When preparing for bringing your baby at home, you will buy tons of things for him / her. You will receive advise from your parents, familly, friends, doctors, midwife, shop assistants, familly counsellors, and if this is not enough you can find even more on the Internet.

What I can say from experience (we have one 18 month old girl by the time I write this hub) is that you will forget something. Even if you spend all your time preparing it, even if you buy all what you heard of, something will be missing. No need to feel guilty about that, it happens to all of us. Ok, if you forget the baby, then feel guilty !

What is important is to know where you can get things quickly, and possibly have someone that can help you or even shop for you (parent, friends, ...).

The first days home with a baby are passonating, intense, stressful, busy, short, exhausting, fun, and memorable, to say the less.

I think it is important to make you life as simple as possible for these precious and complex days. You will have to learn how to manage everything with the baby around, and this is not always easy.

However there are a couple of things you can do to make it easier:

• Plan some reserves of easy-cooking food (pizza, pasta, pre-made, and why not home delivery ?)
• Be sure your car is available and in order (plan any service before delivery date, fill it up when you go to the hospital, ...)
• Wear cool / old stuff, not your brand new super fashon clothing, they will get dirty anyway

And obviously, Mister New Daddy, take as many days off as you can ! These moments are unique, and your wife / fiancée / partner will need YOU ! These are days off work, but not relaxing - do nothing days...