It’s no surprise that babies and kids have a lot of “stuff”. But what are the minimalist baby essentials you really need for a new baby in the first few months? Keep reading because we’re going to talk about all of it!
As an expectant mom going through your first pregnancy, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out exactly what your baby needs and let’s be honest, baby companies are SO GOOD at making you think you need everything.
In this post, you will learn about the tried and true must-have minimalist baby essentials as well as the baby essentials that companies want you to think you need but you really don’t.
This post is all about the minimalist baby essentials you can’t live without.
Minimalist Baby Essentials
1. Swaddles/Sleep Sacks
Swaddle blankets or sleep sacks are a GAME CHANGER for baby sleep. I literally couldn’t live without them with my son.
Your baby will be in a swaddle until he or she starts to roll over, which is usually around three months or so, and once that happens, you will need to transition to a sleep sack so your baby’s arms are free.
My tip is to have at least five to six swaddles on hand for the early newborn days because your baby will inevitably pee or poop through his or her diaper on multiple occassions. Some nights early on we went through two or three.
2. 10+ Sleepers With Feet
Sleepers are by far the easiest thing to dress your baby in the first few months. Make sure you get zipper sleepers so you don’t have to mess with snaps and have a bunch on hand so you can quickly change your baby when he spits up or goes through his diaper.
3. Diapers, Wipes & Diaper Cream
This goes without saying but just know that babies go through A LOT of diapers. It’s pretty crazy when you look back on it but just make sure you’re stocked up.
I would have a small pack of newborn size diapers on hand for the first few days after birth but your baby will quickly move to size one diapers. For that reason, I would focus on size one and even size two diapers if you have the space.
And don’t be afraid to try to the store brand diapers. Usually they are significantly cheaper than Huggies or Pampers. The same goes for wipes!
In addition to diapers and wipes, it is always a good idea to have a diaper cream on hand! My go to is the Desitin (daily defense strength) but there are so many other brands out there to choose from.
4. Bottles & Formula
Even if you plan on breastfeeding, I recommend having a few baby bottles on hand. There may be a situation where breastfeeding is not an option and/or it will allow your partner to feed the baby as well if you choose to go the bottle route.
If you’re a first time mom and not sure which bottles you and your baby will like, you can always start with a set of a few bottles in different sizes. I added this exact set to my baby registry and it was perfect! Once you decide if you like the brand of bottles, you can purchase more in the sizes you like.
If you choose to use formula, the hospital will have formula for you to use during your stay and usually sends some home with you as well. Newborns eat frequently so it is important to have a little stash on hand at home too. I recommend starting with a basic formula. The store brand is nearly identical to the ingredients in the big brand name’s product and is typically significantly cheaper!
And if you are breastfeeding, I still recommend you have a small container of formula at home just in case. Although you may REALLY want to breastfeed, it’s possible your supply won’t come in right away or a host of other things that prevent you from successfully nursing. Having a small can of formula will prevent you from having to run out in the middle of the night.
I’m a firm believer in “fed is best” so there is absolutely no judgment or shame in whichever way you choose to feed your baby!
Related: Bottle Feeding Tips For New Moms
5. Safe Place To Sleep
Another one of the minimalist baby essentials you absolutely need is a safe place for your baby to sleep. Most parents start their baby out in a bassinet or pack n play and move to a crib after about six months.
Keep in mind that you will need fitted crib sheets and ideally a mattress cover for the crib but that’s all! Based on safe sleep guidelines, babies should not be sleeping with stuffed animals, pillows, blankets, bumpers etc.
6. Baby soap & Lotion
Babies have pretty sensitive skin so a gentle baby soap and lotion is perfect. You can buy a baby tub too if you want but it is not a necessity, especially if you plan to give your baby baths in the sink.
As for brands, I recommend you do your research and choose a brand with ingredients you’re comfortable with. Personally, my son’s pediatrician recommended Aveeno so we have been using this exact set from the beginning and really love it.
Related: How To Give A Newborn A Bath (As a First Time Mom)
7. Car Seat & Stroller
There are so so so many strollers out there but the best bang for your buck is a “travel system” which includes both a stroller, car seat and car seat base. This allows you to easily clip the carseat into the stroller or the base in the car depending on where you are going.
So if your little one falls asleep in the car, you can pop him right into the stroller when you get to your destination without having to potentially wake him by unbuckling the straps. e car seat clips right. I strongly recommend that you consider this option.
My family swears by THIS travel system.
8. Baby monitor
This is a necessity but can be super overwhelming as a first time mom. My recommendation is go into a store to look at them, read the reviews and talk to friends who have kids. Baby monitors range in price depending on the number of cameras, ability to view on your phone, and so many other things so do your research.
9. Sound machine
Babies are used to the whooshing sound of the womb and the quiet after birth is unsettling to them. We use this stationary sound machine in the nursery (it has both a plug in and battery option- good to have in case you lose power) and we also picked up this travel sound machine for naps on the go. I highly recommend both but if you only want to spend money on one, I would go with the stationary sound machine.
10. Pacifiers
Some would argue that pacifiers are not a minimalist baby essential but I can tell you from personal experience that a pacifier helped my son soooo much in the early baby days.
For the babies that take to them, pacifiers really help soothe babies as they are trying to figure out life in the outside world. It never hurts to have a few on hand just in case!
11. Baby Thermometer
A rectal baby thermometer is a baby necessity. For young babies, most pediatricians will only go by this kind of thermometer to determine if your baby has a fever or not.
This thermometer worked great for my family.
Non Minimalist Baby Essentials – Items You Don’t Necessarily Need
These items are cute and can definitely be helpful buuut you really don’t need them in the first few months, especially if you are on a tight budget, so I have not included them above in the minimalist baby essentials list.
- Matching sets of clothes
- Baby sling/carrier
- Baby swing
- Fully decorated nursery
- Tons of toys
- Cutlery, plates, cups, etc
- Highchair
- Special mat for tummy time
- Stuffed animals
- Hooded bath towel
This post is all about the minimalist baby essentials you can’t live without.