Setting Your Home Up for a Newborn

Setting up your space for a newborn is not as straightforward as designing the nursery. You need to consider your healing, your feeding journey, and your bonding with your new baby. So, what do you really need to know when it comes to setting your home up for a newborn? Today, we are diving deep into this topic, so grab a pen and paper and be ready to jot down some notes!

What you’ll learn in this blog:

• The nursery isn’t *that* important

• Biologically normal infant sleep

• Create a postpartum nest and postpartum stations

• Implement outside help when needed

The Nursery

In Western societies, there is an emphasis placed on preparing a separate space for your baby before you give birth. Popular nursery themes are all over Pinterest and Instagram making moms feel like they need to aspire to have their dream nursery. While creating a beautiful nursery can be exciting and inspiring, it's essential to shift your focus to what truly matters during the first year with your newborn – postpartum bonding, feeding, and healing. Don’t get me wrong, wanting or having a nursery isn’t a bad thing just don’t be surprised if you don’t use it, at least for the first few months. If you do set up a nursery, ensure it is both functional and nurturing for you and your baby.

Instead of fixating on picture-perfect designs, think about how to make the nursery a cozy haven for you and your little one. Consider placing a comfortable chair or glider for feeding and bonding moments. Add soft, ambient lighting to create a calming atmosphere. Organize baby essentials in a way that makes them easily accessible, helping you feel more in control during those sleep-deprived early days. Focus on self-care and prioritize your postpartum healing by setting up a dedicated space for yourself within the nursery. Keep essentials like postpartum pads, nursing bras, nursing pads, and personal care items nearby to make the healing process more comfortable. Remember, the nursery's functionality is just as crucial as its aesthetics, especially during the first year of your baby's life.

The reality of newborn sleep & AAP official guidelines for room sharing

Cultural expectations of infant sleep in America and other Western societies differ significantly from the view of biologically normal infant sleep. These expectations stem from industrialization and implementing “scientific baby care.” It directly interferes with the mother-baby dyad which can affect other biological norms like breastfeeding and co-regulation.

Newborn sleep can be unpredictable and challenging for new parents because of the societal expectations placed on babies in our culture. Sleep is a developmental process and is not something that can be “taught”. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends room sharing for ALL sleep for the first six months of life, then for nighttime sleep for the first year or more (if mutually desired). This has been shown to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Human sleep patterns change throughout our lives with the greatest change happening in infancy between birth and three years old. Having your baby in the same room as you for the first year enables you to be more responsive to their needs, making nighttime feeds and comforting more manageable. It also fosters a stronger bond between you and your baby. Prepare for frequent waking during the night, as newborns have shorter sleep cycles and require more nighttime care.

There are many ways to set up your room to cohabitate with your baby. You might choose a separate bassinet, bedside sleeper, or crib for your little one. Place these next to your bed in arm's reach, or in another location in the room. It will all depend on your personal space and how you can arrange your furniture. Additionally, you can set up your own bed for safer bed-sharing. 70% of parents end up bed-sharing at some point, read up on how to safely bed-share and consider how you can change your bed to create a safer environment for your baby. There is a fear that bed-sharing is inherently dangerous and no one should practice co-sleeping in this way. While it is true that bed-sharing is not risk-free, there are ways to make it safer for you and your family. Learn about the Safe Sleep 7 from La Leche League International. Be patient with the ever-changing sleep patterns of your newborn and remember that, with time, sleep routines tend to develop naturally.

Creating a Postpartum Nest: 5 things to Consider

Creating your nest is not about major redecorating and rearranging, instead focus your energy on small changes to ensure your comfort in nursing, soothing, and sleeping with your baby. When you begin thinking about setting up your home for your new baby, focus on setting up your own space to fit the two of you. Then after your baby arrives and things have settled down if you haven't yet, arrange and design the nursery.

In your space, focus on how you will eat and sleep and how your baby will feed and bond with you. Collect the items you will need for both you and your baby in order to be comfortable and relaxed in your own space. You will likely be eating, sleeping, feeding, and bonding with your baby in the comfort of your own bed in the first weeks of their life.

a. Comfortable Space: Consider if your bed and pillows will provide enough support for breastfeeding. If not, invest in a comfortable pillow with back support or a breastfeeding pillow. Keeping your pregnancy pillow around is not a bad idea either. Add a rocking chair to your room to have a place to sit outside of your bed. The chair and a birth ball can both be used as well for soothing your newborn (they love motion).

b. Breastfeeding Support: Set up a cozy corner or breastfeeding station with a nursing pillow, water bottle, snacks, and other breastfeeding essentials to keep you nourished during feedings. Opt for a lamp with a soothing, dim yellow light rather than a harsh, bright LED bulb for late-night feedings. A sound machine with a lamp built in is a great option too.

c. Baby Changing Area: Organize a diaper changing station with all the necessary supplies, such as diapers, wipes, diaper rash cream, and a diaper pail, to make quick changes more convenient. Some parents choose to change directly on the bed. Consider putting a travel change mat in your diaper caddy as well and keep reusable absorbent pads close by too.

d. Postpartum Recovery Essentials: Keep items like postpartum pads, perineal spray, and witch hazel in a nearby bathroom to alleviate discomfort during your healing process. Invest in a quality heat pad for a natural remedy for afterpains, and keep it close to your bed.

e. Nutrition Station: Create a designated area for snacks and meals, making it easier for family members or friends to assist with meal preparations. Clear your side tables for your drinks and food, you can also store your breastfeeding essentials and diapers here too.

Postpartum Stations

In addition to the postpartum stations, you set up around your bed for those immediate weeks postpartum. You need to set up stations around your home as well. Depending on the layout of your house could set up a diaper changing station in your living room, multiple postpartum baskets (one for each bathroom), and breastfeeding baskets where you think you’ll be nursing most often.

Postpartum Healing Kit

Assemble underwear, pads, peri bottle, perineal spray, and tucks pads in a caddy in your bathrooms. Keep everything else on hand for comfort and support when needed.

• Extra underwear/disposable underwear

• Pads in a range of sizes and absorbency

• Peri bottle

• Perineal spray

• Tucks pads

• Witch hazel

• Aloe vera

• Sitz bath herbs

• Heating pad

• Belly binder

• Pregnancy pillow

Breastfeeding Basket

Find a small caddy or basket and arrange what you can from this list in there. Having these essentials in one place will save you time and make breastfeeding sessions more comfortable.

• Nipple cream

• Disposable or reusable breast pads

• Silver nursing cups

• Milk collector

• Milk storage bags

• Burp cloths

• Nursing pillow or pillow

• Breast pump and pump parts

• Water and snacks

• Entertainment

Diaper Caddies

Create multiple baskets to keep in your room, the living areas, and the nursery (if you’ll have one). This will help you have everything you need within arm's reach during diaper changes.

• Diapers

• Wipes

• Changing pad

• Diaper cream

• Change of clothes (for the baby)

• Hand sanitizer

• Baby lotion

Implementing Outside Help

During the postpartum period, reaching out for help is crucial for your well-being and that of your newborn. Before you give birth, be sure to set up these important systems so that you can focus on healing and bonding with your new baby.

a. Prepare Freezer Meals: Before your baby's arrival, gather your friends and family to prepare and freeze a variety of meals that can be easily heated and enjoyed, allowing you to focus on your baby without worrying about cooking. For more information and tips on preparing postpartum freezer meals read my blog about it here.

b. Meal Train: Organize a meal train with friends and family, where they take turns bringing nutritious meals to your home during the first few weeks after birth. It’s such a beautiful gift to receive hot food already made and given to you. In the next few weeks, I will be writing a blog about meal trains so keep your eyes peeled.

c. Cleaning Services: Whether you choose to hiire a professional cleaning service or enlist your family and friends to help out. Having someone else to help with household chores and cleaning tasks, gives you more time to rest and bond with your baby. Plan for someone to come for at least the first 6-8 weeks.

d. Postpartum Doula: Consider hiring a postpartum doula. She can provide invaluable support during the early weeks after birth, assisting with breastfeeding, newborn care, household cleaning and cooking, and emotional guidance for new parents.

Setting up your home for a newborn goes beyond creating a beautiful nursery. By prioritizing postpartum bonding, healing, and support, you can create a nurturing environment that sets the stage for a positive and fulfilling postpartum experience. Remember to focus on functionality, implement postpartum stations, and consider outside help to ensure a smooth transition into parenthood and cherish those precious early moments with your little one. If this blog post was just what you were looking for enroll in my preparing for postpartum mini-course to help you plan for your ideal postpartum.

Download my postpartum planning template for ideas on how to set up your home for a new baby.