New babies bring lots of change into your life! My blog bestie, Pam from Hodge Podge moments is expecting Baby 2 in November!! I’m so excited for her family! Today she is sharing five ways to prepare your home for a new baby!
We’re expecting our second baby in just a few months. As a result, I have been thinking back on how we prepared for our son. Preparing for number two will be similar in many ways and different in a few. I have figured out a few tips that could help any parent welcoming a new child into their home. In fact, some of these tips can apply to setting up a new room as well.
1. Figure out where baby (everyone) will sleep.
The first step is to figure out your sleeping arrangements. This will help alleviate stress when things aren’t coming together quickly or when baby arrives early. With our first, I knew he would be sleeping in our room for a little while. We set up the nursery with a crib, but it wasn’t “baby ready” when he came home. Instead, it was still home to a few blankets and toys. The bassinet in our room was baby ready though and that was a life saver. Since the crib was already put together, we didn’t have to deal with that headache later. We’ll be doing the same thing with baby number two.
2. Consider the long term value of furniture.
When we were picking out furniture, I kept the big picture in mind. I didn’t want a piece of furniture that would only be helpful for a year or two. A common baby item that is “temporary” is the changing table. We chose to use a changing pad on top of a dresser instead and it has worked perfectly. I love that it’s a piece that will be around for a long time. We also made sure to pick out convertible cribs. This will save us time and money down the line when baby transitions to a toddler bed. Thinking ahead a little can help you make the best purchases and decisions for your family.
3. Think middle of the night.
Babies wake a lot at night. There’s a really good chance you’ll be navigating your house and rooms in the dark or semi-dark. Try to think about this when you’re arranging furniture and rooms. Will the corner become your worst enemy at three in the morning? Do you really want to be tripping down stairs at five in the morning? Set up your rooms for the easiest navigation and use nightlights where needed.
4. Consider function and appearance.
A cute nursery is fun to show off but a functional nursery is helpful day to day. Think in terms of function and appearance when you’re setting up the room. Keep your diaper pail near the changing station. Consider what might get peed on during a diaper change (can you tell I’m a boy mom?). Think about where clothes and toys will be stored. You don’t want to be digging around for something when you have an upset baby or busy toddler at your feet.
5. Be flexible!
Remember that life with littles is unpredictable. Be prepared for the unexpected and know that you might have to rearrange or adjust things on many occasions. Our nursing glider has moved locations in the nursery several times as I figure out locations that work better. Our little one transitioned to his crib sooner than predicted. Flexibility is huge with kids. There’s nothing wrong with adjusting to meet everyone’s needs.
