Preparing your home for your expected newborn can be the second most fun part about getting pregnant. That is, if you have a definite goal in mind and take baby steps to cheerfully reach it.
In other words, plan ahead. Take some time to think about your specific energy level, budget and needs and allow yourself a chance to enjoy the process of preparation. By the time your infant arrives, you’ll not only be ready but also relaxed. All you need are a few simple steps:
Waiting for the last minute means stress at a time when you least feel like running from store to store to grapple with decisions, decisions. Therefore, even before that early morning wooziness begins to wane, think through what furnishings you’ll need to create a nursery that’s lovely to look at, comfortable for both baby and parents and 100% safe.
Since furniture and bedding are the number one priority, it’s a good idea to make them first on your list. Special ordering can be a breeze when there’s enough time to ensure you get what you want when you want it. What you don’t want are used hand-me-downs unless you’re positive they meet all safety standards. We know one family who bought a charming rocking chair at an estate sale. It was to be used for quiet nursing. Instead it wound up with bed bugs, forcing the family to evacuate—new baby, nursing mommy and a frustrated dad who will never buy used baby furniture again.
Because the baby furniture world is changing all the time, it helps to have an experienced staff member guide you through the many options emerging constantly. Personal service--including some of that essential safety education-- is much more likely to happen in a smaller store whose staff has a long track record. Store owners and salespersons who knows babies and baby furniture welcome a chance to know you. Through the years, shopping in more fun in a setting where “everybody knows your name.”
Like your trusted pediatrician, when baby store staff members get acquainted with you and your newborn, they can assist with the transition from infant to toddler and even to teen. Ideally they help you see the “big picture” so that the furniture you buy now will fit easily into a room that reflects the personality of your family’s youngest member. And if there are older children in the family (or nieces and nephews) why not bring them along on shopping trips so they might feel part of the miracle that’s happening? (It would probably be better if you left the family dog at home.)
Buy yourself a folder to hold information you pick up along the way. Include photos from magazines or articles like this one to keep for future reference. You might also want to buy an inexpensive notebook to dedicate solely for baby preparation. Use it for to-do lists, comparison shopping and keeping track of suggestions from experienced parents. You can learn a lot from friends and family who survived pregnancy, thrived through infancy and are happy to share both warnings and success stories. (That’ll be you someday.)
Prepare a timeline for action--one that permits time for leisurely shopping rather than hurried impulse buying. Chart the items baby will need from day one and decide when to purchase what. Visit various stores to see what’s available in keeping with your budget and your goals. Keep the pace calm, collected and carefully thought through. Don’t buy everything at once but rather come back several times once the large items are purchased to pick up the smaller accessories that ultimately make life easier.
Consider creating a gift registry that helps ensure that you don’t get a dozen of the same item at baby showers. (Some stores have cards for enclosure in shower invitations.)
No one is more vulnerable than babies, so it’s up to parents to create a hazardless environment. Take time to learn what cribs meet certification standards. Find out what furniture finishes might be potentially harmful and which are completely non-toxic. Make sure there’s no exposed hardware or loose parts. Accidents can happen when diapers and powders are too far from space-limited changing tables or when toy chests are not constructed to prevent lids from falling on tiny hands. Check those items out.
By the way, this doesn’t mean being over-protective. It only means being responsible about priorities: your child’s well-being. You’ll relax more and so will baby.
Comparison-shopping is central to any course in Furniture Shopping 101. Check out the various lines of furniture available to see which ones meet your criteria. Some questions to ask: Is the furniture certified to meet government standards for quality, durability and safety? Do the drawers roll smoothly on castors? Is the finish smooth and even?
Time flies when you’re having fun. Check out if the crib you buy can change as your child grows. Does it have the ability to become a youth bed or even a full-sized bed later on? Can the changing station be eventually removed, leaving a chest of drawers ready for multiple uses?
Here’s where you see the advantage of starting early. Once you have the large items selected, you can think about custom fabric for bedding linens, gliders and window treatments. Again, it’s the small store setting that can help you enjoy the present, plan for the future and celebrate the miracle of creation that’s renewed with every new life—like the one you’re shopping for now.