Here's what you need to consider:
Baby's bedroom
Decorating your baby's nursery is one of the most exciting stages in preparing for its arrival. If you've decided to wait until the birth to discover the sex, paint the room in neutral tones like lemon, sage green and white. You can always add any extra touches once your little one is born.
Ensuring the room is child-friendly is crucial, so flooring such as wood or laminate are perhaps not the best choices. Soft carpet is a better option and will help to cushion your baby's feet once they begin to walk.
If you want to go the extra mile though, foam puzzle playmats are an even safer idea. These can be fitted across the floor like giant puzzle pieces and are colourfully designed in either letters of the alphabet or numbers, so they're interactive and educational too.
It's also a good idea to replace the nursery door with a netting screen. This way you'll still be able to see and hear your baby, while still being able to close the door. Netting screens also come in use for households with pets, as they prevent cats or dogs from entering.
Breast and bottle feeding essentials
If you choose to breastfeed your baby, it's useful to purchase a breast pump and a few empty bottles for times when someone else will be feeding your little one. Some breastfeeding mothers experience nipple soreness the first time they breastfeed. This is completely normal and can be resolved by applying nipple cream that's available to buy from local pharmacies.
Bottle-feeding mothers, on the other hand, should stock up on formula and feeding equipment well before the baby is born.
Baby monitor
You'll come to realise that investing in a good baby monitor will fast become a life-saver. Of course, you can't be in more than one place at the same time, and it's likely that while your youngster is napping, you'll want to carry out some household chores.
You can carry a baby monitor with you as you go about your business, so you'll be alerted of any cries for attention from your little darling.
Freezer meals
Your first few days at home with baby are bound to be extremely busy, and adjusting to your new addition will take some time.
It's unlikely that you'll have the time or energy to prepare home-cooked meals and you don't want to fall into the habit of ordering takeaways or eating microwave meals. This is where cooking and freezing meals in the run-up to the birth comes in good use.
Meals like soups, stews and casseroles are great for storing in the freezer and can also be made in batch, so you have enough to last for a few meals.
© Axonn 2015