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Preparing your home for a newborn can be an exciting endeavor. You get to pick out the colors for the nursery, your baby’s first stuffed animal, their blanket, and a ton of other stuff that you will forever cherish as they will be a part of your little one’s experience. But parents also often fall into the trap of buying loads of unnecessary stuff in order to be prepared for just about anything once the baby arrives. The truth is that you’ll end up prioritizing a handful of gadgets that can be used in multiple ways and forget that the rest even exists. So, if you’re making a checklist of all the things you need, allow us to help you chop that in half by showing you what the essentials really are. Here’s how to efficiently prepare your home for the arrival of your baby, without blowing up the bank and being wasteful.
Here Are Some Things To Consider Before You Make A List
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Before you start naming random items, it’s important to consider what you would need things for so that you can compartmentalize these items and not get carried away. So, consider where your baby is going to sleep, where and how you are planning to feed your baby, and where the baby will take a bath and get their diapers changed. Based on this, you can then buy bottles, sterilizing equipment and formula if you’re not planning on breastfeeding. Also, think about where and how the diapers are going to be stored and disposed of. Buying a pram is a must, and so is a car seat if that is your main mode of transportation.
How To Prepare A Nursery?
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The safest place for a baby to sleep isn’t in your arms, although that is a close second. It’s in their own space, in the same room as their parents or caregivers, or in a room close by, at least for the first 6 to 12 months. The best thing to do with a newborn is to set up their crib or bassinet right next to your own bed for the first couple of months as they are bound to wake up throughout the night in order to feed or for a quick diaper change. When you do purchase a cot or bassinet, check that they meet all the required safety guidelines. Make sure that the mattress is clean and fits the bassinet or crib sides.
You may also want to consider installing a feeding chair in the nursery, alongside a footrest so that you are as comfortable as possible when you feed the baby. It’s also ideal to prepare a space in your house to change your baby’s diapers. You’re going to be exhausted in those first few weeks. So make your life easier by getting a changing table that can be adjusted to the correct height so that you are not bending over and straining yourself every time you need to change a dirty diaper, which will be quite often. Buy a tray or a stand to position the things that you will need close at hand. But make sure not to buy too many things and clutter the nursery. Remember, the key is to keep everything organized, so less is more.
What Clothes And Accessories Do I Need For A Newborn?
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The short answer is, not much. But there are a couple of factors to consider before you go baby clothes shopping and clear out the racks. The amount of clothing you will need for your baby depends on your washing and drying facilities. It also depends on where you live in the world and what the climate is like. Take into account the season your baby is born in. Your baby needs to be dressed appropriately for the weather, so if they are born in spring, there’s no need to buy your newborn winter clothes just yet. They don’t need snow boots for 2 month olds, no matter how adorable they look.
When it comes to dressing a newborn, jumpsuits and onesies are a fan favorite. They are easy to switch out and keep the baby covered without suffocating them. They also come in a wide range of fabrics from wool to cotton, making it the perfect choice of clothing no matter where you live. Make sure to buy a wrap so that you can swaddle your baby when they get cranky or tired. This will save you the hassle of carrying your baby every hour of the day and will free up your hands to go about your day.
As hard as it is to not go a little crazy with buying stuff for the baby, it’s important to stay practical and realistic about the things you will really need and use. The last thing you’d want to do is hoard stuff that only gets in your way when trying to look after a newborn infant. So, be mindful of the purchases you make and don’t go overboard.
