It’s common for first-time parents to feel a little overwhelmed at the thought of welcoming a new life into the world. You’ll want to make sure you will have all the items you will need once your son or daughter arrives, but it can be easy to overlook a few essential items or actions if you’ve never raised a child before.
If you want to ensure you’re 100% ready for your baby, read the following helpful tips on preparing for your first child.
Wash Your Baby’s Clothing and Bedding
It’s important to remove any unwanted substances or dust from new baby clothing or bedding before your little one arrives. If you don’t, they could potentially irritate your newborn’s skin. Always wash the garments with non-bio washing products, which have been formulated to protect a young child’s skin.
Stock Up on Essential Items
It’s a wise idea to stock up on essential items before your baby boy or girl arrives in the world. For example, you should ensure you have plenty of cloth diapers to hand, which you can find at The Green Nursery. It might also be helpful to fill your kitchen cabinets with non-perishable items, such as canned vegetables, soups, and healthy cereal, as cooking might be at the bottom of your list when caring for a newborn.
Undergo Trial Runs to the Hospital
It’s common for first-time parents to worry about going into labor, as the last thing you will want is to be stuck in traffic once your baby decides to arrive in the world. For this reason, it might be helpful to perform a few trial runs during different times of the day. Make sure you and your partner learn the quickest route to the maternity unit – and don’t forget to keep your car filled with gas.
Write a List of Emergency Numbers
Of course, you and your partner will want to act immediately when you do go into labor. Write a list of emergency contact numbers to telephone once the baby arrives, such as your partner’s cell phone number, hospital number, parents’ contact details or the number to a taxi firm. You should also stick the list to the fridge where you and your partner can see it.
Arrange Care for Your Pets
Have you thought about what will happen to your pets once you go into hospital? Arrange for someone to come into your home to care for your dog, cat, or another pet. However, if you’ve decided to have your baby at home, it might be helpful for a loved one to care for them during this time.
Pack a Hospital Bag
It’s impossible to know exactly when your baby will arrive, as he or she could enter the world before, on or after your due date. It’s recommended to pack a hospital bag once you reach 37 weeks, which should be filled with pajamas, baby clothing, toiletries, formula, or other essentials. It will provide you with peace of mind that you’ll have everything you need once your baby decides to make an appearance.
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