During the time of pregnancy, every parent has a million thoughts on how to prepare their home for the arrival of a newborn. Everyone is wondering this; let’s shake off those nervous jitters and figure out what you need to do is ensure the entire home is ready for the new family addition.

Start Babyproofing the Home Early

The first thing every parent should do first is babyproofing. You may think you have the safest home or believe everything is a potential hazard. Let’s take a breath and rethink this tip through. Babyproofing is essential, especially with babies becoming more adventurous and curious as they grow.

How To Start Childproofing

Try and focus on the hot zones first, such as wall outlets, shelves, tables and chairs, and sharp objects. These things can cause accidents, and the best way to prevent mishaps is to create babyproof spaces early on. Start by dividing childproofing up by room, beginning with the kitchen.

The kitchen is heavily used, so ensuring the cabinets have babyproof locks on them will keep your child from grabbing cleaning supplies, pots and pans, and anything else that could harm them.

You could also do these things for easier childproofing:

• If you have rugs in the living room, place non-slip pads under each one.
• Place a gate on the top and bottom of each staircase.
• Keep a lock on the front, back, and side doors.
• Avoid long curtains and blinds with cords.

Get a Head Start on Stocking for the Future

Although you should have a savings account for your infant's needs, you should also be stocking up extra prepped meals, formula, diapers, and essentials to keep the house orderly. While taking care of the baby, you and your spouse must also take care of yourselves and the home.

Start stocking up on toilet paper, paper towels, and laundry detergent. You’ll need these just as much as you need diapers, formula, and baby clothes. If you want to add more variety to your baby registry, consider adding household items.

Tackle Those Home Renovations Now

If you are currently in the middle of a house remodel, or about to start one, it’s a good idea to get it out of the way now. Since you and your partner will be busy during this time, hire a contractor who can help complete the project on time and before your due date.

Even if the home renovation seems minor, it will be stressful trying to complete the job while nursing the baby. So, inspect the home and complete the remodeling work before the baby arrives.

You should focus on doing mold inspections. If you come across any mold, remove it, and then fix your siding and your interior walls. You should also finish painting the nursery and prepping the room, redo your floors, and finish your bathroom remodel.

Get Your Household Ready for the Baby

Something that parents might forget to do is prepare the household for the baby. Everyone needs to be ready for the arrival of their newest family member, from your older children to your pets. Here’s a look at prepping your pets and older children for the baby.

Your Older Children

Remember to continue giving your older children attention. That is an essential thing to do to ensure your children are still loved. Even though you have another addition on the way, this doesn’t mean you lessen the amount of attention you give to your children.

The best way to prepare your older kids is to discuss the new baby with them. Be open to their questions and let them help you prepare. You should also watch out for regression in kids. Sometimes kids accidentally wet the bed or ask for a bottle. When children experience these regressions, it’s often their way of verifying their parent’s love and attention.

If you have children between the ages of two and five, you may want to finish milestones, such as potty training, to prep them to further their independence. Also, work out a new daily routine to help manage time with your older children and caring for the baby.

Your Pets

Pets may not react well to your newest arrival. Some pets squirm and get excited when the baby comes into the room. However, there is also the chance of aggression or envy in your pet. From cats to dogs and birds, your pets all need to be ready for the new baby.

When prepping your pets before the baby comes, start by taking them to obedience school, getting them used to the baby by introducing them to baby toys and smells, and gradually changing the pet’s environment.

After the baby’s born, the first thing to do is to maintain the same amount of attention you gave them before the baby arrived—give them more love when the baby’s gone to bed. One other essential tip is to supervise. Your pet, though curious, may not be friendly at first.

Gradually let your pet come near but set boundaries. If the pet snaps at your child, or attempts to, put them away. As your pet learns how to act around the baby, you should teach your child the same way as they become more mobile.

Start Practicing Cleaning Rituals

It’s essential to keep a home clean. As much as we believe that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, we can all agree that regularly cleaning the house creates a healthier space for the parents and baby. Start by practicing cleaning rituals.

When you start cleaning more often, you reduce a lot more stress. It’s okay to have little messes here and there, as that’s part of life, but letting the clutter pile up is never good. Start using a dry-erase board to create a cleaning schedule for the entire household to use.

Change Up Your Organization

With the arrival of a baby comes the need to change up your organization. You’ll not only need a planner to organize major events in your life, but you’ll also need to organize clothes, toys, and essential baby cleaning products.

As you go through the change of storing only your wardrobe, here are a few tips on changing the organization between the kitchen and the nursery:

• Declutter every closet early on.
• Be creative with toy storage. Use cubbies for odd-shaped or smaller toys or a hammock for stuffed animals.
• Keep an extra shelf in the kitchen for bottles and lids.
• Transform corners into changing stations.

It’s essential to have your home ready for a newborn. While learning how to prepare your home for the arrival of a newborn, think about the types of nursery furniture you’d like to have. Simply Nursery offers all you need to make organization effortless. Check out our eco-friendly, handmade nursery chest of drawers that make decluttering a simple task. Explore our online shop for more ways to create a fun, safe nursery for the baby.