First off, congratulations!! Bringing home a baby is one of the most exciting times of your life. But if I’m being honest, it’s also one of the most exhausting times of your life!
Whether you had a c-section or vaginal birth makes no difference… you just birthed a baby, and your body has been through a lot! You might be operating on no sleep, and the fourth trimester (and all the glorious postpartum realities that come with it) has officially started.
But one thing you can do to make your life easier during this time is to prepare your home in advance before bring baby home! I’ve put together my top 10 tips for preparing your home for a baby below. Let’s get started!
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1. Set Up the Nursery
Don’t stress over this one too much, especially if you are going to have baby sleep in your room with you at first. But I added this to the list because honestly, it can be fun!
Setting up the nursery is a great way to bond with your partner before the baby comes. Plus, you will most likely have more energy and time now at the end of your pregnancy to enjoy the shopping and decorating and organizing than you will after you bring your baby home. So, if setting up the nursery sounds like fun to you, have at it!
Make a cozy and functional nursery with a crib, changing table, storage for baby essentials, and a comfortable chair for rocking and feeding.
Here’s a list of some baby nursery essentials:
- Crib or Bassinet (Did you know you can rent a SNOO? Read our article for more information)
- Changing Table or Pad
- Dresser or Storage
- Glider or Rocking Chair (I recommend one with an electric footrest). If you have the budget for it, this one is amazing.)
- Baby Monitor (I personally didn’t want mine connected to wifi to avoid hacking issues. So we bought and love our Bonoch).
- Blackout Curtains or Blinds
- Diaper Pail (more on these later)
- Decor – have fun with a theme or color!
2. Wash Baby Clothes and Bedding
Hopefully, you got some cute and functional baby clothes at your shower, or you have a few you’ve stocked up on already! If you have a tight budget, hit up your local thrift stores or join a Buy Nothing Facebook group! Also, check out our article on stretching your family budget for more money-savvy tips!
Take some time to clean and organize your baby’s clothes, bedding, swaddles, burp cloths, towels, and blankets to have them ready for your little one’s arrival. It’s always best to wash them before letting them touch your baby’s skin. Look for a detergent that is dye and fragrance-free, like Dreft!
3. Stock Up on Baby Essentials
Ensure you have an ample supply of diapers, wipes, baby toiletries, and other essentials to avoid last-minute shopping trips.
Try a few different diaper brands before settling on one type – I asked for all Pampers at my baby shower and I ended up hating them (waaaay too many blowouts)! And they were a pain to lug around and return to multiple stores.
If you’re not sure which brand of diaper to try first, you definitely need to read our article on the best organic baby diapers!
Here’s a list of baby essentials you should have ready before you bring your baby home:
- Diapers (read about our favorites here!)
- Baby Wipes (I personally like the Kirkland brand from Costco, and they are much more affordable)
- Onesies (don’t stock up on too many newborn size until you know how big your baby is!)
- Swaddles or Swaddling Blankets (we LOVED the Love to Dream!)
- Baby Bottles (if you are breastfeeding as well I recommend trying Evenflo first)
- Breast Pump (go through insurance)
- Infant Car Seat (have it read and installed before going to the hospital)
- Baby Carrier (Read our reviews on the best ones here!)
- Baby Bath Tub
- Baby Lotion (I love Tubby Todd!)
- Pacifiers (I so wish I would have also brought one of these to the hospital with us. I recommend MAAM brand)
4. Prepare a Diaper Changing Station
Set up a changing table or caddy with diaper-changing supplies:
- Diapers
- Wipes
- Changing Pad
- Waterproof Mat
- Diaper Caddy
- Wipe warmer (I loved having warm wipes, hated the light that came on ours. I would recommend this one instead)
5. Prepare a Baby First Aid Kit
Gather up some essential first aid supplies:
- Thermometer (no-touch forehead, 3-in-1 Ear, or pacifier thermometer)
- Nail Clippers/File (I am still scared to use clippers on my baby’s nails, but love having a Haakaa nail file)
- Nasal Aspirator (This Snotsucker sounds and looks disgusting but it sure does work. I promise you won’t get any boogies in your mouth.)
- Saline Drops
- Oogiebear
- Tweezers
- Emergency Contact Information (pediatrician’s number, poison control center hotline)
6. Set Up a Breastfeeding or Bottle-Feeding Station
Whether you decide to nurse, exclusively pump, formula bottle feed, or any combination of the above, you’ll want to have your supplies and area organized in advance!
Organize breastfeeding supplies like breast pumps, nursing pads, bottles, formula, and sterilizing equipment in a convenient location.
Here are some of my favorite breastfeeding gadgets and bottle-feeding gadgets!
- Lactation massager (for clogged ducts and increased milk production)
- Earth Mama Nipple Butter
- Frozen Breastmilk Storage Tower
- Haakaa Nipple Shield
- Bottle Sterilizer and Dryer
- Baby Brezza Formula Dispenser
- On the Go Bottle Warmer
7. Set Up a Diaper Disposal System
Choose a diaper pail or disposal system to manage diaper waste conveniently and effectively. We have the Diaper Genie. I like it… my husband hates it (but I think he just hates diapers).
Here are some alternatives if the Diaper Genie isn’t your cup of tea:
- Ubbi Steel (most of my mom friends have this one)
- Aroma Room Diaper Pail
- Dekor Plus Diaper Pail
8. Organize Large Baby Gear
Find designated storage for strollers, car seats, baby carriers, and other oversized baby items to keep them easily accessible and out of the way.
We ended up getting the Baby Jogger stroller and matching car seat for our first baby, and I could not recommend them more. I won’t go into too much detail, but if you’re already on the fence between the Baby Jogger brand and another stroller/car seat combo, go with the Baby Jogger.
The only downside is that the stroller is a bit heavy for lifting in and out of the car, but so are most strollers.
9. Prepare for Nighttime Feedings
Set up a small nightstand or bedside table with a lamp, water bottle, burp cloths, and a feeding pillow for easy access during nighttime feedings. If you are breastfeeding, I definitely recommend using a Haakaa for middle of the night feedings.
It is a game changer.
While baby is nursing on one side, use the Haakaa on the other side. Some women can build up an entire emergency feeding stash this way without ever having to pump. It’s also great because if you forget which side baby fed on last, it won’t make a huge difference if you forget which side you fed on last, because you will be collecting milk from both sides at each feeding (although baby will drain you better than the Haakaa will, so definitely still switch back and forth when you can remember).
10. Create a Calm and Soothing Atmosphere
Consider using blackout curtains or blinds in the nursery and a white noise machine to help create a peaceful and familiar sleep environment for your baby.
Oh, and BRING THE WHITE NOISE MACHINE TO THE HOSPITAL. That might have been a bit dramatic, but just trust me. Pack your white noise machine in the diaper bag.
We have a total of 5 (yes, 5) white noise machines. My absolute favorite for travel is the Yogasleep Hushh Portable White Noise Sound Machine. Make sure your travel sound machine has a long charge time.
My absolute favorite for her nursery is the Momcozy White Noise Machine… it’s essentially a Hatch Rest Baby sound machine but cheaper.
There you have it! Ten ways to prepare your home before having your baby. Try to have fun with it and enjoy the last few weeks you have before you add a precious little one to your family.
Jess
