So, you’re going to have a baby soon? Congratulations. There’s nothing in the world that can bring more joy and fulfillment than raising and taking care of your new little one. Of course, it won’t always be easy. Especially when your baby first comes home, there will be a lot of adjustments to make. You’ll need to get ready for some sleepless nights, but in the end it’s all worth it. Here are some things you can get ready before baby arrives:

• Set up the crib. The last thing you want to do is wait until after the baby is born to set up her crib. Ideally, the crib should be placed in the parents’ room for the first six months or so. This will help you and baby sleep better. Trust us on this one. There will be plenty of time to move baby into another room when she is a little older.
• Buy and prepare feeding supplies. If you are planning on bottle feeding, it’s a good idea to buy plenty of bottles, nipples, and formula ahead of time. Of course, formula has an expiration date, so you don’t want to buy it when you first find out you’re pregnant, but stocking up when baby’s arrival is a month or two away is a good idea. If you plan to breast feed, you may want to consider investing in a pump and breast feeding bras.
• Line up some babysitters. This may seem premature, but trust us on this one. You are going to need some relief from time to time, especially when your baby is first born. Call in the reserves, whether it’s your mom, his mom, or even your friends. If you ask in advance, you’ll have a better idea of who may be available to help occasionally with the baby after she’s born.
• Talk with your partner. After the baby arrives, the whole dynamic of a relationship changes. This can be a good thing, but both of you need to be extra careful to make sure you express your love and feelings for one another. If you don’t, a baby’s needs can easily take your attention away from each other. Lots of relationships have ended this way. Don’t let it happen to yours.

Of course, there’s no way you’re going to be able to make all of the changes you need to make before the baby comes, but anything you can do to be even a little more prepared for your baby’s arrival will make your transition that much less stressful.

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