jobs to get done before baby arrives

[marzipananimal]

I'm expecting my first baby in just under 6 weeks time and trying to make a list of all the household jobs I should do before then - the kind of ones that you only do once every few months or less eg. defrost the freezer, sort out the filing cabinet, clean inside the car... Any suggestions?

rest as much as you can... that's my suggestion.

If you must do jobs, fill the freezer with easy food. And get your hospital bags packed. And rest. And rest some more. Good luck.

make sure washing machine is working well, has had an empty hot wash run through, filter cleaned and, if needed, a service. You will need it to be at its best!

Get someone to clean the oven for you.

and rest!

Only things that will make your life easier. Cook and freeze some batches of food (only defrost if the ice is getting thick and you need extra room!), shop for things you'll need for the baby, and stock up on things like soft toilet paper, lavender oil, chocolate etc. for you.

If you're self employed do your tax return before the baby arrives.

Spend the rest of the time relaxing, or on Mumsnet doing 'research'!!!

Make time for you and your DP/DH ie meals out together. Our DD is 10 weeks and the only time we have had to ourselves (without baby) was to go food shopping!

Hey Marzi

Mine is a bit more 'involved' as i am determined to have most of the house decorated before baby comes (4weeks tomorrow!)

My list:

Get car sorted - done
Go to Ikea for storage stuff - done
Get baby stuff out of loft - done
Wash and sort through baby clothes - done
Wash moses basket covers - done
Wash carseat covers - done
Empty freezer and cupboards
Restock freezer with reheatable meals (soup, shepherds pie, lasagne, bolognese etc)
Make sure we are well stocked up with essentials (washing powder, loo roll, biscuits etc)
Get bedroom emptied (bit of a dumping ground )
Get Dining room painted and new storage put in
Put up baby's swinging crib
Repack hospital bag (basic hosp bag packed)
Wait for baby

Rest and watch series on dvd! Bit of internet shopping! Meals out! I went bananas, got decorators in, etc, and then realised why everyone says rest once ds arrived! It's really worth putting your feet up once you've stocked up on basics and baby things, your bag's packed, etc.
Good luck!

Sleeeeeeeeeep

I very much enjoyed sitting in cafes reading a book and enjoying leisurely coffee/snacks during the last weeks of my pregnancy with DC1...

i think it is important to -

have a nice meal out with friends

same with man

go to town just for a walk around (or countryside spot if you prefer)

phone/ email/ write to all those people you should contact once in a while, for a nice relaxing chat at your own pace.

once baby is born all housework will quickly undo itself, so for for long term gains invest in some of lifes simple pleasures because those are things that are harder to do with a baby around.

i should listen to my own advice really, am still having bathroom fitted (now ready for tiling though) and want to get bedroom done before splashdown too...

read, sleep, put your feet up, enjoy the peace it will never happen again!

Get your OH to check out the oil and tyre pressure in the car - and maybe get the a/c serviced if you have it in the car. You don't want the car to break down on the way to the hospital.

thanks for the advice everyone, I'm doing plenty of resting
Maybe i should have put in my original post 'jobs i need to get DH to do before baby arrives!'

I spent the last week drawing up a budget for when I'm just on SMP. I also renewed our tax credits and investigated how to claim child benefit for a second child.

Also, we're on a variable rate mortgage which I'm trying to change to a fixed rate so that we know exactly what we'll be paying each month.

Very dull and dreary tasks, but not ones I'll be able to get my head around once the baby's born.

Also, July/August are crazy for birthdays in my family so I'm going out later to buy cards for about 8 people and start to make a list of what might be suitable for presents.

If you can afford it, it might be worth getting a cleaner in to do a 'deep clean', just so everything's as nice as it can be round the house.

Don't do what I did and half pack your hospital bag - I now can't remember what's in and what's not

Oh, and also worth setting up a supermarket delivery online and saving it - that way you can just press 'order' or whatever when the baby's here without having to think about it.

Just thought of more! I would do any sort of haircut/colour/waxing etc while you have the time, money and inclination. Nice to pamper yourself too

Sort out the annoying damp stain on the bedroom ceiling. Otherwise you will be spending the next 5 years being annoyed by it but without the time or energy to do anything about it. Sigh - no, that's just me.

What others have said - read the paper, have meals out. Don't fill the freezer with 20 portions of chilli you then don't want to eat while bf in case it makes your colicky baby even more grumpy. No - that's just me as well. Good luck!