5 Must-Dos To Prepare for Baby

When you’re expecting a baby, there will undoubtedly be a seemingly endless list of things to do to prepare. However, it’s important to prioritize your list to ensure the most important items get checked off. Here are five must-dos to add to your list to ensure a smooth transition upon the baby’s arrival.

1. Finalize Insurance

One of the most important things you’ll do when preparing for a baby is to make sure your baby is covered by health insurance. 

It’s no secret that the world of health insurance can be quite overwhelming, costly, and confusing. However, remember that you don’t need to navigate through it alone. Consider working with a health insurance broker in Utah to not only narrow down your choices but find the best plan for your family as well. 

The peace of mind you’ll gain knowing your baby has healthcare coverage will be invaluable, so be sure to prioritize this one.

2. Scope Out Pediatricians

As an adult, you’re probably familiar with researching doctors for your own needs. You know that choosing a doctor isn’t a one-size-fits-all process, so why would that be any different for your baby? 

Spend as much time as you feel you need to research your options for pediatricians. Take notes on your medical philosophies and preferences, taking note of what different doctors offer. Setting up a phone or in-person appointment will help you get a better feel for the situation as well. 

Remember that having your healthcare secured before searching for a pediatrician is a good idea if you need to stay in-network for financial reasons.

3. Write a Will

There are so many wonderful aspects of parenting, but there are also some that you’d probably rather not deal with — such as writing a will. 

You might not think about a will as anything more than a way to divide property or possessions in the event of your (or your spouse’s) passing, but there’s a lot more to it when children are involved. 

The sooner you can get your will written, the better. You can always update as your child grows up, but having the document made and legalized from the start is a must.

4. Build Your Village

As a parent, being your baby’s main support is a given. However, it’s also important to remember how important having support along the way will be. 

Whether it’s regularly scheduled pockets of time for you to run errands, go to appointments, or simply hold some space for yourself, having some trusted family members or friends available to help will be invaluable. 

Having a support system will also be instrumental in your baby’s growth and development as well, and will give you both a valuable sense of community. A great place to start building your village is to join a group that meets regularly — look for mommy-and-me meetups. Not only will this surround you with others in a similar phase of life but it will help you to build lasting connections with others.

If you’re going to be heading back to work, be sure to research childcare options months in advance. Unfortunately, finding childcare can be a daunting task and there are often waiting lists. Pairing that with finding one that fits into your budget can prove to be a very overwhelming situation, so giving yourself plenty of time is essential here.

5. Schedule Personal Appointments

When you think about your baby’s arrival, you probably tend to think more about the baby and what they’ll need. While this is completely valid, don’t forget about making sure your fundamental needs are met as well. Making sure you’re up-to-date on regular appointments before the baby is born will be a huge help later.

This could look like heading to the dentist for a cleaning, or getting to the dermatologist for a skin cancer screening. This isn’t to say that you’re not going to be able to do these things once the baby arrives, but it will be much easier to do when you only need to worry about yourself.

Preparing for your baby’s arrival is an exciting time. There’s so much to think about. It’s also easy to get caught up in the fun things, such as decorating the nursery or buying adorable tiny clothes — this is great and all part of the experience, but don’t forget to focus on the heavy hitters as well. 

Staying on task and making sure you’re prioritizing will go a long way in making sure you and your baby get off to a great start. Also, the peace of mind you’ll gain from checking those big things off your list will be more than worth it.