4 Home Fixes You Need to Do Before Your Newborn Arrives

Having a baby can be one of the most exciting, yet one of the most daunting periods of your life, especially if it is your first child. There are so many things to think about that sometimes it seems as if you will never get your house in a condition that is suitable to bring up a baby. Meanwhile, social media is full of pictures of people merrily bringing up their newborns, seemingly without a care in the world, and without enduring any difficulties. Whether that is true or not, is another matter, but it is important to make sure that your home is safe, secure, and comfortable for your child.

In this article, we are going to take a look at 4 home fixes that every couple should do before the arrival of their newborn, so read on to find out more.

1. Make Your House Child-safe

You might think that making your house safe is something that you can do once your tot has grown and is crawling, but actually, you should be doing this well before the arrival of your child, because they grow surprisingly quickly! The stairs will be your number one hazard so ensure you have a childproof gate at either end and then your second biggest worry needs to be your kitchen. A kitchen is full of pitfalls for a youngster, from cupboards full of dangerous chemicals to pots and pans that might fall on them if disturbed. Make sure that all your cabinets have child-safe locks and that anything dangerous is firmly fixed in place.

2. Is Your House Structurally Safe?

It may seem a bit late in the day to be worrying about the structural integrity of your home, but it should be on your to-do list because the last thing you want to do is undertake major renovations when you have a newborn in the building. Wind and rain are going to be your biggest issues so experts at trusted-roofing.com advise that you have your roof surveyed and also the windows in the nursery checked over to keep out the noise of howling gales. If you don’t have double glazing, you may want to invest in the nursery room to ensure that your newborn sleeps like a baby every night.

3. Decorate The Nursery

Your child is going to spend the first few years of their life in the nursery so you want to make it as child friendly as possible, whilst at the same time having everything at hand to cater to their needs. The cot should be safe and secure with high sides and a wet sheet and there should be a changing table with an ample supply of nappies and baby grows nearby. Make sure that your baby is entertained by painting animal scenes on the walls, and that you have hanging playthings over the cot. In order that your brain sleeps well, you should tape over the latch on the door so that it doesn’t make a sound opening and closing when you check in on your little bundle of joy.

4. Sterilize Your House

Newborns are easily susceptible to bacteria and infections, so it is paramount that you make sure your whole house is properly cleaned before their arrival. In fact, whilst the mother is recovering in hospital with the newborn, the father should be giving the house a once over to make sure everything is just so for the grand homecoming. All handles and light switches need to be wiped down, and you should have a brand new set of kitchen and bathroom towels so that there is no prospect of bacteria lingering around. Your kitchen is the biggest breeding ground for bacteria in the house so throw out old sponges, and give all worktops, the sink, and taps a thorough clean. If finances allow, you should consider having the whole house deep cleaned as this will give you the peace of mind that no harm will come to your child.

As we have learned there are several home fixes that you can do to your home before the arrival of a newborn. Ensure that your house is child safe and that the stairs and cabinets are secured and have a structural survey done on your house so that there are no nasty surprises lurking. Decorate your nursery as your child will need to be entertained, and also check that all their needs can be catered to, from feeding to changing a nappy. Your house should be sterile as you don’t want them to catch anything nasty from bacteria that may be loitering around. Finally, enjoy the experience, as it will be one of the most joyful times of your life!