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GETTING YOUR HOME READY FOR THE ARRIVAL OF A BABY

You have just received the wonderful news that you’re expecting a baby!  Whether this is your first baby or your fourth, having your home ready for the arrival of this precious addition to your family is a very good idea.  Here are some relatively easy steps to take now so that when the big day arrives, you will be able to relax and enjoy your new baby in a comfortable and supportive environment.

Create a nursery

• Paint the baby’s room a soothing pastel. Pale green, buttery yellow or cream all have a softer color palette that will imbue the space with a sense of calm and quiet.  Use low VOC paint so that your baby’s room has a healthier air quality.
• Assemble the crib now.  Set up the changing table and storage.  
• Organize clothes, diapers and supplies.

Baby-proof your home

• Use outlet covers to prevent your baby from inserting anything into an electrical outlet.  Install cabinet locks on all cabinets your baby could get into that contain anything they could hurt themselves with.
• Anchor bookshelves, dressers, TVs and any other heavy pieces of furniture to the walls.
• Check for sharp corners on tables and any other hazards that a crawling baby could hurt themselves on.
• Have on hand child safety window guards and safety gates so that you can quickly install them as your baby approaches the crawling and toddling stage.

 

Obviously, a newborn will not encounter these dangers, but babies grow very quickly, and new parents are often overwhelmed with the demands of parenthood.  If these safety measures are put in place before Baby arrives, that’s a big help.

Organize and Declutter

• Clear out closets and storage spaces.  Donate and/or put into storage items you don’t want or won’t be using for a while.
• Create dedicated areas for baby gear, toys and feeding supplies.

 

Set up a feeding and comfort station

• Select a quiet space in your home where you can place a comfortable chair, a side table, a lamp and some burp cloths.  If your home is large enough, consider setting up a couple of stations in different areas, for example, one in the nursery and another downstairs.

 

Improve your home’s efficiency

Now is the time to look at ways to make your home more efficient.

• You might want to consider putting up blackout curtains for better sleeping.  Baby & Mom will be taking a lot of naps during the day.
• Add dimmer switches or soft night lights for nighttime feedings.
• Upgrade your laundry facilities now for the extra workload that will come with a new baby.

 

Take care of tedious maintenance projects now

Once the baby arrives, it will be a lot harder to find the time and energy to get these types of chores done.

• Change the HVAC air filters.
• Replace the batteries in all of your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Wash your carpets and upholstery.

 

Have fun with a few DIY and affordable projects that will make life easier for you:

• Create a transportable diaper cart by converting a small rolling utility cart.  Paint it a fun color (if you want) and turn it into a diaper changing station stocked with diapers, wipes, creams, a changing floor mat, extra clothes.  It will be easy to move between rooms.
• Customize one of your closets by organizing it with extra hanging rods, baskets and shelf dividers.  Baby clothes are tiny so maximizing vertical space is very efficient and inexpensive.

 

The arrival of a new baby into your lives is magical, challenging, life changing and chaotic.  Anything you can do now to have fewer tasks and make your home as comfortable, restful and efficient as possible will be time well spent, leaving you with the relaxed state of mind to enjoy and get to know your sweet baby!