5 Things to Do Before Baby Arrives (Not Your Typical List)

If you’re expecting a babe in the near future, you’ve likely seen these lists telling you what to do before baby arrives popping up on your phone or computer lately (how does google know??!). But that’s not what this list is about today. Of course, the importance of getting ready for baby’s arrival cannot be overstated, but you’ve got other tutorials and checklists for that (like this one here, in fact!). But today, I want to focus on some other equally (if not more) important things to do before you become a mama. These are things that I’ve only realized the importance of in the past few years since becoming a mom myself, and especially since having my second babe. I’m going to talk about these 5 important things I believe you should do before baby arrives, but I’ll give you a little background first.

How This Before Baby, Not-So-Typical List Started

I actually dreamed up this blog post while I was in the thick of it; I was rocking Maggie (my 7-month-old) back to sleep when she simply would not nap for longer than 30 minutes. When she wouldn’t stay asleep after I put her back down in her crib (for the third time), I took her in the car and drove around while she (quickly and easily) fell asleep, and I proceeded to continue thinking of all the things I wanted to share here. (For me, the car has always been a surefire way of ensuring my girls get a good nap, if and when needed.)

You see, the things I’m talking about here are for your well-being, mama. This is not a checklist to help you get baby’s room ready, or to ensure you have the best educational toys, or even to help you know what to pack for the hospital or prepare for your home birth.

No, these are things that I strongly feel you must do before baby arrives in order to be best prepared mentally and emotionally… for your new life. Not for baby, but for YOU.

Yes, I’m calling this “your new life”… because it will be. It won’t be the same as it is now, and of course this is in the most amazing way, and we “wouldn’t trade it for the world.” However, it’s still one of the most gigantic changes we will ever go through. I mean, you’re becoming a mom! This new little being will rely on you for virtually everything, including all of their physical, mental and emotional needs.

And that’s just the thing. You will soon become someone’s everything. So before that happens, I want you to take some time for yourself.

To be by yourself and do the things that light you up, fill your cup, and truly enhance your well-being.

That said, the things on the list below might seem somewhat similar to one another, but I’d like you to really take each one in. If it’s something that would float your boat, I want you to revel in it. Really take the time to experience it, enjoy it, be mindful of how it feels to be in that moment.

This list may also seem a bit simplistic… but that’s the point! These are the simple things that I don’t want you to overlook. These are the very things that I personally think about with longing, and that some days I would give anything to drop everything and enjoy.

I know it may sound ridiculous to you now, but believe me when I say that one day you might just long for experiencing one of these again. (Not that you won’t be able to, but it will just take a lot more planning and preparation in advance.) So be deliberate about taking action here and make it happen for yourself. Don’t skip over this part of pre-baby preparation. Soak. It. In.

A Note About Mom Guilt

Here’s the thing. Motherhood is everything to me and I truly love my kids with every single cell of my being… but I’m also a person outside of being a mama, and that person loves being on her own and enjoying some of her favourite things. This doesn’t make me a bad mom, nor will it you. Honestly. Mom guilt needs to be a thing of the past; after all, if we don’t put ourselves first, then we will have nothing to give to others.

So don’t feel guilty when those feelings come up of wanting (or needing) to get out for a while; not only can doing it make you an even better mom, but having those feelings makes you human.

Alright, let’s get to that list I keep hinting at already!

5 Things To Do Before Baby Arrives (Not Your Typical List)

Go for a drive. By yourself.

Blast your music, put on a podcast, or listen to an audiobook. (Or, turn everything off and listen to your thoughts.) Also, go for a walk by yourself, ditto.

Some days, I would kill for just 20 minutes (okay, even 10) of alone time in my car. I’m telling you, I never realized how important it was to me until I had kids. To be able to put on a podcast and zone out (while obviously paying attention to the road, hello!) is pure bliss. I do actually get the opportunity to do this when I car nap with both girls (yes, “car nap” is now a verb to me), but then I’m constantly on alert for the moment when one of them wakes up. But when I get the chance to go for a drive by myself, even just to the grocery store, those few minutes each way are precious. (I may or may not make it last longer on purpose.)

Sleep in… and savour it.

And while you’re at it, go to bed early and savour the fact that you know you’ll be sleeping all night, without interruption. (I mean, minus the bladder wake ups, obvs.)

Now, I know talking about sleep may seem obvious (and I used to roll my eyes when people told me “enjoy your sleep while you can”… like, I KNOW). However, I just felt that this list would be incomplete without mentioning sleep. And I’ll go a step further by suggesting you really make it count by lounging in bed with a book (if you’re a reader) or your phone (if you’re a scroller). There’s something about knowing you don’t need to be anywhere or won’t be called by anyone (*cough cough* – kids – *cough cough*) that just feels… luxurious.

Binge watch a series.

Watch the entire thing, and then choose another series and watch that one, too.

I am a TV junkie. Give me all the movies, all the series, and just all the Netflix or Prime, and I am one happy girl. Don’t get me wrong; I like to check things off my list too and Get. It. Done. BUT, there’s something about relaxing on the couch and getting lost in a show that floats my dang boat (same with getting lost in a book… in fact, I almost gave that one its own separate point).

Make yourself your favourite bevy (tea/coffee/fill-in-the-blank) and sit down with it and Soak. It. In.

If you’re having a hot drink, enjoy the hotness of it!

You may want to curl up with a book, some music, or a TV show, or you may just want to enjoy sitting in silence with only your thoughts for company. Either way, appreciate the hotness of your coffee or coldness of your drink, and truly soak it up.

Write a list of things that bring you joy, that you’ll be able to refer to when you need a minute.

It could be anything… taking a bath, reading a few pages of your book, walking around the block… even just doing nothing while taking some deep breaths. (In fact, this is a really helpful strategy I use when I need to bring my nervous system down a notch. It works!)

I feel that this one is important for you to do before baby comes while you can easily recall those things that bring you joy (yes, things can get murky and remembering them can be tough at those times). Think about what makes you smile, feel calm, and lights you up, and write it all down. Refer to your list whenever you need to gather yourself and take a breather.

Before Baby: Final Thoughts

Well, how does all of the above sound to you? Like I said before, I know they seem so simple (and they are), but these are the things that can be a lot harder to come by once babe is here, at least in my experience. So, reveling in them now is my number one suggestion to you pre-baby.

I hope this list has given you pause and gotten you excited to do some or all of the things on it “while you still can.” I use quotations because this is another phrase people told me that I rolled my eyes at. Like, obviously things are gonna change; I get that!

You’ll still be able to do all of them once you become a mom (of course you will!), but to do them without having to get someone to watch your little one, or wait for their next nap (and hope it lasts longer than 30 minutes, ha), or figure out how to keep them entertained while you do your thing… well, it’s simply easier before that becomes your reality.

So my friend, take it all in. Truly take the time to savour those things that you love to do and that fill your cup. I can promise you, you will feel grateful that you did.