Those first few weeks after your baby is born are a lot of work! You won’t be sleeping well and your emotions will be all over the place as you are adjusting to your new life with a newborn.
The last thing you want to do is grocery shopping or running errands.
You will be in survival mode, so it’s important that you have all things in your home that you will need to survive those first few weeks. That’s why I made a simple list of things to stock up on before the baby arrives.
If you get all these things that your family will need to get through a few weeks, it will be less things to have to do and the transition will be smoother and less stressful!
When to Stock Up
The best time to start stocking up is now. Anytime in your pregnancy you can start. As you purchase your items, put them away in a specific location of your home to save for after the baby comes.
If you’d rather wait until later in your pregnancy, the latest to wait would be the beginning of the third trimester.
You’ll want to have your stock before you start to feel uncomfortable and it’s hard to be on your feet for long periods of time the bigger your baby gets.
One way to start your stock up pile is a couple of months before your baby’s due date, by picking up one or two items each time you shop or see something on sale that is on your list.
That way you aren’t spending a bunch of money at one time, but a little over time.
Another way is to buy the entire list at one time and just get it over with. You could keep it super simple and order it all online and have it shipped to your house or do a grocery pickup.
If you’d rather pick out items yourself, plan a fun stock up shopping day with your spouse or friend!
You can download and print off this Before Baby Stock Up Checklist for free.
What to Stock Up on Before Baby
Toiletries
- deodorant
- bath soap
- shampoo
- toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss
- sanitary pads
- hand soap
- razors
- baby diapers
- baby wipes
- lotion
Paper Goods
- paper plates
- napkins
- paper towels
- toilet paper
- facial tissue
Food
- canned fruit
- canned vegetables
- beans
- canned soup
- frozen fruit
- frozen vegetables
- frozen pizzas and quick meals
- dry breakfast items (cereal, oatmeal, breakfast bars, ect.)
- frozen breakfast (muffins, waffles, egg sandwiches, ect.)
- coffee, tea, or other preferred drinks
Household
- laundry detergent
- dish washer detergent
- dish soap
- hand soap
- toilet bowl cleaner
- all purpose cleaner and/or wipes
Download a free printable list of What to Stock up on Before Baby.
Another thing you’ll want to do before the baby arrives is pack your hospital bag. Be sure to download the free and simple hospital bag checklist.
Once you have your baby and are past the survival time of those first few weeks, be sure to follow a baby morning routine. It will help you and your baby get better sleep and you’ll both be much happier!
You can see the exact items that I stocked up on and made in the video below.