A Brief Guide for Preparing for a Baby

For a lot of people having children is something that they have always wanted, but it’s no secret that becoming a parent is one of the biggest challenges you’ll face in life. You're responsible for another human being, and even when they’re adults, they will still turn to you for guidance and comfort. Your job is to help them feel safe, secure, and teach them about the highs and lows of life but while also giving them space to become independent adults. Yet, for all the challenges parenthood throws at you, it is also one of the most rewarding experiences in life. If you are planning on getting pregnant or have just found out you’re expecting (congratulations!), below is a rough guide for the things you will need to do in preparation for your new arrival.

Budgets

Managing your finances sensibly is something everyone needs to do, regardless of whether they’re parents or not, but if you’re expecting, this is a good time to sit down and crunch the numbers. Kids can be expensive; they are an extra mouth to feed; they need clothes, toys, medical expenses, school supplies and fees, college tuition, the list goes on. Although you might not be able to prepare for every eventuality, setting up a separate savings account to start filling with your baby fund is a good idea.

Clothes, Toys, Cribs, etc.

As mentioned above, you will need to have all the right stuff at home when you welcome your new baby. If you’re trying to save money, search for discounts and sales like a buy buy baby coupon or ask other friends or relatives that have kids if they want to offload any old baby stuff. If you don’t know anyone in your circle who already have kids, a lot of people also sell their second-hand strollers, cribs, etc., online, and most of these things are still in great condition.

Childcare Options

You might be planning to be a stay-at-home parent, but this isn’t something everyone is in the position to do. If you’re choosing to continue with your career out of either choice or necessity, you will need to think about childcare options after your maternity leave is up. Again, friends or relatives might be able to help you out with this for free or at a low expense, but generally, childcare can be expensive. You could either hire a private nanny to work from your home or look into day-care centers, but for the latter, you will need to think about how their opening hours work around your work schedule.

Creating the Nursery

In the first few months, you might prefer to have your baby sleep in your bedroom with you, but as they get older, they will need a room of their own. If you do have a spare room in your house, it’s better to turn it into a nursery before the baby comes as you won’t have a lot of time to decorate once they do arrive. If you don’t have space in your house for this, you may want to consider moving to a bigger home either before the baby comes or not too long afterward as they grow up a lot faster than you think! You can find some inspiration for your nursery décor here.

Birthing Classes

Labour can be different for everyone, some people have a smoother time with it, and others might face complications and have to divert from their original birth plan. Nonetheless, anyone who has given birth will tell you it’s tough! This is why it’s smart to attend some birthing classes during your pregnancy so you can get more advice on what to expect and some coaching on how to get through it. From breathing techniques to relaxation practices, comfortable positions, and some yoga exercises to help your body prepare for birth, there is a wealth of information to be gained from taking these classes. You should also invest in some baby and parenting books for further tips and tricks.

Write a Birth Plan

Speaking of labor, there are different ways you can approach your childbirth experience. For example, giving birth at home or choosing a water bath which might be more soothing and relaxing. You may also want to have an elective c-section or give birth without having an epidural. Explore the various options and decide what birthing plan you are most comfortable with. Again, if there are any complications when you’re in labor, you might have to go down another route, but knowing what kind of birth you want to have will help you better prepare for it.

Baby Proof Your Home

Before your baby comes home with you, first you must make sure the living environment is safe for them. Although they might not get around much at first, you’d be surprised what those tiny tots can get into, especially when they start crawling and walking! Babies are very curious, so they will grab things off the floor or on top of shelves, often putting things in their mouths. To stop them from getting to harmful substances or falling down the stairs, make sure all cabinets with chemicals and things unsuitable for children are locked up. By a child-gate for your staircase if you have one, and try to keep the house free from clutter as much as possible

Talk to Other Moms

If you’re new to motherhood, as much as you’re feeling excited, you might also be feeling overwhelmed by all the changes to your life. This will continue to be the case once the baby arrives, so talking to other moms will help you to get some tips and advice or simply vent your frustrations. If you don’t have close friends who are parents or your mother is no longer in the picture, you can find online forums for this kind of thing. You’ll also meet other moms at day-care and schools when your kid gets old enough to go.

There are many other things you will need to do to prepare for a new baby, but above are just some of the highlights to help get you started. The best thing to do is make sure you’re feeling happy, staying healthy, and getting all the love and support you need as you get ready to become a mother and transition to this new phase of your life.