Ten things to do before you have a baby – the ultimate list
Are you pregnant? Here are ten things to do before the baby arrives…
If you’re pregnant and wondering what you should do before you give birth, here are ten things to do before the baby arrives.
What are the best things to do before you have a baby?
I’m not talking about buying nursery furniture and washing babygros – although that’s important too! It’s more like sleeping, going for dinner and taking as long as you like to get ready. Basically, all the things that are nigh-on impossible with a small person in tow.
I asked this question when I was pregnant, and everyone very kindly sent me lots of suggestions for my pre-baby list. It has since become one of the most popular posts on my blog; it’s a big question every expectant mother wants to know the answer to.
However, it occurred to me the other day that there’s a whole load of things I didn’t put on it, things I miss now that I kind of wish I’d done more of at the time.
So here’s a new set of suggestions for things you should definitely make the most of, while you can…I give you the ultimate list of things to do before the baby arrives, the post-pregnancy edition, featuring wine, sleep, and doing lots of nothing. You can also read my list of things to do before baby number 2 arrives.
Ten things to do before baby – what to do while you’re still pregnant:
- Sit on the top deck of the bus. Public transport with a pram is tricky but manageable. However, you’ll never be able to climb the stairs and the view from the lower deck is no-where near as much fun
- Go out for one glass of wine at lunch, have the bottle, then another, stumble home at 2am with a kebab (best done pre-pregnancy)
- Carry a really small, lovely and highly impractical bag that’s not full of a hundred muslins, snacks, sippy cups, books, wipes, a change of clothes, nappies, suncream, sunhat, jumper, more snacks etc etc.
- Wear necklaces and earrings without fear. Wear white, and all your lovely clothes that will later be ruined by sticky handprints and crawling around on the floor like a human climbing frame
- Have nicely arranged things on your low shelves in your house
- Do absolutely nothing for as long as possible
- Concentrate on anything for longer than a minute
- Have a lovely, long relaxing bath with flowers and bubble bath and a lovely drink…all without having to fish five ducks, some bath books, plastic cakes and the TV remote out first
- Enjoy the much more innocent times when the postman, delivery men and most of the people in the world have not seen your boobs…yet (ah, breastfeeding)
- And of course, sleep. Lie-in, nap, not get up at 1am, 3am, 5am and so on…
That’s my top ten, what have I missed out? And remember, it’s not all doom and gloom – having a baby opens up a whole world of possibilities for much more fun things you can only do once you’re a parent…
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14 Comments
Kerry G
June 4, 2013 at 7:31 pm
LOL this brings back memories.
But just think, we only have to wait 20 years or so and we can be doing all these things again! 🙂
gillian
June 6, 2013 at 10:42 am
Not long to go then! 😀 If I have to wait that long for a proper night’s sleep though, I might cry…
Eleanor
June 5, 2013 at 6:14 am
The one that springs to mind for me is – whether you’re single or attached, make the most of every invitation, particularly weddings – as it won’t be long before the first thing you think when an invitation arrives is ‘oh, I wonder if they are ok with babies coming’? In a few short months you’ve gone from last on the marquee dance floor to last row of the Church ready to duck out the back….
gillian
June 6, 2013 at 10:48 am
Oh YES – you’re so right. Weddings are completely different when you’re worrying about a baby crying / not being able to properly celebrate etc. You don’t really realise at the time, but it’s so different, isn’t it? x
Helen at Casa Costello
June 5, 2013 at 12:13 pm
Great post – I’ve got a couple more…
* Go upstairs when you feel like it without having to lug someone else upstairs.
* Pop to town for a few bits – too much effort with a baby.
* watch what you like on the TV/listen to whatever you want in the car
* Jump on a trampoline /Do Starjumps without getting the kitchen roll out afterwards
Hx
gillian
June 6, 2013 at 10:43 am
Love these!! x
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Becky
September 13, 2013 at 9:32 am
Hi gillian,
Thanks for the post. I found it very educating. A lot of small bits that we never think of like earrings and necklaces. I have to say public transport with a pram is very tricky, especially in London. Good luck in bloging – your doing very well. 🙂
Thanks again for article.
Best,
Becky
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Emma
January 23, 2015 at 12:01 am
Hey the Top Deck on a bus is perfectly possible with a baby, Just take them in the sling. I only took pram or buggy on the bus less than a handful of time, I think about 3 times. i soon realised it was so much easier to just put baby in sling for going on trains and buses.
Abby
January 23, 2015 at 8:56 am
My baby is now two and a half and for some bus journeyed we’ve ditched the buggy. So I do get to go on the top deck of the bus again. But I now have a toodler in tow who doesn’t quite get the concept of someone else is sitting in the ‘driver’s’ seat. 😉
Michelle
January 23, 2015 at 1:10 pm
Wear whatever you like without having to consider whether you can easily get your breasts out without flashy more flesh than you would like….
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