Before Emma was born I was on top of EVERYTHING…I had everything prepped and ready to go in case I went into labor. Fast forward to the twins…I had some stuff but I knew I didn’t need to be overly prepared because I was a pro already (LOL…yeah right)! No seriously I got the basics that I needed but I didn’t go overboard.
Big Mistake…
I wish that I prepped this time around like I did with Emma. The myth is true with the second child you don’t prep as much as you did the first time around. You are WAY more relaxed after your first baby!
One of the things I wish I had done prior to the twins being born is stocked the house with things that we use and eat on a regular basis. When you come home from the hospital the last thing you are intersted in is going to the store, or sending someone to the store for you. Let’s just be real about it only you know what you like and buy, most of the time when someone goes for you they come back with the wrong thing.
To solve this problem here are a few items I recommend you purchase and stock up on while pregnant, so once you come home there is one less things to worry about it…
General Home Items…
these are actually items my husband an I keep in bulk and
really only shop in bulk for, you always need it so
why not keep A LOT on hand at all times…
Toilet Paper
Paper Towels
Moisturizing Hand Soap
(you will wash your hands so much you will want to make sure it has moisturizer in it)
Hand Sanitizer (one for each room of the house) w/Pumps
Cleaning Supplies
Air Freshener and Lysol (Lysol is a MUST…gets rid of germs)
Paper Products (Plates, Napkins, Plastic Silverware)
Kleenex
Trash Bags
Laundry Detergent (Pods get my Vote)/Dryer Sheets
Dog Food & Treats
Light Bulbs
Batteries
Plastic Baggies
You can never have enough home products so as long as you have the room to stock them, I say keep a generous stock pile of these items in your home. These things go so fast when you are home the first couple of weeks with a new baby…
The next list is of things that you will want to have a generous amount on hand for when the baby comes. Some of these you will receive when you have a shower, and even though you will have multiples of these items; I’ve learned its best to keep them all because you will need them!
Baby Items…
Receiving Blankets
Burp Clothes
Diapers (Multiple Sizes)/Wipes
Diaper Genie Refills
Baby Lotion and Wash
Bottle Warmers (One for Upstairs and Downstairs…and Traveling Warmer)
Bottles and Pacifiers
Bottle Brushes
Vaseline/Diaper Rash Cream
Bibs
Baby Socks (they are so small and often mysteriously disappear…
well they do in my house HA!)
Saline for Babies
Save Coupons**
Save Coupons**
Now I wont share a grocery list because you know best what type of food you keep in your house but I will suggest that you have your pantry and freezer stocked with non perishable items, bottles of water and whatever kind of pop/juice you drink on hand. Once you come home I can guarantee you that the grocery store will be the last place that you will want to stop or have to make a list to give to someone to send them to the store. My husband cooks, but all husbands don’t (and that’s okay)…if he doesn’t cook it wouldn’t be a bad idea to prep meals and freeze them so all he will have to do is warm them up.
I can say from experience that prepping ahead of time is the best! Getting in the habit of prepping ahead of time actually, puts you in practice once the baby is here! One of the best habits to get into is prepping ahead of time when you have children. I prepped with Emma but I fell off the wagon after a while, but now with two children I have no choice but to prep ahead of time, especially if we have to be somewhere by a certain time.
This is no where close to a full list but its some of the things I noticed that I needed when prepping for the baby’s arrival!
