Be Prepared for Your New Baby: A Checklist for New Parents to Be - June 18, 2008 -

If you are expecting a new baby you have probably already been preparing for your little one for quite some time. Packing for the hospital and preparing your home for the new baby are the most important things you can do to make your transition from the hospital back home smoother. Here are some preparation tips that I found the most helpful before the birth of my daughter.

Pack for the Hospital

Use the checklist below as a guide when you pack your bags for your hospital stay. A checklist will ensure that you do not forget to bring something important to the hospital. Before you pack, check with the hospital to see what is provided to you to avoid over packing.

For Mommy:

( ) Socks

( ) Pajamas (a gown should be provided to you in the hospital but your own pajamas will make you feel more at home and comfortable)

( ) Maternity clothes to go home in (your tummy doesn't magically disappear after delivery-maternity clothes will be the most comfortable to travel home in)

( ) Books/magazines

( ) Contacts/Glasses

( ) Contact case/cleaning solution

( ) Toothbrush/toothpaste

( ) Shampoo/conditioner

( ) Hair brush and styling products

( ) Make up (for those after delivery visitors)

( ) Labor supplies (massage items, aromatherapy candles-whatever you plan on using to make your delivery easier)

( ) Purse/wallet

( ) Sanitary pads

( ) Birthing Plan

( ) Any hospital paperwork required for check in

( ) Other_______________________________________________

For Daddy:

( ) Games

( ) Books/Magazines

( ) Camera/Camcorder

( ) Change of clothes

( ) Pajamas

( ) Cell phone (or change for pay phones)

( ) Wallet

( ) Other_______________________________________________

For Baby:

Typically the hospital will provide you with diapers, wipes, clothes for the new baby. However, it is always a good idea to be over prepared rather than under prepared. Here are some suggestions:

( ) Coming home outfit

( ) Diapers (usually newborns will comfortably fit into preemie diapers for the first week or two after birth)

( ) Wipes

( ) Blankets (thickness should depend on the weather)

( ) Hand sanitizer (for visitors)

Also, be sure to have the baby's car seat secured in your vehicle. The hospital will not release you and your baby unless you have a car seat properly installed.

Prepare Meals in Advance

The best advice I received prior to having my daughter was to make sure that I had plenty of easy meals ready to go once we brought her home from the hospital. The easiest way to stock up on ready to serve meals is to over cook when preparing dinner before the baby is born and then freeze the leftovers.

If you can find the time, spend a whole day cooking meals to freeze. If you would like recipes that you can use, check out free printable recipes at The Craft Cafe (http://www.recipes.thecraftcafe.com). There you will find recipes for lasagna, meatballs, mushroom barley soup and many other recipes that are perfect to freeze for a later time.

Clean/Prep Nursery

To ensure that your baby has a clean and healthy environment. Take a weekend to thoroughly clean your house. Be sure to dust furniture, sanitize toys, clean the bathroom, vacuum, organize and perform any other cleaning that you will not have time to do once the baby arrives.

Amanda is a writer for The Craft Cafe (http://www.thecraftcafe.com). Find card making, scrapbooking, free printable projects, recipes and more at The Craft Cafe (http://www.thecraftcafe.com).

Check It Out - Checklist for Baby Shower Supplies
How many times have we sat down after a shopping spree and forgotten what it was we went for in the first place. This is why a checklist is vital when planning your baby shower party. Celebrations like this need ample supplies of goodies in quantities depending on the size of your guest list.Invite cards are crucial elements and are one of the firs...

5 Tips to Help New Parents Get Some Sleep
The joy of a new baby is certainly special and something that all new parents experience. However, a lack of sleep is also part of having a new baby and new parents notoriously get very little sleep, if any at all. Fortunately, there are some strategies and tips to help new parents get some sleep when the new baby comes. Of course, with a baby you ...

Naming Children After Presidents and Celebrities
Naming a child can be tricky. While selecting names for their children, many parents simply pick names, they like. However, being aware of such trends may help parents understand the reasons for their choice better. It may also help them discriminate between names that are creative or expressive, and plain weird.Some common naming trends include se...

Baby Gift Guide
Having a baby is one of the most amazing things than any couple can possibly do. The parents look at their child and see a little living, breathing miracle. Therefore it is only right that the occasion is celebrated.Choosing the right gift for a baby shower is a tricky task but if done correctly can give the baby a great start to its life. The most...

Baby Gift Registries
If you're having a baby and would like to register for baby gifts, all you have to do is go to the Internet to a website that has baby gift registries, sign up and select the gifts that like or need. There are many websites online that host these registries. They are convenient, easy to use and a big help for those families and friends who are look...

Baby Names Suitable For Both Baby Boys and Baby Girls
With the number of baby names that can found in various references nowadays, some parents still opt to choose something different and unique for their babies. While some parents resort to unique names or choose names that are rarely used, some parents simply create modifications and sway a little from the conventional in naming their little ones th...

Using Music To Calm Your Baby
Music is a wonderful way for you to calm and soothe your baby, especially during the first year. How many times have your heard parents say that there was nothing that they could do with their crying, fussing baby until they tried music. This is because music does indeed soothe the savage beast, or in this case, the baby.There are certain distinct ...