What to Nest When You're Nesting
No matter if this is your first pregnancy or your fourth pregnancy, you have probably heard of the term “nesting” by now. Nesting is defined as an overwhelming need to get your home clean and organized before your baby comes and let me tell you from experience, the nesting is real.
I have found that with each baby I have, the urge to start nesting begins sooner with each one and is even more urgent. Perhaps it’s because I have more and more children, who all accumulate more and more things, but either way I am always feeling the itch to get down and organize something.
So what should you nest when you feel the desire to have everything perfect for your little one? When should you start nesting? Is it normal to not want to nest? So many questions regarding the topic!
When does nesting normally begin?
There’s truthfully no clear cut answer for this, although most women find the urge more towards the end of their pregnancy when they have a bit more energy and they are impatiently passing the time until baby comes.
When should I start nesting the baby things?
More than likely you will have a baby shower or sprinkle of some sort, mostly if this is your first baby, and will be gifted loads of beautiful and precious baby items. This is a clear cut time to say that it is safe to begin nesting.
Now that you have clothes, swaddles, diapers, wipes, books and more…you want to begin organizing the baby’s nursery so that’s a mental load off of you when baby comes. Plus, you want to be prepared and have everything prepped for your little one. Babies should wear clothes that have been washed already to remove excess chemicals that are used in the clothes for marketing purposes (although really we should all wash our clothes beforehand).
If you’re unable to get things done before baby arrives, say if your nursery is being renovated, that’s perfectly fine. Babies do not need much in the beginning and do not even need a perfect nursery. There’s a few basics baby needs and the rest can come at its own time. Read on below for tips and tricks to nesting!
What to nest specifically for the baby?
Wash all clothing, swaddles, blankets, sheets and socks beforehand
Organize a diaper station — fancy changing stations really aren’t necessary, but a diaper caddy is at least very helpful to have to tote around and change baby as needed
Sterilize bottles and pumping supplies - you want this to be done so that way when you’re tired and just trying to figure out how to begin all of the feeding and keep yourself together, cleaning is already done and ready to go
Have a designated sleep space - no you don’t need a fancy nursery, but yes most of us get super excited about creating a nursery space. If you’re not one for planning, organizing, decorating and such, just remember that your baby just needs a safe sleep space with you and that’s all that matters.
Take care of returns now - I know this sounds crazy, but sometimes we are gifted things that we simply know we won’t use, don’t have room for or may go against the lifestyle we practice. If you’re able to return the items, take care of that now. Use the gift cards or cash that you receive back from the items to put towards what you need, even if it is just diapers and wipes. And take it from someone with a few kids, if you have TONS of outfits in the same size, consider if you truly need them all. With my last baby, we relied on less mostly due to less gifts received and I was perfectly fine with this. Less clothing, means less options and you can keep it basic with sleepers and simple onesies.
Pack you and baby’s bag!
Figure out the baby monitor system you have chosen.
Arrange all medical necessities, medicines and more in a designated area for emergencies or quick retrieval.
What to nest around the home?
Obviously this list will depend on the person. I have a tendency to go all out, just because I am a cleaner by nature and truly enjoy the process. You give me a couple of hours of “alone” time and I find myself cleaning and organizing. Take this list below with a grain of salt, but I will list it from what I think is most helpful down to just the tedious things you can do to pass the time.
Make the home safe. Go around and pop in those plug protectors, pick up unsafe objects and look for any hazards. Consider any furniture that needs to be bolted down. Obviously your newborn won’t need these safety things done, but as they grow and explore you want it to be completed.
Make the environment healthy. If you have ever considered cleaning up the products in your home, you will likely really feel the urge now. Oftentimes when we become mothers is when we wake up and decide we may be able to do a little better in the home. Consider switching your cleaners to a plant based cleaner like Thieves, ditch plug ins and air sprays for a diffuser and some oils and consider if there are any unnecessary air pollutants around.
Reorganize the cabinets. Yes, all of them. Reason being is that you will soon discover your new little person will need room. They will need their own area in the kitchen for bottles, pump parts and later sippy cups and more. You may even want to move the tupperware down to a lower cabinet so as baby begins to explore later, they have their own little play cabinet while you cook. You’ll also need a small baby space in the bathroom for towels, washes and possibly medicines.
Think of spring cleaning. I like to think of nesting as spring cleaning. I go through and wash linens, comforters, curtains in most rooms, clean baseboards, and such. Obviously only do these things if you’re in good health and feel up to it. Never overdo it. However if you’re near your due date and ready to have a baby, nesting has in the past helped some women go into labor.
Purge! Purging is my absolute favorite thing in the world when it comes to keeping a home. As much as I love a good day of shopping or hunting for that perfect item for your home, I love tossing stuff out even more! You will find that having children means that clutter is bound to come up! It will accumulate more and more. Now is a great time to walk through and toss the things you don’t need.
What are some great nesting hacks to make life easier once baby comes?
Create a feeding area. You will find that you will likely have a designated area that you choose to nurse, feed or pump in. Especially if this isn’t your first baby, you will know what you need and want established to make life easier. Stock your nightstand or area with the things you need, stock the end table near your favorite part of the sofa and so on.
Have a mama/baby caddy. Use this caddy to carry all over no matter where you are. Whether you fill it up with diapers, wipes, hand sanitizer, snacks for you, blankets, onesie, burp cloth and so on…it will make your life much easier! We love the one from Mollie Ollie.
Make freezer meals and stock pile up on your groceries. Whenever you’re getting closer to your due date, it’s never a bad idea to freeze a few batches of meals, stock up on pantry items, snack items and toiletries. The last thing you want to be doing is stressing about a grocery pick up order or describing what sort of pads your husband needs to go get you. Helpful things to stock up on are overnight pads, regular pads, breast storage milk bags if you know you’ll pump some, breast pads, soothie pads for sore breasts, diapers, wipes and your favorite snacks.
What if I don’t want to nest?
I have heard women say sometimes that they don’t want to nest. You know, each woman is totally different and we all experience different highs and lows, different surges of energy and have different desires and wants. Some of us need our own mothers to come and help us prepare for baby, some of us don’t really care much and some of us are OCD about it (hello that is me). Either way, there is no right or wrong way. Just because you don’t have a desire to nest, doesn’t mean anything negative. You may get a strong desire to do it later after baby comes!
Nesting is one of those things that you either love it, hate it or just do it because you know you have to get stuff done before the baby comes. The beauty of it is that you get to come home from the hospital to a clean home, a safe environment and a fresh start at a new life.
Oh and always, if you’re riding out labor at home — scrub the toilets, clean the bathroom and tidy up. It can help speed the process up and make you feel like everything is perfect before heading to the hospital. #beentheredonethat #itwasgreat
Happy Nesting! Share some of your nesting stories or tips below!
