Nesting: What Is It and How Do You Do It?
6 minute read
It’s Tuesday. You’re in the third trimester, looking at your fridge for a snack when suddenly an idea strikes “I really need to clean and reorganize the shelves.” But it’s not just the fridge that needs attention. Suddenly the bathroom needs a top-to-bottom scrub down, the clothes in the drawers must be refolded, and that crawl space between the media console and wall must be dusted.
Parents, welcome to the stage of pregnancy known as nesting. Cats, dogs, birds, and apes all nest. This powerful instinct is shared with our animal expectant parents and drives us to literally “prepare the nest” or in the case of humans, prepare our homes for the new bundle of joy.
What is nesting?
The definition of nesting, or the nesting instinct, is the burst of energy expectant women and parents often get in the last few weeks of pregnancy that inspires them to clean and organize the house in preparation for the baby’s arrival.1
While nesting may occur at different stages, results from a 2013 analysis of two studies2 suggest that nesting behaviors peak around the third trimester, week 38 or 39 before your due date.
Common behaviors during the nesting phase
This is not a time to panic. In fact, this extra boost of adrenaline is a healthy and productive way to pass the last couple of weeks, relieve a bit of anxiety, and get things in order for your baby! As an expectant parent, your nesting phase may be broken down into distinct characteristics: Cleaning, stocking, organizing, planning, and protecting.3
Here’s what we suggest you consider doing during nesting:
Cleaning
“Was that spot always there?” Dusting, mopping, scrubbing, and doing laundry may become your hyper-focused activities during the nesting phase of your pregnancy. At ECOS, we want to provide you with safer options to help you prepare your home.
Clean the house with ECOS All-Purpose Cleaner, available in Orange and Parsley scents. Our readily biodegradable formula tackles tough residue around your home without leaving behind harsh chemicals. Made without synthetic fragrances, 1,4-dioxane, phthalates, or chlorine, it’s the safer choice for a more eco-conscious clean.
Using our ECOS Orange all-purpose cleaner spray is easy. Spray it directly onto any water-safe, hard surface in your home and wipe it with a lint-free cloth or a damp sponge.
Next up, do laundry with ECOS Hypoallergenic Laundry Detergent designed for sensitive skin and noses. Wash all of your linens, including towels, duvets, pillow covers, throws, sheets, and anything else, before your precious little one arrives.
Our ECOS Free & Clear laundry detergent is a great choice for babies, with no added dyes or fragrances and certified Safer Choice by the U.S. EPA, the gold standard in ingredient safety. Made with enzymes, our laundry detergent is the safer choice for little ones, with plant-powered ingredients that are tough on stains and gentle on skin and fabrics.
Stocking
Babies can go through a lot of supplies, especially in those early weeks. The last thing you want is an urgent trip to the store when all your time and efforts should be focused on caring for and bonding with your baby. So stock up on the essentials!
Stock up on laundry detergent for baby’s delicate clothing and cloth diapers, cotton pads, a rectal digital thermometer, rubbing alcohol, a nasal syringe, nail clippers, BPA-free bottles, nipples, and much more.4
Don’t forget to grab other items for your home, such as the ECOS All-Purpose Cleaner in Orange, snacks, and non-perishables to restock your pantry. Dump out old, outdated, or soon-to-expire items in your fridge and pantry, and load up on foods you’ll need to support breastfeeding like fresh fruits and veggies and foods you can freeze. There won’t be time to go shopping, so the more you can load up before baby arrives, the easier it’ll be on you!
Organizing
You’ve stocked up and probably received gifts from family and friends for the arrival of your baby; now it’s time to organize all those extra items!
Organize your baby’s nursery and your pantry with the essentials. At this point, you’ll have an array of pre-washed baby outfits and linens, thanks to our ECOS laundry detergent, to fill up your baby’s dresser and closet. Pack your hospital bag with extra clothing, toiletries, a phone charger, slippers, gown, and other items to make your stay and delivery more comfortable.
Planning
Who’ll watch the dog or cat while you’re away delivering the baby? Do you have a contact that will share the big news with the rest of your family and friends? Who’s picking up your in-laws from the airport when they come to visit their new grandchild?
Plan and delegate these important tasks to a trusted family member or friend well in advance. Once the day arrives–and it may not be on your actual due date–you’ll want to have all the key players ready to assist. Be ready for things that don’t go according to plan. The goal is to prepare and plan ahead as much as possible to alleviate unnecessary stress. The most important thing to remember is to be in the moment with your baby and everything else is secondary!
Protecting
The last couple of weeks are crucial for you to prepare your home for the arrival of your baby. You’ll be busy making the house baby-ready, but don’t neglect taking care of yourself!
Protect your time by being more selective or thinning out any social commitments, getting enough rest, eating well, not over-exerting yourself with cleaning, and staying on top of any vitamins are all important for a healthy delivery.
Nesting is about making a safer home
Nesting can be a great way to relieve some of the pre-labor anxiety while being productive at home. Once your baby arrives, time will be limited and precious for getting enough rest! ECOS is here to help you during your nesting phase with safer cleaning products and useful tips for cleaning your home, your baby’s things, and more.
Learn about our complete line of ECOS eco-conscious cleaning products to keep you, your baby, and your entire home safe and healthy.
Sources:
- What to expect. Nesting During Pregnancy.
https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/labor-and-delivery/preparing/nesting-phase.aspx - ScienceDirect. Evidence of a nesting psychology during human pregnancy.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1090513813000706?via%3Dihub - Healthline. Nesting instinct While Pregnant: Here’s What It Means.
https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/nesting#nesting-tips - The Bump. 10 Nesting To-Dos for Soon-to-be Moms.
https://www.thebump.com/a/nesting-tips-you-need