If you’re pregnant and near your due date, you might have entered the “nesting” phase, which is the overwhelming desire or urge to clean and organize your home in preparation for your new baby. According to the American Pregnancy Association, the nesting instinct is strongest in the later weeks coming upon delivery.
How to prepare your home for a newborn
On the first episode of SmartParenting.com.ph’s How Po? titled "How To Protect Your Newborn", Ria Campos-Lopez, a child behavior specialist and certified baby sleep coach at Stratum Health Partners and one of our guests in the webinar, shared three important things you need to do before the baby comes. Check these off your list and get your house ready for your little one.
1. Make sure baby has a safe sleep space.
Yes, we’re excited to decorate our baby’s nursery or crib, but according to Campos-Lopez, your baby’s sleeping space only needs these things:
a crib, playpen, or co-sleeper
and a fitted sheet.
“Yan lang po ‘yung laman, wala na pong ibang kailangan,” Campos-Lopez explains. “Hindi na kailangan ng mga bumper o mga pillow.”
Why is it important to have a “clean” sleeping space? A soft mattress plus soft bedding (like pillows, bolsters, blankets, and bumper pads) can increase the risk of entrapment, suffocation, or strangulation, which can lead to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS. In the same vein, you should also make sure to follow safe sleep practices, including letting baby sleep alone and on their back. (Click here to read safe sleep guidelines.)
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW2. Childproof your home.
Newborns are small and fragile, so it’s up to us to make sure they’re safe and protected. “Make sure there’s nothing next to the crib, nothing can fall on the child,” says Campos-Lopez.
She adds, “Even though they’re very small, we want to make sure they’re in that space that when they do start moving, they won’t fall off.”
3. Clean the home thoroughly.
Our “new normal” should include a thorough deep clean before baby’s arrival. Not only will it get rid of harmful viruses and bacteria, it can also help keep allergens at bay. Campos-Lopez recommends vacuuming or hiring a deep clean service (check our list here) — “We want to make sure our area is as dust-free as possible, so [this includes] constant cleaning, punas ng sides, sweeping a lot,” she says.
Having an electric fan can help with dust and pollution. Or, if you have the budget, Campos-Lopez recommends an air purifier. (Click here for some options!)
If you live in a condo or in an enclosed space without windows and if you’re always going to use an air conditioner, Campos-Lopez also suggests getting a cold air humidifier. “It’s advisable so they can breathe better,” she explains.
If you have more questions about newborn care, baby development, and the vaccines that your little one needs, you can watch the first episode of our How Po? Webinar series below:
CONTINUE READING BELOWwatch nowTo know more about Stratum Health Partners, visit bit.ly/stratumhealth or follow them on Instagram and Facebook @stratumhealthpartners.
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