Preparation Checklist

For Your New Baby

You are probably reading this report because you are expecting a baby, and so you might have already been thinking about what is needed and perhaps already started preparing for the babies arrival.

 There are two main areas for your focus on the preparation: 

• Preparing your home for the new baby

• Preparing yourself and packing

Preparing your Home

When preparing your home, your first consideration is probably that your baby comes home to a safe, clean environment. Once you arrive home you will be so busy and tired and that isn’t the time to be cleaning the house.

Prepare by thoroughly cleaning the nursery, and the rest of the house as well if you can. You want to clean all dust and dirt on shelves and furniture, and thoroughly vacuum the carpets if you have them in the nursery. Sanitize all surfaces, especially the bathroom and food preparation areas. Thoroughly air these areas. 

Ensure you have a plentiful supply of diapers, wipes, sanitizer, baby clothes and blankets.

You will be very busy however your health is very important and you need to eat well and not skip meals because you are so busy. To prevent missing meals or not eating well, prepare lots of meals before the arrival of your baby, and freeze them. You can either make extra when preparing normal meals, or you can dedicate a day to meal preparation.

Your Preparation 

When deciding what to pack for the hospital, contact them first to find out what they provide, as you don’t want to leave something important at home.

 Mom

• Hospital paperwork for checking in

• Birthing plan

• Any medications

• Clothes

  • Gown if not provided by the hospital

  • Pajamas

  • Socks

  • Maternity clothes for going home

• Sanitary pads

• Toothbrush, toothpaste

• Hairbrush

• Shampoo/conditioner

• Cosmetics

• Glasses/contacts/cleaning solution

• Purse

• Magazines or books

Dad 

• Camera/camcorder

• Wallet

• Cellphone [with all appropriate friend’s contacts] or pay phone money

• Books/magazines

• Pen/notepad to remember those things to bring from home or things that you’ve both forgotten to do

• Pajamas/overnite bag/clothes if staying

 Baby 

• Diapers

• Wipes

• Going home clothes

• Blankets

• Car seat

You may not need all of the above items if the hospital provide some. The weather will also determine the style and quantity of clothes/blankets for your baby when they leave the hospital to travel home.