Are you expecting a new baby soon? You’ve probably been thinking about all the things you need before his/her arrival (spoiler alert: it’s not as much as you think!). And it sure is fun to get all those cute clothes and handy accessories. But in all your preparations, make sure you’re not overlooking these eight things to stockpile before baby — trust me, you’ll want to have these on hand when he or she comes!
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I’m only a few weeks out from delivering our third baby, and I’m starting to feel the time crunch of making sure we’re prepared for her arrival.
Fortunately, since this is our third, we already have the majority of what we need (although it is our first girl, so, of course, I had to do some shopping. 😉 ). But there are still a few things left on my to-do list that are important for any impending birth.
A lot of soon-to-be parents focus on the obvious prepping — the crib, the clothes, the baby products, etc. — but there are other, less-obvious, things that should be considered, as well. Many times, these items are overlooked in baby preparations, and even experienced parents can forget them, as well.
Of course, any of them can be purchased or prepared after the baby’s arrival, so it’s not the end of the world if they aren’t done ahead of time. But in my experience, the less you have to think about, prepare, and pick up in those first few weeks, the better!
Here is my list of things to stockpile before a new baby that you may have overlooked:
8 THINGS TO STOCKPILE BEFORE BABY
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Diapers
Okay, so you probably know that you need diapers. And if this is your first baby, you’ve maybe received quite a few from a baby shower. But if not, make sure you have a decent diaper stockpile because babies go through a lot of diapers. A lot of diapers.
However, I have two caveats for you. One, unless the baby is small or premature, he/she will probably not be in Newborn diapers very long (if at all). So don’t get a lot of those. You might not even use Size 1 diapers for more than a couple of months. I know we didn’t.
Also, you may want to get a variety of brands because some babies can be sensitive to a particular kind. Don’t accumulate too large a stockpile until you see what works best for your baby. -
Toiletries
When you have a newborn, you’ll want to keep trips to the store to a minimum, so make sure you have plenty of toiletries on hand! This includes things like shampoo, soap, toothpaste, deodorant, contact solution, etc. And if you have other children, don’t forget to stockpile their products, as well!
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Household goods
Similarly, make sure you’re set for a while on household goods, such as toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, coffee filters (definitely the coffee filters!!), and anything else you use on a daily basis.
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Postpartum care products
One thing I did not think about before I had my first baby that I wish I would have was postpartum care products. You’ll probably bring some home from your hospital stay, but those won’t last long. Get yourself a good stash of heavy duty maxi pads, Tucks pads, ice packs, Dermoplast, and a spray bottle. And if you’re planning to breastfeed, be sure to get a box of nursing pads, as well.
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Freezer Meals
I shared in my post 7 Things I Wish I Had Known Before My First Baby that I was not well-prepared for meals the first time around. I think I underestimated just how much we would not feel like cooking. But I won’t make that mistake again!
Schedule time before the baby comes to fill your freezer with a good stash of meals. If you’ve never made freezer meals before or you’d like some ideas, be sure to check out these posts:
How I Made 11 Freezer Meals in Only 2 Hours!
Freezer Meals 101: Filling Your Freezer the Fast, Easy Way
My Favorite (and Easiest) Freezer Cooking Method -
Other food
But don’t stop at dinners! Remember, you’ll need breakfasts, lunches, and snacks, too! (Oh, the snacks. Trust me, especially those of you planning to breastfeed, you will want snacks.) Make sure you’re stocked up on some of your staples.
This can be difficult to plan, as babies often come on their own timelines, but as the time draws near, just try to be stocked and ready at all times. Focus on the non-perishables, and maybe bump up your grocery trip frequency for the things that will expire more quickly.
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Entertainment
This might sound crazy, but you may actually find you have more downtime right after the baby is born than you expect. Especially if you’re nursing (you will be doing a LOT of it!) and especially if this is your first.
Once you add another kid or two in the mix, you won’t be doing as much (if any) sitting around. But after our first baby was born and my husband went back to work, I went through a lot of TV shows and books.
Either way, gather some things to keep yourself entertained during all those hours of feeding and rocking.
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Activities for your other kids
Finally, if you have other kids, make sure to think about preparations for them, as well. We had some very wise friends who were kind enough to gift Aidan with a few new activities after Andrew was born. Not only did he appreciate the attention, but the novelty worked wonders in keeping him entertained when I sat down to nurse his brother.
Related Post: How We Prepared Our Toddler for the New Baby
I’ve heard of moms putting together special boxes, baskets, or crates full of things for their other kids to do while they’re nursing, and I think that’s genius. Because the boxes are reserved for nursing sessions, they retain their novelty a bit longer and help prevent jealousy over Mom’s attention.
Here are a few ideas of things you might include:
Books
Coloring Books
Crayons, markers, colored pencils (We LOVE Color Wonder for independent coloring!)
Water WOW
Magna Doodle
AquaDoodle
Activity Books
Stickers
I hope this helps you as you prepare for the wonderful, blessed birth of your baby. These eight things may not be vital, but they sure do make things run more smoothly!
SHARE WITH US: If you’ve had a baby, what things did you stockpile (or wish you had stockpiled) that are not on this list? Share in the comments below!
Recommended Reading:
- 3 Sanity-Saving Baby Products Every Parent Truly Needs
- An Epic List of Breastfeeding Tips & Resources
- 15 Highly-Nutritious Baby Foods You Haven’t Thought To Try
- When You Don’t Bond With Your New Baby
Share your thoughts!