What to Stock Up on Before Baby Arrives

A Soulful Home Prep List

When you're getting ready for a new baby, so much energy (and dollars) are spent on cribs, carriers and tiny, little clothes. The checklist seems endless, and it's easy to be swept up in the maelstrom of baby gear. But this is what I wish someone would have told me — not on a hospital brochure or an Instagram post, but whispered softly to me in the middle of Target while I stood there with an empty cart and a full heart:

Mama, load up on the quiet stuff. The simple stuff, that isn't simple—until it suddenly is.

Because when you're freshly home from birth — sore and sleep-deprived and swollen in places you didn't know could swell — the last thing you need is for the sudden realization to hit that you're out of toilet paper. Or there's no clean towel after your first postpartum shower. Or that you're subsisting on saltines and trail mix because taking your baby grocery shopping is a full-on mission. That's why this blog is not about swaddles and strollers. It's about equipping your space, your energy and your peace — so that your only task on the early days is to rest, heal and bond.

✋ 🧼 Household Essentials That Save Your Sanity

These are not glamorous purchases, but they are the type that keep your home flowing when you are not. They enable you to pace yourselves, take frequent breaks and not have to send your partner (or yourself) on emergency runs for dish soap at 8 p.m.

Cleaning & Maintenance Money Supplies

• All-purpose cleaner — Choose a safe, non-toxic one so you don't have to worry about baby hands later.
• Disinfecting wipes — For the quick spot cleans when you don't have the time or energy to do a full wipe-down.
• Laundry detergent (baby-safe) – Search for fragrance-free and gentle formulas including Dreft, Seventh Generation or Babyganics. You will do more laundry than you thought possible.
• Dish soap + dishwasher pods – Buy in bulk if you can. Your sink will never be barren with bottles and pump parts.
• Trash bags – I guarantee you'll need twice as many as you normally do. Your trash will pile high, what between diapers and delivery boxes.
• Paper towels + tissues – Soft tissues are critical for postpartum nosebleeds (yes, that can happen!) and random tears.

Restock Tip: Pick one small shelf or closet to serve as a "home base" for extra supplies. When supplies are low, it will be easy to grab rather than freak.

🥫 Essential Pantry Staples for Sustenance & Convenience

You're going to want food you can grab, eat with one hand and even enjoy. Never mind the perfect postpartum meal plan—this is about comfort, about ease, about energy.

Non-Perishable Basics:

• Granola bars, nut butters, trail mix, crackers — High protein, shelf-stable and easy to hide in every room.
• Instant oatmeal, microwave rice, pasta, sauce — Something warm and filling in under 10 minutes? Yes, please.
• Shelf-stable soups + bone broth – Rejuvenative, restorative, and zero labor involved. Toss in frozen veggies for a fast, filling meal.
• Canned beans, tuna, chickpeas — these can become a super-simple salad or wrap with almost no work.
• Electrolyte drinks + juice boxes – Staying hydrated is good for recovery and milk supply. Store a few in your nightstand.

Freezer Faves:

• Frozen fruit for smoothies — Throw into a blender with oat milk and peanut butter. Nourishment in 30 seconds.
• Pre-made meals or burritos — Even frozen lasagna feels gourmet when you've been cluster feeding all night.
• Frozen veggies in a bag — toss into fried rice or a soup for a nutrients bump with zero chopping.

🧖🏾‍♀️ Personal Care for You Mama

You are now the heartbeat of this home — and you're healing, too. Here's what I wish I had at my fingertips when I was lost in the haze of postpartum.

Postpartum Recovery Musts:

• Jumping on and off the chat at random will be doing you no favors! Pads, liners, mesh undies, peri bottle – Keep a stash beyond what the hospital gives you. Frida Mom and Honey Pot make good kits.
• Witch hazel pads + sitz bath herbs — Soothing if you have stitches, hemorrhoids or just everything swollen.
• Nipple balm + nursing pads — Whatever your breastfeeding plan, it's a good idea to get ahead (even if your plan is combo feeding or short-term). It's worth having.
• Pain relievers, stool softeners, Epsom salts — Speak with your provider and stock up on everything you're likely to need.

Daily Necessities (that double as self-care):

• Dry shampoo + face wipes – For when showering seems like hiking up Everest.
• Lip balm, hand lotion, body oil — You're going to be washing your hands, a lot. Keep skin soft.
• Robe, cozy socks, giant water bottle — Comfort is queen. A straw lid is great when you're nursing or trapped under a sleeping baby.

✨ Bonus: Why Stockpiling Triggers Anxiety

Preparing your space isn't merely about the logistics — it's a labor of love. Each can of soup, each extra bottle of shampoo is a future comfort. A small way of saying, 'I'm here for you' to the you who will be getting through 2am feeds with cracked nipples and mascara from three days ago.

Take this prep slowly. Do a little each week. You don't have to do everything at once.

💛 Remember This...

You are not sending yourself into a panic.

You're preparing for peace.

You are preparing: for stillness, for the cozy, foggy mornings when everything you need is right there at hand; for the softness.

You're not alone in this.

And you get to make it easier on yourself.

Your mantra as you prepare:
"I deserve to rest and not run out."