Baby Gear You Really Need: A Minimalist Approach
Every year it seems the market adds another thing that we MUST HAVE for our newborns. Some people LOVE to have the latest and the greatest, but some of us are rather happy to have just the essentials. So how do you know with the millions of products available today what is really truly needed? We’ve got you covered.
What Does My Newborn Actually Need?
Diapers and Wipes — Whether you decide to use disposable or cloth (find our cloth diaper class here), you’ll need something for that cute baby bum! Take your time to research both and decided what will work best for your family.
Diaper Pail – We can’t lie to you, those diapers can get pretty stinky. There are tons of options for diaper pails in a range of materials (plastic, steel etc.) and designs. Do yourself a favor and get one.
Receiving Blankets – These are a life saver, seriously, and can be used for anything; swaddling, blanket, pad for changing baby butts, burp cloth etc. This is personally the number one thing I put on my baby registry. You’ll probably want about a dozen or so of them, they get dirty fast.
Laundry Detergent – It can be appealing to buy all the ‘baby specific’ things, but totally unnecessary and can be expensive. If you love Dreft, then go for it! But the reality is you just need something ‘Free & Clear’ without extra smells and dyes. And trust me, you’ll want it in the house before the baby arrives.
Nightgowns – 3AM changings are hard enough, make it easier on yourself with baby nightgowns. Easy to pull up and down, and no fussing with buttons or zippers. If you want something with more coverage, look into PJs that zip or even close magneticaly from the bottom for easy baby butt access without having to undo the entire thing.
Sleeping Arrangement – Deciding where your newborn will sleep is a very personal choice. Bed sharing, co-sleeping, room sharing, or baby outside your room? There is no wrong answer. Find what you think will work best for you, your family and your new baby.
Infant Feeding Tools - If you’re body-feeding, there isn’t any extra really needed! Shirts that are easy to lift or pull down are useful. I love nursing tank tops personally but you can succeed without them. Some people find their bodies are sore after delivery and benefit from using a breastfeeding pillow in the first weeks. Nipple cream is always a good idea just in case. Plan to pump? Most insurances will send you one for free! And of course if you are bottle feeding of any kind, you’ll need bottles. Don’t be surprised if it takes you a few tries to find a bottle that works best for you (and take a look here for a video of paced bottle feeding). No need for fancy cleaning stuff, just boil in a large pot! And if you’re formula feeding, of course you’ll want to research and talk to your pediatrician about what’s best for your baby. Again, don’t be frustrated if you need to try a couple of different things before you find what works best for you.
Bonus! What will YOU need after your baby is born?
A full freezer/meal train/meal delivery service/postpartum concierge – It is of the UTMOST importance to take care of yourself after baby is born. You can not pour from an empty cup, so make sure you stay full. Stock your freezer with fast meals before your baby is born, ask a friend to start a meal train for you, sign up for a meal delivery service, or hire a personal chef/postpartum concierge to cook for you!
Depends & Multiple Sized Pads – Depends diapers are heaven sent in those first few days. You will be bleeding and uncomfortable already, don’t mess with sticky pads that move around or waste money on mesh underwear that don’t last. You’ll thank me later. And a small range of pads, Large overnights for when you feel ready to get out of the depends, and panty liners for those last days.
A Pain Reliever & Heating Pad – Over the counter medications like Ibuprofen are safe to use while body-feeding (though you should always talk to your provider first) and can really help with those nasty afterpains (Afterease is a favorite herbal remedy). Also a good heating pad (plug in or rice sock type) can be a life saver those first few days.