When you think back to the moment you and your partner discovered you were expecting, you both likely felt a surge of joy you hadn’t encountered before. This experience can be equally exhilarating and terrifying—you’re bringing an entirely new life to this world, and with that comes great responsibility. But don’t worry too much—we’re here to help all expectant parents prepare. This is your ultimate baby safety checklist.

When You’re Expecting

Nothing is more rewarding and awe-inspiring than welcoming a baby into the world. Although it’s a great gift, you probably still feel stressed. There are countless aspects to baby preparation that you must keep in mind, and it may seem as though you’re always forgetting something. There are never enough baby books to read and things to purchase.

But worry not—we’re here to give you the basics. It’s best to begin preparing for your newborn as soon as possible for your own comfort and peace of mind. The immediate safety of a baby begins at birth. Our checklist comprises all the necessary actions and tips you must keep in mind when preparing for your newborn and ensuring their safety.

Decide on a Birth Plan

Having a birth plan is incredibly important, considering this is the method by which you’ll bring your child into the world. First and foremost, if you don’t already have one, you should create your birth plan—that is, where and how you plan to give birth. Here are some things to consider when you’re planning:

• Whether you want a doctor or a midwife
• The location (hospital, birth center, or your own home)
• The people you want for support during labor and delivery
• Your preferred atmosphere
• Any other labor and delivery preferences

Preferences for labor and delivery are personal to each mother; some aspects may be more significant to you than others. Deciding on your ideal birth plan can take time, so start now.

Doctor or Midwife?

Doctor or midwife? That is the question. When you’re coming up with your birth plan, you must choose a health-care provider to work with. It seems as though this conversation has grown exponentially in recent years. Many expectant parents choose midwives because they specialize in helping mothers during labor and delivery and even postpartum. When you’re making this decision, the most important thing to know is that there is no wrong answer; it’s up to what you and your partner prefer.

Midwives provide intimate, personalized health-care treatment for mothers and their newborns. They can deliver in the comfort of your home, in birthing centers, or at a hospital. Some expecting parents like having these various options available with the knowledge that a health-care professional trained for various circumstances will be right beside them. All midwives have their basic life support (BLS) certification, so you can have peace of mind that your midwife can handle any situation.

The First Month

The moment your health-care provider delivers your baby, things can become scarily hyper-realistic. It’s now game time, and you can expect the next month of your life to be a happy yet sleep-deprived time. The first month after you have a child is hectic, to say the least, which is why it’s incredibly helpful to prepare yourself for that time.

How To Prepare

One of the best things expectant parents can do when preparing for the safety of their newborns is to take a first aid or CPR course. A first aid course will give you more confidence in caring for your newborn, especially during the first month. You’ll learn the basics of first aid, what to do if your infant is choking, how to administer CPR to your infant, and more. The best part is that with us at CPR123, you can learn all these skills from the comfort of your home; we have online first aid and CPR courses available.

Stock Up

Stock your household with all the essentials. This will save you from unexpected runs to the store, which can be quite stressful ordeals in that first month. The easiest way to stock up is to buy everything you need in bulk; wholesale stores are great, or you can order online. Most people will need to buy things such as soap and shampoo, toilet paper, diapers, paper towels, cleaning products, and personal maintenance products. When you make your list of what you need to stockpile, start with the things you use every day.

Something that’s so easy to forget when you’re preparing for a newborn is yourself. As such, make sure you have all your necessary prescriptions filled and ready to go. Look over your medicine cabinet, double-check the expiration dates, and make sure you have everything you might need. During your trip to the store, you might also have to stock up on over-the-counter essentials and all things first aid. Common essentials include Band-Aids, antibacterial cream, pain relievers, and fever reducers.

Babyproof

Usually, babyproofing is most useful when your baby is crawling and walking, not necessarily when they’re still a newborn. However, once you have your baby in your arms and your home, finding time for anything won’t be as easy. Use the free time you have now to doing some essential babyproofing in your household. You can start by focusing on the important things first, such as covering any sharp furniture corners and blocking outlets.

Get the Baby Gear

Many parents-to-be find joy in the nesting process—putting together the nursery and preparing everything for your newborn can be delightful. Take the time to build all the baby gear you’ll need. To streamline the assembly process, focus on what the baby will require within the first month. Some necessary baby gear may include the infamous car seat for the baby’s first ride home, a changing table, and maybe a newborn swing. Moreover, during this time, prepare your nursery with numerous changes of clothing, wipes, lotions, diapers, and bottles.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or insecure about the upcoming arrival of your newborn, it’s important to keep in mind that these feelings are completely normal. In fact, it would be odd if you weren’t a little nervous! However, the best thing you can do to alleviate those feelings is to prepare yourself with this checklist. When you have as many things as possible prepped and prepared, you can feel more stable and ready to take on this amazing next chapter of your life.