Having a baby can be pretty exciting and scary, especially when everyone has a long list of things you should do before you give birth. It can be overwhelming to go through checklist after checklist, when ultimately many of the items won’t help you when the child actually arrives. There are a few things you can do that will help make your journey into parenthood a lot easier once the baby does arrive. These ten tips will not only help make life a little more convenient and relaxed, but can also save you a bit of money, which every new parent knows is a must. So, enjoy your last few weeks of “you time” as these ten tips will help you worry less about what will happen after birth.
1. Freeze Meals
It’s hard to think about eating after you have your little one, especially if you’re a first time parent. Many people go into parenthood believing there will be a slight change in their routine, but not enough to affect something as important as cooking dinner. The first few days home from the hospital may be a bitter wakeup call though. Cooking a meal with a new baby can be a real challenge, especially since it isn’t wise to have the child near the stove while you get to work. So, before your due date, you should take some time to whip together some casseroles or other freezer friendly meals to get you started. Crock pot dump meals are also a lot of help, especially since they require very little maintenance throughout the day. With these meals, all you’ll have to worry about is picking what you’re in the mood for as you spend time bonding with your bundle of joy. Not to mention, it’ll bring down the temptation of fast food or buying high in sodium freezer meals.
2. Choose a Pediatrician
A lot of families go into the hospital without a pediatrician in mind for their new baby. It’s always wise to begin shopping around for a pediatrician well before the baby is born. Midway through your pregnancy is usually a great time to start and will help you feel less rushed about the entire process. When you begin, make sure to check with your insurance company to see if there are preferred pediatricians for you. This will help cut down on bills, so you don’t have to worry as much. You should also spend some time looking at reviews, to see which doctor fits your needs more. A pricing guide is another important aspect, especially when it comes to keeping your budget sorted. Once you have a few pediatricians narrowed down, you may want to ask for a meet and greet. This will help you find the right doctor for you, so you don’t end up with someone pricey in a pinch.
3. Wash Baby Clothes
Another thing you may not have thought about doing is washing your child’s new clothes. It doesn’t matter if they are straight off the rack from the store or hand-me-downs, washing new baby clothes can be incredibly important to your child’s health. Try to find a baby detergent with a mild scent to prevent possible allergic reactions when your child is born. Washing your child’s clothes can really make the whole process feel real though, which may make you feel overjoyed and prepared for your new adventure. The clean clothes will make your child feel more at home right away and will get them used to the smells of the house. It will also soften the clothes so they feel better on baby’s skin.
4. Get Set Up
It’s hard to know when to start working on the nursey, so when it comes down to it make sure you have it up and ready to go before you hit 8 months pregnant. At that point, let’s face it, you’re not going to want to do much of anything. Getting the nursery set up can be a really beautiful experience too and doing it early will give you plenty of time to take breaks if your furniture proves to be particularly frustrating. This alone will prevent you from having to hire a professional to get the job done for you. Another must have item to get ready is your car seat. No new parent will want to be seen fumbling with a car seat before taking the baby home. Take some time to learn the process of fastening and unfastening the car seat fiasco. You may want to take your car for detailing before putting the car seat in. This will allow you one last glimpse of your beautiful car before your new bundle of joy gets a hold of it. With the car clean, practice with the car seat until it becomes second nature. It will save on frustration, especially when it comes to grocery shopping after your child is born.
5. Find Transition Clothes
After your baby is born you may be in between the maternity clothes and the clothes you used to wear. So, before your baby arrives, you may want to check out your closet to see what might be a possible match as you transition. Usually, your baggier tops should do the trick for this period, so make sure to dig deep in your collection of clothes. Yoga pants and sweat pants are also going to be a must as they are comfortable and can adjust to suit your size. By doing this, you should be able to supplement enough to get by without forcing you to spend money on a full transition wardrobe. Of course, you may still have to buy a few items, but if you do this make sure not to spend a lot. You may want to check out clearance racks and thrift stores, as you probably won’t wear these clothes for very long.
6. Deep Clean
You probably won’t need any guidance when it comes to cleaning your home because your nesting instincts should kick in closer to the baby’s birth. However, you may want to get a head start to ensure your house is spick and span for baby’s arrival. One thing you’ll want to do is get the carpets cleaned. This will make your home smell and look better by leaps and bounds, which will be important for your child. Expecting mothers should always be careful when working with chemicals, so if you need to use bleach, try to enlist your partner in these jobs. Organization may be another concept you want to master prior to your child’s arrival. This will make life a lot easier when you come home from the hospital and will remove the temptation of hiring a cleaner to help take care of business.
7. Stock Up On Hygiene Products
One thing you’ll want in the home is hygiene products, so you won’t have to run out and buy more during the first couple of weeks after the baby is born. Your baby will need diaper creams, wipes, soap and lotion to keep them clean and healthy during this time. You, on the other hand, will probably need a whole lot more. You will definitely want some gentle soaps to help cleanse your skin while you heal from birthing your child. Epsom salts will probably become another must to help ease the discomfort. During the first few weeks after child birth, you will do a whole lot of bleeding so you will need plenty of pads and adult diapers to help keep you clean and healthy. You might also want to consider period panties during this time to help save on money.
8. Run Through the Checklist
You probably had a long list of items to pick up prior to your child being born. Although most things are covered, in most cases, a lot of parents tend to forget an item or two along the way. You should make sure to double check your list to ensure you will have everything you need for your child’s care when you leave the hospital. Some of the more important items are bottles, diapers, wipes, a water proof mattress cover and clothes. Ensuring you have these items will help you feel more comfortable when you arrive at home, but it will also prevent you from having to go out in a hurry to buy some of the item, or worse yet, having someone else do it for you. This will ensure you have time to shop around so you get the best possible price around.
9. Treat Yourself
The one thing you should try to do as often as possible before your little one arrives is to have a day dedicated to you. It doesn’t matter what you choose to do as long as it is something you want to do. Many women choose to treat themselves to a day at the spa or simply a day of getting a manicure and pedicure. Some women are more than happy to curl up with a few books they have on their must-read list or to simply lay in bed and binge on TV shows and movies. After all, it may be a while before you can do anything uninterrupted. Another great option is to hang out with some friends. It may be a while before you can have a girls’ night without feeling incredibly emotional about leaving your little one, so make sure to soak up as much friend time as you possibly can. Spending time doing things you want to do will help you feel more relaxed when the baby comes. This will ensure you won’t want to go out on shopping sprees or spend frivolously when your little one finally does arrive.
10. Babycation
Another great thing to do before the baby arrives is to go on a babycation. You may want to do this a few months before your due date so you can fully enjoy the trip. A babycation can be important because it gives you one on one time with your partner. The two of you can relax and enjoy one another’s company before you have a new member of the family to take care of. This will help you feel more in tune with each other too, which is always great when you are about to begin a new journey together. You don’t have to go all out on a babycation, so don’t stress about spending a small fortune on the trip. Try to choose something that is going to be fun for the both of you, but won’t leave you feeling uncomfortable as you lug around the extra baby weight. You should also be careful as to the activities you choose as any jolting activities can cause harm to the baby. If you’re getting closer to your due date, then you might want to stick close to home. If anything, you could always get a hotel room and enjoy some room service and the pool with your special someone.
Preparing for your bundle of joy to arrive can be pretty hectic, but you’ll work through and feel all the more excited when your child arrives. These ten tips should help you prepare some of the things you may not have thought of, which could save you a bit of money too. Before you know it, your child will be here and you’ll be pleased with all of the prep work you completed.
