20 Household Items To Stock Up on Before Baby Arrives
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Diapers, wipes, milk, and baby food—these are some of the obvious things that soon-to-be parents need to prepare before the baby comes home. So what are the less obvious ones? Do you know what to stock up on before baby arrives? We listed the essential items that you need to have.
Congratulations, mom! In a few days, you’ll meet the sweetheart that you’ve been carrying for these past months. So you’re probably thinking what to buy before baby comes. It’s best to pack the essentials beforehand.
Ideally, you need to secure the must-haves ahead of the baby’s arrival. You wouldn’t want to go to the store to buy diapers and wipes while bringing the newborn baby along.
But what are the baby essentials to stock up on?
Should you buy large quantities of diapers?
In this article, we offer practical tips on what things to stock up on before baby arrives. We also provide sound advice on what to do to prepare for the day when your angel comes home. It’s best to be prepared and ready for the things you need.
What to Stock Up on Before Baby Arrives?
With the baby due soon, you probably can’t help but think of what things to stock up on before baby arrives. There are diapers and wipes on one hand, and there are cute onesies on the other.
You probably feel the need for stockpiling on laundry detergent and toys too. Perhaps an urge to stock up on diapers before baby is born.
Before you go on a shopping spree, it pays to look into the essential household items to stock up on before baby arrives. In this article, we narrowed the list of must-haves for you, your angel, and your household.
Household Items To Stock Up On Before Baby
These essential household items can run out quickly. So it’s best to be prepared and stock up on them. The more you have of them, the better it will be for your comfort and convenience within your household.
1. Paper Towels and Toilet Paper
Do you use paper towels when cooking or cleaning the kitchen countertop? Do you need toilet paper in the bathroom? The necessity of these must-haves is self-explanatory.
Paper towels and toilet paper can run out really fast. So it’s important to stock up on these.
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2. Household Cleaning Supplies
The mess builds up every day, but you may not have the time to go to the grocery regularly to get your supplies. So stock up on the basic items for your daily cleaning needs.
Make sure you have,
- sponges,
- sanitizing wipes,
- dishwashing soap,
- laundry detergent (this one is good for sensitive baby skin) and
- extra trash bags too.
3. Hand Sanitizer
With the baby in the house, it is important to maintain a hygienic environment. Having a few bottles of hand sanitizer around the house is a convenient way to keep everyone’s hands clean.
We like to keep one in our main living area (for the guests that want to come by and see the baby) and one small bottle on the changing table for after diaper changes.
- Formulated without: Parabens, sulfates, phthalates, artificial fragrances or dyes
- Plant derived ingredients
- Alcohol free. Citrus fruits acts as a preservative, chelator, pH adjustor
- Foaming: Moisturizing formula
- Non allergenic: Dermatologist tested
4. Easy-to-Prepare Meals and Disposable Plates, Cups, and Utensils
The last few weeks of your pregnancy will be the most challenging. Even getting off the couch is a difficult thing to do. You will feel miserable and may not have the energy to prepare your meals.
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After giving birth, you will also get busy taking care of your newborn. This means you will be spent, so preparing your meals may be the last thing on your to-do list.
Get the cooking and dishwashing off your mind with easy-to-prepare meals and disposable plates, cups, and utensils. They are truly a life-saver. Some breastfeeding snacks are nice too.
Items To Stock Up On For Moms
To provide the best possible care for your baby, you need to take care of yourself first. Here’s a rundown of the basic non-baby essentials to help make your life with a newborn easier and less stressful.
1. Large Pads
If you ask us what are the things to buy in bulk before baby arrives, this one should be on top of your list. Make sure you have a grand supply of large maxi pads. You’re in for heavy aftermath of childbirth.
You will have your period after giving birth, and the menstrual bleeding will be heavy. This will run for a couple of weeks. So it is best to store large maxi pads that provide the right protection for the heavy flow.
These other postpartum recovery essentials will help you too!
2. Large Comfortable Underwear
Postpartum underwear doesn’t look cute; it is larger in size than your usual ones. But it is the ideal article of clothing for post-childbirth comfort and recovery.
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Make granny panties a part of your daily wardrobe for a couple of weeks. You will also need large undergarments to hold post-surgery dressings and accommodate your large maxi pads.
3. Breastfeeding Essentials
Are you looking forward to breastfeeding your newborn? Then you will need these breastfeeding essentials because they can run out really quick.
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- New InvisiLock Core- Each breast pad captures and disperses moisture away from the skin
- Individually Wrapped- For optimal hygine and convenience, now made with 25% less material. Note: Pads should be changed often to maintain skin health; a general guideline would be after each feeding
Get nipple pads for protection from leakage. To avoid having dry or cracked nipples, moisturize and soothe them with nipple cream. It also helps to have nursing tanks for a comfortable and convenient breastfeeding experience with your baby.
4. Shampoo and Conditioner
After giving birth, you will probably be too focused on your baby that you will forget about your self-care. So make sure you stock up on your beauty, hygiene, and self-care products.
First on the list are shampoo and conditioner. You may think these are not important, but looking and feeling good about yourself will contribute to uplifting your well-being.
Washing your hair regularly can lead to drying your hair. Restore the silky and smooth texture of your hair with your favorite conditioner.
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5. Dry Shampoo
For those days that you don’t manage to get a shower, dry shampoo is a life-saver. This is one of my favorite things to stock up on before baby. I order a few on Amazon and then keep them under my bathroom sink. With dry shampoo, I can go 3-5 days before needing to wash my hair again!
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6. Books on Parenting
Stock up on knowledge by reading on books and blogs on pregnancy and parenting. Even if this is your second or third pregnancy, there is still more to learn about the precious experience. Read and educate yourself nonstop to better prepare for any funk that may come your way.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Murkoff, Heidi (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 1412 Pages - 10/07/2014 (Publication Date) - Workman Publishing Company (Publisher)
When is the best time to read?
Get on to your books and blogs while the baby is taking a nap. You can also grab a quick read while nursing your newborn. I like to grab kindles so I can read on my phone no matter where I am.
The first few weeks after childbirth can get really tiresome. With these reading materials, you get the needed information and motivation.
Items To Stock Up On For Your Baby
Diapers, wipes, clothes, and food are the obvious items to stock up for your baby. So for this list, we’re going to focus on the other essentials that aren’t so obvious.
1. Baby’s Pacifiers
I’m a mama that loves using pacifiers. I’ve breastfed both of my babies and these were the best pacifiers. It’s convenient to have lots on hand. Keep some in the diaper bag, some in the crib and a few throughout the house.
- The pacifier brand distributed in hospitals nationwide
- Used by medical professionals to calm newborns
- BPA free
- Highly durable
- Sized and shaped for baby's mouth
2. Diapers
Nothing is worse than a middle of the night blowout and realizing you are out of diapers. I always try to have at least one extra box on hand. I recommend grabbing 1 box of newborns, 2-3 boxes of size 1’s then 2-3 boxes of size 2’s. This will help prevent those frantic moments when you think you are out of diapers.
- Trusted protection, Pampers is the #1 U.S. Pediatrician Recommended Brand
- LockAway Channels absorb wetness and lock it away
- Breathefree Liner helps soothe and protect baby's skin
- Soft flexi-sides for comfortable fit
- Gentle on baby's delicate skin, Pampers Swaddlers Disposable Diapers is hypoallergenic and free of parabens and latex (Natural rubber)
3. Wipes
Wipes are handy for just about anything. Changing up diapers, wiping up spills, cleaning spit up off your clothes. You want wipes and lots of them. I like to buy boxes in bulk at Costco or on Amazon.
- 6 flip-top packs of 80 Fresh Scent wipes
- Pediatrician tested
- Free from: Alcohol, bronopol, dyes, parabens and phthalates
- Gently cleanses with a light, fresh scent
- For use on face, hands and bottom
Tips to Have You Prepared for Baby’s Arrival
Your baby is on the way. Isn’t that exciting? Do you get goosebumps knowing it’s just a matter of days that you’ll get to see your angel? You can only imagine the wonderful things on the horizon for you and your newborn.
But obviously, there are things you need to get in order before that special day arrives. And at your delicate state and with your precious cargo, you don’t need the stress. So with these tips, we hope you can get all the things you need to be done without feeling rushed or stressed out.
Let’s call this one the Nesting Challenge.
Why nesting?
Have you noticed how birds act in preparation for the arrival of its offspring? Experts call this activity “nesting.” It’s a fascinating behavior where birds construct their nests to provide a safe spot for their eggs and young.
They also stock up on food, making sure it is abundant well before the brood arrives.
We share the same natural tendency with birds.
In our nesting challenge, our objective is to get all the basic preparation done so everything is all set when the baby arrives. But to avoid feeling stressed out, the idea is to spread out the tasks over a longer period.
So instead of setting a timetable of just a two or three days for every activity, this challenge gives you a week or so to accomplish each task. However, feel free to adjust the calendar to a more convenient and stress-free schedule for you.
OK, so let’s get on to the six challenges.
Challenge 1: Preparing Your Meals
Once the baby arrives, preparing your meals can become challenging. Unless you have someone to help you, cooking meals is difficult if you have a hectic daily schedule. But you have to eat and fuel your body, so this one is a priority nonetheless.
Here’s a trick:
If you prepare your meals ahead, it can be a huge time-saver. A pre-made casserole can be a great stress relief; you just roll out a ready dinner after a long and tiring day instead of frantically preparing and cook your meal.
The idea for this challenge is to get accustomed to the practice, eventually developing it into a routine.
In line with this challenge, make sure you have a full grocery list of your ingredients and check it twice before you start cooking. You might want to consider using a grocery pick-up service.
Challenge 2: Declutter Your Home
When your baby arrives, you will need the extra space for all the stuff like the crib. So for this next challenge, you need to declutter.
Go through your home and get rid of the unneeded stuff to free up space. Understandably, this cannot be done in a day especially if you have other commitments to attend to. So give yourself a week or two to remove the clutter in the whole house.
Why should you do this now?
When you have the baby home, you may no longer have the time or energy to declutter. Life happens faster, and putting all the unnecessary items away may be difficult to do once you’re preoccupied with the baby.
Clutter can also slow you down.
Are you looking for matching socks? Can’t find a pen and paper to write down important information? You need to remove the mess to easily locate the things you need.
So what areas of your house should you focus on?
Get to your closets, and see what needs to be thrown out. Create free space by using hangers and other storage kits. Got clothes you no longer wear? Consider giving them away.
Next, check your kitchen cabinet, pantry, and fridge for expired items that need to be thrown out. While you’re at it, organize things or place them inside containers. Toss out old plastic utensils, fast-food ketchup packets, and party giveaways that need to be discarded.
Don’t forget to check on the bathrooms and laundry area for items no longer used. Empty shampoo containers, small bits of soap, and fabric conditioner receptacles need to go.
Challenge 3: Clean Up the House
Take out the vacuum cleaner, and tackle one area of the house at a time. Dust and dirt usually accumulate on the shelves, ceiling fans, and baseboards that are least likely to be cleaned so you might want to focus on these places.
Carpets are usually the breeding ground for germs and bacteria. Bring out the big guns by asking your partner, family, or friends to help out. When the baby starts crawling, you’ll be happy you got your carpets deep cleaned.
You might also want to consider baby-proofing your home.
Challenge 4: Get Your Affairs Organized
With nesting, there is physical work and then there is administrative work. This challenge deals with making sure all the other aspects of your life are being handled by your partner, family, or friends.
For instance, if you have other kids, have someone take care of them while you’re delivering your baby.
You need to complete your paperwork and tie up the loose ends at work. Make a call to your company’s HR department, ensuring that another person will handle all your tasks while you take maternity leave.
Go through your hospital and insurance affairs too; make sure all the forms are complete.
Challenge 5: Prep for Mom and Baby
Do you have the baby items and your personal care kit ready? Have you made the finishing touches on the nursery? Are the baby’s clothes and diapers stocked?
You should have the essentials put into their logical places and set a few weeks before your scheduled delivery. That way, you can be truly ready for the baby’s arrival.
Challenge 6: Relax as You Enter the Final Stretch of Your Pregnancy
Ideally, you should space out all the five aforementioned challenges in weeks, performing them with minimal stress to you.
Now that you have performed the physical and administrative work within these challenges, it’s time to rest and relax. You’re in the home stretch—your third trimester a time to sit back and enjoy the last few days with your angel in your belly.
Conclusion
Your pregnancy and postpartum life need not be stressful. Knowing what to stock up on before baby arrives can make things easier for you and your family. With the right preparation, you’ll have all the comfort and convenience you need at home.
Do you have your checklist? Did we miss anything on ours? Feel free to share your thoughts and suggestions in the comment section below.
