10 Things to Do Before Baby Arrives • Laura Agostino

Reading Time: 5 minutes

The final countdown is on, and with not much longer to go, I’m focusing all my energy on the things to do before baby arrives. This is the time to nest, prep, and tie up any loose ends so that once our new little one is here, we can fully embrace those early newborn days with as much calm and ease as possible. Here’s everything I’m checking off my list before delivery day.

1. Final Touches on the Girls’ Room

At the top of my list of things to do before baby arrives is making sure the girls’ shared space is ready. That includes:

Organizing drawers and the closet for easy access to everyday items
- One of my recent favourite purchases has been this under bed shoe organizer for all of Georgia’s shoes!
Converting the toddler bed back into a crib
Making sure Georgia is comfortable in her new toddler bed (similar version to what we have)
Hanging decor to make the room feel cozy and complete (we purchased a bed crown from pottery barn with a generous gift card I received from my co-workers, and a few new paintings to hang that I found at HomeSense)
Fixing any small issues with furniture

Having this space done brings me a sense of calm, knowing both girls will have a comfortable and functional room.

2. Stocking the Freezer and Pantry

Another must-do task in the final week is a big grocery shop and meal prep session. This week I plan on filling the freezer with prepped meals and quick options so that we’re not scrambling to cook in those early postpartum days. This is also high on my list as a priority item for things to do before baby arrives—it will save time and stress when we’ll need it most.

3. Packing My Hospital Bag

Packing our hospital bags is one of the most essential things to do before baby arrives. I’ve included all the essentials for myself, baby, and my partner in a blog post that you can read here. With a scheduled c-section ahead, I’ve packed with recovery and comfort in mind. It’s a relief to know everything we’ll need is ready to go.

4. Swapping Seasonal Clothes

Spring is officially here, and although the weather is not currently cooperating, I am anticipating warmer days ahead. I have already begun to take the initiative to refresh my closet. This means removing winter clothes and jackets and bringing in lighter spring essentials. While not strictly baby-related, this makes my space feel more organized and ready for the new season ahead—another helpful thing to do before baby arrives.

5. Setting Up the Bassinet With My Toddler

Involving my toddler in preparing for the baby has been really meaningful. We set up the bassinet together with her Papa — she helped with building it, putting on the fresh sheets, and tying the bumper. Including her in these kinds of tasks makes the transition feel more natural for all of us and encourages us to talk about the changes that are soon to come. She also practiced putting her ‘baby’ in the bassinet. Big thanks to Mr. Fox our beloved stuffie for acting as the perfect practice baby.

6. Gifts

There is quite a lot taking place throughout the month of April for us. We have multiple birthdays (Georgia being one of them), Easter and of course the arrival of our newest family member. I also don’t want to forget that Georgia’s school likes to celebrate holidays and birthdays as well! We are also continuing a little tradition with gifts exchanged between baby and big sister. I’ve wrapped a thoughtful present from the baby to Georgia and one from her to the baby. It’s a small gesture, but one that can help foster connection from day one.

Here’s a quick list of things I’ve purchased and/or have done or will be doing to prepare for this busy month filled with gift giving:

Birthday Gifts

All cards and gifts have been purchased in advanced
I will be pre-ordering a birthday cake to have ready for Georgia’s birthday and have balloons to be filled with helium – I plan on asking Alex to make a quick trip to party city the day before Georgia’s birthday to pick up the balloons.
Georgia’s school will celebrate her birthday and I will be sending peanut free approved cupcakes in for her class to enjoy

Easter Gifts

This year the Easter Bunny made an early visit to Lindt Chocolate and bought all the chocolate that will be hidden around our home come Easter Sunday. This bunny also made a quick trip to the Dollar Store to purchase a basket with matching grass for the Easter egg hunt. Finally, the Easter Bunny always brings a gift and this was purchased back in March – this year it’s another new spring outfit and a Peter Rabbit glass water bottle with straw.
We won’t be having a large Easter celebration this year, but it’s still nice to have a lovely dinner at home as a family. To help with this I’ve preplanned what our meal will be:
- Starter: Lasagna
- Main: Ham (crockpot), glazed carrots, peas and potatoes with a salad on the side
- Dessert: Cake

Sibling Gifts

Georgia will be gifting her new sister her “Coming Home Outfit” as well as a special stuffie and book that Georgia can read to her.
The baby will be gifting Georgia a polaroid camera with lots of film to use, as well as a photo album and a toy. The idea here is that Georgia can take as many photos as she likes to decorate the baby’s bassinet at the hospital and fill up her photo album. I plan to send her to school the following week with her photos so she can share with her class that she’s a new big sister and show photos of her visit.

Hospital Gifts

The last time I gave birth I organized a gift for my OB as well as one for the nursing staff and plan to do the same this time around. I’ve created a gift basket for the nursing staff filled with sweet treats like cookies and candy, drinks, hair scrunchies, lip glosses and hand sanitizers. The basket has already been made, and all that’s left to do this week is to wrap and pre-write a thank you card. I’ll finalize the thank you card once we’ve been situated in our room so I can fill in our room number before asking Alex to leave this at the Nurses Station.

7. Collecting and Freezing Colostrum

Something I didn’t do with my first but am trying this time around: collecting and freezing colostrum. I know for many that this is just one more way to feel a little more prepared going into those early feeding days. My plan for these frozen tubes of colostrum is to actually save for my oldest daughter. While I love that she’s in Preschool and enjoying every minute of it, I don’t enjoy the germs she brings home so often. I’m hoping that if I can dose her milk with a bit of colostrum it might act like an extra vitamin source to ward off colds and flus when our newborn arrives home.

8. Cleaning and Prepping the Car

Alex’s job will be to ensure the car has a full clean—inside and out. It’s a dose of spring cleaning that will be a satisfying task to make the spring and summer seasons feel a little more fresh and calm after the harsh winter months that have left everything feeling a little dusty and salty.

9. Installing the Car Seat

While Alex works to clean the car he will also install the infant car seat and double-check that everything is secure and ready. Making sure this is done early means no last-minute scrambling, and it’s definitely one of the non-negotiable things to do before baby arrives.

10. Personal Finances and Admin

I’ll be carving out time this week to tackle some personal admin tasks that could easily be forgotten in the newborn haze. These included:

Submitting all outstanding claims to our health insurance
Finalizing our taxes and checking in on our financial plan for the remainder of the year
Making any pre-authorized adjustments or updates that might help simplify the months ahead

It’s one of those behind-the-scenes things to do before baby arrives that gives me extra peace of mind.

This final stretch is all about preparing practically for our next chapter. These things to do before baby arrives help to bring a little peace of mind and readiness to what’s always a beautifully unpredictable time.

Let the countdown begin!