The 5 Things You Must Do Before Your Baby is Born

Having a baby can be a joyful experience, and being a parent is the most responsible thing you’ll ever do in your life. When you become pregnant with your first child, you will feel an array of emotions. You’ll be happy, scared, excited, nervous, and everything in between. 


In addition, you’ll probably find yourself reading every pregnancy magazine and book that has been published trying to gain all the parenting tips and tricks needed to rule this parenting thing. What you’ll find when doing this is an overwhelming amount of information, but what they don’t tell you is parenting will come naturally. However, in order to make it extremely beneficial to you, here are five things you must do before your baby is born.

1. Pick a pediatrician.

It seems strange to have a doctor for someone who isn’t even born yet, but it’s important you know which pediatrician you want with your baby. After all, this individual will meet your baby for the first time at the hospital, and you will be meeting this person multiple times during the first year of your baby’s life.


Trying to find a pediatrician after your baby is born will be a nightmare, so having this decision made before the baby comes will take one stressful decision off your plate. Ask friends and family for recommendations, and be sure to meet with the doctor before your baby is born to ensure you’re happy about your decision.

2. Have the baby clothes ready.

Some parents go crazy trying to get the nursery ready before the baby comes, but it’s not a necessity. After all, your baby likely won’t sleep in his or her nursery for the first three months or his/her life, so you have time to get this done. However, what you do need to do is have your baby’s clothes ready. This means having them washed and put away in an organized fashion. Keep in mind you’ll likely go through many different outfits with your child on a daily basis due to spills and accidents.


However, what you don’t need to do is prepare every item you got. Your baby will grow at a rapid pace during the first few months, which means there’s a good chance he or she won’t even wear half the clothes you have for them. If you have an overabundance of items, keep the receipts and tags for some of the items so you can return them, especially those that are size newborn or 0-3 months. This way, you won’t feel as if you wasted your time washing and preparing these clothes that won’t even get used.

3. Get organized.

A baby instantly creates chaos, and you’ll have a hard time remembering the last thing you ate or the last time you slept. However, just because you have a baby doesn’t mean your real life and your other responsibilities cease. In order to minimize some of the stress and chaos that comes, you must find ways to get organized. According to Lifestyle Management of Colorado, a home organization in Denver, people spend an average of about 55 minutes looking for things they need, and when you have a baby, this is time you can’t afford. If you can get your home and important belongings organized before the baby arrives, it will make keeping up with your responsibilities that much easier to do.

4. Have your wardrobe ready.

Your body goes through so many changes when you’re pregnant, and you don’t want to feel stressed about your own look after the baby arrives. Chances are you will not fit into your maternity clothes any more, but you also won’t fit into your pre-baby clothes anymore either. 


Because of this, it’s a good idea to have a few staple items that will accommodate your in-between body. Having just the essentials will ensure you have enough outfits to cover the events you’ll experience the first few weeks after baby is born.

5. Make freezer meals.

Even though your baby is tiny at first, you’ll be amazed at how much you don’t get accomplished after his/her arrival. This is why it’s important to make freezer meals before the baby comes. This way, you can easily pop a casserole in the oven or put a bag of food in the crockpot for an instant dinner. Not only will this keep you from feeling stressed to cook after the baby is here, but it will also save you money by refraining from eating out every night.


Your baby is extremely important part of your life, and being prepared for his or her arrival can help to reduce some of the stress that comes with new parenting.