How to Prepare Your Home for a New Baby (from a Mom of 3)
As a mom of three beautiful girls, I look back over all the things that I learned over the years and think, I wish someone would have shared things with me before! I will be writing a series of blogposts this year in which I will share some of the life lessons I learned from having three babies! If you are expecting a baby in the next few weeks, I totally get it, the anticipation can be exciting and overwhelming all at the same time. But don't worry, here are some tips for getting your home ready for your new little one so that you can feel a little bit more prepared.
For the past 10 years, I have worked as a newborn photographer serving hundreds of moms from across the Twin Cities of Minnesota. I approach every mom with empathy and an understanding heart because I have been in their shoes and I know how overwhelming it can be. The first blog in my series, is about how to prepare your home for the arrival of your baby!
1. Simplify Your Living Space
Preparing your home can sound like a daunting task, especially when you're expecting a newborn! In the end, making things simple and accessible will help you feel so much better and give you space to focus on what will be most important: caring for baby and caring for you! The following tips will help you prioritize what to do and, most importantly, make it fun so that you can anticipate baby’s arrival with a sense of excitment!
Here are some steps to follow to prepare your most used spaces before baby arrives:
Choose only two or three rooms that you frequent most often (most likely this will be your living room, kitchen and bedroom). Create cozy spaces for yourself where you know you will be spending the most time and make things that you need accessible.
A cozy chair or rocking chair or recliner in the bedroom or living room where you can relax while feeding baby.
Nursing/feeding pillows in your livingroom and next to your bed. Place everything within reach.
Make each room baby ready. Create small changing areas in each room with a baby box next to each. Place a simple changing mat, some wipes, diaper cream, and a small waste basket in each room. Take a cute basket or box and place in it pacifiers, a few onesies or baby pajamas, extra blankets, and burp cloths all ready to go! During those first few days and weeks, you can rest, and have everything accessible and at the ready.
Put baby’s clothes in the top drawer of a changing table or in a box by your changing stations so that little onesies will be easy to grab.
Place laundry baskets next to your changing stations to catch all used clothing, swaddles, burp cloths, etc. Then you are able to transfer all to your washing machine without having to “pick-up.”
Make a care station by your bed: chapstick for you, pretty hand creams, relaxing candles, water bottles, breast feeding supplies (lanolin creams, etc), pacifiers, small snacks, apps ready on your phone for music or podcasts, and airpods for late night listening. Keep all within reach.
Choose to Keep Things Out in Your Kitchen! Prioritize what you need to make life easy! This is not clutter, but see it as useful and necessary. Bottles clean and sterilized on a rack on counter, bottle warmers on kitchen counter, friers for quick meals, coffee or tea stations ready to go!
Bathroom: A place for you and baby! Place baby’s first bath tub in your larger tub and ready to go with gentle cleansers and cloths. Hang up those cute baby towels on the wall before baby arrives. It is so fun to imagine their first bath! Creating a care station for you is equally important, but maybe not as much fun! Have a box, shelf, or cupboard with things easily accessible for your care. Here were some of my must-haves: Witch Hazel/Tucks Medicated wipes are a god-send or perieneal cooling pads. Trust me, use them! Furthermore, Dermoplast spray for your bottom will make you breathe a sigh of relief! A little TMI, but I distinctly remember using this spray and breathing a sigh of relief every time and for some reason enjoyed the smell. Like I said, a little TMI! Also, most importantly, have a peri-bottle beside your toilet to keep your bottom area clean. This plus the Tucks wipes and Dermoplast spray will give you so much relief! Also, stock up on large maxi pads for those postpartum days of bleeding.
2. Easy Meals to Nourish You Body and Soul!
The thought of cooking a ton of food in one go can be intimidating, but batch cooking is a lifesaver, especially when you're getting ready to welcome your newborn into the world. You'll thank yourself later! If you love to cook or feel the need to in advance try this cook book and food blog to give you guidance for meals that help with healing, are easy, and give you comfort.
Plan out your meals. Choose recipes that are easy to make in large quantities, and make a list of all the ingredients you will need. These are three of my favorite easy meal ideas that I use to this day
Roasted squash with italian sausage and parmesan on top. So simple, easy to freeze and healthy, too! Simple cut the squash into cubes, sprinkle with cooked ground italian sausage, sprinkle with parmesan and heat up in the oven at 350 for 20-30 minutes.
Soup! Chicken noodle was so satisfying and nourishing. Make before hand and freeze in Souper Cubes! You will never regret having Souper Cubes. I will never freeze soups or pastas any other way! Simply, pull out indivdual servings from the freezer as needed and heat up for 5 minutes in the microwave.
Shredded chicken with rice and broccoli. Cooked rice, mixed with shredded rotisserie chicken, cooked frozen broccoli, and sprinkled with cheese and bake for 20-30 minutes at 350.
Protein Balls: Best snack to satisfy you, nourish you, and give you a boost! This was the best gift I received from a friend. Make some and freeze then keep in the fridge. There are a million recipes for these, but the based is almost always the same: oatmeal, honey, peanut butter (or another nut butter), chocolate chips, and/or dried fruit. Here is a simple recipe for Lactation/Protein Bites to follow!
By following these steps, you can create a stockpile of nutritious, homemade meals that will make the first few weeks with your newborn a little bit easier! Most importantly, take all the help you are offered. Always! This is the time to accept help. You are doing it for yourself and your baby and it blesses people to know they are loving on you and your little family!
3. Create A Peaceful Atmosphere Through Lighting
Maybe this is important to me because I’m a photographer, I don’t know 😉 but lighting is one I don’t see talked about too often!! Peaceful lighting that is soft and soothing can help create a calm and comfortable atmosphere for both you and your baby during those long nights.
First, look at the rooms you’ll spend the most time in (typically kitchen, living room, bedrooms). You'll want to consider the type of lighting you have in each room.
● Add a lamp option (yes, even in the kitchen)
● Place small wall plug-ins to help light the way in the halls for the middle of the night or to light bathrooms.
The right lighting can help frustrating or overly stimulating situations feel much more calm and peaceful.
4. Get Your Wardrobe Ready
Of course we’re thinking a lot about how to prepare for the baby, but don’t forget about yourself! Preparing your wardrobe for the first 2-3 weeks postpartum is an important step in getting ready for the arrival of your new baby. Opt for clothes that are comfortable, but also help you feel good! This is important for your comfort and for your mood.
Buy a few new comfy outfits that you can be excited about wearing and that are also functional. Maybe some new lounge wear from Cozy Earth (if you want to splurge), or some stylish leggings or sweat pants from Athleta, or simply two or three pretty sweatshirts or cozy tops from your favorite store that are easy to wash and cozy to wear, but also cute!
Consider investing in at least two-three nursing bras (this way you will always have one clean). Some women also find it helpful to have a couple of nursing-friendly dresses on hand for doing simple things like going for a walk and going out and about those first few times. Remember, this is partly psychological, too. When we dress up a little, we are able to boost our mood, too!
Remember, the key to preparing your wardrobe for the first few weeks postpartum is to prioritize comfort and practicality. By doing so, you can focus on bonding with your new baby without worrying about your clothing or physical discomfort!
5. Postpartum Doulas: The Gift I Wish I Would Have Had!
You had a doula for your birth, but what about the days and weeks after baby is here? If you can do it, I highly, highly recommend hiring a postpartum doula to visit your home. My favorite in Minnesota is Better Beginnings Minnesota. Their level of support and care is second to none. Visit their site and you can download a free resource guide for postpartum care to guide you through. Imagine having someone in your home at night so that you can sleep undisturbed for a few hours in between feedings. Meanwhile, they are preparing a nourishing meal for your breakfast, tidying up for you, changing baby’s diaper, and then bringing baby to you when it is feeding time. You never have to leave your bed! Seriously, what a blessing and something that every woman deserves and needs! To find out more about their services, take advantage of the information on their site and a free consultation. You will be so thankful you did!
Which of these tips are you going to do first? Did you learn something new today? Let me know in the comments!
WOULD YOU LIKE TO PRESERVE YOUR NEWBORN MEMORIES IN A PEACEFUL WAY?
Imagine preserving memories of you and your child during the first few weeks of their arrival through a Newborn Photography Session that pampers you, takes care of all the details so you only have to show up and be loved, while I photograph these moments in a beautiful way. I’d love to bless you with a session! Check out the experience below!
