If you’re looking to create a minimalist baby registry, there are some things you need to know. For my first baby, I went crazy with purchases and our registry. Since we are having another boy in Februray 2021, I got out all of our firstborn’s old clothes. Oh. My. Gosh. I have no idea how he wore every single outfit he had.
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My experience as a mama has inspired me to go minimalist for this baby. Although we already have a lot of things that we need, here’s a list for you to check out!
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1. Bassinet
Neither of my kids slept in a crib prior to 6 months old. My son’s crib was used for occasional naps from the time he was 6 months until 10 months when he transitioned to a crib at night. My daughter went straight from our room to a toddler bed. As breastfed babies, my son and my daughter slept next to me. A safe way to do this is with this bedside bassinet that goes right up against your bed. This particular model is for those with shorter beds – ours is maybe 18” from the ground.
You can use this bassinet as a regular, stand-alone bassinet. Or, if you’re looking for something with more frills, try this Fisher-Price Soothing Motions bassinet. Both can support baby for the first several months of life.
2. Clothes
Learn from the mistakes I made my first time around…your baby does not need 35 different pairs of footie pajamas in size 0-3. Trust me. I know it can be hard to say no to those cute little clothes, but it really isn’t necessary.
Also, take into consideration the size potential of your child. From what my doctors have always told me, baby will be closer to mom’s birth size than dad’s. While this isn’t always 100% true, it can help if you don’t take the tags off your baby clothes so that you can return those that go unused. I have big babies and never used more than a week’s worth of newborn sizes.
Onesies
You will definitely need more than one onesie per day. Babies pee all over themselves, get poo up their diapers, and spit up like crazy sometimes. So, be reasonable, but don’t forget to account for accidents. I like to stick to the 2 a day rule – assume that you’ll be doing laundry once a week. If that’s the case, you’ll need 14 onesies in each size. I like to get fully stocked up to 6 months and just get a start on the next size.
Socks
Little baby feets get cold! This is especially true if baby is born in fall or winter, so be sure to stock up on socks. Long socks are always easiest to keep on, so keep that in mind. Socks can also be used as mittens to keep baby from scratching his face, so I like to have 10 pairs on hand.
Hats
Even if you don’t live in a colder climate, hats help baby to retain heat. I’ve actually heard that babies lose most of their heat through their feet and heads, so keep his little head covered if its a little chilly. 3-4 hats are usually enough but take into account where you live. We relocated to Minnesota last year, so we’ll be getting 3-4 indoor hats and 1-2 outdoor hats for our little guy.
Pajamas
Footie pajamas are my downfall. I want them all! It’s a good idea to get a mix of fabrics, but I always lean toward zippered jammies. Although, some of the snap-up PJs are just so cute the buttons really don’t bother me that much. From what I’ve read, I’m pretty much alone in that thought.
My second born couldn’t wear fleece pajamas because she gets so hot in her sleep. She’d wake up drenched in sweat. My son was similar, but not nearly as bad, so I was prepared with various fabric choices. Since you can’t know if your baby will be like this until he’s here, I recommend getting a handful of fleece (especially if its in the winter months) and another 7-8 in cotton in each size.
Pants or Shorts
Your baby’s need of pants or shorts depends on the season he is born in. If you have an early fall birth, you may need to buy just a couple of pairs of shorts and many more pants. Consider the climate you live in and the temperature you keep your house.
Also, as a bit of a homebody – especially with COVID-19 amongst us – I only put pants on my newborns if we are going somewhere. They are usually okay temperature-wise in a onesie with a blanket. Having said this, my firstborn son had so many pairs of pants. He was born in November and I took full advantage of the weather to purchase more pants than he’d ever need. In reality, 4-5 pair of pants/ shorts should be enough for your little one in each size.
Jacket
As you may know, a coat is not something that your baby can wear while strapped into a car seat. It causes a danger to your child when it comes to car seat safety. Because of this, I’ve always bought a fleece jacket for my little ones and kept a few blankets in the car. Even now, as we live in Minnesota, we don’t use coats unless playing in the snow. For a newborn, it’s smart to have 2-3 jackets that are weather appropriate. As my own kids got older, we stuck to that rule.
3. Diaper Bag
Your diaper bag is especially important if you spend a lot of time out of the house or if your little one is watched by someone outside of your home regularly. You’ll want a bag that both you and your partner are comfortable carrying. Remember that you might be carrying an infant car seat at the same time, so make sure it’s easy to hold on to or throw over your shoulder.
Also, note that it doesn’t necessarily have to be a diaper bag. Of course, many diaper bags are handily equipped with an insulated pocket for bottles, special pockets to make wipes easy to get to, and other features. However, you can really turn any bag into a diaper bag.
Diapers and Wipes
Ah, one of the most important items for babies. You want to start by researching cloth diapering vs disposable diapers. I personally went with disposable and used Huggies Snug and Dry for my newborns. Stocking up on diapers is a smart life decision if you ask me. I purchased numerous cases of size 1 and 2 diapers prior to my daughter’s birth and didn’t have to buy diapers until she was almost 4 months old.
After both kids got a bit older, we made the switch to Costco’s Kirkland brand and never even notice a difference. We currently use Kirland’s diaper wipes, too. Whey my kids were little and had more sensitive skin, we always used Huggies Natural Care Sensitive Wipes.
It’s important to remember, however, that babies have different shapes and sizes, so what worked for my babies might be different for yours. Also, know that it’s pretty easy to trade in diapers from one brand to another in various stores. So, if you’re worried about stocking up, it should be an issue!
Diaper Rash Cream
My oldest rarely had diaper rash issues, but it was nice to have cream on hand as a just in case. For him, Aquaphor worked wonders. For my daughter, who had much worse diaper rashes, Aquaphor helped to keep diaper rashes at bay but struggled to heal them if we skipped using it for a few days.
You might find success with A&D or Butt Paste. One of the products I was recommended by a Facebook mom’s group was Bag Balm. My daughter’s rash ended up being thrush and needed a prescription, so I never ended up using it, but I definitely will be purchasing some for my newest boy!
4. Bath and Medicinal Supplies
Obviously, the kinds of medications you give to your baby are up to you. Here are the items that I’ve found necessary in early motherhood.
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Baby Bath
Even when I bathed my daughter in the kitchen sink, I used a baby bath. Babies are very slippery when wet! I always feel safer when they have a safe place to sit, even though I keep a hand on baby at all times.
I’ve used this baby bather for all of my kids and find it easy to use and store. Word of caution, be sure it snaps into it’s reclining place before putting baby in – I didn’t snap it correctly once and my quick reflexes were the only thing that kept my baby from getting hurt.
Baby Soap
We’ve used a few different baby soaps in our 4 years of parenthood. My favorite is Baby Dove Tip to Toe Rich Moisture. It smells so good and it is super gentle on their skin. I even use it to wash my face!
Baby Nail Clippers and/or Emery Board
Many moms are terrified of cutting their baby’s nails. I’m not a fan either – and I did cut my daughter’s thumb when she was 3 months old. She didn’t even cry, but I sure did! BUT – I somehow also cut my baby using an emery board! How? I don’t know! But there it was, like a papercut…and she did cry at that one.
I’ve stuck with baby nail clippers ever since. This one by Safety 1st makes me feel better because it has a little magnifying glass so you can see better. If you prefer an emery board, I’ve heard good reviews on these.
Baby Comb or Brush
It is hard to tell how much hair your little one will have at birth. Our son had the old man hair over his ears and around the back of his head. There was very little on top of his head. We just had one of those cheap, plastic combs the barber gives away.
Our daughter, however, was born with a ton of thick hair! She needed a comb and a brush! A set similar to this has served us well for nearly two years. It has also helped a lot with cradle cap!
Gas drops
Gas drops might save you on long nights. When you’ve tried bicycling legs, rubbing a belly, and taking a warm bath, but nothing is working, gas drops might! We also used Gripe Water with success, too!
Thermometer
A thermometer will serve to soothe your fears from time to time or warn you when you need to use a fever reducer. Since my kids are hot sleepers, I would check their temperatures frequently when they felt warm. It would make me feel better seeing that even though they seemed fevered, they were actually within the normal range.
There have also been nights when the feverish skin was indeed from a fever and allowed me to get medication into them quickly. This is a purchase you won’t regret!
Infant Tylenol
For those fevered nights, you don’t want to have to run out at 2 am for medication. Keep a bottle on hand at all times! It’s important to know that infant Tylenol and Children’s Tylenol the same with the exception of the syringe vs cup. Children’s Tylenol is sometimes cheaper, so you may want to buy an infant Tylenol to start and then keep the syringe for the Children’s Tylenol purchase. Or, buy a separate syringe!
Baby-Sensitive Laundry Detergent
Babies have sensitive skin. So, don’t use that regular Tide to wash his clothes! Instead, there are so many sensitive skin options. I started out using Dreft, which smells so good. But, while it smells good, it really isn’t cheap. All Free Clear Pure, however, is much more reasonable and better overall.
5. Swaddle Blankets
Swaddle blankets are multi-purpose! We use them for swaddling, spit-up rags, and to put down on public changing tables when they don’t have the paper covers – they never have the paper covers. Make sure you buy several.I think we have at least 10 and when there’s a newborn in the house, they are being washed constantly.
6. Baby-Wearing Carrier
Baby-wearing has always been necessary for me to get things done around the house. Both of my kids wanted me all of the time. I made a pumpkin roll from scratch one-handed when my son was a week old because he wouldn’t stop screaming if I put him down or gave him to Daddy. It was hard. So, I got one of these to carry him around in! Once you learn how to wrap it, it is easy to use. I will say, if you’re doing a lot of activity it can get stretched out and you need to readjust.
When I take walks or do more strenuous activity, I use this carrier instead. It’s perfect for shopping trips, hiking, or any time you’d use a stroller. In fact, I used this so often with my son I very rarely used his stroller. (Which is why I don’t include a stroller on the minimalist baby registry. I don’t find it necessary.)
7. Breastfeeding Supplies
If you’ve never breastfed before, you might be surprised at the number of supplies needed. Of course, if you don’t plan on pumping, all of these items might not be necessary. I used most of these things with my firstborn when I was still working out of the home. With my second, I worked from home and very rarely used my pump.
Pump
Most insurance companies provide a breast pump for free every so often. Check with yours to make sure you don’t need to register for or purchase one. However, even if you do get a free one, my lactation consultant recommended also getting a Haakaa to catch any milk from dripping from your unused breast. I purchased one, but I didn’t really leak with either baby. I’ve heard other women that overproduced stock up on tons of breastmile with it.
Supplements
I struggled with producing for my first, so my lactation consultant recommended Go-Lacta Supplements. It’s been a while since I’ve had to buy it, as I produced much more with my second baby, and I can’t find it! This product has very similar ingredients.
Pumping Bottles
Your pump should come with a few bottles made to attach to it, but I always needed more. You can buy extra bottles on Amazon, but make sure you make sure they fit your pump! I tend to stick with the same brand, though I have had some bottles from different companies that still worked with other pumps. These Medela bottles worked with both my Medela hand pump and my Ameda electric pump.
Breastmilk Storage Bags
Never underestimate how many breastmilk storage bags you need. This is especially true if you work away from the home. Also, consider that you probably don’t want to fill each bag completely. If you put 5 oz of milk in one bag, thaw it, warm it, give it to baby, and he only drinks 3 oz, you may have to toss 2 oz of milk. That’s heartbreaking if you ask me!
Breastfeeding Basket
Early on, you probably won’t have the energy to get up and down for drinks, snacks, and other needs. You can create a basket that goes next to your bed or your couch with various items.
Nipple Cream
Trust me when I say, YOU WILL WANT NIPPLE CREAM. When I started breastfeeding my first, I was shocked that so many women nursed successfully for years. For the first two weeks, I wanted to cry every time I had to feed my baby. But, I’m stubborn. And, luckily, our pediatrician had a lactation consultant on staff. She made all the difference, but so did nipple cream.
I’ve tried a few different brands, and despite the odd texture, I’m a big fan of Earth Mama Angel Baby Organic Nipple Butter. If the texture bothers you, Bamboobies came in second place for me.
Water Bottle
I just use the big water bottle the hospital gave me to stay hydrated. Breastfeeding requires a lot of water intake. You have to stay hydrated to produce milk and you need to stay hydrated anyway. If your hospital doesn’t provide you with a water bottle, I’d get a big one like this.
Snacks
Get your favorite non-perishable snacks in bulk! Nuts, granola bars, lactation cookies, and dried fruits can help you to eat throughout the day. Trust me, it is easy to forget to eat when you have a newborn. If you have snacks right beside you, it is much easier!
8. Bottles and Liners, if Applicable
My daughter always refused any bottle. I never pushed it because I was home with her. My son, however, would only drink from a bottle with a liner. So, sorry if you aim to be environmentally friendly, but your baby might not care. We used Playtex bottles and Drop-Ins. You may have to try a few brands before you find one that baby likes, so be prepared!
9. Items for Older Babies
Babies grow fast! Even if you’re completely prepared for his first 6 months, you may be surprised when you’re in need of additional items. If you have the space, you may want to purchase these items. If you’re living tiny, you can probably wait on these.
Monitor
Since most babies sleep in mom and dad’s room, there isn’t really a need for a monitor for a newborn. The first time I used our monitor was for naptime after he turned 6 months. Otherwise, someone was near him all the time. Unless you plan to have your newborn in a different room than you, a monitor is not 100% necessary first thing.
High Chair/ Booster Seat
We have never owned a high chair. My oldest would eat while sitting in a Bumbo and we got my daughter a wonderful portable booster. We have this one and LOVE it. I used the tray maybe 2-3 times so she could eat puffs and sit near me as I made dinner, but she usually just uses the table. You can adjust the height, so it can be used as baby grows. It’s also super easy to clean and install safely.
Bibs
Personally, I’ve never been big on bibs. I breastfed from birth and they typically had a swaddle blanket stuffed under their chubby chins. We used bib a few times for our son because he started on pureed foods at 4 months. Our secondborn hates pureed foods and just started out with baby led weaning when she hit 6 months. She made less of a mess with small chunks of food and never really needed a bib. If you want to use a bib, though, these seem pretty cool.
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Crib
If you’re starting your little one out in a bassinet, it’s going to be a few months before you need a crib. If you don’t have the money or the space, I’d wait until a bit later for this purchase. However, we have this Delta crib and converted it into a toddler bed a few months ago. It exceeded my expectations for such a good price.
With our firstborn, we got the best of the best. My wonderful in-laws had us pick out the crib and dresser set that we wanted. It is heavy duty and will probably last as long as I live. It has been converted into a full-size bed for our almost 4 year old and is nicer than any other piece of furniture in our home. Having said that – it isn’t necessary if you’re on a budget!
Also, it’s hue. So, if you need something small, you might want to consider a mini crib! I think this one is adorable! Consider your space and your budget before making a crib purchase!
Crib Mattress
Your crib mattress will probably last your little one through toddlerhood, so be smart. This doesn’t mean you have to buy the most expensive mattress on the market, but you should consider something a little better than the cheapest. While the lowest price may serve you well for a short time, they can easily become dented in where baby sleeps. This can make it hard for them to roll over, depending on what age you start using the crib.
Personally, we went with a Serta and never had any problems. You also should keep in mind that a mini crib requires a different size mattress. If you purchase a mini crib, you’ll need a mattress that fits.
Crib Sheets
Having a crib means needing crib sheets. I like to have 3 sets so that if baby has multiple accidents (or gets sick), there’s a backup available. You can find crib sheets in just about any print or theme, but remember to get sheets that are made for your mattress size.
Books
Board books are so important! Inspire reading at an early age with a wide variety of colorful books. They’re also easy to clean, so that’s a win.
Toys
A newborn doesn’t really need toys. When baby reaches a few months old, however, rattles and colorful items will catch his attention. Be sure to have a few toy options for baby. Keeping a teething toy on hand is also something that I would do, as you never know when your baby will start teething. I’ve known babies to start teething at 3 months!
10. Registry Tips
It can be overwhelming to register for baby items. When we did it, Toys-R-Us was still open and there were so many things to look at. Plus, we’d never had a baby before – how did we know what he really needed? That’s where lists like this one come in handy. Don’t worry – I’ve done this a few times.
Where to Register?
If you’re pregnant during the pandemic, it might seem like registering in person is out of the picture. While this might not be 100% true, it is probably easiest to register online! Friends and family can make online purchases or find the item in store. Either way, your items are purchased.
Personally, I’m fond of just using Amazon these days. While some part of me thinks, does Jeff Bezos really need more money?, the other part thinks, wow! This is convenient! Plus, Amazon is usually where I find the better deals. That’s not always the case, but most of the time.
What should I buy used?
The answer to this question depends on your feelings on used items. I would not buy a used crib mattress, but I have a fear of bedbugs in my home. I’m more comfortable purchasing the actual crib, though. When it comes to clothing, I am usually willing to take clothes from people that I know or from reputable used clothing stores. Shoes are another item that I wouldn’t get used – the impression left behind from someone else’s foot may not be even close to your baby’s foot.
Use your own feelings and common sense to determine which items are best used and which should be bought new. There is no right or wrong answer, in my opinon.
My minimalist baby registry might be a little different than yours.
And that‘s okay! My needs may be different than your needs. If you’re living in a tiny house, you may not have the room for everything on my list. I’m currently in an 1100 square foot townhouse, and even with 4 people currently living in it, we have a bit of space.
Also, every baby is different and has different requirements. Remember that when making your own minimalist baby registry.
Why should I have a minimalist registry?
I know how hard it is to turn away from that adorable sweater for a little baby. But you have to consider: does he need it? When baby arrives it can be jarring to realize that you have so much stuff and run out of room quickly. Then, it’s a hassle to get rid of while you’re trying to care for a baby.
A minimalist registry can help you to get what you need moreso than what you want.
Have you finished your registry? Is there something that I didn’t include on this list? Let’s talk about it in the comments!