is it too early to set up??

[porenn]

I'm not due for another 4 weeks, and I was wondering if its too early to start setting things like the play yard and the cosleeper up.... it seems like a silly question when you write it out, but we live in such a small space, I don't want to be tripping over it for another (maybe) six weeks- and if I get everything out, I'll just have to wash it again because of the crazy magnetic dog hair that is everywhere.... at the same time, I'd hate to have to set everything up after the baby is born... I guess my mom or my husband could do that, right?

I dunno... and installing the carseat- too early? I feel sorta silly driving around with it for four weeks.

Anyway- maybe I'm just overthinking it...

What do you all think?

-porenn

[amaayeh]

I would think you could do some things, but I wouldn't do everything. We have the carseat ready, but aren't planning on putting it in the car until we're on our way to the birth center. Most of the things can wait, but I would make sure and have some clothes, blankets, etc. washed and ready...in the closet! I totally understand about the dog hair. I've been trying to keep our animals out of the baby's room in hopes that I won't be washing everything again.

[NaturallyPeachey]

We've set up our swing and pack n'play. Our dog doesn't like things that are out of the ordinary so we set those two things up so she can used to them. we even turned the swing on randomly at times so she would get used to the motion (at first she was terrified, now she just looks at the swing). the pack n'play i put in our bedroom yesterday. she surprisingly didn't bark or anything at it. i don't think it's too early. my sister suggested we should have the car seat installed three weeks before my due date. you could always install the bases and leave the carrier out (if you're doing the infant seat). my BF was planning to install her car seat three weeks early and she went into labor that friday. you just never know!

[New_Natural_Mom]

I set all my stuff up early. I wanted to do the things I could do when I could do them. I had so much cleaning, cooking, set up, etc. that it felt so good to check things off my list. Plus, a couple things we set up were missing pieces (like the swing) so the extra time was great to fix problems. Also it gives you time to get batteries and all the other little incidentals you don't necessarily think about it. Birth is not an exact science. You could come early - you could go late. Plus even if it is a small space, if you plan on using these things it might make it easier to get used to them sooner rather than later. I would definitely set the car seat up. It took us over 2 weeks to get someone at the police station to check it. Apparently in our area all police stations are by appointment only so it took forever since they only had 1 person.

[limabean]

How about setting up the furniture and washing the linens but keeping the linens folded and put away until the baby comes so that you don't have dog hair issues? That's what we're doing -- I'm 37 weeks, and we set up our basinette today but we're not going to put the sheets on until the baby comes because our dog has that crazy magnetic hair too and I don't think my babe needs a fur blanket his/her first night home.

I also have the carseat installed and my hospital bag in the trunk of the car -- no harm in being prepared!

[porenn]

Crap- I forgot about packing a bag.....

one more thing to do.

(note to self: write papers first!!! then get ready for baby)

[blizzard_babe]

Our stuff is mostly set up, but that's because I have to leave on Sunday to wait out the rest of my pregnancy away from home. I didn't want DH to have to do all the setting-up by himself, so we did it last weekend.

[pixiepunk]

our co-sleeper's been set up forever. like a month ago i decided to dig it out of the barn and air it out and clean it up, and then it just seemed silly to put it back. so we just set it up next to the bed. i just put a big sheet over it so that the cat hair would stick to the sheet instead of the co-sleeper.

i've been meaning to do the carseat just because my car really needs to be cleaned out and i figure if i've gotta drag the other two seats out to clean, i may as well put all three back in. but DH works a lot and i need his help so i haven't done it yet. if you're having a birth away from home, you'll need to have it set up in order to bring the baby home, so something to think about there.

really, it's up to you - if you're in the mood to do it, then do. if you feel like you've got time, you probably do, and like you said the worst that'll happen is someone else might end up need to do it. either way, you'll be fine

[BensMom]

I set up the Amby bed in the nursery. It will be moved into our room after the baby is here. I also have one bouncer all cleaned and ready to go, its in our closet upstairs. I have an extra bouncer for downstairs and a swing that are still in the basement. I think I will just have DH set those up while I am babymooning in our bedroom for those first couple days.

As far as carseats...I am itching to get them all rearranged. DS is moving to the 3rd row of our van, DD is moving into a new Britax Regent and the baby will be in a bucket. I also have to take the middle seat out of our 2nd row so DS can get to the back. So its a lot of rearranging and installing...but I also dont want to move DS to the back all by himself sooner than I have to. Right now the plan is to wait til after spring break (next week), when he will be in the car with me a lot more than usual...but I am sooo ready to do this. I keep telling myself to wait. I have no history of going early, so after spring break should be plenty of time. Yeah, tell that to the nesty part of my brain. LOL