Ah, the arrival of a baby! 👶 That magical moment when your life shifts into a parallel dimension of diapers, sleepless nights, and slobbery kisses. But before the little tyrant officially takes over your home (and your social life), there are a few things to do. Yes, because believe us, once the baby arrives, you'll bitterly regret not having taken advantage of certain freedoms that now seem commonplace.
On At petitdenicheur.com , we know that becoming a parent is an extraordinary adventure, but it's best to be well-prepared before the baby arrives! So get comfortable (enjoy it while you can, soon you'll be sitting on Lego bricks), and discover our top 10 essential things to do before your little one arrives.
1. Sleep. No, really, SLEEP! 😴
Let's start with THE absolute priority before having a baby: building up a sleep reserve. Okay, let's be honest, we can't exactly stockpile sleep like war rations, but at least make the most of it now!
Why is this crucial before having a baby?
The first few months with a newborn are a bit like participating in a scientific experiment on sleep deprivation. Except no one pays you, and you're the guinea pig. Sleeping in, Sunday afternoon naps, full eight-hour nights... all that will become a distant memory.
So before the baby arrives, treat yourself to this incredible luxury: sleeping until 10 a.m. on a Saturday morning without feeling guilty. Take epic naps. Try out every pillow in the house. Become a deep sleep expert. Because soon, your new alarm clock won't be a smartphone, but a screaming little being who has decided that 5 a.m. is the perfect time to start the day.
Our tips before baby
Take advantage of your weekends to truly unwind. Try out that unlikely sleeping position you won't be able to do anymore with a baby taking up residence in your bed. And above all, savor those moments when you can go to bed without having to check if the baby monitor is on.
2. Go Out as a Couple (And Rediscover Life Without a Babysitter) 💑
Before the baby, going out in the evening is easy: "Honey, shall we go to a restaurant tonight?" And just like that, 30 minutes later, you're settled in your favorite restaurant. After the baby? That's a project that requires logistics worthy of a military landing.
Freedom before baby
Go to the cinema to see a film (that isn't a Disney movie). Spontaneously go out to dinner at 10 p.m. because you suddenly crave sushi. Take a spontaneous weekend getaway. Laze in bed on a Sunday morning with no other plan than to do absolutely nothing.
On At petitdenicheur.com , we strongly encourage you to cherish these special moments together before the baby arrives. Because afterwards, every date night will become a rare event requiring you to: find an available babysitter, prepare three pages of instructions, have your phone glued to your hand all evening, and probably come home earlier than planned because the baby is demanding attention.
What needs to be done now
Plan regular dates. Try that new cocktail bar. Go dancing until dawn. Take that romantic getaway you've been putting off for months. In short, live your life as a couple to the fullest before your duo becomes a trio!
3. Travel Light (Really Light) ✈️
Ah, pre-baby travel! Those blissful days when your carry-on bag contained only your own belongings. No diapers, no wipes, no spare cuddly toy, no bottle, no folding stroller…
Why is travelling before having a baby so important?
Traveling with a baby is possible, of course. But it also means carrying around the equivalent of a small baby store wherever you go. A simple weekend trip becomes an expedition requiring an entire suitcase just for the baby's things.
So before the baby arrives, take advantage of this time to:
- Going on an adventure with just a backpack
- Flying without stressing about your baby's ears exploding during takeoff
- Visiting museums without having to maneuver a stroller
- Sleeping in a hotel without checking if they have a travel cot
- Doing a 10km trek without ergonomic carrying
The pre-baby bucket list
That trip to Asia you've been dreaming of? It's now or in five years. That mountain hike? Go for it before your biggest hike ever is pushing a stroller to the park. That outdoor music festival? Enjoy it before your playlist is 90% nursery rhymes.
Exotic destinations, long-haul flights, unusual experiences… everything is easier before the baby arrives. So get out your world map and tick a few items off your bucket list!
4. Get your fill of TV series and movies (Adults) 📺
Netflix will become your best friend during the first few months with your baby. Except you won't be watching series in a leisurely marathon with popcorn anymore. No, you'll be watching them in short 10-minute chunks, getting interrupted every 3 seconds, and systematically forgetting where you left off.
The perfect pre-baby marathon
Before the baby arrives, it's the perfect time to:
- Binge-watching this 8-season series that everyone has already seen
- Watch movies with action and suspense scenes (not Peppa Pig)
- Organize movie nights on the couch until 2 a.m.
- Watching a series without falling asleep after 5 minutes of exhaustion
After baby, the reality
After the baby arrives, your audiovisual culture will suddenly be limited to "T'choupi," "Petit Ours Brun," and nursery rhymes whose refrains you won't be able to get out of your head. You'll know every episode of Peppa Pig by heart, but you'll have forgotten the name of the main character in the series you were watching six months ago.
So before the baby arrives, take advantage of this time to cultivate your passion for adult cinema. Watch films that last more than 45 minutes. Savor each end credits sequence without being interrupted by tears. It's a luxury that will soon disappear!
5. Take Care of Your Relationship (Really Take Care) 💕
We've already talked about going out, but now we're talking about intimacy. Because yes, before having a baby, it's absolutely essential to strengthen your relationship as a couple. A baby is wonderful, but it's also a little relationship tester that will put your couple to the test.
Communication before the baby
Discuss everything: your vision of parenthood, your expectations, your fears, how you're going to manage the tasks. Because after the baby arrives, your discussions will mainly revolve around "did you change the last diaper?" and "what color was his poop?"
On petitdenicheur.com also recommends creating strong memories before the baby arrives. Do activities together, laugh, and build that bond that will help you through the difficult times of the first few months.
Intimacy before baby
Without going into too much detail, just know that your intimacy is going to take a serious hit after the baby arrives. Between fatigue, hormones, your body recovering, and the little one sleeping (or not) in the next room… in short, enjoy your love life before the baby arrives!
6. Organize Your Home (And Say Goodbye to Minimalism) 🏠
Do you love your minimalist interior, your neatly arranged decorative objects, your designer living room? Enjoy it while you can, because before the baby arrives, it's your last chance to live in an environment without toys squeaking under your feet.
The pre-baby invasion: get ready!
A baby is small, but it takes up a HUGE amount of space. Between the baby bouncer, the changing table, the playpen, the stroller, the playmat, the thousand toys you'll accumulate… your living room will turn into an extension of a baby store.
So, before the baby:
- Enjoy your adult decor
- Take photos of your tidy home.
- Enjoy being able to put something on a coffee table without some curious little child knocking it over.
- Enjoy your pristine white furniture (which will soon resemble an abstract work of art)
Strategic planning before baby
That said, it's also the time to think about the layout. Where to put the baby's room? How to optimize the space? Which furniture to keep? On At petitdenicheur.com , you will find plenty of tips to prepare your cozy nest before the arrival of the little tornado.
Think practically: you'll be living with a stroller in the entryway, diapers everywhere, and bibs lying around. It's best to prepare yourself mentally before the baby arrives!
7. Say Goodbye to Spontaneous Parties 🎉
You know those Friday nights when your friend calls you at 7 pm: "Want to grab a pizza and some beers?" And you reply: "I'm coming!" Well, before the baby arrives, it's time to say yes to ALL those spontaneous invitations.
Social life before baby
After the baby arrives, your social life will resemble a corporate schedule for a CAC 40 company. Every outing will require:
- 3 weeks minimum notice
- A certified babysitter (and reconfirmed 5 times)
- A plan B in case the baby gets sick
- A complete briefing for the person looking after the baby
- A latent guilt about "leaving your baby"
So before you have a baby, say YES! That last-minute karaoke night? Go for it! That impromptu barbecue at a friend's house? You're there! That bowling outing on a Tuesday night? Why not!
Friends before baby
Take the opportunity to see your childless friends too. Because afterwards, you'll naturally gravitate towards other young parents (to talk about diapers and teething), and your single friends will look at you with wide eyes when you decline the invitation to this festival for the 3rd year in a row.
Have parties that last past midnight. Hang out at the café until all hours. Accept that invitation to the concert on a Wednesday night. Live your social life to the fullest before the baby arrives!
8. Take Care of Your Body (It's Going to Suffer) 💪
For expectant mothers, it's obvious: your body will undergo nine months of transformation, then childbirth, then breastfeeding (or not), then recovery. But fathers also need to take care of themselves before the baby arrives!
Sports before baby
Go to the gym without having to squeeze it in between feedings. Do yoga to learn how to manage stress (you're going to need it!). Run, swim, move while you still have the time and energy.
After the baby arrives, your only physical exercise will be carrying 15 kg of baby + stroller + diaper bag up the stairs. So before the baby arrives, pamper your body!
Well-being before baby
Massage, spa, hairdresser, beauty treatments… everything that makes you feel good, it's now! Because afterwards, finding 2 hours to pamper yourself will be a real challenge.
For expectant mothers, take advantage of this pre-baby period to:
- Get a complete medical check-up
- Take your vitamins (especially folic acid)
- Stop smoking and limit alcohol
- Preparing your body for pregnancy
9. Manage Your Finances (Babies Are Expensive!) 💰
Okay, let's talk about a less glamorous but ultra-important topic before having a baby: money. Because yes, a baby costs a small fortune. Diapers, milk, clothes, baby equipment, childcare fees… the list goes on!
Budget before baby: do your calculations
Before the baby arrives, it's time to:
- Create a realistic budget for the first year
- Save money if possible (you'll thank us later).
- Compare prices of baby equipment
- Find out about available financial assistance (birth bonus, allowances, etc.)
- Planning for maternity/paternity leave and its impact on your income
On At petitdenicheur.com , we know that raising a child is expensive, but there are plenty of tips to optimize your spending. The perfect opportunity to become a pro at hunting for bargains before the baby arrives!
Pre-baby investments
Some purchases can be made before the baby arrives to spread out the expenses:
- The bed and the mattress
- The stroller
- The car seat
- The changing table
- The first clothes
Also consider the second-hand market: many baby care items are used for a very short time and are resold in excellent condition.
10. Enjoy the SILENCE (Yes, Silence!) 🤫
We'll finish with something precious whose value you probably don't realize: silence. This absolute absence of sound. This ability to hear your own thoughts. This luxury of being able to read a book without being interrupted every 30 seconds.
The silence before baby: a treasure
Before the baby arrives, cherish these moments when:
- You can stay in the shower for 5 minutes without hearing any crying.
- You drink your morning coffee in peaceful silence
- You read peacefully without anyone pulling on your trousers
- You're watching a movie without subtitles because the volume is too low so as not to wake the baby.
- You make a phone call without having to juggle a baby demanding your attention.
Prenatal meditation
This might be the perfect time to start meditating. Because afterwards, your only "zen" moment will be those 30 seconds when the baby finally falls asleep and you wonder if they're still breathing (spoiler alert: yes, but you'll still check 15 times).
Enjoy being able to concentrate on a task without being interrupted. To be able to finish a sentence. To be able to think about something other than "has he eaten enough?", "why is he crying?", "what's that smell?".
Conclusion: Before Baby, It's Now!
There you have it, you now have our complete list of things to do before baby! So yes, we were a little (a lot) into humor and dramatization, but the truth is, becoming a parent is one of the most beautiful adventures in life.
But you might as well start it in the best possible conditions, right? So before the baby arrives, enjoy your freedom, your time, your sleep, and all those little everyday pleasures that you no longer even notice.
On petitdenicheur.com , we're here to support you on this extraordinary adventure. Because yes, after all those humorous warnings, we're telling you: having a baby is magical. Tiring, but magical.
So take a deep breath, enjoy this pre-baby period, and get ready to experience the most beautiful moments of your life (between sleepless nights and diaper changes)! 👶💕
Final checklist before baby
In summary, here is your ultimate checklist before the baby arrives:
✅ Sleep like your life depends on it ✅ Go out as a couple without military-style logistics ✅ Travel light and far ✅ Watch entire adult series ✅ Strengthen your relationship ✅ Enjoy your tidy home ✅ Accept all spontaneous invitations ✅ Pamper your body ✅ Organize your finances ✅ Savor the silence
And above all, keep in mind that this list isn't meant to scare you, but to remind you to cherish these unique moments before your life is wonderfully transformed by the arrival of this little being who will become the center of your universe. Because in the end, all the sleepless nights, all the diapers, all the sacrifices… it's worth it a thousand times over!
So before the baby arrives, live life to the fullest. And after the baby? You'll live differently, but just as intensely. Promise! 😊
Did you like this article? Share it with your friends who are expecting their baby! And for more advice, tips, and great deals for expectant and new parents, visit [website address]. petitdenicheur.com !
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