| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | ( ) Change of clothes |
| If you are expecting a new baby you have | | | | ( ) Pajamas |
| probably already been preparing for your little one | | | | ( ) Cell phone (or change for pay phones) |
| for quite some time. Packing for the hospital and | | | | ( ) Wallet |
| preparing your home for the new baby are the | | | | ( ) |
| most important things you can do to make your | | | | __________________ |
| transition from the hospital back home smoother. | | | | For Baby: |
| Here are some preparation tips that I found the | | | | Typically the hospital will provide you with diapers, |
| most helpful before the birth of my daughter. | | | | wipes, clothes for the new baby. However, it is |
| Pack for the Hospital | | | | always a good idea to be over prepared rather |
| Use the checklist below as a guide when you | | | | than under prepared. Here are some suggestions: |
| pack your bags for your hospital stay. A checklist | | | | ( ) Coming home outfit |
| will ensure that you do not forget to bring | | | | ( ) Diapers (usually newborns will comfortably fit |
| something important to the hospital. Before you | | | | into preemie diapers for the first week or two |
| pack, check with the hospital to see what is | | | | after birth) |
| provided to you to avoid over packing. | | | | ( ) Wipes |
| For Mommy: | | | | ( ) Blankets (thickness should depend on the |
| ( ) Socks | | | | weather) |
| ( ) Pajamas (a gown should be provided to you in | | | | ( ) Hand sanitizer (for visitors) |
| the hospital but your own pajamas will make you | | | | Also, be sure to have the baby's car seat |
| feel more at home and comfortable) | | | | secured in your vehicle. The hospital will not |
| ( ) Maternity clothes to go home in (your tummy | | | | release you and your baby unless you have a car |
| doesn't magically disappear after | | | | seat properly installed. |
| delivery-maternity clothes will be the most | | | | Prepare Meals in Advance |
| comfortable to travel home in) | | | | The best advice I received prior to having my |
| ( ) Books/magazines | | | | daughter was to make sure that I had plenty of |
| ( ) Contacts/Glasses | | | | easy meals ready to go once we brought her |
| ( ) Contact case/cleaning solution | | | | home from the hospital. The easiest way to |
| ( ) Toothbrush/toothpaste | | | | stock up on ready to serve meals is to over |
| ( ) Shampoo/conditioner | | | | cook when preparing dinner before the baby is |
| ( ) Hair brush and styling products | | | | born and then freeze the leftovers. |
| ( ) Make up (for those after delivery visitors) | | | | If you can find the time, spend a whole day |
| ( ) Labor supplies (massage items, aromatherapy | | | | cooking meals to freeze. If you would like recipes |
| candles-whatever you plan on using to make your | | | | that you can use, check out free printable recipes |
| delivery easier) | | | | at The Craft Cafe ( There you will find recipes |
| ( ) Purse/wallet | | | | for lasagna, meatballs, mushroom barley soup and |
| ( ) Sanitary pads | | | | many other recipes that are perfect to freeze |
| ( ) Birthing Plan | | | | for a later time. |
| ( ) Any hospital paperwork required for check in | | | | Clean/Prep Nursery |
| ( ) | | | | To ensure that your baby has a clean and healthy |
| __________________ | | | | environment. Take a weekend to thoroughly clean |
| For Daddy: | | | | your house. Be sure to dust furniture, sanitize |
| ( ) Games | | | | toys, clean the bathroom, vacuum, organize and |
| ( ) Books/Magazines | | | | perform any other cleaning that you will not have |
| ( ) Camera/Camcorder | | | | time to do once the baby arrives. |