One term that many expectant parents become familiar with during pregnancy is nesting. This refers to the increased urge to organise, tidy, and prepare the home that often appears towards the end of pregnancy.
A baby doesn’t actually need very many things. Most of the preparations are for your own peace of mind. A newborn won’t be traumatised because you don’t have a washing machine, a nursery with teddy-bear wallpaper and a canopy crib, or the world’s smartest storage solution. Still, many people feel stressed and want to get as much done as possible. The idea of becoming a parent can also start to feel more real when you’re putting together a cot or stacking nappies neatly on a newly installed shelf.
Baby-proof the home? Move to a house?
Many parents feel pressured to start baby-proofing their home, even though it’s usually not necessary for quite some time (a newborn doesn’t move around much and is easy to keep an eye on). Others worry that if they don’t move into a house, their child will have a terrible upbringing — and suddenly find themselves going to see houses, even if they had originally planned to stay in an apartment.
Home projects, stress, and moving plans all reflect a big underlying question of pregnancy: Will I be a good parent? And the answer is a clear yes. There really isn’t much that has to be prepared, unless it’s something you genuinely want to do. Your entire future family life doesn’t need to be sorted out by the time your baby is born. Your child will likely live with you for many years, so there’s plenty of time to rearrange furniture, move homes, and make changes along the way.
Prepare what will actually help
That said, it can be helpful to prepare the things that will make everyday life easier. Coming home from the maternity ward to a messy, chaotic home isn’t ideal. Nor is having to rush around shopping centres looking for baby clothes when all you really want to do is stay home and admire your baby.
It’s also important to be attentive to your pregnant partner, who may feel trapped in their body at times and become extra stressed by everything that still feels unfinished. As always during pregnancy, do what you can to help her feel as good as possible. Carry things, shop, paint, and assemble furniture if it makes her happy — even if you secretly feel that it could have waited.