Photo: Kenzhar Sharap
Pregnancy is a wonderful stage in life that anyone who gets the opportunity to do so, will forever remember. Whether it’s the first baby or the third, each one is different from the next. Each experience has its own set of challenges but one thing stays the same – nesting!
Nesting is something that’s done typically by the mother and involves the preparation of the home for the baby’s arrival. For some, a mother’s nesting happens during certain times of the pregnancy, or it could come about during the last few months before the due date.
It’s an opportunity to get everything prepped and ready for the baby. Some go to the extent of doing renovation works which may be a little bit of an overkill but completely justified by the soon-to-be parents.
With this all being said, here are some useful tips for nesting before a baby arrives.
Plan out and design the nursery
First and foremost, the nursery is an important part of the nesting process. It’s not necessarily a room that is going to be used straight away but it’s also something that many expecting parents want to get done before the baby’s arrival.
This is understandable, especially as some DIY projects will often go untackled or only half-done.
Make sure to plan out the nursery with care and if needing inspiration, these baby boy nursery ideas are handy to get started. Think about how to utilize the space available and work in plenty of storage of functionality for the room.
Fix any odd jobs that need doing
When it comes to nesting, fixing odd jobs is something that will become the be-all and end-all of the pregnancy period. When a person is pregnant, it’s easy to look at the home and spot every single problem with it.
From fixing window sealants to replacing the shower curtain with something more hygiene-friendly, these odd jobs will be a nesting lover’s dream. When it comes to odd jobs, make a list of what needs to be done. This will help to keep on top of everything so that nothing falls behind.
Photo: Ron Lach
Wash all the clothes
If this is the first child of many, then expect to get plenty in the way of clothing from family and friends. From new clothes to second-hand clothing, there will be plenty of clothes given to help stock the cupboards and drawers.
However, before any of it’s worn or used, it’s important to wash it all. This is particularly the case with new clothing. It’s something though that all clothing should get so that every garment smells like home.
For any baby, it may not be noticeable at first but it’s a smell that will become comforting for them when they’re distressed.
Bulk-cook meals and stock up
To help with the period initially after the arrival of the baby, it’s helpful to grab and-go food. This can be made easy with pre-made food that’s been frozen and prepped to eat straight away.
If there’s enough room in the freezer, then invest in some Tupperware boxes and bulk-cook some easy meals that can be cooked in one go, frozen, and kept in the freezer until needed.
All that’s left to do when it comes to getting them out of the freezer, is to wait for them to defrost and cook in the oven or on the hob.
Do a spring clean
There’s nothing like doing a spring clean around the home. Reaching those places that haven’t been cleaned in over a year, like behind the sofa for example, or cleaning mold off the shower grout. It’s all highly satisfying work that could benefit from being done in order to make everything appear much cleaner.
For those homeowners who’ve not done a spring clean in a while, it may be very much needed. It’s worth doing this spring clean closer to the due date so that it only needs to be done once and not several times throughout the pregnancy!
Photo: Sarah Chai
Treat oneself to some new clothes
Every expecting parent deserves a little extra something for going through pregnancy. It’s something that can help with post-pregnancy body dysmorphia. The body is a wonderful thing that has gone through something so major and appreciation for the body is not something that many of us are able to give to ourselves.
With that in mind, treating oneself to some new clothes may be just what the doctor ordered. There’s nothing like retail therapy to help with the post-birth body.
Declutter any cramped spaces
Functionality in the home is something that's needed when expecting a baby. From the moment they’re born to when they’re up and about running riot in the house, it’s good to have a space that feels easy to move about in.
With that in mind, it’s a good idea to declutter the space, something that can be done during the spring clean perhaps? Decluttering is something every household should do regularly because as humans, we tend to hoard stuff that we don’t really need.
Take a black trash bag and go around the home, throwing out anything that can’t be sold or donated elsewhere.
Pack the hospital bag
Finally, one of the most important steps in the pregnancy process is packing the hospital bag. This is best to do it a few weeks before the due date, perhaps even a month or so before just to be safe. This has everything the baby and parents may need for the first 24-48 hours post-labor.
Create a checklist and go through everything that’s needed. Look online for inspiration on what should be in the bag itself. Double-check everything is in there and have it close by for when it’s needed. It’ll be something that’s highly appreciated when labor begins as it’s not ideal to panic pack!
The Takeaway
Nesting is a great way to feel prepared and ready for the arrival of a baby. Many mothers feel the nesting bug creep up on them, so jump on it as soon as it’s felt. Enjoy the opportunity to experience your natural instincts and be prepared for the new phase in your life.
Lots of love,
Liz