Once you find out you’re expecting a baby, the race is on to get organized! There’s a lot to do and sort before your little one makes their arrival, and with good planning you can make sure to spread the cost and reduce stress. Ideally, you’ll have pretty much everything sorted and in place by the time you bring them home, so the first few months especially you don’t have anything to worry about except looking after your baby. Here are a few things to consider!
Your Home
First things first, is the place you currently live in suitable for a baby? If you’re in a tiny apartment or have lots of flights of stairs to get to your home then then it might be worth rethinking. Maybe it’s the case that you want to move somewhere with a bigger garden, more space or better schools nearby? Moving while you’re pregnant isn’t the easiest, but actually it can be less stressful than waiting and doing so with a baby later on so it’s something to consider. Have a think about what you can afford, where you’d like to live area-wise and what sort of property you’d like to live in to raise your baby. If you’re able to make the move before they arrive and get yourself settled and organised then this can be well worth doing.
Your Car
If you drive, is your current car suitable for a baby car seat? If you currently have a tiny sports car with two seats for example this might need changing! If your car only has a small boot, you’ll need to think about upgrading for some extra space for things like a pram. You might just want to switch to a safer, more family friendly car knowing you have a little one on the way. Either way, considering your vehicle and working out if it’s worth changing or keeping is something to think about before your baby is born.
Your Finances
Getting yourself into a good position with your finances is never going to be a bad thing. In some cases, you might just need to switch up the way you’re doing things. For example, if you currently wait until your bills are generated and then phone up or go online to pay them, could you set up direct debits instead? That way you know they’re always being paid on time without any extra effort for you, which is handy when you’re about to become extremely busy as a new parent. Could you cut back on subscriptions and costs that you dont use so that you can free up some spare cash? Could you save a little extra over the course of the pregnancy so you have an extra chunk of money to use for unexpected baby expenses? Go through your budget with a fine tooth comb, make sure your finances are running as smoothly as possible ready for when your baby comes into the world.
Baby Equipment
There’s no denying that babies need a lot of ‘stuff’. They need somewhere to sleep- multiple places in fact. You will likely need to buy a moses basket, a bedside crib and then a cot for their nursery. Formula fed babies will need milk and bottles, they’ll need clothes, and as time goes on, books, toys and so much more. You don’t need to run out and buy everything brand new so there are ways to save money, but items like prams, car seats and nursery furniture will likely still be expensive. Make an extensive list of everything you need (there are lots of resources online to give you ideas) then tick of things as you buy them each week. If you’re having a baby shower, you might find some of these items are bought for you by kind friends and family. Having a list stops you from making accidental repeat purchases or ending up with too much of the same thing. For example, it’s easy to end up with lots of newborn clothes where you can get over excited buying them, but they’re not in them for long. Instead, aim to buy clothes in a variety of sizes up until they’re around age one. That way once they’re born, you dont have any extra expense of buying clothes for quite a while. Stock up on things like nappies and wipes too which you’ll need lots of.
Getting the House Ready
Getting your home ready is an important step when it comes to prepping for baby. By the time you’re in around your 8th month of pregnancy, chances are your nesting instinct will start kicking in and that can certainly make things easier as you have a ton of motivation! While you wont need to worry about things like baby proofing just yet, there are things you can do. First things first, clean and organise. That way it makes it easier to keep on top of when your baby is here and you have less time on your hands. Throw away clutter to make space, set up good storage systems and make sure any dust or mold or other hazards are removed.
Getting the baby’s nursery set up is a smart move too- while it’s recommended that babies don’t sleep on their own until they’re over six months old, a room is still incredibly useful. It gives you somewhere to hang up their clothes, store books, teddies and toys that they start to accumulate with gifts, somewhere to put nappies and wipes. If you put a chair in the room, it can be a relaxing place to sit and feed your baby during the night too. You might even want to decorate and make your home look its best ready for baby’s arrival and also so that your home is ready for guests too. Chances are you’ll have a lot of guests in those early months!
Another thing that’s worth doing is prepping some food for the postpartum period. It can be difficult finding the time to cook, but its more important than ever to stay healthy during this time. So batch cooking some meals, splitting them into individual Tupperware containers and freezing them is something you could do. That way you can pop them in the microwave as needed and you have healthy, homecooked food on hand.
What do you think?