How to prepare your home for the arrival of a baby?

Around the eighth month of pregnancy - sometimes earlier - females begin to build a nest . It's not just about arranging a children's room (basically useless for the first year of a child's life, except for an Instagram session), but about the feeling that everything you need is within reach . That it's ready. Some choose wallpaper for a toddler's room, others search for the softest diapers on the Internet or worry about how to protect the stairs.

While arranging a room for a newborn, and later an infant, is pleasant, you must remember that at least for the first months the baby is actually attached to its mother . He really doesn't need stylish pictures on the wall or toys developing his motor skills at this time. He needs closeness, warmth and peace . And a calm mother means a calm child. So first of all – take care of yourself. The first days and weeks will be both beautiful and difficult because they are exhausting . So make sure your fridge and freezer are full. It's worth having ready-to-heat soups, dumplings, leko or anything you like in the freezer . It is worth having a supply of fresh water, fresh fruit, good teas and infusions.

Similarly, you can stock up on washing powder, soap, cleaning products, toilet paper... Everything you use at home in large quantities. Trivial? Maybe. But it works. It is also a good idea to make sure that you have the medicines you take regularly at home - in the first weeks it will probably be difficult for you to go to the doctor to get a prescription.

While waiting for the baby, it is worth cleaning all the nooks and crannies.

In the case of little ones , the principle of less is better applies . And because the child does not need gadgets, only tenderness and attention, and because a harmonious environment has a positive effect on the mother. Take care – with help, of course! – to clean up the space . Maybe it's time to get rid of the clothes lying in your wardrobe - you will need a lot of space for rompers, vests, overalls, diapers and cosmetics - and trinkets collecting dust? This may go hand in hand with thorough cleaning - floors, windows, nooks and crannies. It is worth making sure to clean using eco-detergents.

Is it worth buying special furniture to prepare for the arrival of a child?

In the first weeks, you will need a cradle for your baby - or a Moses basket, or maybe you will decide to buy a cot. Either option is good. Most homes have changing tables , although mothers often consciously decide that they do not need another piece of furniture because they will be changing the baby on the bed. However, it is good to have everything you need at hand: diapers, wipes, powders, creams and ointments . If you have a large (two-story) house, make sure there are such changing stations in several places. Not only for comfort, but also for safety. A 2012 study in the United States showed that a quarter of accidents involving newborns occurred while climbing stairs . Why take the risk?

What "gadgets" are worth investing in when preparing for the birth of a baby?

Basically, the idea is to make the first difficult weeks easier. The space needs to be reorganized to make it as comfortable as possible - maneuvering with a child in your arms is not easy - and unnecessary. The baby will probably spend the first months with you or you in the bedroom, where there will be a cot. It is also worth buying a sleeping cocoon - an invaluable help when the baby sleeps with its parents. The cocoon provides him with comfort and safety - he is close to his mother, but without the risk of being crushed, for example, when the tired mother accidentally falls asleep. It's good for the cot to be close to the parents' bed - it saves time. A feeding chair ? It may be useful, but an averagely comfortable armchair or other armchair with high armrests will not work. You can try the popular feeding croissants , which many mothers praise. It is worth adding that although as many as 97% of women in Poland start breastfeeding, only 58% of mothers breastfeed after the second month . Nevertheless, it is worth purchasing a sterilizer for both baby bottles and breast pump before giving birth . Of the latter, manual ones also work, but electric ones are much more convenient (though more expensive).

Take a look at the light in the bedroom . A newborn does not need excessive stimuli, even in the form of strong light. You can consider a night lamp or light dimmers that provide a gentle light , which will be especially useful when feeding at night, changing a diaper or putting your baby to sleep.

You still have plenty of time to secure stairs, windows, doors, drawers and electrical sockets.

Bibliography:

1. “How To Prepare Your Home For A New Baby,” May 15, 2019, storefirst.com.
2. Barbara Królak-Olejnik, Anna Szczygieł, Katarzyna Asztabska “Why are breastfeeding rates in Poland so low? What and how should be improved? Vol. 1", Interdisciplinary Pediatrics, June 21, 2018, forumpediatrii.pl.