If your baby is on its way, there are probably a million things on your mind at the moment. Preparing the nursery and shopping for everything on your little one’s needs list are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all those things you need to do before the big arrival. Your home could probably use some prepping as well. You don’t have to go through a massive remodeling project if you don’t want to, but there are a few things you can do in order to make your home more baby-friendly.

Clean the house thoroughly

The first task on your to-do list is to make sure the crawling space is clean and safe. You still have a few weeks left to take care of this, so you shouldn’t rush it. Take one room at a time and wash every surface thoroughly, even if this means taking everything out of its place and then putting it back in later on. Pay special attention to the places that are hard to reach and can’t be cleaned easily, such as between sofa cushions or underneath furniture. It’s also a good idea to get rid of any clutter that might pose a threat once your baby starts crawling around the house.

Pick a room

You need to designate one room in the house as a nursery. The general rule is to pick the quietest room in the house, which is also away from any noise sources that might disturb your baby’s sleep at night. Next, decide whether you want to use an existing room or convert it into a nursery. If you choose the latter, you will probably have some work to do before you can move all those cute toys and baby products inside – rearrange furniture, paint walls, etc.

Childproofing

If you want to make sure that your child won’t get hurt when crawling around and exploring their new environment, childproofing is a must. There are many ways to do it, including installing safety gates at the top and bottom of the stairs, covering sharp table corners with protective foam, covering all electrical outlets with plastic caps or placing locks on cabinets containing chemicals and other unsafe items in them.

Cover sharp corners

Baby-proofing your home is one of the first things you should think about when it comes to making your home baby-ready. Cover all sharp corners with special caps and install doorknob covers on all doors that lead to rooms you want your little one to stay away from (e.g. basement). Move heavy pieces of furniture away from windows and balconies as well as from electrical outlets. If there’s a window blind in your house, make sure you secure it properly so that it doesn’t hurt your little one if they pull it down thinking it’s a toy.

Get the necessary things for the baby

If your first child arrives, don't fall into the trap that most parents fall into. Don’t buy too many things because babies grow very fast! When it comes to baby cosmetics, choose proven manufacturers. Buy products that are natural and that will be gentle on your baby's skin. Avoid any products with aggressive ingredients. If you find it difficult to decide, you can always contact your friends who already have children.

When you need to decide on clothes, choose one made of organic material. Such clothes are of high quality and will last longer. At the same time, organic cotton is grown without the use of any chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Organic cotton is most suitable for baby's delicate skin. Baby clothes from Australia is safe, reliable and will make your baby comfortable with every move.

Don't overdo it with toys

Baby products are everywhere, and they come in all shapes and colors. But what do you really need? The best way to find out is to get recommendations from trusted sources. Try asking your friends, family and neighbors with kids for their must-haves and can’t-live-without items.

When it comes time to shop, look for quality over quantity. Keep an eye out for well-made pieces that grow with your child or can be passed on to other kids in the family.

No matter how many products you have, keep in mind that babies don’t necessarily need all the bells and whistles. A lot of parents tend to overbuy when it comes to baby things. Find what works for your lifestyle and stick with it as much as possible. Remember, you can always add to your collection later on.

Get organized

 You’ll want to get organized early on, because the first few weeks with your new baby will be busy and chaotic enough without having to worry about where things are. Consider using a cloud-based organization system or creating a Google Doc with all the details you need for each room in your house so that you don’t have to search through different apps or sticky notes for what you need.

We believe that these tips were useful to you and that you will enjoy with your baby!

Mike is an Australian business consulting specialist. He’s working with companies that outsource their IT maintenance. He often writes about technology, business and marketing and is a regular contributor on several websites.

Guest Contributor: Mike Parsons