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A baby on the way! If you’re reading this post, it’s likely that you’re expecting your own bundle at some point, or you’re just plain kind enough with love in your heart to be following along with my own pregnancy! <3 10 months is a long time to bake up a baby, and it’s hard to wait when you’re getting closer and closer to your due date. If the nesting bug has hit you, I hope you’re a little more efficient than me; I’m more interested in taking a nap than vacuuming my own floor (heaven knows I’m not dusting…). If you need a little checklist to spur you on, or make sure you haven’t forgotten anything, try this pre-birth checklist below. There might be some extra items on the list that you don’t need to worry about, but if I’ve left something off that you like to do (or always do, if you’re on a 2+ baby), let me know!
Install your Carseat, and if desired, have the fire department check the installation.
… And take this opportunity to clean the car!
Sterilize all bottles, pacifiers and nipples in the dishwasher or microwave.
Finish up your Shower Thank You Notes! It’s important to get these out quick.
Wash clothing, burp cloths/diapers, and blankets or other linens that baby comes in contact with. I never bother with Dreft – I use a less expensive, greener option like Honest.
Make a drugstore run for yourself post-birth: Witch Hazel, Pads, Tylenol, Colace, etc.
Pantry/Fridge Stock: Make a few freezer meals, snacks and drinks to have when you get home.
Call in the Troops: Make plans for older children, maybe a cleaning service, or enlist friends to help with pets and housework. They know you need a little support!
Hospital Tour, pre-register and pay deductibles! Most hospitals require pre-payment before admission, so make sure you contact your insurance, hospital, etc and have all your paperwork and documents in order.
Travel Prep: Map out route to the hospital, and have plans for rush hour! You’ll want to know how to get there in your sleep, backwards and blindfolded. (Not really. Safety first!)
Pack Your Hospital Bag or create a packing checklist. If you are bringing mostly things you use from day to day, making a list and packing things you don’t use often is a great time saver. If you have younger children that will be visiting with friends or family during the birth, make sure they have a suitcase and checklist, too!
Charge up the video camera and stash some batteries in the suitcase. You’ll want to be ready for baby’s first closeup!
Clean the House, shampoo the carpets (or hire it out!) Chances are, if you’re in your nesting period, you’re already going to town on this one. Deep cleaning seems to come naturally at the end of a pregnancy, but make sure you’re taking time to rest, too. Hire out some of the harder tasks if you need to!
Stock the Diaper Station and Pack ‘N Play area with diapers and supplies. If you are in a multiple story house, small baskets with essentials on each floor will save you some hassle and some time. Take a moment to show these to your older children so they can help, too.
Create breastfeeding/bottle feeding areas in your home that work for you. The same deal as the diaper stations, be sure to have some dedicated areas for feeding your new baby. Breastfeeding supplies like a water tumbler, ointment, breast pads and wipes or burp cloths come in handy!
Finish up your Baby Book and leave extra pages for entries. This was HUGE when I had Red. Most of my book was finished, waiting only for photos, stats and paper keepsakes to be added. That meant I never had to stop and create pages. Baby girls’ baby book is ready for updating and it will be ready, too.
Beauty Treatments and pampering… now it’s time to relax and wait! Get your hair done, your nails taken care of, or any other treatments that you like. Maybe it’s finally time to indulge in that pre-natal massage to relieve your back? Those last few weeks that you’re going through are hard on your body. Try to take it easy!
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