You’ve decided that surrogacy is the right method for you and your family, but now what do you do? You found the woman who is going to have your baby, but all the pressure isn’t on her. You have to do plenty of things before that bundle of joy comes into the world after all!  Babies are plenty of work, and while you may not be doing the work of growing them, you still have to make sure their world is ready for them. 

Here at Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Nevada, we aim to help you along your journey and lessen as many worries as we can with this process. With so much information out there, how do you, as the intended parent, prepare for surrogacy? We’ve put together a list of ten ways you can prepare for your baby to come home. 

10 Ways You Can Prepare for Your Baby Coming Home 

Like any other baby, there are steps you have to take before you even bring them home. Your home is going to be your baby’s world, and they need a safe space to grow in. Here are the ten ways you can prepare for your baby before they even arrive: 

1. Read Parenting Books and Articles

Reading is going to be your friend here. There are plenty of books that you, as the intended parents, can get and read up on to know what to expect. There are also articles you can find online that will help you as well. Just know that while a book can say one thing, know that it may not have all the answers. That is when you can turn to professionals to learn more about what you can do to make sure your little one is as happy and healthy as possible. 

2. Parenting Classes 

Even if this isn’t your first baby, a parenting class is a great way to prepare for a new baby. Plus, it will give you the opportunity to make friends with new parents and have a support group to fall back on. You know the saying, it takes a village to raise a child? This is a great chance to grow your support network and get vital information about your area. Typically these classes will come with information about pediatricians in your area and other resources for your baby. 

3. Start Preparing for Changes

With any new baby, your world is going to change. You’re going to have to put some things on hold in order to take care of your new little one. Start thinking about all the things you will need for your baby and go from there. This could be talking to your boss about maternity leave to make sure you have time to bond with your child. Start gathering the supplies a new baby needs as well, such as a crib, swing, bottles, and anything else that comes to mind. 

4. Start Babyproofing Your Home 

It is time to start work on making sure your home is safe for your little one. While at first, you may not need that much baby proofing as they grow, you will. This could be baby gates, to make sure if you have any pets they are kept apart from your little one, to later needing locks on doors and cabinets. If you can, set up spaces where you know your necessary items will be, such as diapers, wipes, bottles, blankets, and changes of clothes. If you can only do this in the baby’s room, that is more than okay. 

5. Find Support

Finding support is essential. This can be from family, friends, or even the surrogate agency itself. Everyone needs support, and you are no different. Find who is willing to listen and help and go from there. 

6. Be Flexible 

Having a fixed routine is going to have to be tossed to the side for now. Babies, as much as we would love it, don’t work on a fixed routine. You have to be willing to make changes with your plans and go with the flow. You may know exactly how you want to parent, but just know that you have to be able to change. What works for some may not work for you and your child. 

7. Set Boundaries 

Don’t be afraid to set up boundaries with your support team or even family. You need time to bond with your baby after all, and we all know some people like to overstay their welcome. Set up boundaries with people on who can come to see your baby and how long they can stay. Even set up boundaries with people who want to share how they parent, as their methods may not work for you.  

8. Gather Supplies 

This seems like an obvious step to take, but you may miss a few things during a time that can be overwhelming. Make sure you have the essentials you need, like diapers, and always have more than you think you’ll need. 

9. Don’t Fret About Messes 

Babies are not known for being clean all the time. You are going to be cleaning up messes because they are natural. Don’t panic when it comes to them. Messes are a part of life, and sometimes those messes can be hilarious memories down the line. 

10. Enjoy the Journey 

The most important thing to do before your baby gets here is to enjoy the journey you are on. It is a long one, and I try to be as involved in it as possible. While you aren’t the one going through pregnancy, just being there and being involved in things like doctor’s appointments can make it more exciting. 

Still, Need Help Preparing? Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Nevada is Here to Help!

The journey you are on is a beautiful one, and that alone is amazing. However, if you have found yourself still feeling overwhelmed and need help, don’t hesitate to reach out to Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Nevada for more information. We would be glad to answer your questions and help you on your journey. 

Adoption Choices of Nevada has been providing adoption and surrogacy services across Nevada since 2012. You can also call us to speak to someone now. Contact Us 24/7: 855-940-4673 (Toll-Free) | 702-474-4673 (Las Vegas) | 775-825-4673 (Reno) | 775-738-4673 (Elko) | 775-884-4673 (Carson City).

Meet the Author: Tia Kitchens is a college graduate with a B.S in Psychology from Capella University who has always had a passion for three things: animals, writing, and mac ‘n cheese. Two of these three are things she has based her work around. Animals are a big impact on her life due to her love for helping others through difficult situations. Through her studies, she has found the human-animal bond is strong enough to help others. This, paired with her writing, helps her record her findings and teach others through her words.

Her goal is to make a change in the world with her words and end up on someone’s inspiration Pinterest board! Being a key quote on someone’s Pinterest board it shows her words have a huge impact on people. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but if that picture just words it surely means more that way! To learn more about her, follow her on Twitter and Instagram!