13 things to do before your baby arrives: photos
Written by Diane Rai
With your due date fast approaching, and your baby's birth getting close, find out what you need to do, to prepare for your baby's arrival.
Make room for your baby
Plan ahead if you need to make certain modifications in your home.
If you intend to share your bed with your baby, make sure your bed is safe. Otherwise you can make room for a cot so that it fits nicely next to your bed.
Keep a separate cupboard or chest of drawers for your baby's nappies, clothes, toiletries and other belongings. Having a designated area will make it easier for all of you to settle down when you are back home with your new baby.
If you intend to share your bed with your baby, make sure your bed is safe. Otherwise you can make room for a cot so that it fits nicely next to your bed.
Keep a separate cupboard or chest of drawers for your baby's nappies, clothes, toiletries and other belongings. Having a designated area will make it easier for all of you to settle down when you are back home with your new baby.
Make a shopping list
If you prefer not to shop before your baby's birth, keep an online wishlist ready or scout the shops you like and have a "things to shop for" list. If you're keeping a list, mention the shop where the things you've selected can be found and which ones you want.
These details will help whoever does the shopping after your delivery find the things easily and will make sure that they buy things that you like.
Online deliveries are fast but some bigger equipment (such as a cot, changing table, bath chair or tub etc) can take up to a week to reach you. So check the expected delivery times when looking online. You might find it easier to get some things from a shop so you have them immediately.
These details will help whoever does the shopping after your delivery find the things easily and will make sure that they buy things that you like.
Most shops will be happy to keep things aside if handed out a small advance payment.
Online deliveries are fast but some bigger equipment (such as a cot, changing table, bath chair or tub etc) can take up to a week to reach you. So check the expected delivery times when looking online. You might find it easier to get some things from a shop so you have them immediately.
Clean and baby-proof your home
It's a good idea to use the time before baby arrives to do a deep clean of the house. This isn't something you're going to be doing any time soon once you get busy as a mum.
You can hire a cleaning company for a one-off deep clean or do it gradually yourself room by room.
Don’t overdo it by exhausting yourself and be careful about using some household cleaning products. Not all are suitable for pregnant mums.
If you plan on getting pest control done, step out of your home for the day as the fumes might make you feel nauseous.
Once your home is clean, you can look into making it safe for your baby. Things that we overlook as adults can become dangerous for a baby. See our childproofing checklist for help.
You can hire a cleaning company for a one-off deep clean or do it gradually yourself room by room.
Don’t overdo it by exhausting yourself and be careful about using some household cleaning products. Not all are suitable for pregnant mums.
If you plan on getting pest control done, step out of your home for the day as the fumes might make you feel nauseous.
Once your home is clean, you can look into making it safe for your baby. Things that we overlook as adults can become dangerous for a baby. See our childproofing checklist for help.
Prepare your kitchen
When you get home with a new baby, it may be several days or even weeks until you feel up to doing any major housework.
Use this time to prepare as much as you can by making your kitchen safe and filling your stocks of non-perishable foods like rice, flour, dal, sugar, salt, cooking oil etc.
You can also think about hiring household help for cooking for a few weeks. This will give you more time to look after your baby, rest and recover from giving birth. If your mum or mother-in-law is staying with you and has offered to take on home responsibilities, you can think of hiring someone to help her with the chores.
Use this time to prepare as much as you can by making your kitchen safe and filling your stocks of non-perishable foods like rice, flour, dal, sugar, salt, cooking oil etc.
You can also think about hiring household help for cooking for a few weeks. This will give you more time to look after your baby, rest and recover from giving birth. If your mum or mother-in-law is staying with you and has offered to take on home responsibilities, you can think of hiring someone to help her with the chores.
Find help for after the birth
Plan as much as possible beforehand for the days when you will be too tired to get much done in the house.
If your mother-in-law, mother, or any other family member has stepped in to help you, work out a plan on handling the home and kitchen duties.
If you do not have any family members nearby, you might want to hire a live-in or part-time maid to help you once your baby comes along. Read more on finding a help you can trust.
If your mother-in-law, mother, or any other family member has stepped in to help you, work out a plan on handling the home and kitchen duties.
If you do not have any family members nearby, you might want to hire a live-in or part-time maid to help you once your baby comes along. Read more on finding a help you can trust.
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Involve your older child
If this is not your first child, try to involve your older one in the preparations for the new baby. They can participate in simple decisions such as what colour sheets to buy for the baby.
If you want to change your older child's routine before your baby comes home, make the change well before your due date. This includes changes like potty training or moving your child into his own bed or preparing him for preschool.
If you want to change your older child's routine before your baby comes home, make the change well before your due date. This includes changes like potty training or moving your child into his own bed or preparing him for preschool.
Get your pets ready
It's not just you and your husband who need to make changes, any pets you have need to adjust too!
It's best if your pets don't sleep in the same room as your baby. If your dog or cat is used to sleeping on your bed, make a bed for them elsewhere so they get used to being shut out of the room.
You could also put a stairgate on your bedroom door to keep out your dog. And invest in a cat net to stop your cat climbing into your baby's cot or pram.
It's best if your pets don't sleep in the same room as your baby. If your dog or cat is used to sleeping on your bed, make a bed for them elsewhere so they get used to being shut out of the room.
You could also put a stairgate on your bedroom door to keep out your dog. And invest in a cat net to stop your cat climbing into your baby's cot or pram.
Pack your hospital bag
Your labour could start at any time once you reach full term, so it's a good idea to get some essentials ready now.
Pack all the things you will need during your stay in hospital in a bag that you can pick up whenever labour starts. Use our handy checklist to make sure you don't forget anything when you pack!
Once you've got your hospital bag organised, remind yourself of the first signs of labour so you know when it's the real thing!
Pack all the things you will need during your stay in hospital in a bag that you can pick up whenever labour starts. Use our handy checklist to make sure you don't forget anything when you pack!
Once you've got your hospital bag organised, remind yourself of the first signs of labour so you know when it's the real thing!
Plan your confinement
The decision about how to spend your first few weeks after your baby is born will depend on you, your family and your culture. Confinement for the first 40 days after birth is common in India and a nice way for a new mum to rest and recover while bonding with her new baby.
There are many confinement practices that are traditionally part of this time such as a daily massage, a specific diet and even advice on clothing. Read about traditional confinement to know what to expect and then you can make a plan that works for you and your family.
There are many confinement practices that are traditionally part of this time such as a daily massage, a specific diet and even advice on clothing. Read about traditional confinement to know what to expect and then you can make a plan that works for you and your family.
If you want to spend your first 40 days after birth at your parents' home, it's best to move before you reach full term, so before the end of 36 weeks. If your mum or mum-in-law is moving in with you, it might be a good idea for her to settle in before you go into labour.
Planning this out in advance will make you more relaxed when you go into labour knowing that everything is ready for your baby's arrival.
Get contact numbers
Hunting through your address book when labour starts just adds stress.
Find numbers of important people, such as your doctor and local hospital, and save them onto your favourites list or print them and stick them in a place everyone can see.
Also plan for back up contact options in case you need help getting to the hospital, or someone to care for your other children.
Find numbers of important people, such as your doctor and local hospital, and save them onto your favourites list or print them and stick them in a place everyone can see.
Also plan for back up contact options in case you need help getting to the hospital, or someone to care for your other children.
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Delegate work
At work, keep superiors and colleagues informed about your appointments, progress at work and when you plan to take maternity leave. You will also need to plan who takes on your responsibilities while you are on leave.
At home, make a list of tasks that you usually take care of, but won't be able to right before or after the birth. Then your husband or any other family member can take them on. Some examples include:
• When to book the next gas cylinder
• When the water filter or air conditioner is due for servicing
• When the phone or any other bills need to be paid
• Getting your car serviced before your due date so you don't have any surprises when you really need it
Having a list at hand will help you plan your time and expenses.
At home, make a list of tasks that you usually take care of, but won't be able to right before or after the birth. Then your husband or any other family member can take them on. Some examples include:
• When to book the next gas cylinder
• When the water filter or air conditioner is due for servicing
• When the phone or any other bills need to be paid
• Getting your car serviced before your due date so you don't have any surprises when you really need it
Having a list at hand will help you plan your time and expenses.
Short list your favourite baby names
You don't need to decide on the final name just yet, but having a short list of baby names you like ready, will make choosing one much easier once your baby arrives.
We've got plenty of resources to help you find the perfect name for your baby.
Print out our baby name list to help you!
We've got plenty of resources to help you find the perfect name for your baby.
- Baby names finder
- Baby name ideas
- Most popular Indian baby names
- Your baby naming dilemmas solved
Print out our baby name list to help you!
Get your camera ready!
You will cherish the photos of your baby's birth forever so come prepared to take them. Pack a camera if you're not satisfied with your mobile phone camera quality.
Make sure there is plenty of room on the camera memory card and keep the charger close at hand.
Whatever you do, take lots of pictures, as often as you can. You can always delete pictures later, but you can never go back and capture the photos that you didn't manage to take in the first place.
Make sure there is plenty of room on the camera memory card and keep the charger close at hand.
Whatever you do, take lots of pictures, as often as you can. You can always delete pictures later, but you can never go back and capture the photos that you didn't manage to take in the first place.
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