3 Useful Tips To Help You Prepare Your Home For A New Baby

If you are expecting a new member of the family, you would have heard of the term ‘nesting’ by now. The urge to clean, organise, and rearrange the home are all nesting behaviours that are common during pregnancy. As the time to give birth draws closer and the need to begin preparing your home to welcome its newest family member, the urge to get things in order will only become stronger. Thinking ahead and preparing your home for a new baby makes those first few months much easier, and can improve your time management. From getting rid of the clutter to tackling those home projects to make space for your newest family member, here are a few tips on getting your home ready before the baby arrives.

Do a Deep Clean and Get Rid of the Clutter 

Before you bring a new baby home, you will want to ensure your home is clean and clutter-free. Clutter accumulates dust which can be an irritant to a newborn’s respiratory system and skin. Start by decluttering your home of things you no longer need. This will help you clear out valuable space. You will also want to ensure your floors and surfaces are dusted and disinfected. Ensure all linens, including the baby’s crib sheets and muslin clothes are washed. Finally, remember to do an additional scan of the baby’s nursery for any suffocation hazards.

Get Started on Your Baby Renovations

Adding a new member of the family may leave your home feeling cramped. You may want to convert a living space into a nursery, add an extension or make structural changes. If you do want to tackle a home renovation project before the baby comes, it is recommended that you start sooner rather than later. Leave additional time for schedule changes as well.

Finally, consider your home renovation finance options carefully before committing. With a new baby on the way and plans for home renovations, your budget can easily become stretched. Factor in a buffer of at least 15 percent for incidentals, and take the time to research the best financing deal for you. Ensure you use comparison tools to get the best rate and if you choose to refinance to add in the cost of renovations, a remortgaging comparison tool can give you a glimpse of what your monthly repayments and interest rates could look like.

Re-Organise and Restock Your Kitchen

Let’s be honest: those few months with a newborn can get hectic. As much as you try to stick to a schedule, there will be days when things do not go according to plan, or you find yourself with very little time. On those days, spending hours in the kitchen to prepare meals will not be an option. To make things easier for you and your family, think ahead and stock your freezer with pre-prepped meals. Batch cooking recipes for your freezer like lasagne, chilli, and breakfast muffins can save meal times and save you money.

Don’t forget to stock up on your kitchen and household essentials as well. If you can, buy essentials like tinned foods, pasta, and dried pulses in bulk. Load up on healthy snacks as well like granola bars and whole wheat crackers. It will make weekly shopping trips much faster and comes in handy if you are breastfeeding. Finally, remember to re-organise your kitchen and designate a cabinet and counter space for the baby. You will also need counter space for any formula machine or steriliser you regularly use. Similarly, you will need an easily accessible space to store your baby bottles, teats, and other daily essentials for the baby. 

More importantly, leave yourself enough time to do all of these preparations. Focus on creating a loving, healthy, and welcoming environment for your family’s impending arrival. Nothing can truly prepare you for the joy and change that a new baby can bring with them, but you can definitely get a head start in getting your home ready.