Becoming New Parents: 5 Ways To Prepare For Your New Arrival
Having your first child is equal parts exciting and scary, as although you are welcoming a new life into the world, it is an incredible amount of responsibility. The best thing new parents can do to make the journey a little easier is to prepare for your new arrival in advance. Once your baby is brought home from the hospital, you won’t have much free time at all, so making preparations in advance is the best way to stay ahead.
It can sometimes be tricky figuring out exactly what you need to prep before your baby's arrival, so we have compiled this list of things you can do to help make things a bit easier. Follow along to find out more!
Stock-Up On Essentials
Stocking-up on essentials is a great way to prepare yourself for your new baby. It can be difficult to find time to pop to the shop for household items when you have a new-born baby to take care of, so it would be best if you spend time stocking your cupboards with all the essential items you need. Here is a list of good items to stock-up on:
- Washing-up liquid
- Laundry detergent
- Baby wipes
- Toilet roll
- Sanitiser
- Hand Soap
- Baby clothes and nappies
- Formula
- Toothpaste
- Shampoo and conditioner
While it may seem like a lot to stock-up on, you have to remember that you have nine whole months until the baby is due, so you have plenty of time to get everything you need, and you can spread the cost over those nine months.
Make The Announcement Special
Often, one of the best parts of falling pregnant is being able to tell your friends and family the good news. Especially if you and your partner have been trying to conceive for some time, it’s super exciting to be able to finally tell people that there is a baby on the way. This is why it is important that you take the time to make the pregnancy announcement special. You have probably already seen countless videos online of people telling their families they are pregnant, so why not replicate that level of excitement in your own pregnancy? It could be fun to set up a hidden camera and ask people to open up a small gift from you that says you are pregnant. This way, you can capture their genuine reactions and relive those wonderful memories for years to come.
Spend Time Reading Advice Forums
Advice forums are the place to go for new parents. When you are expecting your first child, you may feel slightly overwhelmed with the upcoming responsibility, so joining an online forum is a great way to learn from other parents. All new parents feel the same way when their first baby is born, so it is important to remember that you are not alone and there is advice out there for you to use. You may also find it useful to join a local parent’s group too; being a new parent can sometimes be lonely, so by joining a local group, you suddenly have the opportunity to make new friends.
Get The Nursery Sorted
For the first six months of your baby’s life, they will be sleeping in a bedroom with you, but after those 6 months are up, it will be time to let your baby sleep by themselves. While you may think you will use those first six months to get the nursery ready, this won’t really be possible as you will be far too occupied looking after your new-born. This is why it is far better to get the nursery sorted during the nine months before you baby arrives, as you will have a nice quiet house free from any distractions. Focus on making the nursery look cosy and welcoming, and perhaps add some cute mood lights, as this will help your baby relax and fall asleep.
Cook Lots Of Food
There is no denying that sleep deprivation is a huge part of being a new parent and while that isn’t something you can help, the last thing you want is to be tired and hungry, so prevent that from happening by cooking lots of food in advance. By batch-cooking and freezing lots of meals, you will be helping your future self manage those difficult months of looking after a new-born. Adding hunger on top of sleep deprivation will not be good for you or the baby, so we definitely recommend prepping some meals before your baby is born. Simple meals like spaghetti Bolognese, chilli con carne, soups and stews. It is best to cook hearty, wholesome meals, as these will keep you fuller for longer and they are also just easier to cook in a big batch.