3 things to prepare before your baby arrives

We all know about preparing the hospital bag and getting the nursery ready, but here a few other things – you might not have thought of – that top my list of things to do ahead of time.

1. Things for baby

When babies arrive, they need lots of things- including love, milk, and caregiving! It's okay to keep it simple- get a few essentials ready and then sort other things later down the line.
Sleeping arrangements: Babies sleep in the same room as you for the first 6 months, so you will need to decide on their sleep space. You might also need to explore safe sleep and tools to help you and your baby. We have lots of advice on sleep topics both in the online sleep hub and over on social media! @mamasandpapas @thelittlesleepcompany_

A Baby Essentials Basket: I always think it's helpful to have a baby bedside basket available. Fill this with essentials like nappies, wipes, fresh clothes for changes, a thermometer, and any other baby things that you feel you may need to grab while bleary-eyed during the night! This can be a really helpful way to keep things accessible. I like to add some sleepy scents like lavender essential oils and a white noise machine too. And on the topic of bedsides, consider a low-lighting option so you can keep the space calm and dim to support both of your sleep!

My sleep essentials:

• A sleep space for baby (even if you co-sleep, you will need this ready in case someone is unwell or has drunk or is on medication)
• White noise creates a sound barrier and helps support sleep.
• Bedding. Whether you swaddle, use a dream pod or well-tucked blankets, you will need a variety of layers for different temperatures.
• Changing bits and bobs- nappies, wipes and rash cream.
• Clothing. Have lots of onesies for baby. Even better if they have zips as it’s easier to manage than poppers in the night!
• Muslins to clean up spills and wipe up dribble!

2. Things for you

It’s very easy to consider only the things that your baby will need, but as a new family, you will also likely need things. Here are my suggestions:

Your own bedside basket: Fill a basket with your favourite snacks and drinks. Perhaps some painkillers for headaches, too! And mums might want to add in some self-care items like nipple pads or under-eye masks or maybe some headphones for late-night relaxing music. You will want one of these on the bedside of each of the caregivers as an easy thing to grab at night during feeds. It's essential that you are fuelled up during parenting!

A meal train: Ask your friends and family to set up a ‘meal train’. This means you will receive fresh and nutritious food delivered to you, so food isn’t something you have to worry about in those early days. A well-stocked freezer with meals you’ve prepared in advance is also a lifesaver.

‘Gotta go’ list: You may also want to think of things that are tasks or activities you do at the moment that will need to be a lower priority once the baby arrives. These don’t have to go permanently but write a list of things that you can let slide a bit and think of ways to make life as simple as possible. Maybe you can get a cleaner in for the first month of babies life? Perhaps you decide laundry only happens one day a week. Whatever it is for you, try to think of jobs that can be reduced or outsourced to either friends or family or paid help if you can afford it.

3. Things for others

When bringing a new life into your home, it always has a reaching impact on all the family! Here are some things to think about to make life easier.

Conversations with little ones: If you already have a child, conversations with them for the duration of pregnancy are essential to get them prepared. You may also want to think about how to maximise time and connection with this child after baby is born. Perhaps you spend a little longer doing bedtime with them to help them feel connected. Try not to change things too drastically as continuity and boundaries are excellent for allowing a child to feel secure. Making childcare plans for them ahead of time is also important. We have a blog on adjusting to a new sibling available here.

Speak to family and friends: If you have expectations or boundaries for your family and friends around the new baby, then it's great to express these before the baby arrives. For example, you might not want any visitors for the first week; or perhaps you don’t want them to take photos and post them online. You get to decide your boundaries and setting them up before the baby's arrival can help avoid stress once the baby is here.

Getting ready for a baby can be both exciting and nerve-racking. But having a good foundation of both gear and support for this part of your parenting journey is a brilliant start and we are here to support you every step of the way within our sleep hub.

With love,

Imogen