Preparing to bring home your new baby probably means that your family is experiencing all sorts of emotions: excitement, worry, and everything in between. While it’s important to spend time preparing yourself mentally to add a new member to your family, don’t forget about preparing your house for your new arrival too. After all, your baby will be living there too.
From cleaning every room to stocking your freezer with easy-to-make dinners, you’re bound to have a long to-do list before your little one arrives. Be sure to add the following suggestions to your list if they’re not already there.
Set Up a Safe Nursery
Setting up your baby’s nursery should be at the top of your to-do list because your baby will spend a lot of unsupervised time in the nursery while he or she sleeps. Whether you put a bassinet next to your bed or a crib in another bedroom, follow these essential safety tips when setting up your baby’s sleeping space. Make sure the mattress fits snuggly in the frame of the crib. The crib sheet should fit tightly over the mattress. Keep blankets, stuffed animals, crib bumpers, and any loose or low-hanging items out of the crib and far out of reach.
Babyproof Rooms
Before you know it, your little newborn will be a scooting, crawling, walking baby. Take some time before your baby arrives to babyproof your home with your mobile baby in mind. Babyproofing your home includes covering unused electrical sockets, keeping electrical cords out of reach, installing child locks on lower cabinets and drawers, putting up gates at the top and bottom of staircases, and so forth. Make sure that chemicals and medicines are locked away or moved to higher locations. Your goal is to create a safe environment for your growing baby from day one.
Set an Appropriate Indoor Temperature
Something you may not have initially thought about when preparing your home for your new baby is your home’s temperature. Your baby needs to be in a moderate temperature, especially while he or she is asleep to reduce the risk of SIDS. Installing a programmable thermostat to automatically monitor and modify the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system in your home is a great way to prepare for your little one’s arrival. If needed, get your HVAC system serviced or repaired so that you’re ready to care for your baby no matter how hot or cold it may be outside.
When your baby arrives, you’ll be glad you took the time to prepare a safe nursery, babyproof the house, and set the right temperature beforehand. Your mental energy can now be spent caring for your little one’s needs without worrying so much about keeping the house safe for your growing baby.
