What to Do Before Baby Arrives (The Realistic Third-Trimester List)

Babies outgrow things fast, so plan your registry for the first three months, not the first year. Think sleep, feeding, diapers, bath and the car seat. Then add a few things for you, like big water bottles and easy snacks.

Our registry builder sorts the must-haves from the nice-to-haves so you don't end up with four swaddle sets and no diapers.

Tip: Add gift cards for diapers and takeout. They get used every single week.

You'll need a rear-facing car seat for the ride home. Install it a few weeks before baby arrives, read both the car seat manual and your car's manual, and check it doesn't move more than about an inch at the belt path.

The AAP's car seat guide for families walks through each check. A certified technician can look it over too.

Tip: Practice buckling a stuffed toy. The straps feel very different with a real, wriggly baby.

Your baby needs a crib, bassinet or play yard with a firm, flat mattress and a fitted sheet. That's all. No pillows, blankets, bumpers or soft toys, and no inclined sleepers, nests or loungers.

The AAP's parent guide to safe sleep explains why baby should sleep on their back, in your room, on their own surface. Ask your pediatrician if you have questions.

Tip: Buy two fitted sheets. Night-time changes are faster when a clean one is ready.

Pick the chair where you'll feed at night and put a small basket next to it: burp cloths, a water bottle, a phone charger, lip balm and a snack. Whether you breastfeed, pump or use formula, you'll sit there a lot.

If you plan to use bottles, wash and sterilize a few before baby arrives. Glass bottles are easy to clean and don't stain, but they're heavier than plastic, so they're better at home than in the diaper bag.

Tip: A small lamp with a warm bulb beats the big overhead light at 3 a.m.

If you want a monitor, set it up now while you have time to read the manual. Mount the camera well out of reach, and keep every cord at least 3 feet from the crib.

We like monitors that work without WiFi, because there's no app or account to set up. Our no-WiFi monitor review explains the trade-offs. The downside is that you can't check in from outside your home.

Tip: Test the range from your kitchen and your bedroom before you rely on it.

Cook double portions for a few weeks before baby arrives and freeze the extras flat in labeled bags. Soups, chili, pasta bakes and burritos all work. Then fill a shelf with one-handed snacks like granola bars, nuts, crackers and dried fruit.

You'll be hungry at odd hours, and you'll often have one free hand. Plan for that now, and the first weeks get much easier.

Tip: Write the date and reheat steps on each bag, so anyone helping can cook it.

Pack for you, for baby and for your partner. For you: loose clothes, slippers, a long charger, snacks and toiletries. For baby: a going-home outfit, a hat and a blanket for the car seat cover, not under the straps. Your hospital or birth center may give you its own list, so check it.

Tip: Put the bag by the door and the car seat in the car at the same time.

A small basket with diapers, wipes, cream and a change of clothes saves you a lot of stairs. Put one where you'll spend the day, and one near where baby sleeps. Then pack the diaper bag too. Our Baby Essentials hub has a free checklist for it.

Tip: Keep a spare shirt for you in each basket. You'll understand why soon.

Make a short list of jobs people can do for you: walk the dog, bring dinner, hold the baby while you shower. When someone asks how they can help, send them the list.

Also talk with your partner about night shifts and visitors now, before baby arrives and while you're both rested. And ask your doctor or midwife what recovery may look like for you, so you know what to plan for.

Tip: Sleep and sit down when you can now. It's preparation, not laziness.