. You may also get meals from concerned friends and family, and the last thing you would want is to be unable to have a space to store it.
Preparing your home for your newborn is a great way to ease the overwhelming responsibilities associated with this wonderful journey. If you are confused on what to do or where to start, the abovementioned tips should come in handy.
Congratulations, you’re expecting a little bundle of joy! The arrival of a baby is both exciting and life-changing. Not only do you endure physical changes in the process, but every aspect of your life would have to change to ensure you are better prepared for the journey ahead. Your home is one of the first areas you would have to consider making changes to accommodate the addition of your new family member. But where do you start? Fortunately, you are at the right place! Here are ten ways to prepare your home for your new baby’s arrival.
- Rethink your spaces
Since you’re expecting an addition to the family, you may want to reconsider the space available in your home. Creating a nursery for your baby is a great idea as it keeps your home tidy and organized and ensures safety. Creating a baby’s nursery also gives your baby the space to store their bed, clothes, toys, and so on. In preparing a nursery for your child, there are several factors you must consider. For instance, be sure to include a color palette that makes the room unique and a style that fits the aesthetics of the home. You should also consider the safety of your child and ensure that the right safety measures are implemented, such as placing the crib away from the window or hanging portraits. Although your baby would need a nursery, it would not be required in the first weeks after you bring them home. Your baby would most likely share a room with you during such time. In that case, reorganize your room to cater to the changes, such as a clear and accessible route to their crib.
- Prepare a changing station
As noted above, your newborn would have to sleep with you during the first few weeks of their life. When creating space in your room for the crib and keeping some items they may need, you should also consider preparing a changing station. A changing station promotes convenience as it allows you to give your child a quick diaper change whenever they need it— which is quite regular. Changing stations also helps maintain hygiene within your home, as you have a dedicated spot to do this activity. It also provides comfort for you and your baby and is easy to install. All you need to create a changing station is a flat surface and storage space to keep away supplies such as changing covers, diapers, and wipes. There are also other components you must consider when setting up a changing station, such as choosing the right spot or your preferred form of storage.
- Allocate space for feeding
Babies eat quite frequently within the day, especially during their first weeks. Therefore, you should consider allocating space for feeding your expected baby. This means you would spend a significant amount of time feeding your baby. A feeding area, much like the changing station, is an area dedicated to feeding your child. In a feeding area, you can keep the various items you would need to breastfeed, such as breast pumps, feeding bottles, pacifiers, and so on. A feeding area also makes it easier to follow your child’s feeding schedule, as all you need is conveniently within reach. Speaking of convenience, be sure your feeding area includes a comfortable chair, tissues and wipes, a cloth, burp outfits, and other feeding accessories. All you have to do is get comfortable and start feeding. Therefore, when getting ready for your baby, be sure to allocate space for feeding.
- Start baby proofing
Children are curious little ones, trying to understand everything around them. It may take your newborn some time to get to their stage of exploring; however, it is advisable to start implementing safety measures before the arrival of the baby. The developmental stages for babies seem to happen quite quickly. One minute they can barely crawl; the next minute, they can walk! Therefore, it is better to start baby-proofing to ensure your home is safe and danger-free. There are several baby-proof measures to explore, such as covering all safety hazards, playing safety latches on cabinets within their reach, and hiding aware dangling cords.
- Prevent hazards
As mentioned earlier, you would want to ensure that your home promotes safety for your child. In addition to baby proofing, there are other safety measures that you should consider before the baby arrives. For example, you can install or check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure you are effectively warned when there is a danger of a fire. You should also ensure that cleaning products and other products that contain various harmful products are not in your child’s reach. In some cases, your very sophisticated, aesthetically-pleasing home may include components such as glass that can cause your baby harm as they are sharp and breakable. In that case, you should consider removing such items. For instance, a glass decor piece should be kept away or placed where your child cannot be harmed by it. It would help if you also considered your furniture when preventing the hazards the child may be exposed to. Be sure to secure any furniture that has a likelihood of tipping and remove furniture, such as square coffee tables, that may have sharp edges. You can also prevent hazards by installing a baby monitor in your baby’s crib. Thanks to technology, baby monitors have revolutionized to make it easier for parents to watch their children. So, no matter your location, you can check in on your baby to ensure their safety.
- Get your home ready to host visitors
Once you have your baby, everyone will want to share in the joy of having a child with you; others will want to check on you. Some people would also like to give you some advice. Therefore, your home would be flooded with people visiting your new baby. After you’ve had your child, cleaning up and freshening your space to host visitors would be an almost impossible task. Therefore, carrying out this activity while you are expecting is advisable. However, it is understandable that you may not be open to seeing anyone else, just a few friends and family members. It is important to remember that you are not obliged to have visitors during this period, as you may not be up for it. Don’t be afraid to say “no” during such occasions.
- Deep clean your home
The last thing you want to do is bring your newborn baby to a foul-smelling, untidy, cluttered, and disorganized home. While your baby may not be able to judge you for this, you do affect their health negatively. Additionally, you wouldn’t be able to attend to the state of your home after childbirth as you need to recover and get accustomed to having a child. Also, you risk your child’s health if you bring them to such a home environment. Therefore, it is advisable to ensure that you clean your home before your baby comes. Be sure to target supposed “red areas,” which reportedly harbor a large number of germs, dirt, and other unhealthy components. Research shows that large volumes of germs, dirt, etc., can be found in kitchen sinks, stove and door knobs, faucet handles, and cutting boards, to name a few. Be sure to target such areas before you have your child. You should also ensure that you remove the clutter in your home to avoid trips and falls after birth, which can be dangerous for both you and your baby. Although this, before the baby comes, does not eliminate the need to do so, you do not need to put in rigorous work. For example, after a deep clean of your kitchen before giving birth, all you need to do now is use sanitary wipes to occasionally clean the counter to prevent the build-up of these components.
- Make space in the fridge
When preparing for a new child, many parents forget about the fridge! However, a fridge is integral in preparing for the journey ahead. First, you need to restock your fridge with your dietary needs. As you embark on this journey, you will soon realize that time is a luxury! There would be very little, if ever, time to do anything, such as cooking. Therefore, it is advised to prepare for this by batch-cooking your meals for some time. You also need to make space in your fridge. Although your baby won’t eat solids for a while, you still need storage space in the fridge to place various items for them. For example, you need to place excess breast milk or baby formula. You may also get meals from concerned friends and family, and the last thing you would want is to be unable to have a space to store it.
Preparing your home for your newborn is a great way to ease the overwhelming responsibilities associated with this wonderful journey. If you are confused on what to do or where to start, the abovementioned tips should come in handy.
