Preparing for a new baby can be an exciting but busy time for parents. From getting your home ready to taking care of yourself, there are many things you can do to prepare for the arrival of your new bundle of joy. In this article, I share 10 tips on how you can prepare for a new baby and help with a smooth transition to parenthood. 

1.       Get the Family Ready: Welcoming kids into your family is a big change for everyone! As you embark on this new adventure, talk with your partner about how you both are feeling. If possible, take time for a getaway together to connect. If you already have kids, talk to them about welcoming another sibling and what to expect. Start talking to them about the upcoming changes at home and in their daily schedule. Get them involved where possible, like decorating the nursery, to help them be better prepared and accepting when the transition comes.

2.       Get Your Home Ready: Start to think how you want your home set up and decorated when the baby comes.  For the nursery, get the essentials, like a crib, changing table, and baby monitor. Ask friends, family, and neighbors they have baby gear you can use. For decorating the nursery, we used animal-themed decals when my son was a baby and then easily changed the decals to a cars theme when he was older. We also kept a pack-n-play in our living room. This made things easier since we didn’t have to go upstairs as often, but we needed to move furniture around to make it fit. 

3.       Get the Budget Ready: Adding a new family member and taking unpaid parental leave from work (if you don’t get paid leave) impacts the family budget. Now is a useful time to review your estimated income and expenses. Discuss the household budget with your partner, how your income and estimated expenses will change and your plan to address it. If you don’t have a budget, now is the perfect time to gather your financial information and set your goals, here are some family budget resources.

4.       Get Organization Systems Ready: Start putting systems in place before the baby comes so you’re ready when you’re sleep-deprived and short on time. Decide where you’re going to put things like mail, keys, bills, cell phone, etc. It’s also useful to talk through all the additional work that will need to be done like laundry, housecleaning, etc. Discuss how you and your partner are going to divide up the work for based on makes sense for your family. Set up organization systems now for tracking grocery lists and chores so you’re prepared when things get busy with the baby.

5.       Get Childcare Ready: If you plan to go back to work after the baby arrives, start researching childcare options early. Talk to friends and family members who have used daycare centers or nannies in your area. Make sure you have a plan in place beforehand. It’s also important to have back-up childcare if your first option falls through. We had a neighbor and friend who were available to help with childcare, and it was useful to have multiple options if one of them was busy.

6.       Get the Kitchen Ready: Preparing meals ahead of time can save you a lot of time and energy when the baby arrives. Make freezer-friendly meals like lasagna or casseroles that you can reheat easily. You can also set up accounts for grocery curbside pick-up or delivery, put in a basic order so you can quickly re-use it when the baby comes.  Create a list of easy-to-make meal rotations that your family can enjoy during the newborn months. I stocked up the freezer and pantry with food essentials so that I didn’t have to go to the store as frequently.

7.       Get the Supplies Ready: A baby requires a lot of gear and supplies, so make a checklist so it is easy to remember.  Stock up on items in advance and prioritize the essentials like diapers, wipes, baby shampoo, and laundry detergent. Include the daily household essentials like toilet paper, cleaning supplies, etc. to eliminate last-minute trips to the store. Remember to include items on your checklist like pack your hospital bag and buy baby clothing and bedding.

8.       Get the Baby Clothes Ready: Babies go through a LOT of outfits, so it helps to have their clothes washed and ready to go before they arrive. Set some time aside to wash the newborn clothes and put them away so the clothes are ready to use.  I was blessed by a colleague who gave me her son’s newborn clothes so I didn’t have to do laundry as often!

9.       Get Yourself Ready: It's important to take care of yourself and your baby during this special time. Get plenty of rest, eat nutritious meals, and exercise if you can. Give yourself time to process this big transition and take time to rest and relax. Spend some time learning about the upcoming changes so you feel ready and ask your partner to take over some tasks so you can have some time for yourself.

10.   Get Friends & Family Ready Family and friends are happy to help during this exciting time in your families’ life. Don't be afraid to ask for help from family and friends for tasks like meals or babysitting. It's okay to take a break and let someone else take over for a while. It will help them get to know your child and share your joy, while giving you a well-deserved break!

Preparing for a new baby can be overwhelming for busy parents. But by following these 10 tips, you can stay organized and make sure the household is ready. Still, remember that your plans may change after the baby arrives, and that’s okay. Stay flexible and focus on what's most important: taking care of your new baby and yourself. Good luck!

Hilary Kinney is the author of Project Management for Parents, a timeless book that provides resources for busy parents to streamline life at home. She is a certified Professional Project Manager with 17 years of experience at a Fortune 500 company.