Baby Prep To-Do List

whitta1015 · October 2017

I'm a huge planner and I make lists for everything! With everything that needs to be done for baby, I know I have a huge to-do list, and thought a thread may be helpful for us to list out some of the things we still have to do. It could help us individually just to get it out of our heads, but it may also jog others' memories/thoughts to see your lists.

So - with that being said, what do you still have left to do with only 10-15 weeks to go now?

supercoolstephy · October 2017

Right now I only have:

Freezer Meals (Breakfast and Lunch will be big ones to make sure I have easily available)

conineml · October 2017

Oh I was thinking about this the other day...anyone do freezer meals or meal prep before baby? Any recipes to share? I have a picky husband (shocker) so I'm afraid there won't be a lot I can prep but I was hoping to get some stuff together so it wouldn't be as hard post baby or maybe just have quite a few easy meals that I can pre-buy supplies for to do quickly. I saved the chicken enchilada recipe someone posted yesterday (in case you haven't saved it you need to find it! Pretty sure it's in randoms this week...wish I could remember the poster! Sorry but know it made my day!)

whitta1015 · October 2017

Here are some of the main things I have left.... but I've also included an attachment of my spreadsheet that I'm using, because I can't live without it, and hopefully it'll help some of you! It also includes spreadsheets for hospital bag checklist, postpartum supplies checklist, etc. (It's definitely not complete)

Buy Thank you Cards for showers
Buy Hostess gifts for showers
Schedule 3D ultrasound
Make room for bottles/baby linens before shower
Organize gifts & baby clothes after showers
Make/Buy Bow holder
Buy lamp
Buy rug
Pick out coming home outfit for LC
Wash baby clothes, bottles, blankets, etc.
Buy postpartum supplies
Deep clean house
Clean car & truck
Free up iPhone space

conineml · October 2017

@whitta1218 I love a good spreadsheet! You are amazing!

supercoolstephy · October 2017

@conineml DH has decided this past week that he is a vegetarian so I only have to worry about freezer meals for DS and I. Thank God because he's not picky but he tends to not want what I want when I want it.

whitta1015 · October 2017

@conineml I started saving some freezer meal recipes on Pinterest yesterday that I could use to prep. DH is also a picky eater, so it makes it hard to find them sometimes. Maybe we could start another thread dedicated to freezer meal recipes!

conineml · October 2017

@supercoolstephy honestly I feel like I make the same 5 meals over and over again since he's picky lol I hate to rely on fast food so much but knowing him if I don't prep we'll have a lot of drive thru or delivery (which is only pizza where I live) and that just doesn't sound appetizing! He's straight up meat and potatoes but i was hoping for some inspiration from others that I could float past him in the next couple months to see if he likes it so I can prep some. It may not even happen but I thought I'd at least try...

supercoolstephy · October 2017

@conineml I have an Instant Pot and I'm in a group on Facebook for freezer IP meals. I need to actually get to getting and start researching it. But I know when I start that I'll want to start making them but I need to hold off till late next month since I'm due late Jan and they only last so long in a regular freezer. I really want to add to my list "buy freezer chest" but there is just so many other things I can spend money on right now. Whomp. Whomp.

mauera07 · October 2017

@supercoolstephy Do you have any idea if the instant pot recipes convert to other electric pressure cookers? I have a pressure cooker that does brown, slow cook, and pressure cook, but I got it before the instant pots were a thing. I'm apparently a kitchen appliance hipster.

supercoolstephy · October 2017

@maueraa07 I think so. I think it's more of a name brand type of thing, ya know? Mine does all of that stuff too. So I would bet it would convert the same. I see recipes for IP meals that say "use whatever electric pressure cooker you have". So I figured they were/are interchangeable.

missblaze · October 2017

My List:

- Use registry completion discount for remaining things I need (backpack diaper bag, new baby monitor, other odds and ends)

- Pack hospital bag

- Stock up on postpartum supplies

- Sterilize DD's bottles, wash new nipples (I can actually hold off on this until right before I go back to work)

- Stock up on diapers/wipes (whatever I need after my sprinkle)

- Do maternity photo shoot (!)

conineml · October 2017

@supercoolstephy I'm in love with my chest freezer! I got it the first year we were married for christmas (yay adult gifts lol!) You don't realize how much junk you cram into a freezer and how much you can stock up on til you get one! Try Black Friday sales...that's when we got ours and it was $100 or less

KatieEl · October 2017

My To-Do lists are all separated my topic (DS1 Bday, DS2 Bday, Christmas Prep, New Baby Specific, etc.) but I need to get it ALL done before the baby comes.

The new-baby/random items I've got on my list:

finish sorting pictures
itemize our gift storage totes
clean dining room carpet
set up prenatal appointments with doula
set up prenatal appointments with sibling doula
buy homebirth supplies
hypnobabies refresher (load labor affirmations to phone)
wash 0-3 month clothes (also, 5t, 24 months; all my kids are about ready to size up)
wash newborn cloth diapers
freezer meals
buy/install new monitors
breast pump follow-up (and sterilize)
prep DS1 and DS2 valentines

ETA: I need to update the baby binder which has cloth diaper washing instructions, kid specific instructions for older boys, schedule for month of January so some one else can make/cancel appointments as necessary, a list of important phone numbers etc. Basically so someone who is not me can run my house.

Cricket99 · October 2017

Oh man, so many things to do still. I’m actually sitting in an empty house right now waiting for the movers to bring all my stuff (9:40 and still no sign of them).

-Freezer meal stash (mostly easy crockpot meals that I can throw in and forget about, as well as breakfast sandwiches and burritos)
-set up nursery, buy wall art and a crib.
-wash all clothes (and stock up on sleepers because I only have 3 so far).
-A million other things that I’m forgetting. First thing we are concentrating on is getting our stuff unpacked in the new house.

mauera07 · October 2017

@KatieEl Sibling doula?? Tell me more, please! I was looking into a postpartum doula, but all our agencies specify that they don't really work with other children!

Shanski70 · October 2017

I second a vote for a thread dedicated to freezer meal recipe sharing! I have a pretty great document from my local grocery store that does freezer meal prep sessions that I'd be happy to share here. I haven't made all the recipes, but the ones I've made have all be hits with the exception of 2...considering those odds I feel pretty confident in the rest of the recipes being pretty good.

My list of "to do"

Get furniture (yes, seriously, we still need to do that)

Buy more sheets and towels/wash cloths for the new babe

Sanitize the bottles

Pack a hospital bag

Freezer meals

Get mentally ready to have this kid...yikes!

scatteringashes · October 2017

I'm usually a huge to-do list maker and spreadsheeter, but I've been slacking here on making a real physical to-do list for the baby, lol. I keep float stuff around and thinking, oh yeah, I need to do this.

What I can think of so far

Buy the pack-n-play for our bedroom, plus accompanying mattress and bedding (we don't have room for a crib, so I plan to get a slightly thicker mattress for it)
Buy feeding supplies
Buy some basics (pacifiers, newborn shirts, sleepers, etc)
Wash clothes and diapers
Figure out freezer and easy crockpot food
Weed the elder child's' bedroom before Christmas
Reorganize the bedroom to accommodate the baby stuff
Figure out where the hell we're going to put the baby swing downstairs
Get the car seat set up in my husband's car, and schedule an inspection
Prep hospital bag, and have all the Bleeding Supplies on-hand here at home

I'm sure there's stuff I'm forgetting, lol. Some of it is being deliberately put off until the end of next month, and some of the small things I'm planning to purchase after the baby shower, which isn't until mid-December. I'm doing a lot of our Christmas shopping now in an attempt to not have to split our spending money between Thanksgiving, Christmas gifts, and baby supplies.

@supercoolstephy When we moved into our current place, it was with two roommates, and the one I didn't like insisted on buying herself a chest freezer. I thought it was a stupid purchase at first and rapidly changed my tune, lol. When she moved out we got lucky in that one my husband's friends was replacing his with an upright one, and he let us have his (we think as a wedding gift? he didn't accept any money for it). I'm terrified it'll break someday, because we cannot fit three and a half peoples' worth of food in our tiny fridge freezer; I freezer too much stuff.

We have a big one for a family of three, and I'd say half the space doesn't get used; depending on your needs, you could maybe get lucky on a half-sized one during sales this Shopping Season.

Also, I'm starting to have trouble reaching things at the bottom of the chest freezer.

conineml · October 2017

@shanski70 I would love a freezer meal board! How do we go about that?? I still need to put our furniture together if it makes you feel better lol I'm redoing a dresser (by that i mean cleaning it and replacing the gaudy gold dresser pulls) but I hate all the stuff in the store and it's so old that the screw holes are smaller distances than normal so....I'm procrastinating.

supercoolstephy · October 2017

@scatteringashes so we technically have three fridges at our house, one in the house, two in the garage. One is a beer fridge but I steal the freezer for food but it's a side by side and not super useful for bigger items, and the other is what DH uses to ferment his beer, but the freezer is never used. I don't trust that freezer because he has jimmied it so much that I wouldn't feel comfortable putting things in there... other than otter pops and maybe ice packs. haha. I think Sams had one for $150 but I'm keeping an eye out for one on the Facebook Marketplace and craigslist. I always want to stock up on meat when it's on sale but never have much space for it.

bainidhedub · October 2017

Here's my Google doc list. I feel like there is so much that can't happen until I get the baby's room cleared out. Right now I can open the door but can't actually walk into the room.

TO DO
-Clean out room & closet
-Sort clothes
-Sort baby gear
-Decide furniture layout
-Install ceiling light/fan
-Set up crib
-Move rocking chair
-Put baby clothes & gear in room
-Hospital pre-registration

TO BUY
-Crib mattress (or twin for Zach?)
-Curtains & rod
-Ceiling light/fan
-Nursing stool
-Sound machine
-Diapers
-Bottle nipples

EXTENDED LIST
-Decorate baby’s room
-Big-boy-ify Zach’s room (storage, seat, decor?)
-Clear Zach’s closet
-Refinish dresser

LAST MINUTE
-Install car seat base
-Pack hospital bag
-Prep meals
-Wash bottles
-Make arrangements for Zach

crizz13 · October 2017

I don't have a ton that can't wait until baby is here...guess I'm not nesting yet, ha!

-Freezer Meals
-Install car seat
-pack hospital bag
-buy gift for DD (from baby)
-put together nursing activity bin for DD
-Clean stained clothes (this one is KILLING me....apparently spit up stains appear over time???!)

[Deleted User] · October 2017

I don't have too much this time around. I'm sure I'm forgetting things though.

-Freezer meals. They were so helpful last time!
-Pack hospital bag
-Stock up on PP things (I think I only need more giant pads..)
-Stock up on diapers for both kids
-Use completion coupon on random odds and ends (crib sheets, P&P sheets, video baby monitor)
-Install new convertible car seat for DD and get infant base back in the car

supercoolstephy · October 2017

This post reminded me that I needed to preregister for the hospital.

auntieraindrop · October 2017

@supercoolstephy What does that mean? Is that something I should do?

mauera07 · October 2017

@auntieraindrop Ask your OB/ midwife. For my hospital they take care of all the preregistration at a routine appointment.

bainidhedub · October 2017

@auntieraindrop Mine has it all online. There was still some intake paperwork to sign when I got to L&D, but they already had stuff like insurance, my doctor's info, and religious & dietary preferences on file.

cyanope · October 2017

Haha...can my list just say, "everything?" I'm pretty sure I was ready for DD's arrival by this time because I'm usually a total planner. But...I'm just more laid back about it this time, so I haven't really put much effort into figuring out what needs to happen pre-baby. My major "To Do's" include:
1. Wash baby "stuff" (clothes, blankets, sheets, burp cloths, etc.)
2. Set up co-sleeper (I can put this off for quite a while)
3. General organization of DD's dresser/closet to make room for baby (basically, I need to go through all of her clothes and put the things she has outgrown into storage)
4. Get the infant car seat ready (clean it up, really. I'll install the base as we get closer to delivery)
5. Stock up on PP supplies
6. Buy a new diaper bag
7. Buy a cute "coming home" outfit
8. Pack hospital bag
9. Gut and organize my entire house (haha, this is my #1 priority...not that my house is unorganized. I just have the driving urge to have it perfect)
10. Get my new breast pump
I'm sure this list will grow once I actually think about all that I have to do...

supercoolstephy · October 2017

@auntieraindrop like @maueraa07 and @bainidhedub mentioned, I'd check with your OB/Midwife. Mine was like @bainidhedub, I did it all online, so they had all my up to date info in there. And when I was sent to L&D (2 times before being induced) everything was already there and I had to look over everything and mostly everything was already filled out.

sbishop426 · October 2017

Whoa I'm really impressed by all these to-do lists!

-Wash newborn clothes

-Stockpile diapers-- I have 1 box of newborn and size 1 that I purchased but not sure how many we'll end up with so I plan on buying a few more giant boxes

-Freezer meals

-Pack hospital bag and some stuff for the hubby

-Figure out a list of people to call to watch the toddler while I'm at the hospital (basically who wouldn't mind being woken up at 3am if needed lol). My MIL wants to but she's 3 hours away (more like 4-5 once she packs and gets everything ready to go, she doesn't do anything quickly) and second labors are supposed to be quicker so we'll see

-Fax preregistration forms to the hospital

-Infant CPR class.. I need to sign up to do this soon

-Set up the pack n play in our room

-Buy rails for the toddler's new twin bed and finish his room

_Need to buy another convertible car seat

I think that's all for now..

sbishop426 · October 2017

Whoa I'm really impressed by all these to-do lists!

-Wash newborn clothes

-Stockpile diapers-- I have 1 box of newborn and size 1 that I purchased but not sure how many we'll end up with so I plan on buying a few more giant boxes

-Freezer meals

-Pack hospital bag and some stuff for the hubby

-Figure out a list of people to call to watch the toddler while I'm at the hospital (basically who wouldn't mind being woken up at 3am if needed lol). My MIL wants to but she's 3 hours away (more like 4-5 once she packs and gets everything ready to go, she doesn't do anything quickly) and second labors are supposed to be quicker so we'll see

-Fax preregistration forms to the hospital

-Infant CPR class.. I need to sign up to do this soon

-Set up the pack n play in our room

-Buy rails for the toddler's new twin bed and finish his room

_Need to buy another convertible car seat

I think that's all for now..

conineml · October 2017

As far as postpartum supplies...what's yalls go to? and what's your must haves in the hospital bag?
I've read a few "lists" from folks, but some seem like I'm packing my whole house and some are like the hospital will have everything...not very informative lol We haven't toured yet so I can get more info when we do from our specific hospital, but just trying to think ahead of things I should be buying and setting aside for that.

IrishPiratess · October 2017

to do:
order the wall decals for the kids' room and get those applied
have DH finish putting the crib back together (currently in toddler bed mode)
Keep making one freezer meal a week to put away
find where the heck i put all three baby carriers away at
I'd like to get the rugs in the house cleaned before the holidays/baby arrives

KatieEl · October 2017

@conineml you might find this thread possible when it comes to postpartum supplies!

bainidhedub · October 2017

@conineml I haven't made formal lists but here's off the top of my head... Personally I wore the hospital's gown and grippy socks from check-in at L&D until I took a shower 2(?) days later. I was only in 'real' clothes for the last 12 hours or so. I had a c-section so as I recall I was stuck in bed and hooked up to saline and a cath for a lot of that time.

Hospital bag:
-phone chargers
-comfy clothes: leggings/yoga pants, nursing tank or loose t-shirt, nursing or sleep bra
-socks & shoes that will accommodate super swollen feet
-snacks (for after, you may not be allowed to eat during labor)
-pjs, change of clothes, pillow & blanket for DH
-travel size shower stuff for both me and DH
-hairbrush, extra hair ties
-makeup if that's your thing
-baby's going home outfit & blanket for car seat
-I brought my own water bottle during labor but they gave me a Big Gulp-size one afterwards that I used
-properly installed car seat (leave in car until it's time to go, you don't need to drag it into L&D or have it taking up space in your room)

Supplies shamelessly taken from hospital room:
-extra mesh panties & super mega pads
-peri bottle
-the giant water bottle
-big absorbent sheets for changing baby on
-opened packs of diapers & wipes, diaper cream
-basically anything disposable that's not nailed down. the hospital gave me a bag for it all.

Home supplies:
-variety of pads: super mega overnight, normal overnight, regular, pantyliners
-cotton underwear you'll be ok throwing out if need be
-ALL the snacks
-lanolin for BFing
-obvious stuff like diapers, wipes, butt paste, swaddle blankets

[Deleted User] · October 2017

I totally forgot about pre-registering at the hospital! We were sent to triage once around 32w with DD and registering was not something I wanted to do at that point so I'm glad I did it early. We tour our new hospital this weekend so I'll likely take care of it when I'm there.

scatteringashes · October 2017

I had also forgotten about pre-registering as a thing! That said, we have childbirth classes started in two weeks, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's something we cover at one of those. (Once a week, three weeks, two and a half hours apiece. It was my idea that we do this thing, but ugghh that sounds like valuable homework time I'm giving up.)

BelhurstBride · October 2017

@conineml, we don't live obnoxiously far from the hospital and I don't have DH stay there with me, so if I forget something I can easily have him grab it. That said, I pack as light as possible. The amount of crap you end up having to bring home adds up fast and the last thing I want to deal with is unpacking.

My hospital provides pretty much anything the newbie and I could need while there, recovery wise. Assuming yours is similar think about the type of stuff you'd want to have with you in a normal 24 hour period. That's probably all you're going to need.

conineml · October 2017

@BelhurstBride that's more what I was thinking of...I'll double check with the hospital, but I didn't want to be THAT mom that showed up with EVERYTHING and they 1) thought I was insane and 2) have to deal with it when I got home if I didn't necessarily need it. That makes me feel better that most hospitals will provide a lot of the things you need but I'll just double check what is available since that's been mentioned multiple times that the hospital had most things.

conineml · October 2017

AHHH @KatieEl I totally missed that thread! Thanks a million!

jakobaby · October 2017

I’m still on the ‘finish the nursery’ and ‘finish DSs room’ phase of things. They wont be complete until I get the rest of the furniture by early December. I’ve been buying things and planning since August. Such a process.
Hope to have most of DDs nursery done this weekend though now that it’s painted and the electrician has been here. This is what I have left of the nursery:
-touch-up paint
-hang gold dot decals in nursery
-hang diaper station baskets
-hang rod and new curtains
-hang framed art, gold mirror
-pull DS clothes out of changing dresser and put in his new dresser (once it gets here)<—�this gives me most anxiety right now
-organize nursery closet
-put new bedding and skirt on crib
-wipe down crib and changing table
-buy side table, wipe dispenser, hamper, ottoman, rug (maybe), shelves
-move bookshelf into nursery
-install back of door hook
-wait patiently for new chair

For DSs room
-reinstall curtain rod and touch-up paint. DH hung it too high and it looks like when a man ties a neck tie too short. The curtains look stupid.
-hang wall art
-order wall art, shelf, extra sheets, table lamp, bins
-wait for new dresser to get here

Then gears shift to holiday prepx2, appointments for me and DS, prep for baby arrival and post partum life, set the budget, have water softener installed. I haven’t finalized these lists though of course. I’ll be combining all of yours probably, so this is a good thread!

We need a few things in terms of baby gear and all the clothes. Waiting until Black Friday shopping with my family for that though!

ETA: pictures! Fall family (for Christmas cards), maternity and newborn. Phew

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