Things to do before your baby arrives

You have read the books and been to the antenatal classes, but nothing can quite prepare you for how much your life will change once your baby arrives. To help you through those exciting, exhausting and overwhelming first weeks, here is our guide to some of the things to do before your baby arrives.

For your baby

• Wash a selection of baby clothes in non-bio liquid to remove any chemical residue leftover from the manufacturing process. Simple vests and sleep suits are easiest in the early days.
• Make sure you know how to fit the car seat and assemble the pram.
• Buy a couple of pretty storage baskets to fill with nappies, wipes and spare outfits. Keep one upstairs and one downstairs, along with a changing mat, for on-the-spot nappy changes.
• Set up the crib, Moses basket or cot in your room. This is the safest place for your baby to sleep for the first six months.
• Consider fitting blackout curtains or blinds in your room to help your newborn distinguish between day and night.

For you

• Devote a day to cooking. Prepare a batch of meals that are easy to reheat and eat, such as casseroles or bolognese sauce, and put them in the freezer.
• Buy and freeze some healthy ready meals for the days when there is no time to cook.
• Have your hair cut. It will be hard to find the time later on. Choose a low-maintenance style that is easy to care for.
• Get measured for nursing bras after 37 weeks to make sure they will fit properly after the birth.
• Make a list of essential phone numbers, for example your doctor's surgery and a breast feeding helpline, so you can get help easily with any postnatal concerns.
• Make sure your digital camera and video are fully charged and that you have spare batteries and tapes.
• Swap phone numbers and email addresses with your antenatal friends, and make a date for meeting up after the birth.
• Set up an online grocery shopping account to avoid traipsing around the supermarket with your newborn.
• Join a social networking site so you can share pictures and baby updates with all your friends at once rather than contacting them all separately.
• Make the most of long lie-ins. And, if you are not too tired, find some time for you and your partner to go out together for an evening meal or to the cinema.