Part of preparing for the arrival of the new baby is preparing the nursery itself. The newborn baby and the mom will surely be spending a lot of time together in the nursery, so it is important that all the things the mom needs in taking care of the baby is located in the nursery and at a comfortable reach. Preparing the nursery at least a month before the expected delivery date of the baby will make things a lot easier for the parents as they can avoid last-minute shopping for items, as well as the fact that they are already prepared with the things they need should the baby come earlier than they expected.
The first thing you will need to do would be to thoroughly clean the room you will use as the nursery. Repaint or apply new wallpaper to the walls, clean the floors and windows, check for ventilation issues, and make sure that the room is as clean as possible.
You can then begin to prepare the basic furniture you’ll need for the nursery. This would include the crib, a dresser where the baby clothes will be stored, a nightstand where you can put baby monitors on as well as a nightlight, a diaper changing table, and even a rocking chair. Before you buy anything, make sure the paint used on the furniture are lead-free, and that no product recalls have been issued to ensure safety for you and the child.
You should purchase a couple of beddings for the crib so that in the event they get stained or dirty in between your regular laundry schedule, you won’t be left with a bare crib. Make sure the beddings are securely attached and are a perfect fit on the crib, as you wouldn’t want your baby’s hands or feet getting tangled in anything. Don’t forget blankets when the weather gets cold.
Next, prepare the clothes your baby will need. Babies will change clothes a lot of times during the day, especially when they spit up milk or stain the clothes with pee or poop. Having enough that will last you until your next laundry schedule will save you a lot of money compared to washing your baby’s clothes daily.
Stock up on toiletries your baby will need like powder, baby shampoo, a baby bath wash, baby oil, cotton buds and cotton balls, and other things you will need in keeping your baby clean. Diapers should also be one of the things you should stock up on – but not too much since your baby will be switching diaper sizes eventually.
Don’t forget to prepare essentials for monitoring your baby’s health like a digital thermometer – it’s best to have it even if your baby doesn’t have a fever rather than the other way around. Have nail clippers especially designed for babies is also important so that your baby doesn’t accidentally get scratches on his or her face because of their long nails.
Finally, arrange everything in the nursery in such a manner that it is easy to access everything you need and not lose sight of your baby. The best way to check if you’ve done so is to turn the lights off and try finding your way around the nursery – if you trip on anything along the way, move it!