10 Tips to Prepare For Your Newborn

I started out this pregnancy with so many things I wanted to get done and now we are in crunch time getting all the things ready for our newborn.

It’s hard to believe that it’s already time but it’s baby month at our house. We only have a few more short weeks to get ready for our little one to join the family. So that means it’s time to get all the baby things ready.

Getting Ready for Your Newborn

While there are tons of things that would be nice to have done before having your baby; I’m just going to share a few things that will make your transition to having a newborn at home easier.

Create Diaper Stations

We all know that babies go through tons of diapers so creating diaper stations in different rooms of the house makes life with a newborn so much easier.

The two main areas I like to have a diaper station is mom and dad’s room and the living room. These are the rooms that we spend the most of our time right now. You might have other rooms you want to include.

I also like having a diaper station in the car for when we are on the go and so I have extra diapers in the car if needed.

How to Make a Diaper Changing Station

There are a lot of ways to create a diaper changing station and none of them are right or wrong.

First set aside a drawer or get a basket to use to store all the diaper changing essentials. Some of the portable playards (pack-n-play) have pockets on the outside that would work great for storing diaper changing essentials.

At our house, those diaper essentials are clean diapers, baby wipes, and coconut oil. You could also have a clean outfit in case of blowouts if you want.

Have a Safe Place for Baby to Nap

Since I have two helpers this time around creating a safe place for baby to nap that’s in the main part of the house has been a priority for me.

With each of my babies a swing has been a great place for them to nap or lay down when needed in the family room or kitchen. With baby #3 we are also going to have a nursery center playard as an additional safe space for baby.

Create a Nursing Basket

If you are planning on nursing having a nursing basket in the area you will spend most of your time nursing is so nice, especially for the first few weeks.

With a newborn it can sometimes feel like all you do is nurse those first few weeks. So having a basket that’s easy to reach with all the things you need is always so nice.

What you have in your basket can change as you need it to but a few of my must have nursing basket items are: easy snacks, nursing pads, pillow, book/phone and water. I like my water cold so I don’t have water in my nursing basket I just usually have my water with me when I start nursing.

Wash Baby Clothes and Blankets

Before your newborn joins the family having the baby clothes, blankets, burp cloths,and any other baby things washed is a must. Be sure when you are washing them to use a gentle laundry soap.

Newborn skin can be very sensitive and you don’t want to give them a rash from the laundry soap.

Install the Car Seat

Before heading to the hospital to have your baby be sure to install the car seat. You will need to have a properly installed car seat to leave the hospital with your newborn.

Pack the Diaper Bag

The diaper bag is a big deal when you have a newborn, baby or toddler. So get ready for carrying around a diaper bag for the next few yeas.

With a newborn there are so many things you could pack in your diaper bag it can be hard to know just what you need. A couple must have items are diapers, wipes and extra outfits.

To see everything I pack in my newborn diaper bag and what my favorite diaper bag is read this post.

Get Nightlights

With a newborn your going to be getting up multiple times during the night. Having nightlights makes it easy to get up and get the baby without having to turn on a bunch of lights.

Set up Baby Gear

Get all the baby stuff set up, washed, and ready to use. If you’re planning on using a crib, swing, pack and play, or anything else with your newborn get it set up and ready before the baby is born.

Stock up on Household Items and Groceries

At least a few weeks before your due date stock up on household items and groceries so you don’t have to worry about shopping for the first few weeks with your little one.

Many expecting moms also like to use this time to prep freezer meals. I try to have some frozen dinner/lunch items and then have supplies for fast and easy meals like pasta or crockpot chicken.

Ask for Help

If you can anticipate what you will need for a couple of weeks after the baby is born and ask for help before you have your baby.

For me I know that I’m going to need help with my older kids while I adjust to a newborn and recover from my c-section. Since I live across the country from family, getting the help I will need after having my baby takes some planning.

Luckily my mom is always willing and excited to come and spend a few weeks helping when I have a baby.

Depending on what type of birth you will have and if you have other kids the type of help you will need will be different.

No matter what you need help with, don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are a lot of people excited for you that want to do something but aren’t sure what you need. Let them know what would help you and most of them will be excited to help.