“I’m 32 weeks pregnant and will be a first-time mum. I would love to know any tips you have for how I can prepare now for bringing home my newborn baby! I’m overwhelmed and excited all at the same time!”

Most pregnant mums-to-be start nesting a few weeks before their newborn baby arrives. We try to get organised and prepared before our life gets turned crazily upside down by that tiny little being.

We reached out to MoM Members to get their top tips to help a new mum to get ready for their new arrival.

Cook Up

This was one of the most popular tips suggested by our mums. The last thing you want to do is cook when you’re trying to adapt to life with a newborn baby. Use the time before baby arrives to cook up a storm. Buy a whole heap of disposable and freezer-friendly containers, double and triple batch and freeze them to stock up on wholesome meals when you just don’t have time to cook.

Alicia: “Cook up as many meals as possible and freeze in single serves and freeze, it is a life saver at dinner times”

Ashly: “Make sure to have easy meals to throw in the oven or microwave like casseroles lasagna burritos pizza steam-able veggies anything easy that you don’t have to really do anything to make it. It’ll save you a ton of time trust me!!! “

If you can’t be bothered to cook, another suggestion is to get ready-made meals delivered for the first few weeks. Even if a few days a week, you and your partner can just grab a meal out of the fridge, heat and eat, it’s worth it.  These one person portion meals also mean that you can heat and eat when it works – one can eat while the other looks after bub and then swap.

Wash

If you’ve bought new baby clothes or have been gifted hand-me-downs, it’s a good idea to give them a wash before they’re worn. The weeks before baby arrives, is a great time to do a few loads of newborn baby clothes washing. This will also give you a good idea of what you have and anything that might be missing.

Also, wash your linens and towels so you won’t have to worry about doing this for a few weeks after baby arrives.

Speaking of washing, it will triple once your newborn baby arrives! Before they do – get the laundry stocked up with bulk washing liquid, fabric softener and stain removal products.  Shopping with baby is so much easier when you don’t need to include all the bulky items.

Stock Up On Baby Things

Leah: “Make sure you have plenty of nappies, wipes and baby clothes (especially singlets!)”

Trista: “Have some clothes, something for bub to sleep in (cot/bassinet), some nappies, some wipes. Some spare blankets for both yourself and the newborn baby are good for putting on the ground for bubs to lie on or wrapping up in. Then you will need a couple of things for you like breast pads, maternity pads, good books, Netflix or TV shows to watch, tea or coffee or whatever you like to relax and drink. Then let it all roll out as you go. You can always pick up everything else as you realise you want or need it.”

Online Shopping

Get into an online shopping routine before your newborn baby arrives and set up a regular weekly order so your groceries can be delivered without you having to think about it. Click and Collect is also a great way to shop if you can’t wait for the delivery at home – no need to take bub out of the car.

Get Your Car Sorted

Decide what baby seat you would like, buy it and then a week or so out from your delivery date, have the seat professionally fitted.  If you can spare the time, have the installer run you through how to fit the seat – just in case anything accidentally gets unclipped or unplugged or something urgent crops up and you can’t use your own car.

Kayla: “Have your car serviced and cleaned so that you won’t need to worry about this with a newborn.”

Hospital Bag

Start packing your birth & baby bag in preparation for your hospital visit. Pack a few things for the birthing suite such as some jelly lollies, your favourite music and an aromatherapy diffuser with your favourite scent.

Once you’re home and into a routine, you’ll be wanting to get out and about.  Don’t fall into the trap of lugging around a massive bag everywhere you go – you want to make getting out with bub as easy as possible.

As a guide, we’ve put together the ultimate $35 Baby Bag – Everything you need and nothing you don’t!

Everything’s available at Big W too (so easy) …

Pamper Yourself

Look after your needs as much as possible before baby arrives, ’cause with a newborn baby in the house, any kind of self-care gets kicked to the bottom of the list.

So use the time before your newborn baby is born to get your hair and nails done. Have a pregnancy massage and of course, sleep as much as you can.

Never Say No To Help

Danni: “Don’t knock back help! If some one asks you if you need help, or need some thing, accept it!
You’ll find family members and friends won’t mind helping you do the dishes, help cook a meal, even throw a load of washing on or even snuggle bubs while you have a well-deserved shower.”

Nicole: “Don’t be afraid to ask for help…No matter how small the job. Don’t get too overwhelmed… If it gets too much put bub in the pram and go for a walk. Fresh air will help calm you down and relax. And don’t compare your bub to anyone else’s. Each bub is different.”

This one is just so, so important.  Asking for help doesn’t mean you’re not coping; it means you’re prioritising correctly!  Don’t forget professional help too – there is a World of support available to new Mums so please, please take some time to know what’s available but more importantly, access the help if you need it.

Forget About Your Phone

Linda: “Don’t worry about your phone. If people call or text, you don’t need to respond straight away as they know you will be busy. Just have your phone on hand for the million photos that you should take.”

Ignore The Housework

Take the pressure off yourself to madly clean the entire house – a newborn baby doesn’t notice whether your cupboards are tidy or your shutters have been dusted.  Someone will probably offer to run the vacuum around so say “Yes please” or if a group of friends or work colleagues ask you what you’d like as a gift for your newborn baby, tell them … a cleaner for the first couple of months!

Elle: “When I took my baby home the best advice the Nurse gave me was to put a load of laundry on first thing in the morning and do the dishes last thing before bed and the rest of the day sleep as much as you can. That way things don’t pile up and become too much.

Also, I found a slow cooker really helpful as I could prepare dinner early on in the day and it didn’t matter if I got distracted, unlike cooking on the stove which needs constant attention.”

It’s All About Baby AND You

Suzi: “Do what works for you and your child.”

Tanja: “There is no ‘right or wrong way’ to do things. Trust your instincts. “

Heidi: “Your baby; your way”

Dannica: “Take it slow, everything WILL settle and fall into place. Always remember and tell yourself you are doing fine and even if you THINK you aren’t you are and you got this! Take your time and just enjoy the new addition to your family just enjoy him or her!”

Jes: “Just relax and enjoy your baby. Smell and cuddle and kiss and wrap yourself up in all the love.”

Check out more tips from real mums on how to survive the first weeks as a new mum …

This article is proudly brought to you in partnership with Big W, the one-stop-shop for everything Baby, new Mums and their homes.

Is there anything we’ve missed in our Essential Guide To Preparing For Your Newborn Baby? What was your best tip?