What do you ACTUALLY want/need on hand when your baby arrives?

You’re prepping and making your way down your list of things to do and things to get in anticipation of the big day and for some of us, it can all be very overwhelming. I’m writing this to help you whittle it down enough that you are basically ready for when your baby is here. No fluffy stuff, here are the things that you want to consider/do/have so you’re prepared to start your new life with your, well, new life!

BEFORE BABY IS HERE

Make sure your car seat is installed and secure, you will not be allowed to bring your baby home without a car seat ready. The Car Seat Lady is a wonderful resource to figure out if you’ve got it in right. BEST way to make sure is to take your car to a local fire station and have one of the EMTs or firemen verify that it's installed correctly.

If it's hot and sunny when you leave, it may pay off to have one of those shade things put on your car window or make sure your car seat has a canopy.

It’s tempting to pack a ton of fun things in your hospital bag but honestly, you don’t need a ton. Here’s what I packed and used:

I didn’t pack a ton so the things in my go-bag were:

Comfy, loose pyjamas

Nursing tops/bras

Bathrobe

Fuzzy socks to wear around the room

Comfortable outfit and shoes to wear home (your feet will likely be bloated so bring comfy shoes)

Change of clothes/cute outfit and a blanket for baby for going home

A very very very long phone charging cable because power outlets are never close enough to the hospital bed

My camera

Bath stuff

Bring clothes you don’t mind staining with blood and that aren’t skin tight or in any way tight. Truth be told I didn’t end up using half the things I brought due to some complications and being in ICU almost the entire time. However friends who have had babies tell me that they didn’t really change into the cute PJs and outfits they brought so pack light and pack to be ready to go home.

DELIVERY TIME!

I delivered in a hospital so this won’t apply to home births/midwifery delivery places so if you’re doing the latter you could probably skip ahead. If you’re delivering at a hospital, this will likely apply to you. If, like me, you deliver at St. Thomas here in Nashville, I know that you are allowed to bring home the things you find in the bathroom or, to quote one of the nurses I had, "Anything but the linens." If any of you have had experience with other hospitals I would love for you to chime in either in comments or email me so I can update the info, even if you live in a different city!

For me, I grabbed pretty much all the things in the hospital room:

Mesh underwear (just take them, those things are SO comfortable).

Pads

Squirt bottle thing (I know you can buy them too but you might as well grab the one you get)

Soft hairbrush/sponge we were given and the baby body wash

WHEN YOU GET HOME

Is the nursery in the exact state your heart pictured with everything in its place? Yes? Great. No? GREAT. It’s not important, your baby won’t even know, and frankly as long as paint cans and tools aren’t still laid about and you have a crib of some sort and the changing table set up, you’re definitely ready.

But here’s a list of things that you should have on hand that will make life a lot easier for you and you won’t be scrambling (as much) when you get home from the hospital.

•••

Crib and/or bassinet or a safe bed of some sort for the baby with bedding/swaddles etc washed and ready to use

Baby’s clothes washed and ready to be worn

Diapers and diapering accoutrement

Bath things (wash clothes, sponges, towels)

Formula JUST in case

Detergent and dish soap

Bottles, nipples, pump parts, pacifiers etc all sterilized and ready to use

Food and snacks you can easily prepare or reheat for you and your partner to consume

It will also help to have phone numbers at the ready like your pediatrician, your doula if you are using one, and the hospital’s lactation people or your own lactation consultant.

But you’ll quickly realize that in the first few days and weeks your baby won’t need much more than you/your partner, a place to sleep, and milk (formula or breast) to consume. Feed, change, sleep, feed, sleep, change, feed and repeat and repeat. I’m not trying to make this sound mundane because it’s not, but your brand new baby will have very very very base needs so don’t worry about too much beyond taking care of her and yourselves.

Do you have any tips you want to share? Leave a comment or email me! Your advice could very well make a new parent’s life SO much easier!