Preparing for baby before it’s born is every bit as important as taking care of it after it’s born. To do that, you need to stay healthy. Taking good care of yourself means you’ll be taking good care of your baby, too. Important steps to take include:
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See your doctor regularly and follow instructions about sensible eating, vitamin supplements and exercise. Ask your doctor to recommend a good book on prenatal care and preparing for baby.
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Choose a birthing facility. Whether you select a traditional hospital, a center staffed by midwives or another delivery option will depend on your health, your baby’s health, your doctor’s advice, your special needs, your personal philosophy and your insurance coverage.
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Choose a childbirth class. Investigate classes available at your local hospital, community health center or community college. You can also ask your doctor or midwife for recommendations. Before you sign up with any organization make sure the class will meet your needs and expectations. Find out who teaches the classes, what method is used and how much information on labor and delivery is offered.
If you’re adopting
Adoptive parents don’t always have nine months to begin preparing for baby. In fact, they often don’t know how long they have to prepare - sometimes your child arrives with little advance notice. If an adoption is in the works for you, try preparing for baby as much as possible. Shop for child care basics, take a child care class, choose a pediatrician and consider finding a support group for adoptive parents.
Know your finances when preparing for baby
Consider the expense of childcare or the decrease in income if one parent reduces his or her work hours. Either with a pencil and paper or a personal finance software program, start budgeting. If you find you need to cut expenses, begin with non-necessities such as entertainment and travel. You can rent videos instead of going to the movies, take vacations less frequently or take local trips. If you need to trim expenses further when preparing for baby, you’ll be surprised at how much you can save on items you consider necessities if you put your mind to it. For example, use grocery coupons and take fewer items to the dry cleaners.
Decide in advance what you need to buy, and stick to your budget. As you probably already know, there is a huge number of products on the market designed specifically for your little bundle of joy. To avoid total confusion—and possible financial ruin—when preparing for baby, shop around for the best values and choose your purchases wisely. Start with those items that are absolute necessities. And, without sacrificing your baby’s safety and comfort, remember to stick to your budget. You’ll enjoy the experience of this new life more without a dark cloud of debt looming overhead.
Review your health insurance. Be sure prenatal care is covered in your policy, and, while preparing for baby, make sure your choices of a birthing facility and type of delivery are covered.
Find out how to enroll your baby in your health plan before your baby is born. Some plans will not include baby if he or she is not signed up within the first 30 days, so be sure to do so right away. In most cases, adoptive children are eligible for health insurance under the parents’ plans – especially if parents are covered under employer-sponsored health insurance. Get the details so you can make alternate arrangements if you must.
Review your employer's family-leave program. Federal law grants new mothers and fathers 12 weeks of unpaid leave after the birth or adoption of a child and many employers offer disability income insurance payments to new mothers. See your employer’s benefits representative for complete details.
Investigate child care options. More than 60 percent of parents place their children in some type of daily care. If you work outside your home, your choice of a caregiver will influence your peace of mind when you go back to work. You may select a caregiver who comes into your home, you may take your child to a caregiver’s home, or you may elect a childcare center. Before choosing a care setting familiarize yourself with the options available; consider cost, location and reputation when preparing for baby.
Always check references thoroughly. If you’re checking references for in-home care, be sure to ask the former employers why the caregiver left the job and whether they would recommend the caregiver.
If you’re looking at a childcare center or other group setting, spend time observing at different times of the day and talk to parents who have children in the center. Consider the environment, availability, and cost. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Association for the Education of Young Children recommend that the home, center, or agency be licensed and regularly inspected. Also, caregivers should have basic training in CPR or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (an emergency first aid procedure) and early childhood development. Learn more at
Life Advice: Choosing Child Care.
Preparing for Baby Emergencies
Take a certified CPR class. Infant cardio-pulmonary resuscitation classes are available from your local Red Cross chapter, American Heart Association or hospital. Keep a refresher demonstration chart near your phone.
Gather a list of emergency numbers and keep them by the phone:
