Kiasu Checklist: 10 Things to Do Before Your Baby Arrives

Key takeaways

• Decide on your postpartum care early. Whether you are booking a confinement nanny or engaging a helper, the best providers in Singapore often require bookings in advance.

• Beyond just cleaning, focus on functional readiness. Use non-toxic cleaners, launder all linens in mild detergent, and ensure your appliances like sterilisers and monitors are set up before you head to the hospital.

• Pack at least one month before your due date. Remember that while hospitals provide basics, bringing your own essentials—like nursing pads for mum, chargers for dad, and a newborn car seat for the ride home—ensures a much smoother transition.

• Early medical planning is key. Once your baby is born, consider locking in health insurance to secure the best premiums while they have a clean bill of health.

When it comes to parenting and parenthood in general, you can bet that kiasu parents are more than prepared for anything with checklists in their back pockets. From knowing what to pack in your hospital bag to deciding what to eat during confinement, here's everything you need to do to be 100 percent prepared before your baby arrives!

1. Arm yourself with maternity insurance during pregnancy

If you're a self-proclaimed kiasu parent and pride yourself on always thinking two steps ahead, you should definitely consider getting maternity insurance. As much as we can prepare and hope for the best, pregnancy is a major medical event and unforeseen complications can happen, which is where maternity insurance can help to provide financial protection and peace of mind. 

If you're in the market for a comprehensive maternity insurance plan and are between 13 to 35 weeks pregnant, Income's Maternity 360 is one to consider. With just a single premium, Maternity 360 protects both mother and baby with 3 years of comprehensive coverage for death, 10 pregnancy complications, and 23 congenital diseases, and also provides a hospital care benefit.

2. Pack your hospital bag 

Before you start packing your hospital bag, consider your expected length of stay after delivery. Mothers typically spend 2 to 3 days in the hospital after giving birth, but may have to stay longer if it’s a C-section delivery. This should be a guide for fathers who plan to stay with their partners in the hospital as well.

Ideally, your hospital bags should be packed at least a month before your due date but if you don’t know where to start, here's a quick rundown of the essentials you’ll need: 

Essentials for baby

While your focus is on the big day, your little one will have some immediate needs the moment they arrive. Start with these newborn basics to ensure a smooth first 48 hours. 

• Diapers & wipes: Typically, the hospital provides a pack of diapers and wipes, which should last you between two to three days. However, these items may only be provided upon request so ensure you check with your ward team in advance. If you really want to be on the safe side, you can consider bringing a handful of your own as well.
• Baby’s going home outfit: The hospital will provide you with mittens, booties, and a baby cap to keep your baby’s head, hands, and feet warm. However, you can bring your own matching sets of clothes with booties and mittens if you want to do a newborn photoshoot before heading home!
• Car seat: If you plan to drive home after both mum and child are discharged, ensure you have a newborn car seat safely installed.

Essentials for mum

While the baby's needs are often the priority, your own comfort and recovery are the foundation of a smooth postpartum journey. Make sure these personal essentials are at the top of your packing list. 

• Toiletries: The average length of stay in the hospital is between two to four days, depending on your delivery method (normal delivery or C-section) so consider packing your favourite toiletries and don’t forget dad’s!
• Makeup/cosmetics: You'll likely get many loved ones visiting so if you’re concerned about looking your best, do bring along a little makeup as well!
• Nursing bra & nursing pads: If you are planning to breastfeed your baby, remember to bring along your nursing bras and nursing pads.
• Sleepwear: Don’t think you’ll be comfortable wearing a hospital gown? Pack a set or two of comfortable sleepwear. It’s best that your choice of sleepwear allows you to breastfeed with ease, day or night.
• Comfy slippers: Comfort is key especially after delivery. Packing a pair of slippers will help you to move around with ease.
• Phone charger: It’s the first time you’ll finally be meeting your baby and we’re sure that you’ll want to document as many precious moments with your little bundle of joy, so remember to bring along your handphone charger.
• Gadgets and/or a book: In the first week of life, newborns will primarily be doing only two things: feed and sleep. So, as your baby sleeps through the day, you may wish to pack your iPad or a good book to fill your time.

Essentials for dad

• Gadgets (aside from phone): The hours waiting for the delivery of your child may be long and nerve-wracking. To pass the time, consider packing your tablet or iPad, loaded with your favourite TV shows.
• A good book: Another alternative for dad’s entertainment is a good book.
• Power bank or charger: In the event that there are limited electric sockets in the hospital room, you may want to consider packing a power bank which will keep you contactable anywhere you are in the hospital.
• Sleepwear: If dad is planning to bunk in with mum, bring along a set or two of comfortable and warm sleepwear for when the hospital room gets chilly at night.

3. Prepare your home for your newborn

You’re ready to bring your home for the first time! But is your home in tip-top shape?

Preparing your home for your baby's arrival doesn't just mean cleaning and wiping down surfaces. It also includes getting rid of potential hazards in the home such as furniture with sharp edges or any decorative ornaments that may be in arm’s length of your baby.

Here are a few tips to get you started:

• Try to minimise the number of furnishings at home to reduce the number of germ- and dust-gathering items.
• Switch to non-toxic disinfectants or natural cleaning products when cleaning your home.
• Launder sheets and blankets with mild detergent to avoid potential skin irritation on your newborn. You should also launder all your baby’s clothes beforehand. 
• Set up and position all your baby furniture, and ensure that all your baby appliances are working (i.e. sterilisers, baby monitor, baby nightlights, etc.).
• If you want a more thorough cleaning of your home, you can also consider hiring licensed cleaning professionals which specialise in steam cleaning and such. 

4. Ensure you have enough baby clothes

When shopping for baby clothes, make sure to get multiple basic sets as babies tend to get messy and will need to be changed more often than you think. Even hand-me-downs from relatives and friends will come in useful! 

• Stock up on the basics: Focus on getting at least 10 to 15 sets of basic onesies (short and long-sleeved) and sleepsuits. Look for designs with front-snaps or zippers to make those frequent, bleary-eyed diaper changes much easier.

• Prioritise breathable fabrics: In Singapore’s humid climate, opt for 100 percent cotton or bamboo fabrics. These are gentler on a newborn’s sensitive skin and help prevent heat rash.

• Don't overbuy Newborn sizes: Babies outgrow the Newborn size incredibly fast—sometimes within two weeks! It’s a smart move to have a larger stash of 0-3 months and 3-6 months sizes ready to go.

• Embrace hand-me-downs: Since baby clothes are often worn for such a short window, pre-loved items from friends and family are usually in excellent condition. This is a great way to save your budget for long-term essentials like insurance or a high-quality stroller.

5. Book your post-natal massage

Whether it’s days or weeks after giving birth, new mums will definitely yearn for some pampering and relaxation. One of the best ways to do this is to get a post-natal massage which offers many benefits:

• Helps to manage postpartum swelling and pain
• Promotes better sleeping quality
• Helps to get the body back in shape as much as possible
• Improves milk production for breastfeeding mums

To avoid disappointment, it’s best to book your post-natal massage in advance.

6. Decide who will help to care for your baby

After delivery, is there someone you have in mind to help care for your baby? Here are some options to consider: 

Confinement nanny

Confinement nannies are popular these days so we recommend that you book them well in advance. A confinement nanny will cost you anywhere from $2,100 to $5,000 per 28 days. Consider approaching friends and loved ones for personal recommendations. Otherwise, there are also confinement agencies you can engage to help you look for one. When hiring a confinement nanny, just be sure to think about your budget and if there are any desired traits you are looking for in one. 

Helper 

Hiring a full-time domestic helper is another option but you might want to consider finding out if they have experience in caring for a newborn. Alternatively, you may decide that your helper will only be tasked with taking care of the housework while you take care of your child.  

An experienced family member 

You can also consider seeking help from an experienced family member during confinement. Having someone you know well and trust to help you care for your baby will make it easier for you to adjust and recuperate after childbirth. 

Infant care centre 

If your budget allows or if you've no one else to help you, you can also make early arrangements to have your child enrolled in an infant care centre. Here are some pointers to consider when choosing an infant care centre:

• Location and proximity to your home
• Cleanliness and hygiene of the infant care centre
• The Infant Care Educarers’ qualifications
• The infant-to-staff ratio

7. Plan your meals 

A true kiasu parent knows that recovery is faster when you aren't worrying about what’s for dinner. The first 28 to 40 days postpartum (confinement) are critical for the mother’s long-term health.

If you aren't hiring a confinement nanny who cooks, look into confinement meal delivery services. Many services in Singapore offer traditional menus designed to promote healing and lactation, such as ginger-based dishes and red date tea.

Don't wait until the baby is here to realize you don't like the food. Most caterers offer a trial meal at a discounted rate. Book these in your second or third trimester to find a flavor profile that suits you.

If family member is helping with meals, start stocking up on confinement essentials, such as basic seasonings, ingredients, and even Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) herbs at least a month before your due date.

8. Register for Baby Bonus

In Singapore, being kiasu means making sure you don't miss out on government grants. The Baby Bonus Scheme and Child Development Account (CDA) are essentials for offsetting future healthcare and education costs.

You can actually start the application process via the LifeSG app up to two months before your estimated delivery date. This ensures the first cash gift arrives shortly after the birth registration.

Decide which bank (DBS/POSB, OCBC, or UOB) you want to open the account with. Since the government matches your savings dollar-for-dollar up to a certain cap, it’s one of the best investments you will make for your child's future.

9. Familiarise yourself with newborn vaccinations

Vaccinations are going to be a big part of your newborn’s doctor’s visits. They’re administered to your child as soon as they’re born to protect them against harmful diseases. The good news is Singaporean children under the age of 18 will be eligible for free vaccinations at polyclinics and Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) general practitioner (GP) clinics.

Here is a summary of all the vaccinations your baby will need from birth until they’re 17 years old.        

10. Ensure your baby is protected 

The greatest gift a parent can give to their baby is to get them protected with health insurance. With your baby fresh out of the oven, there’s no better time to lock in those low premiums while your baby has a clean bill of health.

Consider plans like Income Insurance's Enhanced IncomeShield or IncomeShield Standard Plan, depending on which best suits your affordability and needs. To minimise out-of-pocket expenses on hospital bills further, you can also consider adding on the Optima Care rider or Essential Care rider to your selected plan where the premium for this rider shall be payable by cash.

Now, you can revel in every precious moment of parenthood with peace of mind, knowing that your little one is truly well taken care of.