Welcoming a new baby into your home is an amazing feeling. But there are loads you need to do. Babies need lots of care. And if your home isn’t up to it, or you haven’t got anything ready, there’s going to be trouble later down the line. Don’t worry. Here are some tips to get started.
Make a Cozy Space for the Baby
Apart from food and changing, babies need to be kept cozy. That means making their sleeping area or room as comfy as you can. Start by getting a crib. Yes, these are expensive these days. But you can find good quality used ones if you look on eBay, Amazon, or Craigslist. Then make the crib comfortable for the baby. But be careful about crib bedding you put inside, like loads of loose blankets. You just want something comfy because they will be swaddled anyway.
Gather Friends and Family
Everyone loves a newborn. So you need to accept that when you bring it home, everyone is going to want to see it. That means making your home ready for grandparents, siblings, and friends. This isn’t a bad thing. Babies need love and care as much as they do food. But just be aware that interrupted sleep patterns and too much excitement can be bad for a baby. So if the baby is sleeping, just politely let everyone know so they can come back when they are lively.
Start a Scrapbook when Welcoming a New Baby
We can sometimes miss the special moments in life. Even though everyone has a camera these days. But to be fair, it’s not recommended to shove a lens in a baby’s face every five minutes. And flashes can hurt their little eyes. So instead, why not think about a scrapbook? A scrapbook can keep facts, details, and keepsakes of your baby. This can include things like the birth scan, a lock of hair, and any photos you take when it’s OK to do so, so you can keep them forever.
Let Any Other Children Know
It’s a good idea to prepare other kids in the house if you have any. A new baby can be a massive change to everyone’s life, not just the parents. And some kids need time to take it in and adjust themselves. That’s why it’s good to start preparing them before birth. You can explain why your belly is bigger and what it means. And you can also explain that they need to be gentle with a new baby. You can help them feel more attached by having them pick out toys.
Plan for Anything You Will Need
When a baby gets home, there’s a lot to do. And it can be shocking when you realize there are only 24 hours in a day. And most of that is dedicated to your new baby. But don’t worry. All you need to do is plan, plan some more, and prepare. For instance, you will spend a silly amount of time getting feed ready. But you can do all of this ahead of time. And that goes for yourself. Make some homemade ready meals you can freeze yourself for microwaving later on.
Capture the Memory
Scrapbooking is a fun and creative way to memorialize your baby’s magic moments. But there are some other things you can do. While a scrapbook can take time to make, some other things are immediate, and many of them you can even add to your scrapbook if you want to, such as:
- One of the first things you will probably do is take a photo of your baby.
- Sculptures are becoming popular now and make for a great deco piece at home.
- Stylized photos or commissioned artwork are great for capturing a unique memory.
- There’s nothing cuter than little painted hands and footprints from a newborn baby.
- You can use your phone to capture special moments like first yawns and feedings.
- Mother and baby jewelry, like photo pendants, is a great way to capture the memory.
- Some people love nothing more than to tattoo birth dates or handprints on their bodies.
How you choose to capture special moments is up to you. And everyone is different. Some things that people like to capture are first words, birth dates, and sleeping. There are even professionals, like baby photographers, that specialize in capturing special first moments.
Baby Proof the Home
A newborn won’t be going anywhere for a while. But it can be surprising how fast they grow. And before too long, they are crawling where they shouldn’t, putting everything in their mouths and poking dangerous things. So you need to make sure your home is safe for little adventures. First, cover up any electrical sockets. You can get a plug dirt cheap. Also, consider drawer locks. The baby isn’t big enough to grab one. But they can grab them while you’re holding them.
Prepare for Anyone Visiting
You probably won’t even remember the first few weeks of bringing your baby home. A strange blur of sleeplessness and autopilot will make you question if you even had a baby. But you did. And with that comes visitors. Close family is nothing to stress about. But the arrival of a new baby, like a death in the family, can bring relatives from all over. And some may even be unannounced. So stock up on essentials like toilet paper, and toothpaste if anyone stays.
Clean Home Before Welcoming a New Baby
There are germs lurking everywhere, even in the cleanest homes. You should of course clean used things like door knobs, the toiler, and counters. But there are also red zones in your home that you must take care of. These include toothbrush holders, the fridge, and even washing rags. In fact, it is believed that washing rags and towels hold more bacteria than a toilet seat. So make sure you have cleaning products and anti-bacterial wipes stashed around your home.
Take Care of Yourself
It’s been said a billion times. But you really can’t take care of someone else if you don’t take care of yourself. Having a baby is hard, and you will be tired. Which is all the more reason for looking after your mind, body, and soul. Exercise will be the furthest thing from your mind. But it can actually boost energy levels and restore hormones. But ask your partner or make plans so you can have some quiet time in the bath. And get into yoga or meditation to refocus your mind.
Don’t Forget the Car Seat
These are all things you need to do when a baby arrives. But there are things you need to do beforehand as well. This includes safely getting a baby from the hospital to your house. A car seat is the safest way to do this. And it is the law in some places. Good advice is to get the best you can afford. Used car seats are not a good option. Also, learn to install it properly into your car. And check the straps and buckles are locked and secure enough, so the seat doesn’t move.
Summary
The joy of welcoming a new baby cannot be matched in life. It’s one of the best things you will do. But there is a lot of work to do. A cozy place for the baby to sleep is a top one to think about. But you can also catch memories forever and also don’t forget to install and check the car seat.
