Prepping for Baby: Checklists, Mentally, Emotionally, and Everything In Between

Setting Up Baby Gear: Crib, Car Seat, and Stroller

Alright, so here’s the lowdown on what I’ve set up in advance. We’re talking the stroller caddy, car seat, bassinet in our room, and baby swing. These are the non-negotiables that will save our sanity. Here’s a quick walkthrough of the setup process we have going on :

1. Stroller Caddy: Assembled and attached to the stroller, making sure all compartments are easily accessible for those frantic quick trips or regular errands. These things are absolute LIFE SAVERS.
2. Car Seat: Installed in the car, ensuring it’s securely fastened and meets all safety guidelines because, you know, the kid’s safety and all. (Check back on my personal nesting list to find the car seat recall list!)
3. Bassinet: Set up next to our bed for easy access during those tiresome nighttime feedings and diaper changes.
4. Baby Swing: Placed in the living room, ready to soothe the baby while I’m juggling dinner, laundry, and my other kids making sure their chaos is in check as well.

Tips for Making the Setup Process Easier

Prioritize what you will actually use right away. Focus on items and routines that will make your life easier from day one. Trust me, as cute as it is, if you’re in a pinch, the nursery can wait since it won’t be used immediately. This approach helps reduce stress and makes sure you’re ready for the baby’s arrival without losing your mind. Get that living room set up for all your needs- a basket filled with diapers, wipes, creams, pacifiers, extra clothes, and burp rags. That way when an accident happens, you aren’t scrambling. Everything is in one space and even better- in the true living space of the house. Creating this also makes it easy to call on those older siblings for a little bit of help.

Deciding Where to Place Baby Gear & essentials

High-traffic areas like the living room and kitchen get the baby swing and baby wrap storage. This way, I can easily soothe the baby while cooking dinner or managing the other kids’ shenanigans. The bassinet is in our bedroom for nighttime convenience. I also have baskets of diapers and wipes in every high-traffic rooms for easy changes. Let’s be honest, the living room floor gets used a hell of a lot more than any changing table ever will! 😂

Ensuring Everything is Safe and Secure

This is Phil’s job. He double-checks all the setups and safety of things around the house. He handles the baby-proofing and eliminates this mental load for me, which is a huge fucking relief for me! We have installed retractable gates on the bottom of our stairs (not the top! These gates are too easy to push through with enough weight!) and separating space for our dog and the kids. We always prioritize making sure our animals have had a space of their own as they adjust and navigate to the new chaos in the household as well.

Stocking Up on Baby Supplies for the First Few Weeks

Here are the must-have supplies I’ve stocked up on:

• Diapers and wipes (you can exchange diaper sizes at Target if you stock up on too much of one size—genius, right?)
• Breastmilk storage bags (the ones I use are here! These just get me more bang for my buck!)
• Bottles (Dr. Brown’s all the way, folks!)
• Nursing pads (there are reusable ones out there- but as a fortunate supplier, they have never held up well for me)

Buying in Bulk: Diapers, Wipes, and More

Wipes and diapers, hands down. You can never have too many of these essentials. Seriously, stock up like you’re prepping for a diaper apocalypse. Target will often times run sales that involve percentages off or a gift card for spending X-amount on diapers and wipes. This is when I tend to stock up. I have also heard wonderful things about Costco’s brand of diapers!

Stocking Up on Groceries and Household Items for Postpartum Life

I’m stocking up on snacks for the other kids to keep them fed, quiet, entertained, and out of my hair during nursing or pumping sessions. Honestly, it’s a lifesaver. The more independent I can make them during this timeframe, is just one less thing on my plate. And for me and Phil? Easy-to-grab meals because who has time to cook in the middle of a newborn shitshow?

Designating Spaces for Baby Care: Feeding, Diaper Changes, and Sleeping

I find it easiest to allow the baby to live in the same areas we do. The swing, play tables, and jumpers will all exist within the same areas we do. Diaper changes happen everywhere and anywhere, and for sleeping, we have a small corner set up in our room with the bassinet. I’m seriously considering buying a mini fridge this time to avoid late-night trips up and down the stairs after pumping. I mean, who needs that extra workout?

Completing Last-Minute Home Projects and Repairs

If you have been here for a while now, you’d know our home projects are never ending. We bought a 70’s dream nearly five years ago now and have been rehabbing it ever since. Right now on our priority list: we need to finish the nursery, repaint the living room, put door trim on the upstairs bedrooms, start our mudroom, and finally, start the rehab on our basement. Managing these tasks while preparing for the newborn life is all about prioritizing and taking things one step at a time. It’s a shit show, but we’re tackling it one project at a time.

Emotional and Mental Preparations for Labor and Birth

I’m experiencing a mixture of emotions—excited to meet and welcome our new baby and complete our family, but also realistically anxious of birth and when I could go into labor. I’m interested to see how chaotic things will get in the household and how we will balance everything (everyone keeps saying after three, the chaos just seems the same!). It’s a rollercoaster of emotions, and I’m just holding on for the ride.

My family has been wonderful in helping me reorganize and get things prepared for the baby. They’ve also been wonderful in preparing for spontaneous labor. Everyone is one board for taking the older kids when it is time to go, so plenty are anxiously awaiting for the phone call. We are so grateful for their support. It’s a blessing to have people who step up and help manage the madness with us.

The kids are really looking forward to the baby’s arrival, and we have a countdown calendar we mark off every day. So, they are prepared for our time away. We talk with them often about what things may look like and brace them for the changes ahead. It’s all about communication and setting expectations, even if it’s just to avoid a meltdown.

Embracing Excitement and Nervousness

I’m most looking forward to holding our baby and seeing our family complete. It’s all about holding space for both excitement and nervousness to exist. It’s okay to feel both, and I’m just ready for this new adventure.

Mama’s, trust yourself and your instincts. This is an incredible journey, and you’ve got this. It’s okay if things get a little chaotic. Embrace the mess and enjoy the ride.