Prepping for Baby: 10 Key Steps to Take Before Delivery

Welcoming a new baby into your family is considered one of the most exciting journeys in anyone's life. However the anxiety that comes with it can also bring a whirlwind of emotions due to lack of well-organised preparations. Therefore, a well-planned newborn baby checklist is considered extremely important as it can effectively reduce your overwhelming stress. Thus, here in this article, we'll guide you on preparing for the baby so that you can spend more time with your little one than in a baby care store.

1. Create a Comprehensive Baby Prep Checklist

This checklist should cover everything from newborn sleep essentials to nursery furniture, baby clothes, as well as bathing items. Moreover, when you prepare a well-organised baby prep checklist, it can effectively relieve all your stress as well as make this entire process more manageable for you. 

2. Stock Up on Newborn Essentials for Parents

Whether it is just baby wipes or diapers, it is highly advised to choose products that are specifically designed for the delicate skin of the newborns. You can also include items like changing pads, baby-safe laundry detergents, as well as plenty of burp cloths in advance. 

3. Learn Newborn Care Basics

As a new parent, you should try to familiarise yourself with some basic baby care techniques such as holding, feeding, as well as bathing. Nevertheless, a lot of hospitals offer prenatal tips, which are considered as highly effective to guide you through every step in your journey.  

4. Set Up a Cozy and Safe Nursery

You can begin with a crib or bassinet that can perfectly meet all the safety standards as well as your specific preferences. Moreover, you can also customise them by adding essential pieces such as changing tables, rocking chairs, as well as blackout curtains for those daytime naps of your little ones. 

5. Prepare for Newborn Sleep Essentials

It is highly advised to invest in these newborn sleep essentials, such as a firm mattress, fitted crib sheets, a baby monitor, as well as a few swaddle blankets, in order to make your little one sleep soundly without any discomfort. 

6. Get your Hospital Bag Ready

You should include items like soft clothing, toiletries, as well as snacks, in your hospital bag to make your delivery process as smooth as possible. Furthermore, you should also pack all the essentials, such as onesies, nappies, as well as a cosy blanket for your newborn, in order to avoid any mistakes at the last moment. 

7. Make a Postpartum Care Plan

It is highly advised to prepare a postpartum care plan that includes all the essentials of your recovery processes, such as comfortable clothing, sanitary pads, medications, as well as comfortable nursing bras. You can also consult with a doctor to keep your postpartum hormones in check in order to maintain your overall health.

8. Learn about Feeding Essentials

You can use nursing pads, a comfortable chair, as well as a breast pump in some cases for better breastfeeding. Nevertheless, if you're planning for formula feeding, then you should make sure to have high-quality bottles as well as a steriliser in order to avoid any potential health risks. Moreover, it is advised to have everything within your arm's reach to solely focus on your baby.

9. Plan your Support Network

It is highly advised to have a supportive network that can support you during this journey in order to boost your confidence. You can also have a conversation with your partner about sharing the responsibilities, as well as consider creating a plan with your family or friends so that you can effortlessly adjust in this new phase of your life. 

10. Research a New Parent Guide to Newborns

As a new parent, you can use resources like parent guides for newborns that can provide you with much-needed guidance on everything, whether it's training for sleep or some other developmental milestones. Furthermore, knowing where to seek help whenever you have any questions regarding your little ones can effectively ease down your anxiety.

Conclusion

Preparing for the baby is considered as one of the most exciting phases in anyone's life and if you break down this process into some simple yet manageable steps, it can be quite helpful for you in overcoming the anxiety or stress. Therefore, you should plan all the newborn essentials in advance in order to spend more time with your little one rather than preparing some random stuff at the last moment.