Prebaby todo list - decluttering, diy, baby stuff and generally feeling a bit overwhelmed

[Roseandbee]

I'm currently feeling overwhelmed with all the stuff I feel I have to do before the baby arrives. A big one is trying to get the house in order, as I just can't stay on top of things as it is, too much clutter, too much disorganisation. Then I feel like I know nothing about babies and let's not forget actually getting all the babies stuff together too.
I've had ms all the way through so far but I think it's finally improving (I'm 24 weeks) but still feeling pretty tired and sore and trying to stay motivated is soooo difficult, my house is currently a complete tip and I waver between trying to just get on with things and just wanting to stare at it all and cry.
hoping to find some other ladies who feel the same and maybe we can motivate each other and share our progress

Sorry you are feeling like this!Have you got anyone you can call on to give you hand with sorting?

Sending you positive vibes

Thanks lilbeth, my husbands helping a bit, but im mainly just trying to get him to sort his own stuff and it does tend to cause rows when he gets involved, which makes my motivation fly out the window

33 weeks and I'm the same! Stressed because I feel so unorganised

The only things you really need to do are get the house remotely clean and tidy (not pristine) and get sleepsuits and vests washed and dry. Don't bother with washing and drying outfit items as you won't use them for the first few weeks anyway. And don't worry about decorating a nursery unless you have time - the baby won't go in there properly for months.

Good advice from @mumofone234 there's really not much they need other than a non dirty environment, onsies, vests and nappies. Car seat to leave hospital. Just relax!

Oh, and practice putting the car seat in the car beforehand. It won't take long but it saves a lot of time faffing around and trying to work it out with a newborn in it.

Thanks for the replies, I suppose my biggest fear is that if I've been unable to stay on top of things currently, how will I ever cope when I throw a baby into the mix.
I feel my house is disorganised as I've never really got things into the right place since moving and I def think having less clutter would help hugely as I spend so long tidying just so I can get round to cleaning.
I am putting a lot of pressure on myself wanting everything to be perfect I guess and I suppose I'm probably setting myself up to fail.
@jessiecat27 I'm just trying to do at least something each day. Is it your house that's disorganised or are you worrying about getting the baby stuff together?

Mind if I join you? I have had quite a few meltdowns over this myself. Am autistic and struggling!

Baby is due 11/11 but depending how my blood sugars go (recently diagnosed with GD so also struggling to adjust to that) I may be induced in as little as a month.

I'm going ok getting baby stuff. This is baby #3 but youngest is 8 so have absolutely nothing left from them. But we have the pram, car seat etc now and getting there with all the other bits.

We have been decluttering for a long time but also we will be moving in the next six months or so, when and even where isn't really in our control and it will be at short notice so it's stressing me out. We have to hire a skip ASAP to get rid of some big stuff, and also lots of big things need replacing in the house. We don't even have a bed ATM - just a mattress on the floor which my knees aren't happy about! Thankfully we can just about manage this financially but the organisation around getting it all sorted is doing my head in!

We will get there in the end though eh? Baby won't notice or care if the house isn't perfect.

Deuttering does help - take a look at the kondo method and aim for one small section a day. Just do the main living area/bedroom as that's where you are likely to spend the time. And book a cleaner for the first few months after birth, if you can afford it.

TBH, babies dont get dirty until they are mobile and on solids so you have at least 6 months to tackle the worst bits. In the meantime, wash the sleepsuits, put your feet up and relax!

Hi Cagliostro, moving is stressful at the best times! Good idea to hire the skip, I allocate stuff to get rid off and all that happens is it sits somewhere else waiting for the fairies to take it away.
Have you tried writing a list of the bits you need to do? Sometimes this helps me as otherwise I find that I wake up in the night with a todo list floating around in my head. but you should really keep it to the essentials as I get over enthusiastic writing them sometimes and that's no help!

TheABC I've read the Kondo book and am currently watching some YouTube videos of people following the method as a refresher. I did my clothes last week as laundry waant getting put away properly as everything was to crammed in. I've got my husband doing his, I've been nagging him for 3 years to do it as on last count he had over 250 tops :-/

Still got some bits to get but it's mainly the house! I've barely got energy or time with workings

@jessiecat27 when do you plan to go on maternity leave? Yeah energy is def an issue. I suppose we need to remember that stuff can still be done once the baby arrives, maybe not much in the first few weeks but I presume they'll be opportunity after that. I've got it in my head that what's not done now will never get done, but my friend said first year because the baby sleeps so much she got a lot done then

Hey OP... i just wanted to say i know how you are feeling!

I am currently 36+2 and have sort of just started relaxing!

We moved when i was 30 weeks and so briefly we were living out of boxes and i was getting anxious... me and DH made a plan to do a small chunk of sorting/flatpacking a day... think like 1 hour a day and then we would plan what would get done on days off. I think this worrying of untidyness comes from the nesting but doing a bit a day does help!

Once you are on Mat Leave you can really focus your efforts (and DH won't be in the way!)

I hope you feel better soon!!

Oh hi @confusedat23 we were on a conception thread together:) 36 weeks! Congrats not long now
Thanks for sharing, that sounds stressful but glad the bit by bit approach worked, i do still have a lot of time really to make a difference, need to stop stressing myself out so much, although I guess it's partly cos I'm worried I won't be physically upto it, but got a fair bit done today without puking so fingers crossed

Omg yes I remember now!... Congrats on getting your BFP!

It just strikes me because I had the same breakdown the other day to DH. I literally said if i can't keep the place tidy now how the hell am I ever going to be able to with a baby!

It will get better though if you chip away at it and work together not to make any more mess than you are tidying each day 🙂

The MOST important thing though is that you enjoy your pregnancy... so if its a bit untidy when baby gets here it's not gonna care!

I hope this helps ❤️

Just so you feel a bit reassured, I'm due in 2 weeks with 1st baby... no bag packed yet - house is building site - no heating, bathroom, kitchen etc. To do list as long as my arm, haven't started maternity leave yet, set up a new business two weeks ago with a couple of mates.

Just write a list, do what you can and you'll muddle thru the rest. Most important thing is not to be stressed out . Hope pregnancy is being kind to you.

I feel your pain, OP; we recently moved and although there's not much clutter, there is a loooong list of things that need doing around the house- many of which are pretty big jobs! I'm also 24 weeks :)

I've found making a list for baby stuff really helpful- made it as a Google Drive document so DH and I can both edit it, using the internet for advice on items and quantities. Then I sent the link to both our mums and my best friend for advice. I've got a column for items, one for number of that item, and one to tick off when we've got it. I feel a lot more prepared, confident that we've got good advice from people with experience, and got a list to use to request Christmas gifts etc. We're moving abroad for a year when baby is about 2 months old, all being well, so we're especially keen to stick to the list and not end up with loads of stuff we don't use, or have to export to flipping Argentina with us!!

Hope that helps!

I know just what you mean about the overenthusiastic to do list! Lists do help but they can easily become overwhelming.

We have done absolutely loads of decluttering - yesterday we took 8 big bags of stuff to the charity shop, mostly kids' books. But the place is such a state that it still looks a mess.

Kitchen needs sorting so we can get a new fridge and washing machine. Bedroom needs sorting so we can get a bed! Not to mention a cot at some point (although we are hoping that we will move before that's needed and we can just keep baby in Moses basket until then).

@feelingblue123 wowser your a busy lady. I'm glad it's not getting to you, and good luck with the new business!

The replies on this thread have made me realise my attitude needs a rethink. I'm letting it all get to me too much when it doesn't matter. There's a lot of negative thoughts floating round my head lately, so yesterday I wrote kind of a list of positive statements, and don't know if it's coincidence but felt much more motivated and had more energy today.

User I'll def have to start a list of to buy items. I have had offers of hand me downs and family wanting to make purchases, so it'll be good to keep track.

@cagliostro 8 bags is great and well done for getting them to the charity. I tend to load the bags and then they just sit there for months. It's important to acknowledge you made progress, Ive realised all I was doing was beating myself up over everything I hadn't done instead of focusing on any progress

@Roseandbee I'm 23 weeks and know how you feel. I look round my house and see chaos everywhere. I've taken to throwing out my old clothes (never realised how much of a hoarder I am ).

If it makes you feel any better I decided that I needed more space down my side of the bed to put the baby when she's her so asked dp to help rearrange the room. He said he was busy (this was true) so in true diva style I threw a strop and decided to do it myself. It wasn't till I'd got the mattress off the bed and moved the bed frame he came to help and I realised I was acting like a crazy person! He dutifully put all the furniture where I wanted it for us to then realise you couldn't open one of the wardrobe doors because the bed was in the way... he had to move it back and he still loves me .

I keep thinking we've got soooo much to do before the baby arrives and it will get done... besides I won't notice my chaos with the amount of chaos a baby brings (I hope)! X

I'm happy to send you my list if it'll help - although I'll be a FTM so no guarantee we're on quite the right track with it :) Hopefully we've got most of the important things...

How are we all doing?

I have had the all clear to stay unmedicated for now, which means that as things stand I will be induced on my due date rather than at 38 weeks. So I feel slightly less panicky (although somewhat impatient too as I really just want to meet her!).

Bed is ordered for delivery on 18th so we have a little while longer to properly sort the bedroom. Fridge and washing machine next. Some baby stuff arriving today as well.

Definitely running out of steam though. Loads to do. Got a day in today and possibly have pupils (I tutor maths piano and recorder) so just doing some tidying in the living room. Heaps of laundry to do as well.

I might sort through all our baby clothes though as that's something I can do while sitting down! And I have no idea exactly what there is in what size so it'd be useful to divide it all up. We don't actually have any furniture in which to store baby clothes though! I'm thinking maybe some little wicker baskets from wilko or something? Don't want to buy any more actual furniture until we move.

User that would be great I'm first time mum also:)

Cagliostro, your making great progress and you need to relax a bit too, even when your not doing anything your growing a human. I'm using the curver 18L boxes to sort my ages out, they are currently on offer at wilkos for £2.50. But maybe u shud go for something stackable, the clear plastic ones with lids might work (also in wilkos) that way they are also already kinda packed for the move too.
My MIL is constantly buying clothes for the baby so they are so hard to keep track of, she'll literally give me a bag at a time 🙈