Preparing For Baby’s Arrival: Ultimate Checklist

As an expecting parent, you will inevitably want your affairs sorted as your due date approaches. Pregnancy is not that long of a period so you can’t delay your duties. However, pregnancy is a long enough period for you to make a to-do list and prepare yourself for the newborn.

How to prepare for a baby? The best method of preparing for a newborn is the ‘divide and conquer‘ approach. Meaning, of course, to divide your chores and conquer them one at a time.

This method helps parents stay calm and collected while seamlessly achieving everything from their to-do lists. Knowing the baby is on its way may cause stress in both mom and dad. Though your head might be in the clouds during this happy occasion, you’ll still need to keep both feet firmly on the ground.

Check out our ultimate checklist of tasks before your little one arrives. We will provide you with all the advice necessary to be as ready as can be.

The Delivery

The process of childbirth can be intimidating and complicated. Women are advised to gather information about the procedure beforehand. They should seek medical advice as well as word of mouth accounts of childbirth.

They should not be collecting horror stories from other women, true as they may be. This information will only cause fear and discouragement. You should opt for medical and professional advice which will help you better understand the process.

Women who have sought step by step descriptions of giving birth were themselves more active and present during the delivery. This makes everything easier for you, your child, and the medical staff.

Our advice is to take part in birthing lessons where you learn everything about labor, breathing, and managing pain during delivery.

Choose a Doctor

Most women feel comfortable having the same doctor throughout their pregnancy. Make sure you choose a doctor you know and get along with. You need to be able to trust this professional with your and your child’s health during the pregnancy, as well as the delivery.

Health Insurance

Make sure your health insurance is up to date and has maternity coverage. If you don’t know where to begin, consult your insurance company for further information.

All Hands on Deck

The period after the baby arrives is the all hands on deck period. This means that you will need as much help as you can get. Be sure to assign roles and tasks inside the family and among friends.

It goes without saying that you and your partner will be doing the most significant chunk of the work, but a helping hand can do wonders for new parents. Your loved ones can help out with laundry, cooking, washing, shopping, etc.

You might be able to pull everything together just the two of you. Still, it is better to be prepared than left shorthanded in your time of need.

Consult Other Women

We recommend talking to moms you look up to. Whether they are women from your family, your circle of friends or your neighborhood they can give you helpful guidelines. Preparing for baby can be a handful at times, and you can benefit from the advice you receive.

Clothing for Baby

You will probably receive a ton of hand-me-downs as well as new baby clothes. This will be helpful, however, make sure you have enough clothes for the first three months after birth. This will make your life more organized and stress-free.

Depending on the upcoming weather get 8 to 10 functioning outfits for each month. One outfit should include a top, a bottom, and socks. Make sure that everything your little one wears is cotton as the baby’s skin is really sensitive.

Diaper Stock

For the first three months, you will need between 8 and 14 diapers per day. The number will vary depending on the day, the amount of feeding, as well as the age of the baby. Newborns tend to wet their diapers more often than a three month old baby.

Clothing for Mommy

Don’t forget to equip yourself with maternity clothes. Apart from nursing bras, nursing pads, and grandma panties, make sure you have a lot of cozy sweats for those first few months. Get as comfortable as can be.

Feeding Equipment

If you are a breastfeeding mom, make sure you have your feeding cover, a lot of cloths for spills, leaks, and burps. Find a couple of comfortable nursing bras, and designate an area of your home as the feeding space. It would be wise to have a high-quality breast pump too.

If you are a formula mom, stock up on formula and baby bottles. Try to prepare the formula a couple of times before the baby actually comes, so you don’t have any doubts about how it’s made.

Have a Bassinet or Crib Ready

The perfect bassinet should be comfortable, secure, and ready a few months in advance. This is a piece of furniture is an important part of the baby checklist. It is best to make room for it in your bedroom before the baby comes so you can adjust to the feeling of always having your little one close by.

Hospital Bag

When you go into labor, you want to have a hospital bag ready, packed with all your necessities and then some. A typical hospital bag should contain your bathroom essentials, such as your toothbrush, soap, hairbrush, as well as pads or tampons, just in case.

You will need a bathrobe, a change of pajamas, slippers, and a few towels. Be sure to bring baby clothes, and a blanket for the little one, as well as wet wipes, and a bunch of diapers. These are the essentials, but you can add anything else that pops into your mind.

Car Seat

This item might seem silly but is vital for transporting your little one. Babies cannot be getting around without a proper car seat by law. What is more, you will be visiting a lot of doctors in those first few months, not to mention you need to get home from the hospital somehow.

Bath Time Essentials

Make sure you stock up on baby shampoo and baby cream before your baby arrives. Get a bathtub for your little one as well as a bathing mat or bathing seat. Make sure the size is for a newborn and not an older baby.