This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DiaperGenieForTheWin #ForBetterBeginnings #CollectiveBias

 So, it’s been a while since the pregnancy stick showed a pink plus sign. You’ve got your medical care set, are (hopefully) coming out of that nauseous phase and are now wondering—what do I do next? I’ve had three babies in five years and with some help from moms who have gone before me, I’ve learned a few tips on how to get your home ready before you cross the threshold with that sweet bundle.

Here’s the key thing: whatever makes your life easiest—do that. Here’s what I mean—you need a strategy that creates an environment that causes the least amount of chaos possible. You need things for you and your baby easily accessible from different points in your house. If you have a larger home, that may mean buying more than one of the same items. Think of it as sanity savings. Here are my 5 ways on how to prepare the house for the new baby.

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• Feeding Stations

Even when we had our first baby and lived in a teeny tiny house, I fed her in different places around the house. It’s best to visualize where you think you will feed your baby and create your stations there. For my latest baby, I had three: the living room, his nursery, and my room. What do you need for a feeding station? Not much. You need a basket, burp cloths, feeding pillows and maybe an outlet nearby.

My first baby had terrible reflux. Because of this, we probably have two dozen burp cloths. Trust me—you can’t have enough! We also have two feeding pillows. This may seem like overkill, but you don’t want to be dealing with a crying baby, settle into feed, and then have to pop back up because you can’t find your nursing pillow. They say less is more and I’m not saying that you should buy everything on every registry list—but sometimes a few more strategic items can go a long way in saving your sanity.  Why an outlet? If you plan on doing any pumping, you’re going to need it. Also, since you spend a lot of time feeding at first, it’s good to have a phone charger nearby.

• Diaper Changing Stations

Even in our first tiny house, we had two diaper changing stations. Why? Again, it’s about saving your mental energy. What do you need at a diaper changing station? A flat surface piece of furniture (it does not have to be a diaper changer- per se), changing pad, more than one changing pad sheet, plenty of diapers and wipes and the Diaper Genie® Expressions Pail with the Diaper Genie® 1pk Refill. Do not buy into—just throw the dirty diapers outside. Mama, you change a lot of diapers in a day, especially in the beginning. The Diaper Genie Expressions Pail is convenient, dependable, offers double secure odor lock protection which prevents bad smells from escaping, easy to use one-handed design, it holds up to 50 newborn diapers which means you don’t have to empty it as much, and it is the only customizable diaper pail with designer fabric sleeves to match any nursery décor.

I picked up my Diaper Genie Expressions Pail at Target (which is my go-to for all of my nursery needs) and it was a breeze. The pail is easy to find in the diaper section with the refills right next to the pail. From purchasing to using, your experience with Diaper Genie Expressions Pail will be one of the most convenient parts about preparing your home for the new baby. Bonus—For a limited time at Target, Receive a Free $5 Target GiftCard with the purchase of any Diaper Genie product, starting 7/8 – 7/14/18. So, cross this item off your list and go pick up your Diaper Genie Expressions Pail today. Click the badge to claim: 

• Sleep Routine

It’s important to have a sleep routine for your baby. Setting up a few things in the bathroom and nursery will help the night time hustle. For the bathroom, keep a few hooded (or regular) towels under the sink, have a small basket to keep track of those teeny tiny soft washcloths, a large bathing sponge is helpful in the beginning, then transition to a baby tub when ready and favorite baby wash. For the nursery: baby lotion is kept on the top of the dresser, jammies and diapers are in a top drawer for easy access. Also easily accessible: a zip-up swaddle (my preference), several baby books, and a sound machine.

• Activity Area

To make that sleep routine really work, you’re going to want to keep your baby up at certain points in the day. A great way to do this is by having a small activity area. If you’re doing a baby registry—don’t forget to register for toys! My favorite toy contraption for small babies is a play mat. This is a great way to remember to do tummy time. It’s also a place where you can lay the baby down for a few minutes, while they explore their surroundings. Also, have a variety of toys your baby can grow with.

• Portables

Let’s face it—you can’t hold your baby all of the time. I’ll admit—I went a little crazy on the many portable options out there. So, I will tell you my favorites: a baby rocker on an incline and a baby bouncer chair. I like the rocker because it’s easy to move around the house, babies nap great in them and they are easy to store. I like the chairs because it allows the baby to sit up, stay alert, play with toys, etc.  

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DiaperGenieForTheWin #ForBetterBeginnings