Bright Ideas | Practical Stuff

As the excitement and anticipation grow towards your impending due date, don’t forget to test everything you have packed away in the cupboards waiting for baby to arrive.  Have everything plugged in and ready to go. The last thing you want is a frantic dad trying to install a car seat while you are waiting to take your precious gift home.

To get rid of swollen feet, relax on your bed with your feet up. Place two damp face clothes on your feet. Have a fan softly blowing on you, so that when is blows on your feet it cools the face cloth even more and then in turn cooling your sore swollen feet. Picture courtesy of memake

A picture is worth a thousand words. Get a friend or someone who can keep a secret to take a picture of you holding a chalk board with your due date written on it. What could be better than presenting it to your partner as you tell him about your special news. Picture courtesy of chic&cheap nursery

Buying a new wardrobe for 9 months is expensive for most. Try starting a “preggie bag” with your closest friends that is full of all your old preggie clothes.  When a close friend is pregnant, she then gets the bag full of clothing. When she has had her baby these items go back in the bag (only the good items and a few new ones she bought). The bag is then passed on to the next pregnant friend.

Invitations are the best way to let people know that there's something big brewing. Personalized invites and decor are a great way to set a baby shower apart. Celebrate the new arrival with these personalized printables from Sunshine Lemons.

If you need to remember something like an important appointment for example, try leave notes in obvious places like your purse, your car, on your fridge, next to your bed and in your bathroom. We also suggest keeping a small diary and pen with you at all times.

Making your own homemade baby food is simple and cost-effective. You will have total control over what is put into your baby's food, taking those extra steps to ensure that only the best foods are chosen and used.  Making your own baby food also ensures that your baby is exposed to a greater variety of tastes and textures.

Start browsing stores for button down blouses and sleep shirts. These are the most practical tops for breastfeeding and are the easiest to operate when you’re out and about!

Find hundreds of ideas for decorating your baby’s nursery on Etsy.com, an international market place for unique handmade décor items and accessories. From cute wall decals to creative mobiles, you’re sure to feel inspired by this community website.

Start stocking up on nappies throughout your pregnancy by purchasing a pack every month. Don’t buy all in one size though as babies grow out of them in a blink of an eye! Buy 3 packs of size one, two and three to start.