Congratulations! Every day the due date is coming closer and closer. Are you excited? We bet you are. This is the happiest moment in the life of a couple. And it is way happier when you know that all the arrangements are made and your home is a safe and well-prepared place for a new member of your family. In order to help you keep everything in mind, we have gathered several of the most essential changes in your home that can make life easier for you.
Tip 1: Prepare your meals in advance.
Trust us, you will likely have time to plan and cook your meals, at least for the first months after your baby is born. Freezer meals are lifesavers for many young parents today. Because, they can make and preserve as many portions as their freezer can hold, and have a new meal every day.
If your fridge is not very capacious, you can either use food zipper bags to save useful space or opt for a larger fridge. By the way, when they compare side-by-side refrigerators with conventional models, many young parents select the former type due to its capacious and child-friendly design.
In case you have no idea what to cook to guarantee you and your significant other adequate nutrition, there are a lot of healthy recipes on the Internet to help you out.
Tip 2: Safety exam
Secure furniture corners, sockets, and other potentially dangerous areas for your baby. It might seem there is enough time for this, but time slips past rapidly. One minute you help your baby hold her head and the other she makes her first attempts on walking. It might seem a bit childish, but if you are not sure how baby-friendly your house is, try to crawl and walk it far and wide. This can help you neutralize many dangerous zones that your baby might find.
Tip 3: Organize your bedroom
Because the American Academy of Pediatrics and other health organizations recommend sleeping safely within an arm's reach of your new baby, many young parents place a baby crib right next to their bed, or even turn it into a side-car, so that they are always nearby throughout the night.
Dark curtains or window shade are another useful thing in a nursery. They help you mimic nighttime during daytime naps. Because darkness means bedtime, your little one will more likely fall asleep faster.
Tip 4: Arrange nursing and diaper change zones wisely
There will be a lot of baby gear all around your house soon. And the best thing you can do is to organize it wisely to have everything at hand any time you need it. You could hang a shelf for diapering stuff (creams, wipes, baby powder, etc.) over the changing table or get a baby dresser that will hold it for you.
There are tons of baby gear in stores today, but try not to overbuy, even if it seems like the cutest thing you have ever seen. Follow the list of essentials instead, it includes most of the really needed stuff. Plus, you can always buy online postpartum if the need be.
Tip 5: Make sure you know how to fasten a car seat properly
Your car can rightly be called the extension of a house, so it should also be safe for a newborn. In this regard, a good car seat is must-have equipment. It is better to get it in advance and practice in fastening it so that when the time comes you will do it right.
Tip 6: Clean your house far and wide
Let’s be honest, it is almost impossible to keep a house germ-free. And you don’t have to disinfect it far and wide every day. Instead, make a deep clean before your baby is born. Your target is breeding grounds for bacteria such as a kitchen sink, toothbrush holders, countertops, etc. The same is with dust bunnies (lamp shades, ceiling fans, under beds). Because mold, bacteria, and toxic dust are hazardous for every member of your family, the sooner you get rid of them the better.
Tip 7: Control your environment
The proper temperature ( 68 - 72 degrees F) and humidity levels (35 - 65%) in your home are essential for you and a newborn. Too dry or too moist air is the reason of bacteria growth, which in turn, may cause health issues for you and your baby. In order to avoid this, many parents place humidifiers in their house.
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