One of my favorite parts of pregnancy was preparing for the arrival of a new baby in our home – painting the nursery, registering for gifts, and washing baby clothes. They say the urge to clean can even be a sign that a pregnant woman is about to go into labor. While these are common ways to prepare for a new baby, decluttering and organizing are just as important.
After our baby was born, I did not leave the house for two weeks. I had a natural birth and a healthy baby, but I was still in recovery. Our home became my haven. Having the house in order allowed me to relax and enjoy just “being” with our new baby. As I sat on the couch nursing, I looked around me – clothes were put away, papers were filed, dinner was in the freezer – and I felt peaceful. Fortunately, my husband was great at keeping things in order for the duration of the two weeks.
Here are some tips to help organize your home for a new baby:
* Declutter your home as much as possible before the baby is born. Try to attack any piles that need sorting, filing, or organizing. If you have stuff you’ve been meaning to donate to charity, do it now; clothes that need to be dry cleaned, take them now; papers that need to be shredded, shred them now. These are all projects that will distract and overwhelm you when the baby comes.
* Create a nursing station. This should be a comfortable place where you can sit and put your feet up. You should have a small side table for water and other supplies (like cream or gel packs). Keep a book or magazine handy if you enjoy reading. Be sure you can see a clock from where you are sitting. If you like music, keep a CD player nearby. Also, try to find a place in the house with a nice view, such as in front of a window.
* Prepare the bedroom for the baby. Have diaper changing supplies (diapers, cream, wipes, alcohol and swabs for the umbilical cord, and changing pad) in one place (baskets work great for this). Keep a set of nursing supplies and a nursing pillow by the bed for night-feedings. Many co-sleepers or bassinets have a space underneath for storage which works great for these items. Also, have a lamp with a dimmer (or low setting) next to your bed.
* Clear out one dresser drawer for your postpartum wardrobe. Keep nightgowns, sweat pants, and t-shirts on hand to simplify getting dressed. Be sure to purchase several nursing tanks and nursing bras before the baby is born. If you don’t have a robe, purchase one and keep it next to your bed.
* Create a place for your postpartum medical supplies – this could be a basket, box, or shelf – in the bathroom. You will likely have maxi pads and a peri-bottle, and you may have other items. Be sure you are well stocked on maxi pads – this is one thing you do not want to have to send your husband to the store to pick up (although most women do).
* Create an emergency call list and a support team call list. The emergency call list should have the phone numbers of local hospitals, your doctor and/or midwife, your pediatrician, and your husband or birth coach. Your support team call list should have the phone numbers of your immediate family, as well as a few close friends who would be willing to come over and assist you with a meal, cleaning, or running an errand. Keep these lists by the main phone.
* Prepare meals in advance or arrange to have them delivered. The first few days with a new baby go by fast. If possible, designate someone to heat and serve your meal as well (this could be your husband). It’s likely that you will be busy with the baby, and even keeping track of a meal in the oven can be a challenge.
* Stock up on quick, easy, and healthy snack foods. It can be difficult to navigate your way around the kitchen with a newborn, but eating throughout the day is important to recovery. Healthy snacks could include granola bars, cereal, nuts, yogurt, individually packaged pudding, or boxed smoothies.
* Designate a place to log the gifts you receive. Many people will come by with gifts for the baby, flowers, and food. Create a spreadsheet or log to write the person’s name and gift, and then when you have time you can sit down and write thank you notes.
* Update your address book and purchase thank you notes and stamps ahead of time. You most likely will not have time to do these things soon after the baby is born, but you may have time to start writing your thank you notes.
* Get to know your phone. You may have never turned off your ringer before, but it can be nice to turn the ringer off or down after baby has fallen asleep. If you have more than one phone, consider turning off the ringer for phones in the bedroom or near the nursery.
* Purchase a dozen burp clothes and designate a place for them in every room (again, baskets work great for this).
* Stock up on household supplies, like laundry detergent, dish soap, and toilet paper. This will help you avoid needless trips to the store.
* Wash and fold all baby clothes from 0-3 months. Store the bigger sizes in labeled boxes or drawers, and designate a box or bin for clothes your baby has outgrown (you will be using this sooner than you think!).
* Organize your home office, now. When you come home from the hospital, you will have a lot of paperwork, literature, and forms to be filed. Create a place for these documents before the baby is born; otherwise, the baby’s birth certificate may sit on the kitchen counter for months
photo by cathytx2001
