A Minimalist Baby Must Haves List And What You Can Skip

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CONGRATULATIONS MAMA! I’M GUESSING YOU’RE HERE BECAUSE A LITTLE BABE IS ABOUT TO BE WELCOMED INTO YOUR FAMILY. WE ARE MADE TO BELIEVE BABIES NEED A LOT OF THINGS, WHEN IN REALITY THEY REALLY DON’T. LET ME SHARE WITH YOU MY MINIMALIST BABY MUST HAVES.

Wether you’re a first time mom or an experienced one, we all want to be as prepared as we can possibly be to bring a new baby home for the first time. The first time I found out I was pregnant I thought I needed ALL the things!

I bought so much stuff and then registered for everything else I didn’t get. It wasn’t that I was greedy mind you, I just wanted to make sure I had everything baby needed…….everything I THOUGHT baby needed I should say.

Fifteen months later I was expecting my second little peanut. I still had everything (and then some) from my first, and since they were the same gender it was easy enough to use all the same things.

Fast forward a few years to my third baby, It’s been long enough that I no longer have any baby stuff from the first two boys but I’ve learned a few things.

Minimalist Baby Must Haves (NOT)

It didn’t take long to see that a lot of the stuff I thought was a need was not used at all. Talk about all the money wasted and all the extra clutter! as if all the dirty diapers and blowout stained baby clothes wasn’t enough.

Let me share the things I ended up never using or only using once or twice, definitely not enough to take up space in my home.

• Changing table…..a nice idea, but we always ended up changing baby on the bed or the couch.
• Too many newborn clothes. Babies outgrow everything so quickly, there were a lot of unused outfits or some that were only worn once.
• Tiny little socks. They don’t stay on. Enough said.
• Newborn toys. They don’t actually start playing with toys until around the four to six month range and even then, you don’t need to have a whole emporium of toys.
• Crib bedding set with bumpers. I know we all want baby’s crib to look cute but it’s not recommended to put baby down to sleep with blankets or bumpers in the crib.
• Diaper Pail. Toss the diapers in the regular trash can. You’re going to be changing so many diapers that the garbage will be taken out quite frequently anyway.
• Newborn shoes.

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Nice To Have But Still Not Necessities

• Wipe warmer, especially for little ones born in the colder months.
• A nursing chair, but I still ended up nursing in bed most of the time.
• Baby Monitor.
• A nursing pillow does come in handy but those can get pricey, so a regular pillow works too.
• A baby swing is definitely not a minimalist baby must have, but it is sure nice to have some times!

Within the past couple of years I have really embraced the natural/organic lifestyle as far as is within budget. You will notice a lot of my recommendations will reflect that choice. The amount of toxins and chemicals that is put in everything from clothing to food to furniture and everything in between is incredible. We as adults might be able to handle it but a newborn baby would have a very difficult time adjusting to all the toxins right from the get go.

Minimalist Baby Must Haves

Receiving Blankets

Organic cotton receiving blankets are a must for the first few weeks. Mama Natural has a great post that explains how to swaddle baby, it’s definitely an art to be mastered.

I also used receiving blankets as burp cloths. You can use just one for an entire day instead of a handful of small burp cloths. Less to wash is best right?

Make sure to get LARGE receiving blankets, small ones just don’t do a job well done. You will also be able to use them for years to come.

Diapers And Wipes

I wish I was the kind of mom that made her own natural baby wipes and did cloth diapers, but since I know myself all too well I didn’t even attempt it. And I’m thankful I didn’t because I went through two rounds of mastitis that were awful, I could barely take care of baby never mind washing diapers!

I’ve tried different natural diapers and the two brands that quickly stood up to the test of blow outs were BAMBO Nature and Honest Company.

I love, love, love BAMBO Nature diapers! They’re so soft and breathable, by far the softest diaper I could put on my baby’s bum. They are free of harmful chemicals and fragrance which is wonderful for baby’s sensitive skin. They run a little on the larger side and they are more expensive than regular diapers, but it is well worth the price if it’s within your budget.

If you sign up for an Amazon Baby Registry, you will get 20% off diapers for a full year so that would definitely help with the extra cost of these diapers or any other brand you choose.

For wipes, WaterWipes are a great choice. Completely natural with only two ingredients: water and fruit extract. That’s it!

If you prefer a little thicker wipe but still a natural choice free of chemicals, The Honest Company wipes are a great alternative.

Clothes

Newborn babies don’t need much in this department. I didn’t purchase onesies, socks, or separate little shirts and pants until a few months later. One piece organic cotton sleepers are ideal for those first few weeks. If you can find ones with fold over mitten cuff sleeves even better. Ten to twelve Sleepers should get you through the 0-3 month stage.

When you go to do your baby registry make sure to ask for clothes in different sizes up to 24 months. You’ll be glad to not get everything in the same tiny size that will be out grown too soon.

Natural Laundry Detergent

You will want to pre-wash all baby’s clothes before he gets here, so a good all natural detergent is a must. You want to find one free of chemicals, parabens, and artificial fragrance.

Baby Soap

Again, you will want to find the most natural skin products for your little one. We used this soap and then this brand of products when our little one started experiencing eczema. The Tubby Todd all over ointment cleared it right up.

I’m editing this a few months later to let you know I have started using another baby soap and balm that I love, although Tubby Todd is still a great choice!

Toups and Co Organics has an all natural baby wash and balm set that is so gentle on my little ones skin. The balm is made with grass fed tallow and essential oils that nourish and protects baby’s delicate skin. If you’re searching for 100% natural ingredients for baby this is it!

Baby Nasal Aspirator

This little gadget is a must! Babies noses are so tiny they sometimes need help to get all those boogies out to be able to breath better. The old style bulb syringe looking thing is not a great help, try this instead. My son is 15 months and I still use it with him, it’s a life saver in the winter months.

Thermometer

It’s always a good idea to have a good thermometer at hand, especially nowadays. For a baby you will need to have one that you can take a rectal temperature with.

Car Seat

Last but not least a car seat is on everyones list. We chose not to get the travel system. Our little guy was born right in the middle of Covid shutdowns so we knew we wouldn’t be strolling anywhere for the first few months.

When he was a little older and able to sit on his own we purchased a small stroller.

A Few Must Haves For Mom

If you are not nursing, or even if you are, a good quality breast pump is a must. There is always the possibility of getting mastitis in one or both breasts and a pump will be a life saver! Check with your health insurance as most plans provide one for free.

If you will be nursing, you will need a natural nipple butter and organic cotton nursing pads.

All new moms need to stay well hydrated. One of my favorite drinks postpartum is coconut water because it helps with dehydration, blood pressure, and immune support among many other health benefits.

If you would like to learn more about the health benefits of coconut water, draxe.com is a great place to start.

Of course the needs of every mom and baby will be different. This is what worked best for me.

What other items would you consider minimalist baby must haves?

xoxo

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