Here’s Exactly What To Do Before Baby Arrives

Do you want to know EXACTLY what to do before baby arrives? Stick around. I will help you make sure that you are EXTRA prepared!

I am giving you a VERY detailed list of what to do before baby arrives. I have categorized this extensive list, making it SUPER easy to tackle your to-do list in increments. That is my suggestion! Do not attempt to do everything at once. 

Instead, save this post and refer to it as a checklist throughout your pregnancy. Nesting WILL kick in (if it hasn’t already), and you’ll want to clean and organize ALL THE THINGS. Pace yourself though, mama. You will get it all done. Little by little.

Here is my biggest tip. This is something I overlooked while pregnant with my first that I will not forget to do this time around. Plan to take care of yourself TOO after your baby’s arrival. There are so many things to prepare before your baby’s big debut like stocking up on diapers!

Speaking of diapers… have you tried Coterie’s diapers? They do not advertise to be the Rolls Royce of diapers for no reason. I have tried MANY diapers and these are truly the best diapers ever. They are insanely gentle on your baby’s skin and absorb urine extremely well. Shop through this link and use the code “BUMP20” for 20% off. You will enjoy them as much as we do!

This post is all about what to do before baby arrives.

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Here’s What To Do Before Baby Arrives

Nursery

Assemble & organize nursery furniture

This includes your crib, dresser/changing table, rocker, end table, bookcase, and any other nursery furniture you have. Assemble it all! Organizing the layout of the nursery is always SO much fun. This was one of the first tasks I checked off my list of what to do before baby arrives.

(RELATED POST: 7 Essential Baby Dresser Organization Tips That Are Life-Changing)

Set up baby monitor

Don’t wait until your baby is here to set up the baby monitor. You probably won’t have to use the monitor for a while since the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends sharing a room with your baby for the first 6 months of their life. It is just SUPER helpful to have all tasks checked off your list before your baby makes his or her big debut. Life gets significantly more busy with a baby.

We chose this monitor and will be using it for baby number 2 as well.

Decorate

Here is another fun one! Decorating the nursery brings so much joy and excitement. It makes it feel REALLY real that a baby is on the way. From hanging decorative mirrors to beautiful wall art. There are SO many adorable decorative items. Have fun!

Wondering what else to do before baby arrives?

Organize

Carve time out to decide how you will organize your dresser drawers and closet. Need help? I’ll walk you through it.

(RELATED POST: Secrets to Baby Room Organization)

Stock up on diapers & wipes

Have plenty of diapers and wipes ready to go for your babe. I like to keep a handful of diapers on top of the changing table and organize the rest of the diapers inside the nursery closet. Easy to find and ready to restock!

Let me just share with you my FAVORITE diapers. These diapers are unlike ANY OTHER diapers (and I have tried a lot). After unboxing, you will INSTANTLY notice that they are quality-made. They are very gentle on the skin. My daughter has eczema so quality is SUPER important to our family. Their wipes are ALSO just as fantastic. Shop through this link and use code “BUMP20” for 20% off. Buy them now while the offer still lasts!

Home

Set up the bassinet

Figure out where you would like to sit your bassinet and put that sleeping essential together. This won’t take you too much time. Don’t forget to wash the fitted bassinet sheet and put it on. This was something I forgot to do. Oops! Pregnancy brain is for real.

What’s next on the what to do before baby arrives list?

Stock up on the essentials

Buy toilet paper, paper towels, laundry detergent, trash bags, dish detergent, and any other item you’ll need in your home. Take inventory of what you have and what you need more of before your baby arrives. This includes groceries!

Don’t overlook this suggestion for what to do before baby arrives. Leaving the house for ANY reason during the fourth trimester is ROUGH!

Clean from top to bottom

Whenever nesting kicks in, you’ll probably feel the urge to clean your whole house from top to bottom. Coming back to a clean and tidy home is everything!

Consider hiring a cleaning service

If you’re too exhausted to clean your own home, consider hiring a cleaning service to do it for you!

Ready for more about what to do before baby arrives?

Get your carpets professionally cleaned

Tummy time is either on the floor or skin-to-skin. So it is a great idea to have your carpets cleaned before your baby’s arrival. Especially if you have pets!

Do all the laundry

The last thing you’re going to want to worry about after labor is doing laundry. Do it all before your due date mama!

Car

Clean your car

Clean your car inside and out! This was my husband’s job. Delegating jobs is so much fun! Don’t you think?

Fill the tank

Keep that gas tank full. You do not want to worry about filling the gas tank when you are gearing up for labor! No ma’am.

Install your car seat

Here is one of the most important items on the list of what to do before baby arrives. Check your car seat manual to ensure that your car seat is installed properly.

Pack the stroller

I always keep the stroller in my car because you just never know when you’ll need/want it!

Let me share one of my new mom mistakes. The first time I went to grab the stroller and open it was after my daughter was born. I struggled to get it open the first time. It was embarrassing and awful. Want to know what to do before baby arrives? Practice using your stroller & pack it too.

Keep reading for more about what to do before baby arrives.

Prepare a diaper caddy

I love keeping a small diaper caddy in my car for quick trips. For quick outings, I do not like to bring the diaper bag along for the ride. This is where a car diaper caddy comes in handy!

(RELATED POST: Wondering What To Put In A Diaper Caddy? 14 Essentials)

Install your side car window shade

Give your babe a little shade. Buy and set up a side car window shade.

Set up your car seat mirror

A car mirror will be your trusted sidekick during car rides. A car seat mirror is a great way to check and see what your little one is up to.

For Mama

Get your hair done

Treat yourself! Taking care of you is absolutely on this list of what to do before baby arrives. After my daughter was born, I had to actively remind myself to do things that made me happy. So take advantage of the time you have left and book yourself a cut and color. Enjoy!

Book a mani-pedi

Isn’t this one of your favorite ways to treat yourself?

Plan a baby moon

Many couples like to go for a little getaway before the baby is born. Even if you can’t carve time out for a getaway, go on a romantic date with your hubby. Enjoy some quality time together before life gets chaotic!

Prepare for Labor

Pack your hospital bag

Be prepared! Pack your hospital bag in advance. This way when you go into labor, you don’t have to frantically pack your hospital bag while in pain. I suggest having your hospital bag prepared by 35 weeks.

Arrange care for your kids & pets

Who will be taking care of your fur babies and kids? I am sure this one is at the top of your list of what to do before baby arrives.

Take a childbirth class

If you are a first-time mom I highly recommend taking a childbirth class. The hospital I delivered at offered classes for parents and it was VERY informative.

Make a birth plan

As a new mama, it was really easy for me to make a birth plan after taking a childbirth class. Communicate your wishes with your partner!

Prepare for Recovery

Make Ahead Meals

This is my favorite advice to give new moms. Make freezer meals OR plan easy meals for you and your family to eat while you are recovering. Here are some of my favorite meals during the recovery period.

(RELATED POST: 7 Simple Postpartum Meals That Your Whole Family Will Love)

Stock Up On Postpartum Essentials

Some of my favorite postpartum essentials are a peri bottle, comfy underwear, and nursing pads. Looking for more essentials to get you through? These TOTALLY saved me.

(RELATED POST: 30+ Postpartum Must Haves For Mom And Baby + Checklist)

Download a Parenting App

I found parenting apps to be really helpful as a new mom. It is a great way to track milestones, keep track of how much your little one is eating, and get support from other mamas. My personal favorite parenting app was Ovia Parenting.

Breastfeeding Prep

My biggest mistake was neglecting to prepare for recovery and breastfeeding. Naive little me thought oh I will just breastfeed my baby, no need to prepare. Wrong! There were so many breastfeeding must-haves that I had NO idea about BEFORE breastfeeding and wish I had known sooner. Beyond milk bottles, a bottle warmer, bibs, and a pump! ALSO make sure you remember to wash and sterilize all pump parts before using.

(RELATED POST: 23 Breastfeeding Must Haves Every Mama Should Own)

This post was all about what to do before baby arrives.

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