11 ways to get ready for your baby's arrival: photos

Your new baby's skin will be delicate. It's a good idea to wash their clothes and bedding to remove anything that could irritate them. A non-bio detergent will be gentle on your baby's skin.

When your new baby arrives, you will have your hands full! It can be hard to fit in cooking and prepping food for yourself in those early weeks, so cook and freeze lots of meals now.

It's not just you and your partner who need to make changes! Any pets you have need to adjust too. It's best if your pets do not sleep in the same room as your baby. If your dog or cat is used to sleeping on your bed, make a bed for them elsewhere, so they get used to being in a different room. You could also put a stairgate on your bedroom door to keep your dog out. Check with your vet about how to prevent your cat from climbing into your baby’s cot or pram.

Your nesting instinct may have kicked in. Make use of it! Give the house a spruce. Recruit your partner, or others, to do some of the work.

Nappies are one of the main things that your baby needs right away. And running out of nappies in the first few days of your baby's birth is something to avoid! You will need around 10 to 12 nappies a day for your newborn. So, stock up now, to save yourself a panicked shop when your baby is here. If you're planning on using cloth nappies, make sure you have all the bits your need, and your soaking bucket ready.

Your labour could start at any time, and your baby could be preemie. It can help to pack all your essentials now. Pack the things you will need for labour, and for after the birth. Put the bag ready by the door.

Hunting through your address book when labour starts just adds stress. Save the numbers of key people, such as your midwife, GP and local hospital, onto your mobile. You may also want to set up a speed dial list of people to phone if you need transport, or someone to care for your other children.

Choosing what outfit to take your baby home in is one of the more fun things to think about! Make sure it is washed and packed in your hospital bag, ready to go. If you're having a homebirth, you can still choose a first-day outfit and make sure it's in the top drawer ready for them to wear.

If you want to get to hospital in your own car, finding out that it won't start is not what you need! Get your car checked now, and have any repairs done. Also, make sure that you have plenty of fuel so that your car is ready to go. You will need a baby car seat in order to leave hospital. Get that checked by an approved tech at this stage.

Make sure that your phone is fully charged, and keep your charger somewhere close by. That way, it will be ready to go when you update your family and friends with the happy news and take that first photo!

Whether it's your own parents, friends with children, or the supportive parents in our BabyCenter community, those who've been there have the best tips on life with a baby. There's no such thing as a silly question when it comes to pregnancy and parenting. So take every opportunity to learn from others' experiences.