You’ve been waiting for this new addition to your family for months and now you can finally meet them! The first step is to make sure your home is ready for their arrival. There are several ways to prepare your home for a new baby so that it’s both safe and comfortable. Here are some helpful tips on how to get ready.
Baby-Proof Your Home
One of the best things you can do before the baby arrives is to make sure your home is baby-proof. You should close off any areas that are unsafe for a child and make sure any sharp objects are out of reach. It’s also important to make sure all cabinets, drawers, and appliances have safety latches on them. This is especially important for areas that store sharp objects or toxic chemicals, such as the kitchen and bathroom.
If you have staircases in your home, consider getting a baby gate so that your child won’t fall down the stairs while exploring the house. It will likely be months before your baby is even crawling, much less walking, but it’s best to prepare now for when your baby becomes more mobile.
It’s important to check that all the windows have locks and secure screens in place so that your baby doesn’t get out through a window while you’re in another room.
You’ll also need to make sure that all furniture has safety straps on it, such as couches, chairs, coffee tables, dressers and bookcases with nothing on top of them where a baby could grab onto something and potentially pull it off. You may also want to put soft bumpers on sharp edges of furniture like corners or edges of bookshelves where it could hurt a child if they fell against it.
Make Sure You Have Enough Space
The most important thing when preparing your home for a new baby is making sure you have enough space. If you’re already living in a tight space, it may be time to consider moving to a bigger house or selling your current house. That way, your new little one will have plenty of room to grow up.
Making sure that there is enough space also means making sure that you have room to store essentials, such as diapers, wipes, formula and baby food. . It’s always better to be prepared than risk running out of supplies because they were forgotten or put off until too late. Consider multi-use items such as a dresser-changing table combo or a storage ottoman to create more storage out of your existing space.
Have a Sleeping Arrangement
One thing you should do when preparing your home for a new baby is to have a plan for where the baby will sleep. The safest place for them to sleep is in their own room with no other children or pets present, but if that’s not possible, try putting them in a crib in the same room as another child or pet.
Also think about how you want your sleeping space arranged: some people prefer having an infant bassinet next to their bed so they can watch them while they sleep; others like having their child’s room on the opposite side of the house from theirs so they can get enough sleep. Either way is fine as long as you’re happy with it and can hear the baby during the night!
Plan Ahead for Your Newborn’s Safety and Comfort
It’s important to prepare your home for the baby before they arrive. Here are some things you can do in advance:
1) Move all furniture, including the crib and dresser, away from the walls so that it’s easier to clean.
2) Put non-toxic cleaning items in every room so you don’t have any safety concerns for your new arrival.
3) Make sure all windows and curtains are secure so that no one falls out of them or gets hurt if they’re drawn too tightly closed. You might also consider soundproof window installation so everyone (including the newborn) can sleep without being disturbed by noises from outside.
4) Line your tub with a rubber mat or towel and test water temperature with your hand before getting into the tub yourself or with the baby. The water should feel warm but not hot–this will help keep the baby safe while they learn how to regulate their body temperature themselves.
Consider How Much Help You’ll Need
The first thing to consider is how much help you’ll need. If you can provide most of the care for your new arrival, then you don’t have a whole lot to do. But if it will be difficult to keep up with everything without any help, then you’ll want to get some services lined up as soon as possible. You might want to hire a postpartum doula, or a nanny or babysitter who can come and take over once in a while.
Now that you’ve got the inside of your home ready for the new baby, it’s time to get the outside ready too. It’s time to set up a plan for the baby’s car seat, stroller, and bathing supplies. It’s also important to have a plan for your family’s pets. Lastly, don’t forget to make some plans for entertaining guests with infants. You may want to plan a visit from a professional babysitter or a few hours at the grandparents’ house. You’re now ready to welcome your new bundle of joy and start your fresh family life!
