When I found out I was pregnant with Blair, it wasn’t long before I started to feel overwhelmed thinking about all of the baby supplies and items we would need to buy in order to be prepared for her arrival. After all, I was a complete amateur when it came to all things babies! I didn’t know the first thing about them or what they needed. And to make matters worse, if you do a quick search on google, Pinterest, or YouTube on Baby Must-Haves, you will find a million different articles and videos from lots of mom-each with their own strong opinions on what you need to buy.
After I took some time to process all of the research I did regarding baby items, I came to the conclusion that the baby industry is like the wedding industry (haha). There are countless products and items that people try to convince you that you need to spend your money on…when in reality, most of it is probably unnecessary!
So, I chose to take a different route and it actually proved to work great for us! I took a very minimalistic approach to buying baby items, only buying the necessary items at first, and adding to our collection of baby gear as we saw fit after she made her grand entrance. So, I compiled my Ultimate Baby Checklist For New Moms. If you’re also a minimalist or are trying to keep the baby gear to a minimum, this is the list for you!
Nursery:
- Crib. We have this one here and we are super happy with it! It’s cute, cost-effective, and does the job.
- Mattress. This is something we did not splurge on. Does that make us bad parents?! (haha). We bought this one here.
- Crib Sheets. We bought this 2-pack of fitted sheets and that has been plenty. If she has a blowout in the middle of the night, we’re always prepared with a backup!
- Mattress Protector. These are basically water-proof covers that protect your mattress under the fitted sheet. We also bought two of these so we would always have a backup.
- Rocking Chair. There are so many “splurge” rocking chairs on the market that have all the gadgets and features. We opted for this budget-friendly one and have absolutely loved it!
- Dresser. We bought this one here and use it as a dresser for all of Blair’s clothes, shoes, accessories, and linens. It also doubles as our changing station and we have it fully equipped with our changing pad, diapers, and wipes.
- Hamper. Because you need a place for all those dirty clothes and linens!
- Swaddle Blankets. We only bought four of these and that has been plenty! Truthfully, we never even used them for swaddling purposes. But, they have been great to lay down on the floor at home or use while on-the-go.
- Warm Blanket. We use our fuzzy blanket all the time when we’re snuggling on the couch, when I am feeding her in the rocking chair, or when we’re out walking in the stroller.
- Baby Monitor. I am OBSESSED with our baby monitor. We have this one here and it has been the best thing ever. It runs through an app on your phone so you can check on your little one no matter where you are. We also have the Smart Sock that monitors their heart rate and oxygen levels. An alarm will sound if their levels drop below normal, and it has been so great for peace of mind at nighttime!
- White Noise Machine. This is something we didn’t discover right away! But, apparently babies fall asleep easier to the sound of white noise. Who knew?! (haha) So, we bought this sound machine and it has been a god sent! She still uses it to sleep every night.
Diapering:
- Diapers. We use Pamper Pure Diapers because they are hypoallergenic and free from any fragrances or bleaching. Grab some diapers in the Newborn size as well as Size 1.
- Wipes. We have been using the Water Wipes and have had no issues with them over the last year! These wipes are fragrance-free and only contain two ingredients: water and a drop of fruit extract. They are hypoallergenic and great for sensitive or allergy-prone skin.
- Changing Pad. This is another item that had many “splurge”options available at baby stores. What’s wrong with this under $20 option?! Nothing. Literally nothing (haha).
- Changing Pad Covers. We bought two of these so we would have a backup when one was in the wash.
- Diaper Cream. Your baby is bound to get a diaper rash at some point. It’s just a matter of when! We use this diaper cream from Young Living because it’s 100% all-natural and infused with skin-loving essential oils. We use this preventatively every night before bedtime and also at the first sign of redness. It works WONERS!
- Diaper Pail. Okay okay, some may argue that this is not necessarily an “essential” item. I mean, what’s wrong with your existing garbage can? Nothing. However, I personally didn’t want to take the chance of having the nursery permanently smell like dirty diapers, so this was a must-have for me. This one here doesn’t require special bags and is odor-locking!
Clothing:
- Onesies. You will need lots of onesies! I would recommend buying an assortment of short-sleeved and long-sleeved (obviously depending on where you live) in newborn sizes, as well as the 0-3 month size.
- Hats. Even if you are not giving birth in the dead of winter, you will still probably want to have a few newborn hats. They help keep the baby’s head warm, which is especially important during those first few weeks when they are still so tiny.
- Socks. Everyone needs some socks right?!
- Zip-Up Pajamas. Okay, now listen closely to what I am about to say next…BUY THE ZIP-UP PAJAMAS! I don’t care if you find the cutest jammies ever that come in the snap-version. DON’T buy them. No one wants to try and line up those dang snaps at 3am when you’re attempting to quickly change a diaper. Just buy the zip-up ones and enjoy your life.
- Swaddle Sacks. These sleep sacks are so much easier to use rather than trying to use a swaddle blanket. I opted for these sacks that have a velcro swaddle and they were so easy to use. We also used this “arms up” option when Blair went through a phase where she hated having her arms down.
Bathing:
- Baby Bath. Okay, I know there are tons of options out there when it comes to baby baths. But, I was looking for a “one and done” item. I didn’t want something that only worked in our kitchen sink for a month and then be forced to buy something else when Blair got bigger. So, I bought this seat here, and it has honestly worked so great! We put it right in our bathtub, and she used it for her entire first year of life.
- Bath Soap. I use this baby wash & shampoo from Young Living because its 100% all-natural, tear-free, and scented with calming essential oils.
- Hooded Towels. Definitely buy the hooded towels! They help keep your baby’s head warm and it’s easy to wrap them up and snuggle them in these! I only bought two and honestly, that’s been enough.
- Wash Cloths. These are a must-have when you are bathing newborns! Since Blair wasn’t sitting in a full bath of water, wash cloths were great to wipe her down with. Especially in the first week or so when you’re waiting for the umbilical cord stump to fall off! This 3-pack here should be enough!
- Head Scrub Brush. This is something we started using from day 1. It’s basically a little scrub brush that you use on the baby’s head in the bathtub. It will brush off any dry skin or eczema! We used this preventatively every bath because I was terrified of Blair getting cradle cap…especially because her skin was so dry those first few weeks. I am happy to report we never had an issue!
- Lotion. I use this baby lotion from Young Living because it’s 100% all-natural, is non-greasy, and infused with calming essential oils. I apply a light layer to Blair’s skin after her bath and it keeps her skin super smooth!
Feeding:
- Bottles. I would suggest not going bottle-crazy until you have figured out which kind your baby likes. Maybe buy one of a few different brands and test them out before you buy more…just in case your baby ends up having a preference.
- Formula. Even if you plan to breastfeed, have a little formula on hand at home just in case. Better to be prepared with a backup if you run into an issue!
- Burp Cloths. This is an item you can never have enough of! We kept these stashed all around our house. On the couch, on our nightstand, on the rocking chair, etc. I bought two of these 6-packs and I felt like I used them all!
- Bibs. I loved having these bandana bibs for when Blair was in her drooling phase and we were constantly wiping her mouth (haha). They were also great to have for spit-up, as it would prevent her from staining her cute outfits!
- Pacifiers. Like the bottles, I would also suggest buying one of a couple different brands. Odds are your baby will have a favorite, and then you can go out and buy more of those!
- If nursing:
- Nipple Cream. I opted to use this Rose Ointment from Young Living because it’s kind of like an all-natural vaseline. It soothed and healed my skin so quickly!
- Nipple Pads. Trust me…you WILL need these when your milk comes in. I didn’t need them anymore after a few months but for a while, they were totally necessary. These reusable ones are great because you can just pop them in the washing machine and not have to worry about constantly buying new ones.
- Nursing Pillow. For me personally, this was a life-saver when I was learning how to breastfeed and get the hang of things. It helped get Blair into her optimal position and supported her while drinking. As she got older, we also started using this as a lounger or little chair for her. We would prop her up in it and she would sit with us!
- Pump and Storage Bags. For most breastfeeding moms, they need or want a pump during their nursing journey. I somehow fell into the category where I never had one, so unfortunately I cannot recommend one!
Health:
- FridaBaby Windi. Take my word for it…these will be your saving grace when your baby is a little gassy, backed up, or has a stomach ache. These magical tubes relieve gas and colic in a matter of seconds. I will warn you though-it can get a little messy (haha).
- FridaBaby NoseFrida. Another item that sounds and looks totally gross, but will come in clutch when your baby isn’t feeling good. This is basically a snot sucker that you stick up your baby’s nose and suck out the junk using your mouth. I know, I know, it sounds totally disgusting. But there’s a 0% chance that anything will end up in your mouth, I promise!
- Nail Clippers. The best clippers ever for babies and toddlers! These clippers have curved, overlapping blades which make it near impossible for you to knick their skin. It also has a little peephole so you can see what you’re cutting. They’re awesome!
- Thermometer. Gotta have one of these on hand for when your little babe gets a fever!
Play:
- Play Gym. I wasn’t positive that this was really a must-have…that is, until we used it! We bought this before Blair was even born and to be honest, I wasn’t sure if we would use it all that much. However, this was by far Blair’s favorite thing for many months. We used it for tummy time in the early days and as she got older, I would set her under it on her back with the music on, and she would be so happy just kicking around and grabbing the toys.
- Board Books. We cannot get enough of board books in our house. Blair didn’t really get into books until she was a bit older, but now she is obsessed with them. Take it from a mom who has had to tape many pages back together due to a handsy baby…buy the board books! Your baby won’t be able to rip the pages apart, and they’ll love to flip the thick pages themselves.
- Lovey. Every baby needs one of these loveys! The are a great security item and are a perfect size considering they are not too big.
On The Go:
- Car Seat. The holy grail of baby items! We chose to go a little fancy and ended up buying this car seat- it was the best decision we made! It is a newborn car seat that also converts into a stroller! It would make the perfect car seat/ stroller combo if you live in a city or if you travel often. I especially loved it when running errands-I never had to worry about taking the baby out of the car seat and putting her into a stroller if she was asleep.
- Stroller. Another purchase that I am SO incredibly happy with. We chose to go with this stroller mainly because it’s kind of like a “one and done” type of stroller. It comes with a bassinet for newborns, as well as a toddler seat for when your child grows. Both options clip into the one base so you will only ever need this one stroller. Not to mention, it has the capability to add a second bassinet or seat onto it if you were to have a second child in the near future. We are in love with it!
- Diaper Bag. I personally chose to go with this backpack option here. I have found this to be so practical. Not to mention, Ryan doesn’t have to feel embarrassed by using a girly bag when he is out with the baby! This bag fits SO much stuff, I hardly ever fill it!
- Carrier or Wrap. Okay so this is kind of personal preference whether you decide to go with a carrier or a wrap. Personally, I have one of each and have used both pretty equally. This is the wrap that I have and I absolutely love it! It’s so comfortable and it was beyond perfect for those newborn days. I could pop Blair into the wrap and do what I needed to do around the house. It was so nice to be hands-free! She would often fall asleep in it, and it helped calm her down more times than I can count. On the other hand, this carrier was way more practical if we were going out of the house. It’s more structured, better for older babies (you will use it longer) and easier to get on and off.
Things you don’t need:
- Bottle Sterilizer. Save your money and just boil all of the bottle pieces/ pacifiers in a pot of water on the stove. A sterilizer is just one more thing that you will have to keep clean and will take up space on your counter.
- Bottle Warmer. In all honestly, boiling water first or putting the bottle in a pot of water on the stove would work just as fast!
- Wipe Warmer. Sounds luxurious right?! But these things take forever to heat up when you turn them on. You probably wont want to wait around for them to warm up when you’re changing a diaper at 3am.
- Baby Outfits. I know there’s nothing cuter than baby clothes but take my word for it when I say your baby will be wearing nothing but onesies and zip-up jammies for the first few months of life. Don’t worry, there will be PLENTY of time to go crazy buying all the cute outfits.
- Baby Shoes. Totally unnecessary. New babies can’t walk…duh. And they’re just a pain to get on and off anyways.
- Scratch Mittens. The hospital will probably send you home with some. Not to mention, most of the jammies come with fold-over sleeves which are like built-in mittens! And these ones won’t fall off every two seconds (haha). Our midwife also told us it is important for babies to touch their faces with their hands and fingers, as it is good for learning and development.
- Bouncers/Swings: Definitely not a must-have right off the bat. I have seen so many moms go out and spend soooo much money on all the baby contraptions, only to have their baby hate it and never use it. My advice? Hold off at first. Wait to see if you think it is necessary and see what kind you think your baby will like. Maybe you can take the babe to the store to try out options or test out a friend’s before you drop some major cash on one. All babies are different!
- Changing Table. Like I said before, we use the top of our dresser as our changing table! In the grand scheme of things, you only need this for a short amount of time in your child’s life. A dresser could still be used after your kid is out of their diaper phase, where a changing table will just be thrown into your garage!
- Too many swaddle blankets. In all honestly, we do not use these very often! I never used them for actual swaddling because Blair would easily break out of it, so having a ton of these is not necessary. I did find them useful to lay on the floor when doing tummy time, to cover the stroller when it was sunny, to use as a nursing cover, and to lay on the table at the doctor’s offices. 2-4 will be plenty!
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