Preparing your apartment for the arrival of your new baby can be exciting yet demanding. Besides providing essentials such as clothes and food, you must offer a safe environment for the newborn. While living in an apartment can pose space restrictions, it doesn’t mean you can’t create a conducive environment for a newborn. Here’s a list of tips to prepare your rental for a baby.
Lighting
Lighting plays a significant role in preparing your rental, so you should locate a bright spot in your rental. Keep in mind that visual contact with the external environment is significant for your child’s social and psychological development.
As such, your baby should be in a position to see the external environment through the window. When positioning your baby’s crib, it should be opposite the window. To protect your baby against sun exposure, consider a curtain and shutters. It’s equally significant to offer soft night light along with natural lighting.
Clean the Rental
While this might appear obvious, it’s advisable to clean your rental. Regardless of your residential area, cleaning is of utmost significance. You’ll want to make sure you remove any germs for your rental even if your baby won’t crawl around the floor for a while.
You’ll feel much better once you’ve cleaned and sanitized everything before your baby’s arrival. Consider de-cluttering also since you’ll require some space for your baby’s diapers, clothes, and other items.
Determine a Room for the Baby
This should be the first item on your to-do list. If there’s more than one room in your rental that could function as a nursery, consider the things you’ll place in it and the amount of space they’ll consume. The proximity to your room is another factor to consider, particularly if your baby has trouble sleeping.
If you lack a spare room, you’ll probably set up in your master room. When rearranging your room to accommodate your baby, ensure you adopt best practices and position the crib away from electrical cords or wall décor. You also need to consider the amount of space the furniture will consume. Even if there’s a dedicated room for your baby, you must make space for your baby’s cradle or crib in your room.
Baby Proofing
Before your baby’s arrival, you must identify every possible source of harm. You’ll need to baby-proof the rental and ensure you’ve blocked all possible risks from the baby’s reach. While this task can be stressful, you’ll find it’s worth it.
You’ll have to begin with the nursery where your baby will spend most of the time. Ensure there are no objects outside your baby’s crib that the child could grab, swallow, or harm himself with. You’ll need to tape down lengthy appliance cords, electrical wires, and fix childproof sockets on all outlets in the rental. Ensure heating appliances and oscillating fans are out of reach for the child as well.
Rocking Chair
Even if you aren’t fond of rocking chairs, you’ll soon discover that babies enjoy rocking movements. Instead of standing up to get your baby to sleep, a plush and comfortable rocker can help you accomplish this. Make sure you research what’s available before you buy one.
Final Thoughts
Preparing for a baby’s arrival can be one of the most thrilling moments in life as a new parent. However, it takes some careful planning and thoughtful considerations to ensure your baby comes home to a safe environment.
For more information on how to get your apartment ready for your new baby, contact us at Apartment Agents or leave a message.