Preparing For Baby's Arrival

In those last few weeks before baby arrives, there can be a feeling of nervous energy and excitement. Wondering what your baby will look like and how everything will go, are all normal feelings.

After the initial excitement of realising you are pregnant, you may begin to worry about all the things you need to do to get ready for life as a parent to your new little one. There is no need to panic, we have all the basics covered for you here, to make sure that when the time comes, you are ready to go and able to enjoy this special time!

Our top 10 tips to do:

1. Pre wash your baby's clothes and bedding.
2. Purchase nappies, baby wipes and nappy cream. You usually go through 8-10 nappies per day in the early days so make sure you stock up!
3. Prepare some meals in advance and pop them in the freezer.
4. Give the house a good clean.
5. Create a list of important people in your life that you would like to contact after the birth, or create a message group on your phone.
6. Purchase or rent a car seat or capsule and have it professionally installed in your car.
7. Pack your hospital bag. There are lots of great checklists to make sure you have everything. Here is one here! Don't forget some nice PJs that are loose around your tummy and a phone charger.
8. Pack a hospital bag for your soon-to-be-arriving baby. Include your Cocoonababy and sleeping bag or swaddle bag for baby if you plan to use these in the hospital. Remember, when purchasing clothes for baby to wear when first born, it is often wise to bring a couple of different sizes to hospital to ensure you have something that fits particularly if you are expecting a smaller or larger than average baby!  
9. If you are planning on claiming any government maternity leave, ensure you know your Centrelink CRN (and your partner's if you have one) before baby is born. No one wants to be sitting in Centrelink waiting rooms with their newborn!
10. Organise care arrangements for any older siblings. If you have any pets and your partner is planning to stay in the hospital with you, organise for them to be looked after as well.

Don't panic if you don't have everything organised before baby is born. Remember you will still be able to go to the shops (or send someone else on your behalf) and most essential things are very readily available these days.