Get ready for the birth of your little one with this comprehensive month-by-month plan for everything you'll need to do to get ready for your baby.
Create Workspace Start a Redbooth workspace from this template
Prepare for Baby
Pregnancy Month 1
- Schedule obstetrician visits
- Learn recommended vitamin levels
- Take prenatal multivitamins
- Discontinue herbal supplements
- Decide when to tell people
- Research morning sickness remedies
- Begin light exercise routine
- Use sunscreen on face
- Increase your fiber intake
- Drink plenty of water
- Avoid rodents
Pregnancy Month 2
- If working, plan for announcement
- See a doctor if your skin gets bad
- Begin researching child care
Pregnancy Month 3
- Plan a romantic getaway trip
- Research employer’s maternity leave
- Continue researching child care
- Consider announcing pregnancy
Pregnancy Month 4
- Pre-register for childbirth courses
- Evaluate your wardrobe
- Reduce strain with posture/movement
Pregnancy Month 5
- Register for gifts if having a shower
- Plan & start major nursery purchases
- Start considering layout of nursery
- Research trusts and estate planning
- Create or update your will
- Choose guardians for baby
- Determine if you need life insurance
Pregnancy Month 6
- Discuss labor pain relief options
- Talk with your mother about her labor
- Watch videos about birth
- Read books about baby’s 1st year
- Try a grocery delivery service
- Consider maternity massage therapy
- Get hospital pre-admission papers
- Choose a pediatrician
Pregnancy Month 7
- Research birth announcements
- Buy car seat and install properly
- Get hospital stay pre-authorized
- Tour maternity ward with your partner
- Watch for premature labor
- Consider labor exercises
- Decide on a “birth plan”
- Add baby to your health insurance
- Finalize terms of your will(s)
- Finalize life/disability insurance
- Return hospital pre-admission papers
Pregnancy Month 8
- Plan for breastfeeding
- Learn breast/bottle feeding techniques
- Set up hair/beauty appointments
- Pay “ahead” major bills
- Learn about postpartum symptoms
- Plan what to take to the hospital
- Purchase nipples, bottles and pump
- Complete nursery purchases
- Fill out disability paperwork
- Discuss exact disability leave date
- Check car seat installation
Pregnancy Month 9
- Review books - baby’s coming soon!
- Finish setting up nursery
- Pack luggage for you and your partner
- Discuss post-delivery birth control
- Birth plan with partner & obstetrician
- Get sleep & gentle exercise
- Stock kitchen with easy meals
- Make emergency contact list
- Wash new baby clothes and blankets
After Birth
- YOU DID IT!
- Visit pediatrician on day 3
- Visit lactation consultant
- Setup obstetrician visit for week 6
- Add baby to health insurance
- Complete childcare arrangements
- Send birth announcements
- Introduce the bottle to the baby
- Adjust pre-tax Flexible Spending
- Make baby life insurance beneficiary
- Update wills/trust with baby's name
- Begin college savings plan
Ideas for Registery
- Car seat
- Diaper bag
- 7 receiving blankets
- Bouncer chair with toy/music bar
- Night light
- Crib mobile
- Baby bathtub
- Water thermometer
- 2-4 hooded baby towels
- Baby washcloths
- Activity floor mat
- 1-2 Mattress pads
- 10 cloth diapers
- 3 fitted sheets
- 7 new-born size baby clothes
- White noise machine
- 7 zero-to-three month baby clothes
- Breast pads
- 3 swaddles
- coat / sunhat / mittens / booties
- baby swim gear
- teething toy
- rattle
- 10 bibs
- pack n' play
- Baby spoons
- breast-feeding apron
- Touch and feel baby books
- Changing table pad
- Changing table
- Laundry basket for baby-only laundry
- Diaper Bin
- Diaper wipes warmer / dispenser
- Digital video camera
- Baby monitor
- Swing
- Bassinet, cradle, or co-sleeper
- Crib and mattress
- Wearable infant carrier like Ergo Baby or Baby Bjorn
- Stroller
Drugstore Items
- Infant sunscreen
- Hypoallergenic laundry detergent
- Infant digital thermometer
- Nail file
- Hand sanitizer
- Batteries
- New-born size diapers
- Diaper wipes
- Infant fever reducer drops
- Infant gas relief drops / gripe water
- Nasal bulb aspirator or NoseFrida
- Saline nasal spray
- Baby wash
- Baby powder
- Vasaline or petroleum jelly
- Diaper rash cream
- Baby lotion
- Cotton balls
- Q-tips
- Kleenex
Mobile Apps and Music
- App to track feeding & pooping times
- App that tracks labor contractions
- Ambient music
- Soothing music