The coming of a newborn is a joyful moment for the entire family. Everyone looks forward to welcoming the new member, including you, the parents. There is shopping for a new crib, clothes, and feeding supplies, among other child stuff. However, as with any other guest, everyone expects the newborn to automatically fit into the home environment. The reason one may forget to prepare the home to make it conducive.
The fact of the matter is that babies are very fragile, weak and easily affected by an unkempt home. They can become sick from allergens, catch a cold, or lack sleep due to noise. Having a clean and organised home will make those first weeks easier for the baby, parents and caregivers. In Texas, the home is likely to have accumulated dust, pollen, and humidity due to the weather and working room by room will ensure the entire house is taken care of.
Here is a checklist of important areas to focus on before the newborn arrives.
Prepare a Clean Baby Bed
The first area to prepare for your newborn is where he or she will be sleeping. This should be handled several weeks before the expected arrival. The room should be thoroughly cleaned from every corner to every fitting and window. Dust and wipe the cabinets, baseboards, furniture, and the changing table. Where possible, disinfect surfaces where you will store the baby’s clothes, feeding items and supplies.
Thereafter, wash crib sheets, blankets, curtains, and other washable textiles even if they are new using child-friendly detergents or as per their care instructions. Besides taking out clutter that can collect dust, vacuum clean the floor. If the nursery has a removable carpet, take it for a good cleaning as part of the baby room preparation. Once done cleaning and arranging the nursery room, give it time to dry and air out.
Clean and Declutter the Living Room
Although your newborn has their own room, bed and stuff in their private room, the living room will also be part of their growing up. It is in this space that they get to see and know family members, so they can adapt to being cared for by them as well, besides the mother. The living room also becomes an important space for feeding, playing, and relaxing with the newborn.
The most important preparation is cleaning the floor, upholstered sofas and chairs by vacuuming to remove pet dander and dust. Blinds, curtains, throws and cushion covers can be washed using safe or mild detergents. Remove tiny, sharp objects that may endanger the baby, and unnecessary items that may limit free movement when carrying the baby.
Keep the Cooking Area Clean
The kitchen is the ultimate place where every home looks after the health and wellness of all family members. As much as the baby will not be feeding from the kitchen during the first months, the mother’s health has an indirect impact. As she goes around her normal household duties, the kitchen can be a source of contamination if not well cleaned.
Every surface the mother touches or uses to clean baby items needs to be sparkling clean. That includes frequently touched appliance handles, countertops, cabinets, backsplash, sink, and floors. The fridge is also an important appliance to store breast milk and, in later months, baby food. Clean spills that could attract bacteria and dedicate a shelf in it specifically for that after removing expired food. Soak washcloths, towels, and reusable cleaning materials in disinfectant, then wash them as usual.
Professionally Clean Carpets and Rugs
Most homes in Texas have their floors covered with permanent or removable carpets, doormats, and pet rugs. These important items keep the house warm, the floor comfortable to step on with bare feet, and your pet happy. However, even with routine cleaning, they are the main carriers of airborne particles such as pet dander, dust mites, kitchen spills, pollen, mould spores, and bacteria. That puts your low-immune baby at risk of getting allergies and other pulmonary infections at an early age.
It’s highly recommended that all carpets from the nursery, bedrooms, living rooms and play areas and pet rugs be taken for deep cleaning. A reliable and trusted home carpet cleaning service in Fort Worth TX will offer you a newborn-focused cleaning service to clean everything clogged deep within the fibres. Request that they use eco-friendly, non-toxic, child-safe cleaning solutions and techniques such as hot water extraction to remove bacteria and allergens.
Conclusion
Parents expecting a newborn should start making preparations at home early to avoid leaving some things unattended. If you have a larger home with more rooms, it may take time to clean, disinfect, and arrange everything. Having a cleaner home always feels welcoming and safe for your new baby. The best way is to create a list of tasks to complete from one room to the next, prioritising the baby’s bedroom. Some surfaces may require specialised cleaning by professional cleaning services.