The first few weeks after birth is usually full of ups and downs. From absolute love and adoration for your new baby to complete overwhelm and exhaustion, it's normal to feel the full range of emotions. One thing that can give you a head start and make the transition to parenthood smoother is having your home set up and being as prepared as possible for the arrival of your little one. In this blog post, we share five ways you can prepare your home for your new baby.
1. Stock Up on Essentials. You'll be busy taking care of your new baby, so it's a good idea to stock up on all the essentials ahead of time. This includes items for yourself AND baby, and might includes diapers (decide upon cloth, disposable, or a combination of both), wipes or washcloths to use for diaper changes, formula (if you're formula feeding), menstrual pads, breast milk bags, and any other products you or your baby may need.
2. Stock your freezer with healthy food. As a new parent, you may find that you don't have much time to cook or prepare meals. To make things easier, consider meal prepping before your baby arrives. This could include cooking and freezing healthy meals that you can easily reheat when you're too tired to cook. You could also stock your freezer with healthy snacks, like energy balls or muffins, that you can grab and eat with one hand. Having healthy food on hand will help you stay nourished and energized during those first few hectic weeks.
3. Set up 1-2 changing stations around your home. You'll be changing a lot of diapers in those first few weeks, so it's important to have 1-2 designated changing stations. This can be a changing table in your nursery or bedroom, and a portable changing pad with a diapering caddy that you can move around the house. Make sure you have plenty of diapers, wipes or washcloths, and diaper cream on hand.
4. Set up a breastfeeding station. If you plan to bodyfeed, consider setting up a comfortable and convenient feeding station in your home. This may include a comfortable chair or nursing pillow, a table for water and snacks, and a basket of essentials like nursing pads, nipple cream, and burp cloths. It's also a good idea to think about about entertainment at your breastfeeding station! While you may want to spend hours watching your little one nurse, you might also want to check out for a while by reading a book, catching up on your favourite TV series or listening to your favourite podcast. Set up accordingly!
5. Set up your support system. Having a support system in place is crucial when you have a new baby. This can include your partner, family members, friends, or a postpartum doula. Make sure you have someone you can rely on to help with household chores, cooking, and taking care of the baby when you need to rest and recover.
Taking these steps in advance can help make the transition to parenthood smoother by giving you a few less things that you need to think about! Curious about hiring a postpartum doula? Schedule a Doula Discovery Call to speak with one of our amazing Nurtured Birth Ottawa postpartum doulas.
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