Getting your house in order before a baby comes home is not only challenging but overwhelming. You’re lucky if you don’t need to worry about another child at home. That is even more stressful to mothers. But that doesn’t mean taking home your firstborn is going to be a walk in the park. We know it’s never easy with babies.
You’ve seen all the movies and the books. No matter how well-prepared you think you are for it, you’ll never fully grasp the enormity of this moment.
Deep-clean Your Home
It is not enough to keep things tidy and organized. You have to clean every nook and cranny of your home. Since you’re about to give birth, don’t do this by yourself. At the very least, ask for help from your partners, your family, or friends. If that is not possible, call a professional home cleaning service, so they can send people over. They know exactly what to do.
Don’t forget that you need to call the pest control professionals, too. The last thing you want to have are ants in your newborn’s pajamas. Make sure you have zero pests in your home by eliminating them before you take the baby home.
Wash New Baby Clothes
The last thing you want to do when you have a baby at home is do household chores such as the laundry. The first few days are going to be brutal because the baby is adjusting to this new environment. You will barely catch a wink. Your baby’s dirty clothes should be the last thing in your mind. Wash, dry, and iron them before your due date. Fold them and tuck them away in the cabinet.
Place a Stain Remover Near the Laundry Basket
Get a bottle of stain remover and place it next to the laundry basket. You will be covered in urine, poop, breastmilk, and spit-up more times than you can count. The best way to deal with them is to spray a stain remover before you toss them into the laundry hamper. This will save you so much time because you don’t have to worry about the stains before actually washing the clothes.
Get an Air Purifier
You may think you don’t need one, but an air purifier works wonders for infants. They are sensitive to allergens such as dust mite, mold, viruses, and bacteria. An air purifier device removes almost 99% of toxins and contaminants from the air, thereby making your indoor air safe for your baby. There are plenty of air purifiers out there. You can pick the one with the best review and value for money.
Prepare Frozen Home Meals
During the first few days, well-wishers will send and bring food for you. That’s not always going to be the case. By the first week, you’ll find yourself scrummaging the refrigerator for food. If you are breastfeeding, you cannot eat unhealthy junk like pizza and burgers. You need comfort food such as chicken noodle soup and the like. Prepare homemade freezer food ahead of time. You can just pop them in the microwave and voila, you have a healthy dinner. Make sure to prep some for your partner as well.
Pay Your Bills
Don’t think you’re too clever as to remember to pay your bills after giving birth. Either ask your partner to do this for you or pay the bills before your due date. This way, you won’t have to think about it until after a month again. Also, remember to set an alarm for your bills’ due date.
Prepare the Guest Room
There’s no need to say to prepare the nursery room. You’ve probably done that the moment you knew you were pregnant. Prepare the guest room instead. There might be guests who want to stay with you. Although they won’t expect you to entertain them, you should have the guest room in order. Ask your parents beforehand if they are going to stay in for a while to help with the baby. Stock the guest bathroom with the essentials — shampoo, soap, and towels.
Buy Everything
Hopefully, you have the budget to really prep your home for the baby’s arrival. You have to buy all your essentials — from the food to toiletries to dishwashing-safe utensils so you don’t have to wash dishes (as if you’re going to have time for that). Once you have the baby in the house, you will not have time to run to the store whenever you forget a carton of milk. So, list down what you need and shop before your due date.
A baby is definitely a blessing. Nothing compares to the feeling of having that bundle of joy in your home. But that doesn’t mean you have to be in denial that it also entails a lot of responsibilities. By preparing your home before the baby’s arrival, you are giving yourself the opportunity to enjoy the moment instead of stressing about every detail.
