So, your family is growing and it’s time to make room for a little one. Of course, everything is about to change, including your home. But no need to worry or stress, at s1homes we have the best advice when it comes to making the most of your space, enhancing your existing rooms and ensuring your home is ready for your new arrival.

Assessing your current home

You may be considering whether your current home is suitable for a baby, but is it also suitable for you during pregnancy? Could the 3 flights of stairs become an issue further along, are you in a one-bedroom flat with no storage? Are you miles away from the nearest hospital? It’s worth remembering that the requirements for your home will differ between having a newborn and when your new arrival starts to get a bit older. You also may want to eventually move closer to family for some support and think about catchment areas for local schools – but you have plenty of time to think about that.

Moving home can be stressful, from trying to find the right home, arranging a mortgage and the physical move of course. So, if you don’t need to move before the little one arrives, then it’s one less stress for you. If you’re happy with your current home, for the time being, it’s still a good idea to put a moving plan in place with some timeframes that aren’t immediate.

Creating storage

Despite their size, babies come with a whole lot of baggage. From smaller items like clothes, nappies, blankets and medicines to larger pieces like their cots, bassinets, highchairs and prams. All of these things will take up room in your home, so if you’re struggling for space at the moment, it’s worth considering what items you need right now and what things can wait until the baby gets a bit older, like highchairs for example.

The first step should be to have a clear out of your own belongings to make some room. If you have a loft or garage, it’s time to move things out of your rooms and store them away for another day. The spare room will no doubt become the baby’s nursery so start here and begin the transformation. Sadly, this might mean saying goodbye to your walk-in wardrobe or home gym. If your belongings can’t be stored at home, think about donating them to charity, giving to friends or family or even selling on.

Prepare the nursery

If you have the luxury of a spare room to transform into a nursery, it’s time to start planning it out. Again, this is something that doesn’t need to be ready as soon as the baby arrives, but if you have the time and energy to do it now, it’s one less thing to worry about.

If you’re renting, check with the landlord about guidelines for painting or hammering nails. Even if you’re restricted in terms of a makeover, you can do a lot with accessories and removable wall stickers. If your place has just one bedroom, try to create distinct areas for you and for your baby.

You’ll find a lot of advice online about what things you need for the nursery like furniture to essentials such as baby monitors, room thermometers and other little accessories that will make the baby feel at home. Make a list of things you’ll need during pregnancy, when the baby first arrives, and then things that will be needed months down the line.

Baby proofing

Once your baby arrives, you’ll probably be too tired to think about baby proofing so start this now. Serious proofing kicks in once your little one is on the move, so you’ve still got at least six months until that happens. For now, ensure the cot or Moses basket is positioned somewhere warm (but not too warm), well-ventilated and not likely to be knocked over easily. Also think about what’s within grabbing distance, such as cords and wires. Room thermometers are great for in the nursery and anywhere that the baby will sleep, you can often find that monitors have these built-in already. If you have a pet, consider installing baby gates now if you want to ensure they stay out of the baby’s room or away from medicines, nappies etc.

Deep clean

What better excuse to give your home some tender loving care than the arrival of a little one? While your baby’s immunity is developing it’s important to keep your home as germ-free as possible. Kickstart your new housekeeping regime with a deep clean and it will be easier to maintain. As well as vacuuming and dusting, steam clean any carpets and soft furnishings likes cushions and curtains. You may also want to give your sofa a good clean too. Closer to the baby’s arrival you will also want to wash their clothes, blankets and bedding.

 

Still need more space for your new arrival? With thousands of great Scottish properties for rent and to buy at s1homes.com, you’ll find your new family home in no time.