40 Things to Do Before Your Baby Arrives

Preparing for a baby is not about creating a perfect nursery or buying every product you see online. The most useful preparation makes labor, recovery, feeding, sleep, and daily life easier during the first few weeks.

Focus first on safety, medical plans, basic baby supplies, food, household help, and your own postpartum needs.

1. Learn Where You Will Give Birth

Make sure you know:

The hospital or birth center address
Which entrance to use during labor
Where to park
Where your support person should go
The maternity unit’s phone number
When the hospital wants you to call
What identification and paperwork you need
Whether you must register before delivery

Drive the route at least once. Consider traffic, roadwork, parking, and how long the trip may take at different times of day.

Save the maternity unit’s number in both your phone and your support person’s phone.

2. Learn When to Call the Hospital

Ask your maternity team exactly when they want you to call or come in.

You may be told to contact them for:

Regular contractions
Your water breaking
Vaginal bleeding
Reduced baby movement
Severe or constant abdominal pain
Severe headache
Vision changes
Sudden swelling
Feeling seriously unwell
Signs of labor before 37 weeks

Do not rely only on a timing app. Follow the instructions given by your doctor, midwife, or hospital because your medical history may change when you should come in.

3. Write a Flexible Birth Plan

A birth plan is a short outline of your preferences for labor, delivery, and the first hours after birth. It helps your care team understand what matters to you, but it should remain flexible because labor can change quickly.

Consider including:

Who you want with you
Pain-relief preferences
Whether you want to move during labor
Positions you would like to try
Preferences about examinations
Whether you want music or lower lighting
Who should cut the cord
Skin-to-skin preferences
Feeding plans
Cultural or religious needs
What information you want before procedures
Preferences if a C-section becomes necessary

Keep the plan to one page so staff can review it quickly.

4. Discuss Unexpected Birth Situations

Ask your maternity provider what may happen if:

Labor needs to be induced
Labor stops progressing
Your baby needs continuous monitoring
Assisted delivery is recommended
You need an emergency C-section
Your baby needs extra medical care
You cannot have immediate skin-to-skin contact
Your baby needs to stay in the neonatal unit

You do not need to expect something to go wrong. You are making sure you understand the options before you are tired, uncomfortable, or under time pressure.

5. Choose Your Main Support Person

Decide who will support you during labor and immediately after birth.

Discuss:

How they can help during contractions
Whether they know your birth preferences
Who will communicate with relatives
Who will take photographs
Who will hold your belongings
Who will drive you home
Whether they can stay overnight
What they should do if plans change

Give them the hospital address, phone number, parking instructions, and a copy of your birth plan.

6. Arrange Backup Support

Your main support person could become ill, get delayed, or need to care for another child.

Choose a backup person who knows:

Your expected due date
Where you plan to give birth
How to reach you
What help you may need
Whether they may need to drive you
Whether they may need to stay with older children or pets

Do not wait until labor begins to decide who can step in.

7. Pack Your Hospital Bag

Pack the bag before the final weeks of pregnancy and keep it somewhere easy to reach.

For yourself, consider packing:

Identification
Insurance or hospital documents
Maternity notes
Medication list
Birth plan
Phone and long charging cable
Comfortable clothes
Loose going-home outfit
Nursing bra or supportive bra
Underwear
Slippers
Socks
Toiletries
Hair ties
Lip balm
Glasses or contact supplies
Water bottle
Snacks, if permitted
Any religious or personal items you want nearby

For your baby, pack:

A going-home outfit
One backup outfit
Hat if appropriate for the weather
Socks
Diapers if the hospital requires them
Baby blanket for the trip home
Properly installed car seat

Check the hospital’s list before buying or packing too much. Many hospitals provide diapers, postpartum pads, gowns, and basic newborn supplies.

8. Pack a Separate Bag for Your Support Person

Your support person may need:

Identification
Phone charger
Change of clothes
Toiletries
Snacks
Water bottle
Comfortable shoes
Medication
Coins or a payment card for parking
Pillow or light blanket if permitted

Keeping their things separate prevents them from searching through your recovery supplies.

9. Install the Car Seat

Install the baby’s rear-facing car seat before the due date.

Read both:

The car seat instruction manual
Your vehicle owner’s manual

The car seat should be installed rear-facing in the back seat. Harness straps should lie flat and sit at or below a newborn’s shoulders when using a rear-facing seat.

Check:

The seat does not move excessively at the belt path
The correct belt path is being used
The base has the correct recline
Straps are not twisted
The newborn insert is approved by the manufacturer
No extra padding has been added
You understand how to tighten the harness

Practice placing a doll or stuffed toy in the seat so you are not learning in the hospital parking area.

10. Prepare a Safe Sleep Space

Set up a crib, bassinet, or other approved infant sleep space before the baby comes home.

The sleep area should have:

A firm, flat mattress
A fitted sheet
No pillows
No loose blankets
No stuffed toys
No positioners
No bumper pads
No sleep nests or loungers

Babies should be placed on their backs for every sleep. The CDC recommends keeping the baby’s sleep space in the parents’ room, ideally for at least the first six months.

Do not place the sleep space near:

Blind cords
Curtain cords
Heaters
Radiators
Heavy wall decorations
Shelves
Windows
Loose electrical cords

11. Decide Where the Baby Will Sleep During the Day

You may spend much of the day outside the bedroom.

Choose a safe daytime sleep plan, such as:

Moving the approved bassinet between rooms
Using a second approved sleep space
Returning the baby to the bedroom bassinet
Taking turns staying near the baby

Do not treat sofas, adult beds, nursing pillows, car seats, swings, or baby loungers as regular sleep spaces.

When a baby falls asleep in a sitting device, move them to a firm, flat sleep surface as soon as it is safe to do so.

12. Wash Basic Baby Clothes

Wash a small number of newborn and larger-size clothes.

Prepare:

Bodysuits
Sleepers
Socks
Hats for outdoor use
Burp cloths
Muslin cloths
Crib or bassinet sheets
Baby towels
Washcloths

Do not remove every tag or wash every outfit you own. Some babies outgrow newborn sizing quickly, and unused items may need to be returned.

Organize clothes by size so you can find the next size easily.

13. Create Simple Baby Stations

Instead of keeping everything in one nursery, place basic supplies where you will use them.

A living-room basket might include:

Diapers
Wipes or cotton pads
Changing mat
Burp cloths
Spare baby outfit
Spare shirt for you
Diaper cream
Hand sanitizer
Water bottle
Easy snacks

A bedroom basket might include:

Diapers
Burp cloths
Night-light
Feeding supplies
Clean nursing pads
Pacifiers, if used
Phone charger
Water

This reduces repeated trips across the home while you are sore, tired, feeding, or holding the baby.

14. Prepare a Safe Diaper-Changing Area

You do not need an expensive changing table. You need a stable, easy-to-clean surface and supplies within reach.

Keep nearby:

Diapers
Wipes or water and cotton
Diaper cream
Changing pad
Spare clothes
Diaper disposal bag or bin
Hand-cleaning supplies

Never leave the baby alone on a raised surface, even for a few seconds. If something is out of reach, take the baby with you or change them on the floor.

15. Buy Only the Newborn Basics

A newborn mainly needs:

A safe place to sleep
A rear-facing car seat
Diapers
Basic clothing
Feeding supplies
Burp cloths
A thermometer
Basic bathing supplies
A safe place for supervised awake time

You do not need to buy every device before you know what your baby likes.

Consider waiting before buying large amounts of:

One diaper brand
One bottle type
One pacifier type
Newborn-size clothing
Formula
Swaddles
Specialty creams

Babies can have strong preferences, and some products may not fit or work well.

16. Decide How You Plan to Feed Your Baby

You do not need to predict exactly how feeding will go, but it helps to understand your options.

Ask about:

Breastfeeding support
Formula feeding
Combination feeding
Expressing milk
Safe formula preparation
How to tell whether the baby is feeding enough
Who to contact for feeding problems
Where to obtain a breast pump
What your hospital provides

Keep the plan flexible. Feeding may need to change depending on your recovery, milk supply, the baby’s health, latch, weight, medication, or personal choice.

17. Prepare for Breastfeeding Without Overbuying

Useful items may include:

Two comfortable nursing bras
Breast pads
Nipple cream if recommended
Burp cloths
Water bottle
Supportive pillows you already own
Breast pump if needed
Milk-storage containers if you expect to express

Avoid buying a large supply of expensive breastfeeding products before you know what you actually need.

Save the contact information for:

Hospital feeding support
A lactation consultant
Your midwife
Your baby’s doctor
A breastfeeding support line

18. Prepare for Formula Feeding

You may choose formula, need it temporarily, or use it alongside breast milk.

Learn:

How your local health authority recommends preparing formula
How to sterilize or safely clean equipment
How long prepared formula can be stored
How to recognize hunger and fullness cues
How to hold the baby during feeds
How to reduce wasted formula

Buy only a small starting supply unless a healthcare professional has recommended a specific product.

Keep bottles, nipples, cleaning tools, and formula in one organized area.

19. Choose Your Baby’s Healthcare Provider

Find out which doctor, clinic, or child-health service will see your baby after discharge.

Ask:

How to register the baby
When the first appointment will happen
How to book urgent appointments
Where to go outside office hours
How feeding and weight will be monitored
Who to call about jaundice
What vaccinations and screenings are offered

Newborns commonly need follow-up shortly after leaving the hospital, so know how that appointment will be arranged before delivery.

20. Choose Your Own Postpartum Provider

Know who you will contact about:

Heavy bleeding
Wound problems
C-section recovery
Breast pain
Fever
Blood-pressure concerns
Pelvic-floor symptoms
Severe headaches
Emotional health
Birth-control options
Pain during recovery

Postpartum care should address physical healing, feeding, sleep, pain, bleeding, emotional health, and your ability to manage daily life.

Save the correct phone numbers before birth.

21. Learn the Main Postpartum Warning Signs

Ask your healthcare provider for a written list of symptoms that require urgent care.

Seek urgent medical advice for symptoms such as:

Very heavy bleeding
Large blood clots
Chest pain
Trouble breathing
Severe headache
Vision changes
Fainting
Seizure
Fever
Severe abdominal pain
One-sided leg pain or swelling
A painful or infected wound
Thoughts of harming yourself or the baby
Feeling confused or disconnected from reality

Make sure your support person also knows these signs. A tired or unwell parent may not realize how serious a symptom has become.

22. Prepare Postpartum Recovery Supplies

Your needs will depend on whether you have a vaginal birth, C-section, tearing, stitches, or other complications.

Possible supplies include:

Large postpartum pads
Comfortable high-waisted underwear
Loose clothing
Perineal rinse bottle
Cold packs designed for postpartum use
Nursing pads
Comfortable bras
Stool softener if recommended
Approved pain medication
Easy-to-reach toiletries
Extra pillows
A small basket for medication and recovery supplies

Place supplies in the bathroom before labor begins.

Do not take medication or supplements unless your doctor, midwife, or pharmacist confirms they are appropriate for you.

23. Create a Medication Plan

Write down:

Medications you currently take
Medication allergies
When each medication is taken
Which pharmacy you use
Which medication may need to change after birth
Which medicines are safe with your feeding plan
Who to contact about side effects

Use a simple phone alarm or paper schedule after birth. Sleep deprivation can make it difficult to remember when pain medicine was last taken.

Keep all medication locked away from children and pets.

24. Prepare the Bathroom

Make the bathroom easy to use after delivery.

Stock:

Toilet paper
Hand soap
Postpartum pads
Comfortable underwear
Perineal bottle
Clean towels
Medication approved by your provider
Small bin
Spare clothes
Gentle toiletries

Place supplies at waist height so you do not need to bend or reach into high cupboards.

25. Prepare Your Bedside Area

Keep within reach:

Water bottle
Snacks
Phone charger
Burp cloths
Tissues
Feeding supplies
Nursing pads
Lip balm
Medication schedule
Small light
Diapers
Spare baby sleeper

Do not place loose objects inside the baby’s sleep area.

26. Cook and Freeze Simple Meals

Prepare meals that can be heated with little effort.

Useful options include:

Soups
Stews
Pasta sauces
Casseroles
Cooked rice portions
Breakfast sandwiches
Muffins
Meatballs
Marinated meat
Chopped vegetables
Smoothie ingredient packs

Label each meal with:

Name
Date

Freeze smaller portions so you do not need to defrost a large meal.

27. Stock Easy Food

Keep foods that can be eaten quickly or with one hand.

Examples include:

Yogurt
Cheese
Eggs
Fruit
Nuts
Crackers
Hummus
Sandwich ingredients
Frozen meals
Oatmeal
Soup
Prewashed vegetables
Nut butter
Protein-rich snacks

Do not plan to cook complicated meals during the first week.

28. Arrange Grocery and Meal Help

Decide how you will obtain food when leaving home feels difficult.

Options include:

Grocery delivery
A shared shopping list
Prepared meals
Family bringing food
Your partner handling shopping
A regular weekly delivery
Freezer meals

When someone asks how they can help, give them a specific task: bring dinner, buy groceries, wash dishes, or take out the trash.

29. Complete Important Household Tasks

Before the final weeks, try to:

Wash essential laundry
Change the bedding
Clean the bathroom
Restock toiletries
Buy household basics
Empty unnecessary clutter
Check smoke alarms
Replace dead batteries
Organize important documents
Prepare pet food
Refill prescriptions
Pay upcoming bills

Do not try to deep-clean the entire home. Prioritize tasks that will affect daily life after delivery.

30. Make a Postpartum Chore Plan

Write down who will handle:

Cooking
Dishes
Laundry
Groceries
Cleaning
Trash
Pet care
Older children
Appointments
Night feeds
Bottle washing
Visitors
Communication with relatives

Avoid assuming that tasks will work themselves out after birth.

Assign names to the main responsibilities.

31. Discuss Nighttime Responsibilities

Even when one parent is breastfeeding, another adult may still be able to:

Bring the baby for feeds
Change diapers
Burp the baby
Refill water
Bring food
Wash pump parts
Prepare bottles
Settle the baby afterward
Handle an early-morning shift

Decide what help is realistic before exhaustion creates arguments.

32. Set Rules for Visitors

Decide:

When visitors may come
How long visits should last
Whether they should call first
Whether you want hospital visitors
Whether children may visit
Whether anyone may stay overnight
What health precautions you expect
Whether visitors may hold the baby
Whether photographs may be shared online

Visitors should not come when they are ill.

You can also ask visitors to help by bringing food, washing dishes, folding laundry, or taking out the trash rather than expecting you to host them.

33. Decide How Birth News Will Be Shared

Choose:

Who will be informed first
Who will send the announcement
Whether you want to announce immediately
Which photographs may be shared
Whether the baby’s name, weight, or birth details will be public
Whether people may post before you do

Tell close relatives in advance when you do not want information posted online.

34. Prepare Older Children

Explain what will happen in simple, honest language.

You can:

Read books about new babies
Show photographs from when they were a baby
Explain who will care for them during labor
Practice the change in routine
Let them help arrange baby clothes
Prepare a small activity bag for the hospital period
Plan regular one-to-one time after the baby arrives

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends involving older children, talking about the new baby, and helping them understand what life with a newborn may be like.

35. Arrange Childcare for Labor

Confirm:

Who will care for your children
How that person will enter your home
Where children will sleep
School or daycare details
Medication instructions
Emergency contacts
Allergies
Daily routines
Backup childcare

Pack a small overnight bag for each child before the final weeks.

36. Prepare Pets

Before the baby arrives:

Confirm who will care for the pet during labor
Refill food and medication
Move pet beds if necessary
Introduce new furniture gradually
Practice boundaries around the baby’s sleep area
Address jumping or aggressive behavior
Arrange walking help
Give the pet a safe area away from visitors

Never leave a baby alone with a pet, even when the animal has always been calm.

37. Complete Necessary Paperwork

Depending on where you live, you may need to prepare for:

Birth registration
Health insurance
Parental leave
Maternity benefits
Child benefits
Employer documents
Baby’s healthcare registration
Passport applications
Childcare waiting lists
Legal recognition of parenthood
Emergency guardianship information

Create one folder for forms, identification, maternity records, employment letters, and insurance information.

Check local deadlines because requirements vary by country and municipality.

38. Review Your Finances