What You Truly Need for a Baby— Nothing More

If you’re pregnant, it can feel like you need to buy an entire second house worth of stuff before your baby arrives. But newborns don’t need most of what marketing tells you they do.

This list focuses on true essentials — the items required for safety, feeding, hygiene, and basic comfort. Everything else is optional.

Baby & Mom Essentials List

Sleep

• 1 bed (bassinet, crib, playpen, Moses basket, floor bed, or your bed)

• 1 mattress for bed if sold separately

• 1-2 accompanying sheets

• 1 sleeper sack if you live in a cold climate

• 1-4 warm footie pajamas

• 1-4 swaddle blankets for swaddling, laying them on, diaper changing pad, covering up, spit up, etc.

  
  

Eating (combine these methods or just use one)

• If Exclusively Breast Feeding

  • 2 working breasts and maybe a visit or two with a lactation consultant (you don't have to buy anything if you don't want to)

• If Pumping

  • 1 breast pump with accompanying parts

  • 1 hand pump (still optional)

  • 1 in-bra milk catcher to collect let down (also optional)

  • 1-2 bottles

  • storage bags or containers

• If Bottle Feeding

  • Formula / donated breast milk

  • containers for those or the ones they come in

  • 1-2 bottles

• Eating Once They're Older

  • 1 cup or bottle for water - you probably have one that works, but get them their own if you would like

  • 1 place to eat (a high chair, table and chair, or a wipeable mat on the floor)

  • a plate or bowl is optional

  • 1 small spoon

  • food - they can pretty much eat what you eat

  • 1 kid size tooth brush

  • 1 kid tooth paste

    
    

Diapering

• 5-10 reusable diapers or lots of disposables

• 5-10 reusable wipes or lots of disposables

• 1 place to put dirty diapers and wipes (hamper, waterproof bag, bucket, or trash can)

• 1 diaper cream if they are having skin irritation or rash (they may not)

• 1 small spray bottle - technically optional but if used before wiping will reduce the number of wipes you need to use

  
  

Bathing

• 1 towel (can use the same one as you)

• 1 shampoo & body wash (baby one or unscented non-toxic adult one)

Clothing

• Warm Climate

  • 2-10 onesies in each size (don't need many preemie, newborn, or size 1's as they will grow out of them quickly)

  • 1 hat if they will be in direct sunlight often

• Add for Cold Climate

  • 2-4 more footie pjs for the day time

  • 2-10 pants and socks to put with onesies

  • 1 warm hat

  • 1 snow suit / thicker full body outfit

  • 1 warm blanket

Other Baby Essentials

• 1 Car seat

• 1 Nail clippers (can use the same one as you)

• 1 Baby wrap

  • optional but could replace a stroller and other baby containers

• 1 Bag or backpack for carrying supplies (ideally use one you already have)

• 1 loving caregiver (however 2-4 is better in this case!)

For New Mom

• Postpartum bleeding care - lots of disposable pads / diapers OR 2-10 heavy period underwear or reusable pads

• Nursing pads - lots of disposable OR 3-10 reusable ones (still technically optional)

• Support system - friends, partner, parents, grandparents, in-laws, neighbors, and community members

Everything else? Optional!

All baby and mom items not on the list above fall into one of the following categories and are not essential for every family. Only buy or bring into your home what will significantly make things easier or more comfortable for you or your baby.

The 7 Non-essential baby categories:

(2 examples for each)

1. Special Case

   • baby Tylenol for a fever

   • cradle cap brush

2. Pain Reduction

   • gas drops (if your baby is extra gassy and is hard to burp)

   • postpartum spray for vaginal pain

3. Comfort

   • stuffed animal

   • nursing pillow to prop up baby (although a regular pillow or your arm would probably do)

4. Convenience

   • Bottle washer, sterilizer, & dryer (you can just wash and set your bottles to dry on the counter, this might make it easier if you exclusively bottle feed but NOT necessary)

   • Stroller (you can wear your baby instead for walking and travel if that works for you and your family, and you will probably save a lot of money and space)

5. Development Aids

   • a mobile

   • high contrast cards (both of these help with infant concentration and vison but are not necessary for your baby to learn to concentrate and see)

6. Social Pressure

   • nursing cover (useful if you prefer privacy while feeding in public, but not required and is more for other people's comfort than it is for our baby's)

   • nursery decor (we feel all this pressure to have an adorable baby themed room for our child, but it is not necessary and is more for us than it is for baby)

7. Fun

   • cute baby dress or suit

   • most toys

TIP: I get that the special case and pain reduction items seem like necessities. I will be avoiding sickness and pain as much as possible too! However, save most of those purchases until you actually need them, rather than buying them in advance. You may find you need a lot less than you thought.

I am a first time mom and as of writing this post haven't given birth yet, so take this list with a grain of salt. Find minimalist baby lists from more experienced moms. But the point is that most items being marketed to for you and your baby are unnecessary. Be intentional about everything you choose to buy to save money, space, time, and your peace.

You got this minimal mama!

Read my my journey to becoming a minimal mom with more tips on how to not overbuy for your baby.

Leave me a comment below of one unessential baby item you are opting out of and which of the 7 categories it falls under.