HELP!!! MY BABY IS ALMOST HERE… GET YOUR HOME BABY-READY
Are you expecting a baby and you are not sure your home is ready to welcome the newest member of the family? It is essential to prepare for any new endeavor one is about to embark on and parenting or in this case welcoming your first child is no different. The preparation they say is key to success and so by extension, preparing for the arrival of your new baby is one step in guaranteeing your success as a first-time parent. Like adults, babies have needs that must be catered to for the success of their development through the different stages and the first need that must be met is the shelter need, specifically the interior space of the baby’s room.
1. Declutter, Deep-clean, and Rearrange
Baby gears and toys will take up a whole lot of space in your home. Since these items are a ‘must have’ for your new baby, there is a need to get rid of some items, do a thorough cleaning of some of the items you would use together with the baby items, and do some rearrangement to create space for your baby’s items.
Plan a cleaning routine for properly cleaning and washing of your home items to do away with dust. You also need to properly disinfect the space and furniture items you have. Some of your furniture items like your sofas, mattresses, and other upholstered furniture could be taken to a professional for deep cleaning.
Identify the baby’s items that will need more space and make provision for them in your space. If your baby will share your bedroom for sleep, make sure your bedroom is properly organized to accommodate your baby’s sleeping items.
2. Set up a nursery for your baby and you
If you want your baby to have a separate room from yours, then the room should be designed to suit the baby’s needs and also meet your needs. This is because you would spend most of your time in that room, either to feed the baby, for a diaper change, for nursing, or middle-of-the-night-soothing. So, as much as possible, make sure the room is comfortable for both you and the baby.
The baby’s crib being a major nursery item, should be kept in a secured place away from hazardous items like cords or blinds. There is a need for a chair where you could sit comfortably while nursing or reading to the baby. As much as possible, try not to hang anything over your baby’s crib.
If on the other hand, the baby will share the same room with you; you could segment your room to cater to your baby’s nursery items. You could use rugs as a décor item to mark out the space meant for your baby and the area meant for you. The painting and decorations (including lighting, artwork, etc.) in the space should soothe both you and the baby.
3. Baby-proof the Home
Your new baby will one day grow up to the point of exploring and experimenting in your space. It is therefore essential to plan and ensure that your space is secured for your baby. Think like a baby and decide on the areas you would be most attracted to and make sure it is safe. You could consider getting a lock for the lower shelves in the kitchen and bathroom, blocking the staircase with a temporary gate, covering plug points or sockets (especially the ones not frequently used), getting stain-resistant rugs and upholsteries. Also, consider moving breakables out of the baby’s reach. To perfect your baby proofing, hire a babyproofing service to ensure your home is as safe as possible by the time the baby arrives.
4. Create Baby-friendly corners in Every Room
Do not restrict your baby’s environment to just the nursery. Your baby needs to “feel at home in your home”. So, in every room including your kitchen and bathroom, create baby-friendly nooks. Your baby should be welcomed in every room in your house. “For instance, make space for a counter-top chair or high chair in the kitchen for the baby to play while you cook. Get bath chairs or a tub in the bathroom, with separate storage space for the baby’s toiletries.
5. Carve out Nooks for relaxation
If possible, lounging corners should be created at a strategic area(s) in your home, apart from the living room, for the mother to relax from time to time. This space could be furnished as you please. The essence is to prevent burnout and encourage rest and rejuvenation every now and then or when necessary.
6. Delay your expensive purchase
Defer buying expensive items for your home till your baby has grown beyond the “sticky and messy” stage. Until then, furniture items and décor pieces in your home should be items that are less expensive and less likely to break if it gets knocked over. As the child transitions from a toddler to grade school, then you can begin to splurge on those accessories and decors that appeal to you and resonate with your home's interior design style.
7. Organize the rest of your home
Once you have cleaned up and gotten all the necessary items for your baby, ensure you organize everything else in your home for your baby’s arrival. Arrange and organize your home in a way that everything needed for the baby is in a clear and conspicuous position. You don’t have to search for anything you need for your baby when it arrives. You don’t also want to search for your maternity wear, or other urgent items when rushing to the hospital for delivery. Also, once your baby arrives you won’t have all the time for deep cleaning, organizing, or regular decluttering of your space. So, it is important to have your entire space organized before the baby comes.
Having gone through the seven tips above, you should be able to get your home set for your baby’s arrival. All you just need to do is imagine the baby is already at home and picture the different stages of your baby’s life at home and get your home ready for all of your baby’s needs. Sometimes, you just have to think like a baby to be able to lay hands on what your baby would need at home.
