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As much as society would have us think so, "nesting" does not come naturally for all expecting mothers. There is always something we neglect or completely forget to do. So, having a core list of household baby preparation tasks is nifty!
The final weeks before giving birth are crucial to making the first weeks at home with your baby easier. Household preparation tasks include buying necessary items, deep cleaning, organizing, stocking up on food, settling documentation, and getting your pets vetted.
Some of these are obvious, but a few of them slip under the radar, especially for first-time parents or parents who are both working full-time.
1. Get Clothes, Burp Cloths, and Blankets
Whether you receive most of your baby's clothes, burp cloths, and blankets through friends and family or by purchasing them yourself, ensure you have plenty on hand.
Diaper blowouts, peeing everywhere, and spit-up streams are going to be a thing for a few months, so make sure you have more than a few outfits and burpcloths around.
Also, consider the weather changes in your area and how often you will want to dress your baby up. Around the house, you may not dress your little one in the cutest outfits given how often you'll have to change those clothes.
Another thing to think about is sleepers. Will you use sleep sacks, footed onesies, or swaddles? This decision will ultimately come down to your baby's preferences, but having two to four different options will help you find what your little one sleeps in best.
Finally, pay attention to how each baby clothing item closes. I'll tell you from experience that snaps are awful. The last thing sleep-deprived newborn parents need when changing a screaming, wiggling newborn is a dozen snaps to match and close.
But for some reason, the most adorable outfits and sleepers have snaps! Beware!
2. Purchase Crib or Pack 'n Play
Whether your baby will sleep in a crib or pack 'n play needs to be decided before you go to the hospital because you likely won't feel up to setting one up the day you bring your sweet bundle home.
Cribs are sturdy and cute, but they will only last until toddlerhood. Pack 'n plays often come with a raised bed or bassinet setting that you can use until your baby begins rolling over, which is fantastic when recovering from a cesarean delivery.
Pack 'n plays are also cheaper and more mobile than cribs, making them a popular option for parents on a budget or in a tight living space.
Quick Tip: If you purchase a pack 'n play, learn how to set it up and pack it down before your baby arrives. Doing so under pressure from a crying newborn and sleep deprivation is not a fun learning moment.
3. Set Up Diaper Changing Station and Bag
A diaper changing station is a must! However, what you set a diaper changing station upon is not as complicated as some make it out to be. For instance, you do not need to purchase a changing table if you have a large and low dresser top.
I regularly changed one of my babies on a desk and another on a pad on my bed. I must warn you that astounding accidents do happen at times. A baby boy may pee everywhere when you open his diaper, or your baby may shoot poop an impressive six feet while you scramble to open a new package of diapers.
So, if you don't have much space and plan to change your baby on a changing pad on your bed or couch, lay a towel under and off the end of the pad to make the "splash zone" easier to clean up.
Whatever place you choose as a changing station must be wide, long, and sturdy enough to hold your baby and diaper-changing essentials. Set up a small bucket, bin, or diaper caddy with fresh diapers, wipes, Auquaphor, diaper rash cream, and a hand towel.
You could even set up two or three of these around the house to ensure you are prepared for a blowout anywhere. Speaking of anywhere, don't forget to prepare your diaper bag with fresh diapers, wipes, 3-4 changes of clothes, a baby blanket, and a travel changing pad!
4. Get Blackout Curtains
Every parent has a preference for how much light to let into the baby's room (or the room your baby will sleep in). Light probably won't affect your baby's sleep habits in the first few weeks, but your little one will soon adjust to being up with the sun or getting cranky in the dark.
One of my babies was a fantastic napper, even when the sun was shining into his room. But my second would wake to any light whatsoever: sunshine, nightlight, or even the hallway light under the door. She has always been a light sleeper, so we got blackout curtains for her.
5. Get a Rocking Chair or Glider
Not all parents believe that rocking their baby to sleep is a healthy habit, but you may want some kind of rocking motion after a string of sleepless nights.
If you want to have one, think ahead to having a crawling baby or climbing toddler. Little fingers can get pinched or crushed easily with these chairs, but some are built with panels that keep fingers out.
6. Get Baby-Safe Soap, Cleaners, and Detergent
Soap, cleaners, and detergents are packed with chemicals your little one doesn't need exposure to. Fragrance oils, dyes, surfactants, sulfates, and many other ingredients could cause skin or eye irritation in your baby.
Instead, purchase baby-safe unscented soaps, cleaners, and detergents to use for the next year or so. Wash all your baby's clothes, cloths, and gear with these before bringing your little one home.
You can read more about things around your home that may be toxic to your baby in 25 Common Household Things That Are Toxic to Your Baby.
7. Purchase and Install a Car Seat
If you have a car, you should invest in a car seat unless you plan to walk your baby home in a stroller. A hospital staff member will likely walk out to ensure you have one and properly strap your little one into it the day you take your baby home.
Unfortunately, purchasing a car seat that will serve your family best seems like a mystical process. You can get around some of that confusion and later upgrade expenses by biting the bullet and purchasing a "grow-with-me" car seat now.
"Grow-with-me" car seats will last until your child is big and old enough to sit in the car with a normal seat belt! They're well worth the purchase, but they're costly upfront.
A car seat is not the only "grow-with-me" baby product purchase you can make to save yourself time and money later. Check out more of these ingenious products in Taming the Home: Choosing Baby Products that Grow with Your Baby.
8. Buy Bottles, a Pump, and Breastmilk Bags or Formula
Have you decided whether to breastfeed or bottle-feed your baby? It's about time to start thinking about it because you'll probably need some bottles, a pump, and breastmilk freezer storage bags soon.
If you are a working mom, you will need to set up a system for formula or pumping at work to save milk for your little one. This includes a breast pump, bottles, bottle nipples for the first few growth stages, and a way to store the milk short-term and long-term (a cold carrying case and freezer storage).
Don't forget about a bottle cleaning kit! You'll need baby-safe soap, bottle and nipple brushes, and a spot to store bottles, nipples, and caps not in use.
9. Purchase Mattress Cover
Whether you plan to breastfeed or not, purchasing a waterproof mattress cover for your bed and your baby's bed is a solid purchase. Leaking breasts, bleeding, spit up, pee, and poop are all par for the course.
I purchased two mattress covers for my own bed and three for my baby's bed (along with plenty of sheet sets). This made cleanup so much easier in the middle of the night!
10. Wash and Prepare All Newborn Items
Ideally, you won't dress your baby in clothes straight out of the package. It could have factory dust, chemicals, dyes not fully set in the material, bug sprays, or resins that may irritate your baby's skin (source).
You can avoid these issues by washing your newborn's clothes, blankets, sheets, and cloths with baby-safe detergent before you go to the hospital. You should also wipe down the high chair, car seat, crib or pack 'n play, toys, and any other items your baby will contact directly.
11. Deep Clean
Is it the nesting instinct or common sense to deep clean your home before giving birth? I like to think of it as common sense because your little one's immune system will not be strong for a few weeks, and you'll be worn out from giving birth and caring for that newborn.
Deep cleaning can make your home safer for you and your baby to recover from birth and ease your tired mind as your schedule fills with newborn care.
As you clean cabinets, shelves, curtains, closets, and drawers, keep an eye out for evidence of roaches or mice. Many are totally unaware of problems with these critters until they deep clean. If you see evidence of them, set out poison (wear gloves) or hire an exterminator to spray for them.
Let your home air out thoroughly before you go back inside after bug spray, and wipe everything down to ensure your baby won't come into contact with those chemicals.
Another often overlooked deep cleaning task is shampooing carpets and rugs. You don't think about needing it until you do it once and marvel at how much dirt and gunk came out of those fibers! You can rent a carpet shampoo machine or buy a cheap one online. You'll likely want to do this again when your baby starts crawling.
12. Make Freezer and Fridge Space
If you know you will need to pump and store breastmilk after maternity leave, make the space to store breastmilk bags in your freezer before going to the hospital for delivery. You'll probably have less time and energy to do so later.
Clearing a spot in your fridge to hold a couple of milk bottles at a time is also a good idea. While you're at it, go ahead and get rid of anything outdated and clean out the fridge. It's another task you won't have much time or energy for during the next few weeks.
13. Handle Outdoor Cleanup Tasks
If you have a yard, porch, patio, garden beds, or flower beds, go ahead and complete this season's tasks. Pruning, weeding, mulching, fertilizing, spraying, organizing, planting, and anything else will be far easier now than later.
I was surprised by my first baby's cesarean delivery, so I ended up waiting a full eight weeks to heal enough to lift pots and move stuff around outside. It took another month or two to feel up to weeding. So, do what you can now, or get some help to handle it!
14. Wash Pets
The week before you go into the hospital for delivery is a great time to wash your pets and treat them with baby-safe flea and tick treatments. If you are having a summer baby and your long-haired dog needs to be shaved, doing so now will save you some floor hairballs and a task you'd rather not do sleep-deprived.
Get someone else to clean out your cat's litter box, though. Cats can get toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease, from eating raw meat, birds, mice, or a number of other things. If passed to you through their feces, you could develop an infection that harms your baby or causes a miscarriage (source).
If you are the only one around to clean the litter box, use gloves and wash your hands thoroughly with hot water and soap.
15. Move Clutter or Furniture Crowding Walkways
Removing clutter and furniture that crowds walkways is best done before you have your little one. Clutter collects dust and can add stress to your life in an already stressful time, so clearing it will make life easier over the next few weeks.
Although furniture crowding walkways may be easy to get around now, it could be dangerous while you carry your baby from room to room in the dark, under stress, or with a lack of sleep. Stubbing your toe while holding a sleeping infant is an awful experience!
16. Clean, Maintenance, and Repair Your Car
Though you are not likely feeling agile at the moment, cleaning your car out may be easier now than after your baby arrives. If not, ask a friend or relative to help or hire a neighbor's kid.
If you have any major or minor repairs that you'll have to do soon after your baby arrives, consider doing them beforehand. Regular maintenance like changing the oil, rotating the tires, aligning the tires, and such can be done fairly quickly by a friend, family member, or at a shop.
Large repairs are another time- and cost-intensive task altogether. Try to handle any repairs that will lessen the risk of breaking down on the side of the road with an infant.
17. Get Your Clothes Sorted
You will probably not be able to walk out of the hospital in your pre-pregnancy clothes, but you will likely lose 15-20 pounds right away. As your body shifts sizes in the months after delivery, your clothes will change, too.
You can get ahead by ensuring you have season-appropriate clothes in your closet and purchase a few nursing bras, shirts, and dresses (if you plan to breastfeed). If you have a cesarean delivery, ensure you have plenty of loose clothing that won't hug your incision.
18. Stock Up on Diapers and Wipes
Your newborn will use 10-15 diapers a day during the first couple of weeks and 8-10 diapers a day for the rest of that first month, so stock up well on diapers and wipes!
For those who are interested in using reusable diapers and wipes, check out The Ultimate Guide to Reusable Cloth Diapers. You will need 12-16 reusable diapers, absorbent inserts, waterproof bags, a rinsing station, and baby-safe detergent.
For wipes, choose the cloths carefully and experiment with various baby-safe wipe solutions until you find one that works best for your little one. Most babies tolerate store-bought wipes and diapers just fine, but others (like mine) have terrible breakouts that necessitate reusable diapers.
19. Stock Up on Easy Meals
To avoid ordering out or relying on unhealthy meal choices during those first weeks, plan ahead by cooking several healthy meals and freezing them.
Stocking up on a large grocery run a couple of days before delivery is also an excellent way to lighten your load after your baby arrives!
20. Stock Up on Breast Pads and Menstrual Pads
I totally missed this with my first baby. I only had what the hospital gave me and ended up running to the store twice that first week after having a cesarean delivery. Not fun!
You will need a surprising number of breastmilk pads until everything settles into a routine. For my second, I opted for reusable breast pads, which were more comfortable on sore nipples and less expensive in the long run.
The hospital will send you home with a stack of massive postpartum pads to catch heavy bleeding. After a few days, you will either run out of those or slow your bleeding, so you will then need menstrual pads.
21. Choose a Pediatrician
Your baby will begin visiting a pediatrician for checkups and vaccines soon after birth, so find a pediatrician who works with your insurance beforehand. If you have no idea where to start, ask the hospital you plan to give birth in.
Typically, the pediatrician who visits your baby after delivery will have openings to take on new patients, so ask!
22. Settle Time Off Work
If you are working up to your due date, ensure your boss and manager are notified of how much time you will take off work to heal and spend with your little one. Many new moms take some combination of maternity leave, sick days, and or vacation days.
Whatever your plan is, communicate clearly ahead of time so your boss can plan accordingly. You can also inquire about working full or part-time from home after maternity leave.
23. Refill Any Prescriptions Ahead of Time
If you take regular prescriptions, supplements, or vitamins, refill them before your delivery date to avoid another trip into town. Some doctors will let you refill ahead of time if you put in a request. Explain that your baby is coming soon!
This step is not a big deal for those who can get their prescriptions refilled by mail. Just make sure everything is set properly beforehand!
24. Get Pets Fully Vetted
Is your pet due for vaccinations or flea and tick treatments soon after your baby is due? Consider getting those handled beforehand to eliminate a trip to town and sitting in the waiting room with a newborn.
While your pet is there, ask about how to introduce your pet to the baby. Your vet will have some helpful tips based on your pet's unique personality and breed. You can also ask to have those nails filed to minimize scratches or have caps put on your cat's claws.
Other pet items to take care of before the baby includes:
Cleaning pet beds.
Separating pet toys from baby toys.
Getting a gate to keep your pet out of the baby's room (if you want to keep them separated).
25. Locate Important Documents and Renew Licenses If Needed
Locate important documents and licenses to complete your little one's paperwork and add him or her to your health insurance plan. If you need to update licenses, passports, or other documentation, do so ahead of time to save yourself a massive headache later.
Your baby's paperwork is easy to overlook before delivery, but there is so much to fill out while you are at the hospital. Social security, a certificate of birth, insurance paperwork, and more are not a fun surprise.
Learn more about what to expect and how to prepare in 10 Questions First-time Parents Ask About Their Baby's Paperwork.
Make Plans in Case of Cesarean
Most parents who end up delivering their baby via cesarean section were not planning to do so. Nearly 1 in 3 births are done via c-section in the United States these days, so it's wise to plan ahead in case this happens to you (source)!
One major way to prepare is by arranging your home with the assumption that you will not be able to bend over, pull things out of low drawers, lift items over five pounds, or stand on your toes to reach items overhead for the first 4-6 weeks.
If you want to understand more about cesareans, why they may happen, what to expect during the operation and after having one, and how to prepare, read 15 Questions First-Time Cesarean Delivery Parents Ask.
In a Nutshell
Planning ahead and preparing your home for your little one is a fantastic way to alleviate stress and make life with a newborn easier. Not everything related to babies and birth goes according to plan, so some preparation goes a long way!
