Today, I’m sharing parenting advice on how to prepare for a new baby. When you discovered you had a baby on the way, you were no doubt overjoyed. But, as the news settles in, the stresses and worries of parenthood start to creep up. There is so much to prepare for your little one’s arrival. You wonder if there’s enough space for your new baby. And, everything you need to be the best parents possible. Additionally, you need to make sure your home is 100% safe for an infant.
Some new parents decide to upgrade to a bigger home or a more child-friendly location. However, it’s not always possible to do that. You may have professional or personal commitments to your current hometown, or maybe your finances can’t quite stretch to a new house.
This shouldn’t matter. It is entirely possible to turn your current home into a perfect, child-friendly property. Read on to learn some top tips to get your home in shape to welcome your little one when they arrive.
How to prepare for a new baby:
Declutter
One of the most important things you’ll need to do is to create more space. Although a newborn doesn’t take up much room, you will need space for all the new baby gifts, crib, changing table and toys. Now is the time to declutter your home, and get rid of anything you don’t need. Go through each room systematically and be strict about what you throw away. Old work papers, stacks of CDs and DVDs, broken furniture and clothes you no longer wear. All of these things can go. The more you throw out, the more space you will have for the new member of the household.
Once you have cleared your home of extraneous items, you should ensure that you maintain your newly created space. Be aware of what you bring into your home, and don’t shop for new things unless you really need them. Your friends and family are probably going to host a baby shower for your and your new baby. So, request things you need so you don’t end up with duplicate or unnecessary presents filling up your house.
Create a bedroom
Even if your newborn will start out sleeping in your bedroom, they will eventually need their own space. Unless you intend to move to a new home, you will need to designate a room for your new baby. If you have more than one option, consider how much space they will need and the proximity to your bedroom.
Now that you have designated space for a bedroom, you will need to fill it with all the things your baby could need. A crib is essential, and you’ll also need storage for clothes and toys and a changing table.
You will want to decorate your child’s new bedroom to create a pleasant environment for them to grow up in. Paint the walls, add some child-friendly pictures, and adorn it with all the toys they could possibly want. It is a good idea to make your room gender-neutral if you don’t yet know the sex of the baby. Even if you do know the gender, remember not all girls like pink and not all boys like spaceships and superheroes. Wait until they are older and you know their likes and dislikes before making big theme decorating choices. You can save a lot of money by decorating yourself, but if you are able hire a decorator to bring your vision to life.
Purchase the Essentials
They may be small, but babies need a lot of stuff. How to prepare for a new baby must include bottles and formula for feeding, clothes and diapers, baby food, toys and potty training and walking products. You will need to buy all of these before the baby arrives and find a place to house them. You may wish to create a budget to keep track of your spending and stop yourself from going overboard.
It can be tempting to give your wonderful new child the world, but they will be perfectly happy with the essentials and a few toys. Don’t stretch your finances unnecessarily. Your loved ones will be more than happy to buy gifts. So, don’t be afraid to ask for some of the things you need. All these new items will take up a lot of room, so you may want to invest in some smart storage solutions to save space.
Babyproof your home
The most important step in preparing your home for a new baby is to make sure it is safe. Babies are fragile and curious. They love exploring new places and putting strange and exciting items in their mouths. An unsafe house and a baby are a recipe for disaster. You will need to give your home a thorough going-over to ensure there is no risks.
One of the best ways to baby proof your home is to put yourself in the perspective of your new baby. Crawl around the home, seeing what they will see, and you will quickly be able to identify any hazards you might otherwise have missed.
Any sharp items, chemicals, and medications should be kept in cabinets out of reach. If there is a chance they could open a cupboard, they should be securely locked. Small objects that present a choking hazard are easier to miss. You never know when you might drop a coin or a key or even bring in a stone from outside on your shoe. You should be vigilant with a small child around and constantly be on the lookout for objects they might want to put in their mouths.
Another major injury hazard is the staircase. As soon as your child starts crawling, you will need to install safety gates above the stairs. Guarding their bedroom eventually is a good idea too. You want to prevent any unplanned excursions in the night. Open windows can also be dangerous too. Invest in some window guards, you won’t be sorry.
Electrical outlets can pose a risk too. Outlets provide the perfect receptacle for curious babies to stick things in. You can buy child-safe covers to shield empty outlets, or even hire an electrician to move outlets higher up the wall and out of your child’s reach.
Another common cause for injury in young children are sharp corners on pieces of furniture. Some tables tend to be exactly the same height as a newly-walking toddler. They are accidents waiting to happen. Luckily you can buy soft rubber or padded corner guards to cover any sharp corners and minimize the risk.
As soon as your child starts to crawl, they will be clambering up and down furniture. As a result, there is a risk they could tip over chairs and tables and seriously hurt themselves. Anchor all furniture in your baby’s room to the wall to prevent this from happening.
Get your fridge ready
When people ask how to prepare for a new baby, they usually don’t think about their meals. Your new baby will need to eat, but so do you. You and your partner will both be exhausted and busy, so it’s unlikely you’ll be cooking any extravagant meals for the first few weeks. If you have other children, they need to eat too. So, prepare to cook nutritious yet delicious meals that you can just heat up and eat right away. This will save you time and energy that would be best spent looking after your new arrival.
Prepare to clean
Babies are notoriously messy. So, when you’re making your list on how to prepare for a new baby include cleaning products. Your home will eventually get stained and endure spills. Ensure your home is adequately stocked with cleaning products, and any delicate, easily-damaged items are protected or stored out of the way.
We hope that you have found our tips on how to prepare for a new baby helpful. Awaiting the arrival of a new baby is one of the most exciting adventures you could ever have. You are bringing a new life into the world and embarking on a new journey together as parents. You want your little one to be cared for and looked after, and by preparing your home and making it child-friendly, you can make sure your baby has the best start to life possible.
Get Your Finances In Order
One of the most expensive adventures you can undertake is to have a child. So, getting your finances in order is an essential step to take when a new arrival is on the way! There are so many handy resources online that can help you to fix your past credit history while also improving your financial future. As a result, it’s a good idea to do some research and find a site such as pigly.com. It will enable you to tackle debt and plan ahead to ensure you can provide your child with everything they need. Keeping track of your accounts is essential when preparing for a baby.
Furthermore, you need to be able to identify any underpaid wages or unrecognized transactions. You need to look after each and every penny. Developing a savings account in preparation for your new arrival will benefit your family after you give birth. Although you will not be working for some time, you’ll still need to fork out money for an endless supply of diapers, wipes, formula and clothes.
It can be tricky to tackle your finances, so there’s no time like the present to learn essential money management skills. Fortunately, you can pass these skill on to the next generation. However, try not to spend money on luxuries when prepping for a newborn. Spending money on expensive clothes and shoes are unnecessary expenses. What’s important is that your bundle of joy is safe and warm!
We hope that you have found our tips on how to prepare for a new baby helpful.
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