When to start nesting?

by Roger Sinasohn (Subscribe to Roger Sinasohn's posts) Feb 29th 2008 2:00PM

Categories: Pregnancy & Birth, Baby Essentials

Here it is, more than two months before number three is due and already, Rachel is starting to get things ready. She wants me to pull the boxes full of baby clothes out of the garage so she can go through them and get them ready. We got our old bassinet back from her cousin and are going to get our crib back from her brother's father-in-law this weekend.

Is it too early to start getting ready? Rachel has always been the sort of person who prepares well in advance -- unlike me who tends to be more of the last-minute type. If it were up to me, I would wait until we got home from the hospital to see what we got (you know, boy, girl, lizard, etc.) before digging out the boxes, but there's no way Rachel could possibly wait that long.

Of course, Rachel's way is probably better -- she tends to screw things up a lot less than I do. Still, how far in advance should we be preparing for the new kid's arrival? Do I need to head for the garage this weekend? Or can it wait a bit longer?

Comments (11)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Jess 2-29-2008 @ 2:22PM

Buddy, don't mess with a pregnant woman. Go get the boxes and bring her some ice cream while you're at it. Flowers wouldn't hurt either.

Jennifer 2-29-2008 @ 3:50PM

Ditto Jess. (and boy does he get big husband bonus points...I hope his wife sees that). I'm such a procrastinator, I think that due dates on bills are the day that I should WRITE the check, that 10 minutes is plenty of time to get across town, and that tomorrow is always another day...but I'm barely into maternity clothes with #2 and I'm already dusting off play mats, washing the 0-3 month hand-me-downs from his big brother (that are already clean), buying a few new little outfits, and you might even see me cruising around Babies-R-Us a few times a month. It can't be explained, it is just nature, just go with it and pretend to act interested when she starts a sentence with, "I think this time we are going to need...." or "This time it might be a good idea to....". I can tell from your blog entries that you'll try. Congratulations!

Jess 3-13-2008 @ 4:46PM

Ha! I'm the girl version of Jess and 7+ months pregnant. I wish my husband would bring ice cream and flowers, but so far he hasn't caught on.

elisabeth 2-29-2008 @ 4:13PM

6 weeks away from #2 and besides wall hangings, the nursery is ready to go. Just washed the crib sheet yesterday. Of course, the baby won't be in the nursery for about 3 weeks after he is born, but I wanted to do things I physically am able to do and REMEMBER to do. So, once it's in my head, it's on paper, then crossed off. next....

So, I don't think what I am doing is nesting, I could care less how clean everything is, I am mostly putting things where they need to be and getting rid of everything else that has no current purpose. A little purging, if you will.

Just say "yes, dear". You'll win every time.

mamacheryl 2-29-2008 @ 5:24PM

My kids were five and six weeks early. With the second, I was on bed rest for most of the last trimester. I'm SO glad I'm a compulsive nester and got things ready pretty much before we heard the heartbeat the first time. :)

Even with my first, I was so tired and sore all the time when I hit the third trimester, there's no way I had enough energy to nest and get prepared (unless you consider middle-of-the-night manic fridge and cupboard cleaning).

For goodness sakes, Roger. Do whatever she asks, and then offer to rub her feet and refill her water glass.

Cheryl
http://redpens-diapers.blogspot.com

claire 2-29-2008 @ 6:50PM

Ditto just do what she wants. You'll both be happier for it.
My nursery was finished and stocked during my 7th month of pregnancy. Then I refolded and rearranged everything for 12 weeks. It made me feel better (read: less anxious) to go in there and move something or fold something everyday.

Carolyn 2-29-2008 @ 6:59PM

Take it from someone who was rushing to finish the nursery in time for her daughter's FIRST BIRTHDAY party - start now!! :)

Carolyn
http://www.momsontheedge.typepad.com

callistawolf 3-01-2008 @ 12:21AM

DEFINITELY let her just do it now. I'm less than three weeks out from my c-section with my third (and first girl!) and NOTHING has been done to prepare the nursery. I swear, I feel like my head is going to explode. If I could get things under way myself I would but it requires some serious furniture moving and assembly. If we don't make some headway this weekend, I may just lose my mind entirely.

Ann Adams 3-02-2008 @ 12:42PM

It seems to be unanimous.

Becky Scott 3-02-2008 @ 11:39PM

Yeah, just do it now. I drove my husband crazy, wanting to get prepared. Your life will be much easier if you just go along and let her do what she feels she needs to do.

Laura 3-04-2008 @ 9:12AM

You should do whatever your wife asks and be GRATEFUL she gave you the priveledge of doing it ;)

I'm currently 24 weeks and we are about 50% done with everything to prepare. If we had the cash I'd be 100% done but alas, we have to wait for the yearly bonus my husband gets from work end of April. We could put on the credit card but the interest would bother us so we'll wait. We have all the big items so all that's left are smaller details. I even try a couple times a month to pick up one item off the big list so I can check it off.

Anything we can't buy to prepare, I spend the time purging or cleaning something. I guess once you have a baby in the belly you realize you have way too much CRAP and start chucking.. my husband hates that part the most.. but REALLY, does he NEED tshirts from the 80s still? I think not!