Preparing your home for the baby's arrival

What do you really need to buy?

When we start preparing for the postpartum period, we quickly find endless lists of products on social media that all seem indispensable: specific underwear, sprays, pillows, bands, pumps, collectors, creams, pads, containers… But do you really need all of this?

No. There are some simple things that are worth having ready before your baby is born, but many others depend on how the birth goes, your needs, your family's choices, and even what you discover during those first few days. What was essential for a friend might never be needed by you.

Instead of preparing for the postpartum period by buying everything in advance, we can divide the purchases into two categories: “worth having at home” and “I can buy later if needed”. This is the advantage of not living on an isolated island most of the time. This way, you avoid unnecessary expenses and, above all, the feeling that you need a house full of products to be prepared.

Accessories and products that are worth having at home - For the baby

First of all, check if any of these items can be borrowed from a family member or friend who is no longer using them.

• Stroller / pram
• Infant car seat
• Cot / crib
• Changing mat / station
• Baby bath
• Bath thermometer
• Digital flexible-tip thermometer
• Fragrance-free toiletries for the baby
• Cloth nappies / muslins in various sizes
• Size 1 or 2 nappies
• Sterile and non-woven gauze pads
• Saline solution
• Disposable changing mats / underpads
• Breastfeeding pillow
• Nappy barrier cream
• Terry towel (with a hood, if possible)
• Paper nail files
• Soft baby hairbrush
• Suitable clothes for the baby
• Firm mattress and sheets or sleeping bags

I can buy later if needed - For the baby

• Extra clothes
• Stretchy wrap or baby carrier
• Creams for specific dermatological conditions
• Baby wipes
• Extra clothes
• Bottles or dummies
• Baby monitor
• Steriliser
• White noise machine, projectors, lights, and other sleep devices

Before buying, ask yourself: “Does the baby need this from day one, or can I wait to see if we really need it?”

Accessories and products that are worth having at home - For the mother

Don't prepare a solution for every problem you might never even have.

• Maternity pads or disposable absorbent underwear
• Comfortable, high-waisted underwear
• Comfortable clothes and shoes
• Comfortable pyjamas or nightdresses
• Digital thermometer
• Your usual medication or any prescribed upon discharge
• Nursing bra

I can buy later if needed - For the mother

• Breast pump
• Milk collector
• Breast pads or other breastfeeding products
• Cooling pads specifically for the perineum
• Sprays, foams, and other products for the perineum

Before the baby is born… prepare the pantry and fridge too

When we think about preparing for the baby's arrival, we think of clothes, nappies, the cot, and the hospital bag. But there is a much less photogenic preparation that can make a huge difference in the first few days: opening the freezer and having a meal ready to go.

In the final weeks of pregnancy, take the opportunity to cook a little extra and freeze some meals in portions suited to your family. You can also ask family or friends to help you with this prep. Soups, legume-based dishes, stews, homemade tomato sauce, or other meals you usually make at home can be great options. The idea isn't to create a special diet for the postpartum period, but to make it easier to have a varied diet when time and energy are low.

Also, do a quick check of your pantry. Oats, rice, pasta, legumes, nuts, simple tinned foods, frozen vegetables, and other foods you usually use will allow you to quickly prepare a meal or a snack without needing to go shopping.

And there is a little trick that can save a lot of work: set up an online supermarket shopping list with the products you regularly buy. After the birth, just review the quantities and order. Another option is to share this list with someone in your support network when they ask: “Do you need anything?”