What you (actually) need for a new baby

Hi there from newborn land! We are tired and oh so happy this week. It’s been so much fun to see our kids together and the older girls take care of their younger siblings.

A while ago some friends and I were talking about how when you have your first baby, newborns seem like an impossible puzzle to figure out but once you have an older child, newborns are so much easier. Babies really don’t need much in the first few months, mostly just you and some diapers! Ok maybe a little more than that but honestly not a lot. With every baby we’ve had, I keep less and less for the newborn stage. I think baby registry sites and pregnancy websites list way too much stuff that you HAVE to buy for baby. It can be overwhelming as a new mom to have to sort through all the different versions of so many products when you are also just trying to wrap your head around becoming a mom.

Here are the things I think you actually need for a new baby.

• A place for baby to sleep- We usually start with a bassinet in our room and then once they are big enough we transition to a pack n play in our room or to a crib in their room. Some babies do not like a bassinet, Emily our oldest was definitely not a fan but Maggie our third loved hers. We used a family bassinet for the older two kids and our younger two we used a Halo bassinet that we purchased online, cleaned, and then sold so we didn’t have to store. Those things can be huge and a pain to store or move.
• Carseat- Pretty sure this one is non-negotiable but had to make sure it was listed!
• Stroller-
• Diapers and wipes- We are big fans of Honest diapers in our house, but you’ll figure out which brand you and your baby prefer. Have a small selection of newborn size and some size ones on hand as well. Emily was a big baby and went right into size ones!
• Diaper cream– We’ve tried so many different kinds but have always gravitated back to Aquaphor. It’s what has worked best for us, but just like diapers you’ll find what works for you and your baby!
• Clothes– Obviously your little one needs something to wear, but they really don’t need as much as you think. I find that everyone loves to gift baby clothes and always end up with way more outfits in small sizes than we need. You can add something on your baby registry for larger sizes or even gift cards for shopping later instead of registering for all newborn or 3 month size clothes. If you plan to do laundry everyday you can get by with even less, but I would say you don’t need more than 12-15 outfits at most. Remember baby clothes are small so it’s easy to accumulate a lot because they don’t take up a ton of space!
• Baby blankets– Here’s why it isn’t as important to have too many clothes. You’ll probably keep baby wrapped up most of the time covering all their outfits. They are also great for burp cloths too if you don’t want to have too many things to juggle. It is helpful to have a few different kinds of blankets for different purposes. Some are bigger and work great for swaddling while others are better for covering carseats or laying down to play on the floor.
• Baby Wrap or carrier– Baby wearing is everything, especially if you have other kids. A really good baby wrap will free your hands to help your older kids, feed yourself, give you a chance to go to the bathroom, and can replace multiple bouncy seats. It can save your posture from holding baby all the time and I bet its also where your baby will nap most of the time in the early days. Babies really do only want to be close to mom and a good baby wrap can keep everyone happy. We have a baby k’tan for when they are super little and then an Ergo 360 for when they are a little older.
• A secondary safe place for baby to lay down– This is especially important if you have older kids or even a dog. We keep a pack n play in our living room for the first several months for diaper changes and for a contained space that baby can lay or play without being on the floor or in a chair low on the floor at risk of being bumped or stepped on by an older sibling.
• Pump and bottle supplies– Babies can be picky with their bottles so I wouldn’t stock up too much on one kind of bottles until you know for sure they will work. You can apply to get a breast pump through your insurance provider or choose a specific one to purchase by yourself. I had a Medela with my older two kids and then chose to upgrade to a Willow for my younger two.
• Windii– It’s a really weird concept but it’s also been a lifesaver for us.
• Baby first aid- I was totally taken aback the first time we needed baby Tylenol and realized we didn’t have the right kind. Do your research ahead of time so when baby has his or her first fever you aren’t making a midnight pharmacy run for the right kind of meds.

Things you don’t need:

• Lots of toys– We are talking new babies here, like 0-3 month olds. They don’t need a bunch of toys. Maybe one or two in the diaper bag to hang on the carseat and a few at home (like a play mat with toys above) but don’t go overboard with toys for your newborn. Save that effort and time and space for when your baby is older and will actually play.
• Burp Cloths– Ok stay with me for a minute. I use burp cloths and they are great, but also they aren’t an absolute necessity. You can always multipurpose your baby blankets if need be. Personally I do both but in a bind or if space is an issue burp clothes are a nice to have but not a must have.
• A million outfits– Babies grow fast. Don’t waste your space and money on too many small size clothes. Spread the love over all the sizes. You’ll be amazed at how fast they grow out of some of those cute little onesies.
• Shoes– Another nice to have but really not a need to have, especially if the weather is warm.
• Single purpose bulky items- Bassinets, swings, bouncy seats, exersaucers, jumpers, are all awesome but you have no idea what baby will like until he or she is here. We had an awesome swing that Emily hated and never used, saved it for Sophie and got rid of it as soon as Emily tried to “help” her swing in it. These items are all great if they work but a huge pain to store for later if they don’t. Your best option is to borrow before you buy or try selling if you need to replace with something similar

I think its better to have less starting off because you have no idea what your baby will actually like and you may end up having to purchase something completely different than what you already have. Babies also grow out of everything way faster than you’d think. Bouncy seats and swings are great but you can only use them for a short time before they are just a lovely extra living room decoration. I think baby clothes are made like shrinky dinks to be half the size they started once you wash them so don’t stock up on too many small sizes, you’ll need to bigger ones way sooner than you think. Good news is that Amazon is always open so you can order whatever you need once baby has arrived if you find that you don’t have it already. I would also suggest looking into local mom buy, sell, trade groups on Facebook for used items that you can resell once you’re finished with them instead of storing them.

What do you think? Anything you would add to either list?

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