How to Prepare for Your Newborn’s Arrival: 5 Tips

Whether you’ve hired help from a reliable maid agency for infant care in Singapore or not, there are many things that you still need to prepare before the arrival of your newborn. Particularly if you will have a lack of time and energy once you give birth, making sure you’re well prepared in these five areas in advance can certainly relieve you of needless stress.

1. Stock up on baby basics 

There are a few essential daily items that you must stock up on even if you’ll have an infant care maid from a Singapore agency to take care of your newborn. For starters, baby towels, handkerchiefs, wash basins and baby toiletries are must-haves to upkeep the baby’s everyday cleanliness. Nappy wipes, nappy rash cream and nappies are also important since infants are too young to be toilet trained.

Depending on your preference, choose between cloth diapers that are washable and cheaper over the long term or disposable diapers that provide more convenience but are not so environmentally friendly. If you choose the latter, note that they come in a variety of sizes and you must buy those suitable for newborns until your little one grows up. 

2. Prepare your baby’s room & supplies 

There is also equipment and furniture such as a baby cot, chest of drawers, stroller, night light and car seat that require a bit more planning and price comparisons. Especially for the baby cot, get one that is sturdy and smooth so that fingers or clothing would not get caught. The mattress size should also fit perfectly to the cot to prevent the baby from getting tangled in the excess material.  

Make sure to thoroughly clean or wash any items that your infant will get in contact with. Wash all the new baby clothes and beddings in advance and wipe down all the furniture and equipment with non-bio washing products to make them extra safe for infant use. 

3. Pack your hospital bags 

You won’t know when your baby is going to arrive, as such, you should get your hospital bag packed as early as the 37-week.  Include in the bag a full set of toiletries, toothbrush, toothpaste, a few sets of clothes and underwear and not forgetting a cardigan to keep you warm.  Also, prepare a set of nursing gowns that open in front to facilitate breastfeeding and an outfit that you can wear while going home. 

Don’t forget the Letter of Admission to the hospital and documents for birth registration.  Some hospitals have a birth registration centre where you can complete the birth registration on the spot.  If you’re not sure what to pack, check with your infant care maid whom you’re hiring from the Singapore agency. Your helper will have valuable information to share with you. 

4. Prepare your child for a new sibling 

If you already have children, you have to find ways to prepare them for the arrival of their new sibling. There are a variety of ways to do this and how well they work largely depends on their age.  One common method used by many parents is to read books about new babies or siblings to prepare them for the new arrival. Some parents also let their children select a special gift for the newborn or pick out decorations for the baby’s room to help them ease into the idea of having a new sibling.

5. Get an extra pair of hands 

There is no shame in asking for an extra pair of hands to help with chores when your newborn arrives. The entire process can be overwhelming and when you have a helper or a confinement nanny to take care of tedious and unexpected matters during the first month, you can more easily transit into parenthood and enjoy precious moments with your little one with fewer glitches.

Don’t let the stress of preparing for the arrival of your newborn get the better of you. Reach out to us at Homekeeper Maid Agency by calling (65) 64685220, WhatsApp (65) 8515 5527, or email at contactus@homekeeper.sg for more details for an infant care helper who can give you peace of mind.