They say the nesting instinct kicks in toward the end of pregnancy, but girl, I’ve been in nesting mode since the second trimester. I’m a planner through and through, so prepping for baby has actually been one of the more fun parts of pregnancy for me. At 37 weeks, I’m not completely done—but I’ve made a lot of progress and wanted to share what I have tackled, what I still plan to do, and what I’ve decided isn’t worth stressing over.
Here’s my realistic nesting checklist as a first-time mom who loves to feel overprepared:
The Nursery
We got an early start on the nursery setup, which has made life way easier as the due date creeps closer. The best part? Organizing all the adorable little clothes and gifts from our baby shower. I washed, folded, sorted, and rearranged everything probably more times than I needed to—but if organizing is your love language, you get it.
Need help organizing your nursery or figuring out what to actually put in it? Check out these helpful posts:
Hospital Bag Prep
I started planning my hospital bag way earlier than I probably needed to—but it helped ease my anxiety knowing I’d have everything I needed (and then some). I definitely overpacked, but honestly, that’s what makes me feel ready. Start with a list and tweak it as you go. Trust me, it’ll make packing so much less overwhelming.
Not sure where to start? Here’s my Hospital Bag Checklist for Anxious First-Time Moms
Deep Cleaning the House
I waited until closer to the end of my third trimester to tackle deep cleaning. Why? Because I didn’t want to clean now and have to clean again right before baby comes. I’ve been taking it one room at a time—on the days I actually have energy—and yes, I even wiped down the walls. Totally unnecessary but also weirdly satisfying.
Finishing House Projects
We made a list of small projects we wanted done before baby arrives: patching up wall scuffs, fixing a tripping hazard on the patio, swapping out an old light fixture—you know, the little things that somehow add up. Getting them checked off gave us a sense of control in the chaos. Let’s be real: home projects never end, but there’s nothing like a baby countdown to light a fire under you.
Clean the Cars
This was a big one. I don’t know what it is about husbands and messy trucks (just mine?), but we both gave our vehicles a serious cleaning. We vacuumed, wiped every surface, and made sure the car seat would go into a clean space. It’s one less thing to worry about once baby’s here.
Postpartum Planning
This has been huge. Creating little postpartum baskets in the bathrooms with all the healing essentials was such an easy but impactful thing to do. I wish I had the energy to meal prep too, but I’m being real with myself—we’ll be relying on Factor meals and Costco runs.
Need a detailed list of what to prep for postpartum? I got you covered.
Sterilizing Bottles and Pacifiers
Is this absolutely necessary? Probably not. Am I doing it anyway? Yep. It’s one less thing to think about later, and it’ll give us the chance to learn how to actually use the sterilizer.
Learning How to Use Baby Gear
I’m not unboxing everything just yet—like the swing or bouncer can wait—but I am figuring out how to use the sterilizer, install the car seat, and get familiar with anything that’ll be used right away. I’d rather learn it now than in a sleep-deprived panic later.
What I’m Not Doing
- Freezer meal prep (wish I had the energy)
- Setting up every baby item (some can wait)
- Redoing the entire house (sorry, Pinterest)
At the end of the day, do what makes you feel ready—not what Instagram says you should be doing. Nesting looks different for every mama. I’ve loved prepping early and taking it slow, but if you’re waiting until the final weeks to kick it into gear, that’s perfectly fine too.
Reminder: The goal isn’t perfection. It’s peace of mind.
Are you in nesting mode? Drop a comment below and tell me what’s on your baby prep list—or what you’re choosing to skip! Let’s normalize real, imperfect prep and support each other along the way 💛
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