Getting Your Home Ready For The Next Bundle Of Joy
Congratulations; you’ve got baby number two, three, four (the list could go on) on the way and you’ll be feeling grateful and excited to meet your next family member. However, there are some things in your household and home that you’ll need to consider and put in place in time for their imminent arrival. It’s a team effort; so get the whole family on board with the plans and ensure that everyone (kind of) knows what to expect, and bringing home a new baby will go as smoothly as possible. The following are some areas (for example you may want to use this Home Remodeling and Renovation Guide to get you started) to think about if you have a due date around the corner and feel the need to do some preparation.
The Space
If you’re already lucky enough to have kids; you’ll need to make room for the next one that’s coming along, while retaining your other little one’s sense of normality. Those who have a bedroom for each of their children will have a more straightforward experience when they prepare a space for the new baby. However, if your kiddies are going to have to share their space with the new family member, they need to feel like it’s an exciting a positive thing. Therefore, you’ll need to invest in their bedroom space to divide it up successfully. Take a look here for some kids shared bedroom ideas and get some inspiration. Getting your other children involved in the process of picking out the paint, wallpaper, and furniture will help give them a sense of responsibility and grow their excitement for their new sibling, so take them to homeware and furniture stores to “help.”
Babies and kids are expensive enough as it is, so you might need to consider a loan, or professional advice on money if you’re already facing a financial hardship; this will ensure that you’ll have enough to decorate, renovate, and gather together all you need for the new bundle. Bear in mind; not everything has to be brand new; you’ve already had a child, so reusing their old items and giving it a spruce is the perfect way to cut costs and save money (you little one will never know the difference). Second-hand cribs and strollers are a great way to get what you need for a fraction of the cost; you can give them a thorough clean, or a lick of paint and they’ll be as good as new.
Storage will become your best friend; you’ll be doubling, if not tripling, the amount of “stuff” you need to take care of all your kids. Therefore, it’s worth looking into clever storage solutions and how to incorporate them into a nursery, bedroom, or living space. Give your kids their own toy box and encourage them with a reward chart to tidy up their things; this behavior will help you out once you’re rushing around after a newborn.
The Prep
Aside from sorting out where baby will sleep, and ensuring that you have adequate storage for all their things; now is the time to start preparing for everything else. Stocking up should be your first port of call; try and remember how many diapers and wipes your last baby went through (then multiply it) and begin the process of stockpiling. You can take advantage of some great bargains, where it a two-for-one offer or similar; you’ll save cash when your little one arrives, and nobody will be running out to the store at midnight because you’re low on supplies. Things like formula, extra bottles, plenty of detergent for washing blankets and babygrows, can all be stocked up on and be ready in the cupboards when you arrive home from the hospital.
Make sure that your other little ones understand that there may be changes when the baby arrives home; you can explain what the changes may be but always put a positive spin on what’s going to happen. You want to reduce as much worry and anxiety as possible from your little one’s mind. For some ideas on how to introduce a new sibling into your children’s home, take a look here and get a better understanding of the process.
When the whole family is together and excited for the new arrival; work out some of the new routines that you’ll need to have in place. Try to think about extra childcare for your older children in the first few weeks; this will ease the pressure of running the household as baby settles in. Make an effort to keep your relationships and family bond strong so that you can all enjoy the new member of the team and get through the tiring first months smoothly.