You've ordered the crib, set up a Pinterest-ready nursery, and you've read all the books and done some serious Googling to learn everything there is to know about caring for a newborn baby. But do you ever get the feeling that you're missing a few items, or you've forgotten to do something really important? Most parents think that buying the necessary gear is all it takes to prepare to welcome a new baby home, and it's why the average Australian parent spends about $4,310 to $9,620 in the first year alone. However, there may be a few things that have slipped under the radar, and these tasks need to be accomplished for your newborn's wellbeing and comfort.
Doing a few tasks in advance can lead to a better experience for you and your child. It also allows you to recover from birth and ease your mind as your days fill up with all the things that you need to do to care for your little one. Here are some overlooked prep tasks to complete before bringing your newborn home.
Prep Your Home
At some point, you've probably deep cleaned every inch of your home to create a healthier environment for your newborn. But you also need to think about safety, so secure furniture and anchor heavy appliances to walls, and shorten or secure all hanging blind cords. You may also have to get your boiler serviced since doing so prevents carbon monoxide leaks, which can be dangerous for your entire family. Symptoms may manifest in the form of headaches, nausea, or confusion, but those who are asleep may not even realise that they're in danger. Recent data reveals that about 34 percent of carbon monoxide poisoning incidents in Australian homes were caused by malfunctioning heating systems, so be sure to have your boiler, furnace, and fireplaces checked before bringing your little one home.
Next, you need to prepare to deal with your baby's erratic sleep schedule, so get some blackout curtains to regulate your baby's sleep-wake cycle. This may help to make your newborn fall asleep faster, and it also prevents them from waking up too early, leading to longer and better quality sleep which is essential for your baby's development. Go for true blackout curtains, which blocks nearly 100 percent of sunlight, and hang them in your baby's room, the living room, and other places where your baby takes a nap.
You may also want to take preventative measures to protect your and your baby's mattress from getting ruined. Your newborn is likely to pee, poop, or spit up on the sheets, while you'll have to deal with leaking breasts as well as bleeding if you had a vaginal birth. Remember to put mattress covers on your own bed and your baby's bed to make cleanup easier and keep your mattresses fresh and dry.
Make Sure That Your Baby's Things Are Ready to Use
A lot of parents make the mistake of buying baby gear and just leaving them in the package until it's time to use them. However, you need to do a few things to make all these items baby-safe, so plan on making your newborn's things ready to use at least two weeks before your expected date of delivery. First, wash all of your baby's clothes, bedding, towels, and linens with a mild detergent, and avoid using fabric softener since this can potentially irritate your little one's sensitive skin. You'll also want to wash, sterilize, and dry all of your baby bottles so you won't have to deal with this task once you come home from the hospital. See to it that all the bottles come with low-flow silicon bottle nipples for controlled milk release and to prevent gas or colic.
Next, place a diaper changing station in your child's nursery, your bedroom, and the living room so you're prepared to change a dirty nappy no matter where you are in the house. Set it up with a bin or a diaper caddy, some fresh diapers, baby wipes, diaper rash cream, a small towel, and a bottle of hand sanitiser. Lastly, install your baby's car seat since you can’t take your newborn home without it. Some hospitals will check if you have a car seat before giving you the green light to head home, and they may also check to see if it's properly installed.
Stock Up
Looking after a newborn means that you'll be too tired or preoccupied to even think about going out, even if it's for getting groceries or buying extra diapers. For this reason, stock up on all the essentials so you have enough items on hand to last for about two to three weeks at the minimum. Think about stockpiling diapers, menstrual pads, baby wipes, kitchen and food items, pantry staples, and cleaning supplies. You may also want to cook a few healthy meals in big batches, then freeze them so you can simplify your meal prep process during the first few weeks after giving birth.
Getting your home baby-ready takes a lot of preparation, so plan ahead and get these tasks done before the big day. Doing so can reduce stress, improve your home's safety, and make life easier while taking care of a newborn.
ABOUT OUR CONTRIBUTOR:
Sara is now a freelance writer who pens pieces on parenting, and lifestyle but prior to this she worked as an holistic therapist and took a keen interest in diet and fitness. She lives with her partner and their daughter and a menagerie of pets
