Sunday, July 8, 2012

How to Get the House Ready for Baby


Having the house ready for the new baby ahead of time makes life much less stressful once baby arrives.  Advanced planning, shopping, and setting up necessary furniture for the new baby allows a new mom to concentrate on bonding with her newborn and adjusting to their new lives together, instead of worrying about what wasn't finished before the baby was born.

Just like there are many optional and lesser known medical options for babies after delivery, like cord blood banking, there are some lesser known tips that moms-to-be may want to take care of in the home before the baby is born to provide a safe environment.

The Air Quality in the House

If it has been awhile since the air ducts and vents have been inspected and cleaned, it's a good idea to take care of those things before the baby comes to reduce airborne dust, mold, mildew, and other particles. It would be a much bigger inconvenience to try and take care of this after the baby is home.

If any painting has been done inside the house, particularly in the nursery, it's a good idea to use low VOC paints so there are less toxins released into the air.

Are the Floors Safe and Clean? 

No matter what kind of flooring you have, inspecting, repairing and cleaning it thoroughly is beneficial to baby as he/she will spend a great deal of time lying on and exploring his universe on the floor. Inspecting the wood floors for cracks, scuffs, and splinters and having them repaired will prevent a few heartbreaking boo boos. Steam cleaning the carpets will help remove any stains and possible health hazards that may be hiding out deep down inside the fibers.

New Rules for the Furry Critters

If any pets in the house are used to having free range of all the rooms and furniture, it's advisable to begin the process of training the fur babies that they are no longer allowed in the room where baby will live, on the kitchen counters, on certain pieces of furniture or wherever else the mommy-to-be deems inappropriate for the animal to be once the baby arrives. Having these rules in place ahead of time will prevent problems and jealousy once the baby comes home.

It's never too early to start baby-proofing the house. While it's not necessary to go all out and make the entire house child proof, it may make things easier later on if expectant mothers begin purchasing baby-proofing items and planning strategies to make the home safer before the baby arrives and becomes mobile.  


This article was written by Alan Cassidy, an active writer within the blogging community covering maternity and childbirth, and always advocating for infant and children’s health. Connect with him on Twitter @ACassidy2

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