Baby Checklist: Preparing for a New Baby

This is a practical baby checklist of things expectant parents need to do ahead of time when preparing for a new baby. It is a list of helpful baby preparation tips for the home, family and hospital.

Preparing for a New Baby Checklist: The Home

There's much more to preparing your home for a new baby than simply buying adorable outfits, furnishing the home with baby paraphernalia and decorating the nursery. While they're fun, in the beginning, most of those accessories and gadgets are more for the parents than the infant. Instead, here are a few steps parents should take ahead of time to prepare the home for a newborn baby.

• Wash the baby's clothes and linens with a gentle laundry detergent. While it's tempting to wash all of the adorable outfits and have them hanging neatly in the nursery closet, it is most practical to only wash a few clothing items until your baby is born. If your infant ends up weighing more than expected, all of those tiny newborn outfits won't ever fit. The same goes for out-of season clothing. Once the baby clothes have been washed and the tags removed, it will be difficult to return or exchange them at the store.

• Stock the medicine cabinet with baby and new mother essentials. Expectant parents usually remember to buy a supply of diapers, diaper ointments and bath toiletries, yet forget about baby health items such as infant acetaminophen, gas drops and nasal aspirator. Taking one midnight trip to the store for medicine with a sick and screaming infant taught me to always keep these supplies stocked. Also, remember to purchase after-delivery necessities like sanitary napkins and witch hazel pads for the new mom.

• Install night lights in the nursery and anywhere the baby will sleep. This is a simple task yet one that's often overlooked until after the baby is home. Placing dim lights near where the baby will sleep allows parents to check on the baby or perform nighttime diaper changes without turning on overhead lights and disrupting the baby's sleep.

• Cook and freeze meals ahead of time. Take advantage of the time before your baby is born to cook and freeze at least a few weeks worth of meals. Preparing meals in advance will save you valuable time better spent caring for your new baby during those first few weeks at home.

Preparing For a New Baby Checklist: The Family (Older Siblings)

If there's an older child in the home, he or she will no doubt be excited and a little nervous about the prospect of a new baby joining the family. Following this baby checklist for preparing older siblings for a new baby, will help ease the transition for both the child and parents.

• Make any adjustment to the older child's routine before the baby comes. Complete changes for the older siblings such as moving the child from a crib to a toddler bed, enrolling in nursery school or daycare, and switching bedrooms at least a few months before bringing the baby home. You don't want the child to associate the moves as rejection or demotion because of the baby.

• Give the child practice time with other babies. Offer to babysit the infant of another friend or family member a few times to give the child an idea of how life will be with a baby in the home. It'll be good practice for you, too.

• Involve the older sibling in the whole baby process. Take him to a few prenatal checkups to hear the baby's heartbeat. Visit the hospital nursery where your baby will soon be born. Allow the child to choose at least one item for the baby. Have the child talk to and feel the baby in your belly.

• Prepare in advance for the nights away from your older child. When the time comes for you to have the baby, your older child will most likely be feeling a little uncertain of the changes and her place in it all. Help reassure her by planning ahead. Make a recording of you reading a few favorite bedtime stories. Purchase a small present from the baby to the older sibling. Leave the child with a framed photo of yourself or a special item of yours (such as jewelry) while you are in the hospital.

• Make arrangements for child care for your other children while you are in the hospital. Figure out who will care for the older siblings in advance and let them know the plan. Help them pack overnight bags ahead of time.

Preparing For a New Baby Checklist: The Hospital Trip

Most expectant mothers to go into labor somewhere between the 37th and 42nd weeks of their pregnancy. Since the actual date is a mystery, it's wise to prepare for the hospital trip by the 37th week.

• Pack your overnight bag. Do not wait until the day you go into labor to pack your bag. If you do, you may find yourself at the hospital without your things. Pack everything you can ahead of time. If there are last minute items you'll need to add (deodorant, toothbrush, makeup), write yourself a note and attach it to your bag. Also, don't forget to include your baby's first outfit in the bag along with your own going home clothes.

• Pre-register at the hospital. Speak to your hospital or birthing center about registering ahead of time. Pre-registering allows you to provide insurance information and fill out paperwork in advance. I did this with both of my pregnancies and it saved valuable time when I arrived to the hospital in labor. It's also a good time to ask questions about parking, proper entrances to use, check-in procedures or other concerns you may have.

• Take a few practice runs to the hospital. Plan out your route and rehearse the trip with your partner at least once. It's beneficial to know how long it will take you to travel from your home to the hospital when you're in labor. Decide on a backup route in case there's an unforeseen obstacle such as a car accident or traffic jam on the big day.

• Install the infant car seat in your vehicle. You will not be allowed to leave the hospital with your baby without a proper car seat. Placing it in your vehicle ahead of time will give you the opportunity to ensure it's installed correctly and become familiar with buckling procedures.

This baby checklist is by no means all of the things parents must do to prepare for bringing a new baby home. They are, however, the ones I found most helpful in preparing for a new baby when I was a new mother. I believe planning ahead is a key step in preparing your home and family for a new baby. It will help make the hospital trip and homecoming process a less stressful experience and allow you to focus on the joy of bringing home your new precious baby.

Resources:

http://www.thebabycorner.com/page/275/
http://www.parents.com/pregnancy/my-life/preparing-for-baby/
http://www.parents.com/pregnancy/my-life/preparing-for-baby/birth-labor-checklist/