3 practical ways to prepare your home for a newborn

Make mealtimes easier

Though you won’t be weaning your baby until they’re 6 months old, you’ll still want to get them a highchair so they can be a part of family meals. Not only will it allow them to join you at the table, but it also provides a safe space for them to sit while you’re prepping and eating your food – and Joie has just the thing.

Suitable from birth, Joie’s Mimzy Recline is a 2-in-1 highchair and table chair that can accommodate your child as they grow, thanks to 7 height adjustments and 3 footrest heights. The SoftTouch, 5-point harness system will keep them secure, while the oversized, detachable tray and removable, wipeable seat pad make clean-ups a breeze. And when you’re finished, you can fold it flat and store it upright with ease.

Of course, if you want to make your mealtimes run even more smoothly, you could also batch cook some dinners and store them in the freezer ahead of time, so you don’t have to muster the energy to cook from scratch every day. Large one-pot dishes are often the easiest choice, as you can portion them out into multiple meals, so you could try making soups, stews, curries, chillies or pasta bakes.

Decorate the nursery before they arrive

Though your baby won’t be using their nursery until they’re 6 months old, it’s always wise to decorate it in advance, as it’ll be far more difficult to find a safe, convenient time to do it when they’ve arrived. Fortunately, decorating a nursery can be really enjoyable – and it’s a great chance for you to unleash your inner interior designer.

You might want to start by giving the walls a fresh coat of paint or adding a cosy new carpet, before filling it with all the essentials, including a cot, dresser and feeding chair, as well as a few fun extras, such as a cot mobile, cuddly toys and wall decorations. You could also add a swing chair or rocker to help soothe your baby when your arms need a rest. Joie’s Serina 2-in-1 is a brilliant baby swing that can be used from birth, plus it comes with a lift-off seat that doubles as a portable rocker.

With 6 swing speeds and 3 recline positions, the Serina’s seat can easily be adjusted to suit your baby. You can also choose from 2 vibration speed options, 5 classical lullaby options and 5 nature sounds to soothe them, while the overhead toy bar will help keep them entertained. Just bear in mind that swings and rockers aren’t suitable for sleeping, and your baby will still need to be supervised at all times, even if they’re fastened in.

Prepare your bedroom in advance

Your baby will be sleeping in the same room as you for the first 6 months, so a travel cot can really come in handy. It’s easier to move around, it won’t take up too much space by your bed, and it also offers a portable, safe place for your baby to sleep when you’re away from home. Joie’s Roomie Go is a great option as it comes with 4 lockable wheels for moving between rooms, plus a compact travel bag for easy transportation.

Suitable from birth, the Roomie Go is designed to fasten securely to the side of your bed and has 5 height adjustments and a sliding side panel for easy access to your child. A soothing tilt gently inclines to help them comfortably digest their food before bed, while the mesh sides provide plenty of ventilation and the washable mattress cover comes off in a flash for easy cleaning.

It's also helpful to have a nappy changing station nearby, whether that’s a classic changing table with drawers or just a spare drawer in an existing dresser. As your baby’s nappy will need changing very frequently in the early months, this will ensure you have everything close to hand when you need it. Simply stock your changing station with newborn nappies, baby wipes, nappy sacks, a changing mat and some barrier cream and you’re good to go.

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