The Bay Area newborn prep checklist.

A practical newborn prep checklist for Bay Area parents, covering hospital bag, car seat, home safety, CPR, and the first 90 days.

Third trimester (weeks 28–36)

Pick a pediatrician. UCSF, CPMC, Stanford, Kaiser, and One Medical all have multi-week waits.
Tour your hospital or birth center, including the parking and drop-off route at 2am.
Book an infant CPR class or in-home certification before week 36.
Buy the car seat. Don't open the box yet, but have it.
Start the baby registry. Skip 60% of it; we have a Bay-Area-specific gear guide.

Install the car seat. The hospital will not let you leave without it correctly installed, and they will not install it for you.
Set up the sleep space. Bassinet or crib in your room, flat, firm, nothing else in it.
Anchor any furniture in the nursery and the room the baby will spend time in.
Pack a real hospital bag, including phone chargers with 10-foot cables.
Stock the freezer and identify two takeout spots that deliver to your neighborhood after 9pm.

Pediatrician visit at 3 to 5 days, then 2 weeks, then 1 month.
Lactation support if needed. The Bay Area has excellent IBCLCs; ask your pediatrician for a referral.
Limit visitors to people who have washed hands and are not actively sick.
Sleep in shifts. Whoever is on shift handles all wake-ups.
Get outside once a day. Even a 10-minute walk counts.

2-month vaccines. Plan a calm afternoon after.
Begin solidifying a wind-down routine in the evenings.
Re-check car seat install as baby grows; harness height changes.
Start thinking about childcare if returning to work. Bay Area waitlists are long.
Schedule a child proofing visit before baby starts to roll over consistently.

Day One Baby (SF and Berkeley) for lactation, classes, and gear.
Natural Resources (SF) for classes and consignment gear.
Recess Collective (SF) and Bananas (Oakland) for parent support and childcare referrals.
Safe Kids California for car seat check events.
Postpartum Support International warmline for any parent who is struggling.

The Before Baby Visit covers CPR certification, CPST car seat install, and a full child proofing plan in a single 3-hour in-home appointment.