10 Important Things To Prepare BEFORE BABY!

Happy Fri-YAY, everyone! We have 7ish weeks left before baby (absolute insanity) so we are in major crunch time to get everything in before he gets here. We have a LIST of things still to get done around the house and on paper before he arrives so fingers crossed this little dude doesn’t make a surprise appearance on us. 😉 For those of you also expecting a little one in the near future, or for those who are hoping to add two more cute little feet to your fam at SOME POINT in your life – keep on reading so we can all be on this baby prep train together.

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10 Important Things To Prepare BEFORE BABY!

ONE: Extra cash on hand for anything you might need or forget once the baby is here.

We have started a little fund within our savings for anything “baby” related. I am SURE there are going to be things we forget about, so having that little extra cushion built in is going to help us not stress so much about the unexpected extra expenses happening. Keep it ready to go so if your baby daddy has to make a run to the store, you know where it’s coming from and nobody has to stress about it.

TWO: Adjusting your budget to prepare for the new expenses that will incur from here on out.

Adam and I need to sit down and do this ASAP. You are going to have new expenses with a baby – whether that’s formula, diapers, toys/books, clothes, etc. Instead of worrying every second about how you are going to afford your newest addition in their first year, sit down and have a chat with your partner. Where can you cut back to make room? Can you be flexible on some things?

THREE: All the handy work that needs done around the house – DO IT.

Because you sure as heck aren’t going to want to do that once the baby is here. Some things on our list: get the weeds pulled prior to the baby shower, have Adam put the pole back up in front of our house (the dog pulled it off…sigh), hang all of the pictures in the baby’s room, and change doorknobs on our closet. I would absolutely like all of those things to be DONE before little mister joins the party.

FOUR: Baby proof your house so there are no avoidable accidents.

Sharp corners, electrical sockets, open stair landings – they’re all a recipe for disaster. And while baby will be immobile for the next little while, it isn’t going to be very long before he’s crawling/walking/running into all of the things he isn’t supposed to be getting into. Get these things checked off your list before you have to have them done and it’s one less thing to worry about!

FIVE: Choose your pediatrician and make sure they are taking new patients.

We met with our pediatrician a few weeks ago and it was GREAT. They answered all my questions and made sure we felt totally comfortable with the process. I know exactly what to do once baby is born, and we were able to tour the facility, get a feel for all the nurses and for someone who is a major planner like me – this was KEY.

SIX: Have a meal train set up so that you don’t have to worry the first week.

If you live in a community where friends and family are close – don’t be afraid to ask for some frozen meals! Our church typically does something like this for those who have just had surgery, a baby or are sick which is super nice. The last thing you and your partner will be worrying about when the baby is born is cooking, so make sure to have a few days of frozen foods lined up.

SEVEN: Set the baby up on your health insurance so that their care will be covered as soon as they are born.

Sometimes you can do this before – and sometimes you have 30-60 days to do this once they are born. Be sure to at least check with your health insurance so that you can see which option they recommend and can prepare all the necessary documents for this transition.

EIGHT: Make your maternity/paternity leave plan.

I’ve been working OVERTIME to prep some content for you guys to have once the baby is born. July will mostly be back-logged content I’ve pre-written for you (so don’t be surprised if I announce he’s here – but still look pregnant in all my pictures. I just promise I won’t be up to photo-shoots immediately post-birth LOL). I’ve hired an assistant and am getting all my ducks in a row so that I can actually take some real time off to adjust to be a mom and bond with my new baby boy. Adam is getting himself all set up to take a week or two totally off once the baby is here, and then will be able to work a few days a week at home so that he can help with the baby if needed but doesn’t have to take a pay cut! Make sure you know your options to make it work for you.

NINE: Decide what you are doing about child care.

A lot of daycares fill up quickly and can be ridiculously expensive. Make a plan for what happens when your maternity leave is over. I am lucky in that I work from home and my mom lives 10 minutes down the road – so I don’t need to put the baby in any kind of child care. BUT if that is NOT your reality, really start thinking about what you can afford and what is the best choice in child care for your family!! There are LOTS of options.

TEN: Choose the life insurance plan that is best for your family.

Allstate has some AWESOME insurance plans to choose from when it comes to making sure you are ready for the baby, but there are a few things to think about:

1. How much insurance do you need? (use their online calculator to find out)

2. How long will we need to be covered?

3. What can you afford?

4. Do you need your own policy?

ALL of these questions can be answered by visiting Allstate’s website (click HERE), and are OH SO IMPORTANT to think about. If something were to happen to you or your spouse, it’s super necessary to make sure that your family is protected and covered. It can be really overwhelming to think about, but Allstate really takes their time to help you understand all aspects of the coverage and can help you make an informed decision for your family.

PIN THIS FOR LATER:

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Preparing for a baby is a big deal. This is a HUGE change – whether it’s your first or your fourth (or more)! Any time you add a new addition to the crew, it can shake things up. Luckily, plans and to-do lists were made to be checked off and it’s super satisfying when you finally check that last box. 😉

Did I miss anything on this list? What do you recommend doing before baby arrives? Let me know in the comments below!!

This post was written as part of the Allstate Influencer Program and sponsored by Allstate. All opinions are mine. As the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer, Allstate is dedicated not only to protecting what matters most–but to guiding people to live the Good Life, every day.