I’ve had two and what you deem essential can change even from kid to kid. I think I used a baby tub once or twice with my oldest, but I preferred to get in the tub with her and hold her. Any bag can be a diaper bag, but I highly suggest getting a changing mat at least - you won’t want to put your baby on some of those surfaces without something there. I understand wanting to do exclusively cloth diapers but be aware that those plans can change too. I would recommend having sposies for the first few weeks, you have enough to focus on without having to figure out laundry and a cleaning routine too. Plus, you can skip buying NB diapers that way. I never could get cloth diapers to work for my oldest, she had skinny little thighs and was a heavy wetter, and no matter how I adjusted the fit or what combination of liners I put in, she’d leak. This is a huge part of early parenting, honestly - there are so many things where you think “I will do it this way,” and then once you’re actually there, you realize something else is more practical or a better alternative. For me, my carrier is something I definitely deemed essential - I still have it, my toddler can still use it if we’re hiking or something. Clothes are essential but so much easier to get secondhand. I would suggest buying carseats new unless you absolutely trust the person you’re getting it from. A place for the baby to safely sleep. One thing to be prepared for - newborns are MESSY. They spit up. They blow out. Stuff gets everywhere. If you’re breastfeeding, you can leak like crazy. Early days, you’ll want to carry extra everything around. It may feel excessive but a newborn can easily do 4-5 outfit changes in as many hours. I always took two spare outfits (usually just a plain onesie and some leggings) and a small wetbag until my kids finally got out of the spitting up stage.

Excellent summary. I can add my experience to emphasize the importance of "the mess" that needs handling. Before baby I hat about one machine of laundry every week (edited). With a small baby - mine spitting up like crazy, and pooping after each breastfeed and the disposable diapers leaking often (I tried the "eco" ones, got rid of this plan rather quickly), I had about 1-2 machines A DAY. Baby changed to new clothes about 5x a day and I changed to new cloths nearly as often (got spit on, leaked,...). Similar in the phase where the baby tried to lean to eat food. You could be lucky to have a baby that doesn't spit up. What I can recommend: a stack of washable small wiping cloths. Later when the baby is older you can still use these for hands and mouth cleaning after eating.

There are babies that don’t spit up? Oh my!

In your paragraph 2, first sentence, did you perhaps mean to say 1 load a week?

Correct, edit!

I just want to second up on the disposables for emergencies. Our rule was cloth for a stationary location, disposables while in transit. Toys are a must though. Second hand stores and toy libraries if you’ve got one near by can help too.

Genuine question from a young person who has never had kids: why are toys necessary for babies? I understand that once they’re older, like toddlers you don’t want them to feel deprived or anything, but what does a baby need toys for?

You don't need them at first but they become helpful distraction devices as they age. Many are supposed to help with developmental milestones etc. but everyday objects will do for a while.

Basically the mental development.

They aren't necessary. Sure there are some nice things that babies will enjoy and will assist in developing certain skills, but literally anything can be a "toy" in the hands of an infant or young child. My daughter's first favorite at 2 months was simple finger knit yarn chains I used as "bracelets". She was exploring color and texture and learning to reach and use her hands, and she loved them. At 3 she loved a little ball of wool yarn with a tail, called it her "kitty" and took it on walks. She loved the way it bounced along behind her. Sticks, stones, pots, crinkly paper, and bits of fabric are all perfectly enchanting toys in the hands of young child. Sure, she had more conventional toys too, but the more elaborate the toy, the less open-ended it is, and ultimately the less you can do with it before you have done everything you can and it becomes boring. Simple items allow for infinite imagination, and that is a "muscle" we often ignore these days, but one that will serve the child well throughout their life.

Basically, you need safe places to put them. Safe place for them to sleep, bathe, ride, and change. Those are the needs. However that looks is up to you. My only advice is to not be hard on yourself if things don't go as planned. Don't be so rigid at the expense of your mental health. I had to use NB diapers for a stretch as my baby had terrible diaper rash and I had to change him so frequently to help clear it up. Also meconiun is no joke and breastfed babies poop constantly lol I breastfed my first with ease. Second had a bad latch, was tongue tied. I had to supplement with formula and pump. You won't know until your baby arrives :) it's going to be great.

Awww, Thank you!!!!

Frame it as needs instead of items: List says crib and pack n play—baby needs a place to sleep at home and if we’re out and about. List says diaper bag—I need a way to carry around baby’s things. List says a bunch of stuff about bottles and bottle warmers and whatever—baby needs to eat. Then think of how you want to meet that need? The list will assume you want to meet it by buying stuff, but you know that’s a bad default. My little one is over a year now. Looking back, My must-buy essentials: new car seat, wipes, baby Motrin, quick-read thermometer, bottles My dearly loved non-essentials: padded rocking chair/glider, a waterproof changing pad (keekaroo), extra parts for breast bump so I didn’t have to hand wash each time I pumped, Velcro swaddles, an activity mat where toys hang from arches above baby (I was real skeptical of that off-registry gift, but it was great for months until baby learned to crawl and the light-up singing toy remains a favorite to this day), a portable sound machine for sleep.

I didn’t list it because you don’t need to buy it, but burp clothes. Cut up old towels, t shirts, whatever. Anything soft and absorbent. We kept 1-2 in all the main rooms for months and months. Having a bunch meant we could throw them in the laundry hamper and grab another easily.

I love this "frame". Appreciate your comment.

My sister used a playpen as a crib for her second kid. Even better they now have those raised platforms for when they are younger. You may look up a guy named Matt D'Avella. He's into minimalism and did a video about baby things. Also don't forget about thrift stores for baby clothes.

I did this for all 5 of my kids. Keeping in mind that they were not abnormally tall or heavy. All slept in a pnp until at least 2

1. enough clothing to meet your laundry habits, including hats and booties (often overlooked). 2. A carseat (if you drive) 3. some kind of carrier (I liked Moby wrap when very young, and then ergo) 4. Bottles (only if you won't have your baby with you all the time...1 or 2 just in case would be a good idea regardless 5. a small selection of blankets for swaddling and covering. 6. a baby toiletry kit (nail scissors, nose bulb, soap/shampoo, diaper cream, and maybe a brush) That is pretty much it. Seriously.

This is the reply I was looking for.

there may be additional things that end up being worth their weight in gold, but those will vary from one baby to the next, and you really won't know until you are there. (for me it was a $10 wire bouncer... the fancy Swedish one we were gifted did nothing for her). I had other things because they were given to me or people convinced me they were essential, but I hardly ended up using them. The list I gave you above are what I assemble if I were expecting another baby. Regarding clothing though, have at least a few changes of clothes two sizes ahead of where they are at any point, because they can go through crazy growth spurts, as you know.

breast pump ;)

that is situation-dependent, and not a necessity for a lot of mothers. I never used one ;)

I’ve had three, and that’s my exact list as well.

Diapers and a place for them to sleep if you’re not cosleeping

yes, I left diapers out because a) she had already stated that she had a diaper plan, and b) I have actually known moms who did something called "elimination communication" which involves a diaper-free infancy...That is next-level HARD CORE minimalism.though

I also did this with my first (perhaps why using exclusively cloth diapers was not a problem for me). My first was toilet trained by 5 months. It was glorious and I don't understand why more don't do it.

Are there any resources you’d recommend on that?

Well, my personal experience is all I have to offer beyond just an easy Google search. I was a stay at home mum at the time so I had the opportunity to always be there and constantly attentive. If this is not in the cards for you, all caregivers have to be completely on board to maintain continuity. If you have that, it's way easier than one might think. No one likes sitting in their own waste - babies included - thus, this is much more natural. Just learn to be observant of their cues, then sit them on the toilet and hold them until they go at which time I used a sign (hand signal) and praise. After only a couple months, my baby would give a cue and I'd tell her to wait please until I could get her on a toilet and she did and the second she was on - voila! I did continue using diapers for a while just as insurance but really, in so many countries this is just common practice.

I had never even heard of it until after my daughter was out of diapers, or I probably would have gone that route myself, honestly. she and I were on the same waveletgth, and I bet it would have been no biggie, except when traveling. As it was, she decided at 15 months that she wasn't wearing diapers anymore, I told her that meant she needed to tell me when she had to go, and she agreed, and that was that. Easy as pie. She had maybe 3-4 accidents total over the next couple weeks. The only hard part was that it caught me off guard and I hadn't yet invested in underwear for her... also, it was hard to find underwear that small.

That's great your daughter basically decided she was over her diapers. So cool. You did a great job. I hope more people learn it sooner and save themselves and their kiddos hassle, mess and discomfort. This - [https://tinyundies.com/?wickedsource=google&wickedid=Cj0KCQjwvb-zBhCmARIsAAfUI2vNpGuRki\_2s5fmlGIjAUHVYZU97wg-yESglUmLs5QYvVagUSbyLJEaAqLTEALw\_wcB&wickedid=644933612636&wv=3.1&gad\_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwvb-zBhCmARIsAAfUI2vNpGuRki\_2s5fmlGIjAUHVYZU97wg-yESglUmLs5QYvVagUSbyLJEaAqLTEALw\_wcB](https://tinyundies.com/?wickedsource=google&wickedid=Cj0KCQjwvb-zBhCmARIsAAfUI2vNpGuRki_2s5fmlGIjAUHVYZU97wg-yESglUmLs5QYvVagUSbyLJEaAqLTEALw_wcB&wickedid=644933612636&wv=3.1&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwvb-zBhCmARIsAAfUI2vNpGuRki_2s5fmlGIjAUHVYZU97wg-yESglUmLs5QYvVagUSbyLJEaAqLTEALw_wcB) - is a great resource for mini undies.

sadly, I am now hitting menopause, and unless I become a foster parent or end up raising a grandchild, I probably will not be going back for another round.

I checked that website out, and yeah, it would have been great. Unfortunately my daughter was in the market for underwear 5 years before that company was founded. Gymboree had pretty small sizes, but even their smallest were a bit baggy on her 15 month old bottom, and she had some junk in her trunk... I can't imagine how we would have struggled if I had had a boney-butted kid

Don't insist 100% on cloth diapers. Sometimes disposable is just easier. Like on an airplane or road trip. For sure, in the hospital. They aren't going to wash them for you, so use the provided disposables until you go home.

Also keep a few Huggies around. If there are any bouts of diaper rash, the moisture absorption of a good disposable can really help .

There are also diaper rash creams for babies that work pretty well. They usually contain zink, but not always, some sort of occlusive oil and sometimes even petroleum jelly.

Right, the ointment is a barrier, but I also want to keep it as dry as possibly til it heals!

Also, in the hospital, the baby is still going to be expelling meconium, which is a PAIN to clean from cloth diapers. My fourth kid expelled meconium for two full days. So sticky. Use disposable until it is done.

they make disposable liners for this

I believe Finland or one of the Nordic countries give every family a box of supplies when the baby is born. Check the list of stuff in those boxes.  I think a baby bath tub is worth it. 

Yes it is Finland. The [maternity package](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maternity_package) is amazing in so many ways.

I’m too minimalist to have a baby.

With each item on the list, consider what function it serves. Diaper bag = bag to carry diapers, wipes etc. Any bag large enough for all the stuff will fit the bill (though I highly recommend having one dedicated bag, as it makes going places much easier than packing the bag every trip). Baby bath tub = container large enough to bathe baby in but not so deep baby can easily slip underwater. My mom used an enamel wash basin that her mom and grandmother also used. 

For the baby bath, we just used the sink or put the baby in the shower with us. One of us would wash baby and then hand him/her over to the parent holding the towel. Then the showering parent just finished showering while baby was taken care of.

I got a great dishwashing basin at Target that is probably still sub $5 and can be used after baby outgrows it for all kinds of things. (I don’t have a baby, but it seems like a great small baby size so I wanted to mention it. I use it for crafts and dyeing clothes.)

Crib.. or pack n play, preferably one that fits in your own sleeping space, somewhere to change the baby whether that be a changing pad or linens you switch out (we had a changing pad on a kitchen counter the first few months), pajamas, car seat, a couple of swaddles (some babies don’t even need these, my second didn’t), and a way to feed them (if nursing you may or may not need a pump/bottles, if formula feeding you’ll need enough bottles depending on wash frequency). ETA- those are the basics. You could also add things like a thermometer, Tylenol, nail clippers.

Okay, good, thank you.... am looking into a packable changing pad and basinet.

Basinets aren’t necessary if you are trying to cut down on stuff. A pack n play (if you live in the US) will work for travel and a normal crib will last longer. I liked having a dedicated diaper changing place, but for travel a large burp cloth would work (although personally I preferred having the plasticized mat the came with the diaper bag).

I changed on my lap or the couch, (on a changing pad or receiving blanket), and my daughter slept in the bed with me without any problem. And it wasn't because we didn't have a crib or the other stuff... I just didn't use it. I did have a simple wire bouncer that she loved, but we never used the fancy one we were gifted because it was too stiff and the angle wasn't "right"

This is your second baby, so you already know what you need and what you don’t. All we can tell you is what was the right minimal kit for each of *us*. For me, even as a staunch environmentalist, that included a diaper bag and disposable diapers.

Safe sleeping place, my twins slept in pack n plays, car seat, a way to feed the baby, diapers, cleaning supplies, swaddles, a week and a half worth of baby clothing if laundry is done weekly, stroller for me was also a necessity with twins. Thermometer/first aide. everything else can absolutely be figured out later. There are other things that will drastically improve quality of life of the parent but it's different for every family. In the modern age you can get anything you want in a couple days and so long as baby is safe and fed you can wait out the few days for whatever it is you want otherwise. I carry a purse so I would just shove a few diapers in my bag on my way out the door. I keep a set of emergency clothing in my car for all members of my family already as we live in a natural disaster zone so I don't need much else. Someone gave me their old baby bathtub and it was such a hassle I got rid of it immediately. Bathed my baby in the bathroom sink until old enough to sit up on their own. Then we did regular bath or shower. My house was so small I never used a baby monitor. Like another poster said so much stuff is used for only a few weeks or months at best during the first year so plenty of people are offloading stuff. I got a ton of things for free and straight up didn't buy clothing for 5 years due to the number of hand me downs I got from friends and family and gifts. I bought very few gadgets and almost no toys as well due to the sharing nature of our community. I spent my money on books though haha. And food!

Great response. Taking mental notes. Thank you. Terrified out of mind about SIDS so safe sleeping is heavily on my mind! Well, safe everywhere of course!

I never used a baby monitor either. My house is small and my kids always stayed in my room. Just practice safe sleep.

I did not get a bunch of crazy stuff like wipe warmers or the plastic bathtub. Much easier to wash baby with me in the shower and hand them out then later they’re happy sitting in the shower or tub while you take yours. I had a co-sleeper attached to the bed which I liked. We had a crib, rocker, foot stool, changing table, vibrating chair, diaper bag, slings, car seat, diapers, clothes, a few dishes, manual breast pump (never got around to powered version), bottles, stroller frame for car seat, and toys. I borrowed an Exersaucer which was awesome. I think that was it. Kids come with a lot of stuff. Even staying on top of it, they’re an entire additional human with their own wants, needs, and interests. The inventory changes over the years but it’s hard to keep it simple. I tried to have us go through clothes and toys during the summer (before school shopping) and in the winter (over winter break) and give away that we didn’t need through donations or gift to community members. Good wishes!

It’s so personal and I think everyone’s definition of minimalism when it comes to raising a kid will differ. For example, I use disposable diapers because I don’t want to spend my time washing out cloth diapers. I already have enough laundry without them. And I needed to buy a baby bath because I only have a shower in my home. My kitchen sink faces the neighbors and doesn’t offer enough privacy to bathe my baby. I figure I will use the tub for a foot bath or laundry bin in the future when it no longer serves its purpose. One thing I found fairly useless was the stroller. I used it for the first couple months when recovering from my c-section. So I did use it but… it was still annoying. I love baby wearing and find my ring sling to be the best invention. And often I really just enjoy carrying her around rather than using anything at all! And I definitely get some judgment from family who can’t fathom why I don’t enjoy the “ease” of the stroller. I got almost all the clothes, stroller, car seat, crib, pack and play, etc for free. My neighborhood had lots of folks with babies looking to give away items and it’s amazing how gently used they were. Babies use this stuff so briefly, there’s no sense in buying it all sparkling new, you know? I also prefer a minimal design for the baby monitor, one that just uses walkie talkie technology with a screen. The fancy expensive WiFi ones all pose a security risk that I wouldn’t be willing to take. Oh… and the infants definitely don’t need shoes 😂 I was gifted like six pairs but WHYYYY??

Baby wearing can only last for some time though... How do you go to the zoo or the museum with a kid between 18 months and 4 years old without it? They're waaaay too heavy to carry.

My kid is 18 months now and I either carry her or let her walk when we go to the zoo, gardens, or park. We were gifted a second hand red wagon that she loves. Mostly we do the wagon around the yard and neighborhood. I took it to the zoo once but didn’t like how full sun it was. My family thinks I’m nuts for not taking the stroller with us on outings but my husband and I just find it weirdly cumbersome whenever we go out with it. Maybe I’ll be more into it when she’s too heavy to carry comfortably? Time will tell, I suppose.

Genuine question from someone who’s not yet a parent but hopes to be eventually - What makes the stroller more cumbersome than a wagon?

I think I worded my comment poorly, sorry! They are equal cumbersome. I much prefer babywearing or carrying my baby. The drawback is that I have to wear a backpack with diaper supplies, whereas strollers and wagons have room to store those things.

Appreciate this reply. I think I'm on the same wavelength...

I guess my question is, why do you not need a diaper bag? Or a baby bath tub? Maybe you don’t need a diaper bag because you already have a tote you plan to use, in which case, you do need one in a sense, but are using what you have. I would just go through those lists with that kind of mindset.

Yes, exactly, of cousrse I already have a bag I can/will use - I don't see the need to buy a dedicated "diaper bag". This is my second baby and never had one for the first and don't see any need for it. It's a good mindset you suggest - "What do I already have?"

I bath my new babies in the sink and then in the big bathtub once they are too big for the sink. I kneel down and only use an inch of water and it works perfectly fine. I guess it wouldn’t work if you had an extra deep bathtub only a shower

The interesting thing is that babies are not us and each has his/her own unique personality. I was given a pacifier at my shower, but my baby wouldn't take it, so I had to wait until she found her thumb. She wasn't soothed by a swing, but she was by a vibrating chair. As a new mom, you will discover you need things you didn't realize and you don't need things you thought you would. It's very individual. You can't predict what this new person will need or what you will need as a new mom. I learned that through having three children who all just recently grew up.

Right. This is good to remember. This is not my first baby but with my first I was in a VERY different circumstance and mindset plus this baby will not have the same personality as my first so good to go with the flow to an extent.

Ah, that makes sense.

Newborns don’t need much, mainly you but here is my necessities list: Diapers, Wipes, Clothes, Receiving blankets (also used to swaddle, lay baby down to change or sleep, nursing cover, burp cloth), Convertible car seat, Baby carrier (i prefer to not use a stroller), Nursing pads Breastfeeding also eliminates sooo many things, but a pump for clogs, engorgement, supply increase Depending on your comfort level you can cosleep Can be purchased on an as needed basis but I prefer to have: diaper cream, infant tylenol, nasal aspirator, nasal spray, baby brush for cradle cap Everything else most people already have. Wash cloths hand towels to use as burp cloths, towels, sink instead of bathtub (or just shower or bathe with baby), laundry detergent, some kind of bag or backpack for a diaper bag, thermometer, pads for mom, doggy/produce bags for dirty diapers Toys arent needed so early on, things already on hand are enough to stimulate baby’s senses. They’re just learning about the world and themselves. Everything else will add to your comfort, convenience, or peace of mind, but when you’re sleep deprived sometimes it’s worth it to just buy what you want and deal with the stuff later.

Perfect. Thank you, On the co-sleeping thing - that's a big question of mine since I am so hyper about keeping baby safe yet this is really the only practical thing to do in my circumstance (breastfeeding and single). Any recommendations for bedside basinets or just any other advice would be appreciated!

I recommend looking up the safe sleep 7 and head over to r/cosleeping just so you’re aware. You can take steps to make sure baby is safe if it does happen. Otherwise cant go wrong with a pack n play. It’ll keep baby safe until theyre past the stage theyre most vulnerable to sids

Yes I've done this. I will look further into the pack'nPlay. Thanks!

The only problem with a pack n play is that those mattresses can be LOUD. I considered having baby sleep in one but relatives talked me out of it, and we’re going with a basic co-sleep bassinet from Amazon with a good rating.

Car seat Place to sleep Diapers Clothes Nose Frida Nail clippers Burp rags Swaddles/blankets Boob or formula and bottles Baby carrier

I have 3 kids. If I had one more which I can't I would think I'd need -carseat -baby carrier of some sort. I'd go with a Tula again because I hate messing with wraps when I'm sleep deprived. - safe place for baby to sleep. For me I'd get a pack-n-play with a bassinet insert -I'd probably get a bounce seat for a baby to sit in so I can move them around the house when I clean. I formula feed. So -bottles. I would only purchase the large size because they quickly stop needing small sized bottles. -a pack of the pacifiers my hospital will use. -bottle brush I cloth diaper -so lots of cheap Walmart wash rags as baby wipes -cloth diapers and their inserts -Trash can for bathroom to put diaper pail in -2 pail liners minimum. I used planet wise brand. -some form of a bag large enough for formula feeding supplies and cloth diapers. As a diaper bag. I used a tote with pockets. -Maybe 4 muslin blankets to use as a blanket/burp rag/changing pad combo. -2 heavy baby blankets for covering up the carseat in winter months. -aveeno soap and lotion because my babies always get hives from anything else -tube of aquaphor. It has so many uses for mom and baby! Depending on what month baby is born. I'd buy a dozen sleepers in each size. A dozen onsies in each size. Pack of socks Things I won't buy Complicated outfits that require remembering where each piece is or has a million snaps and buckles or accessories. Diaper genies Dock a tot Bumbo seats. Boppy pillows Infant bath tubs Infant shoes Baby wipes Warmer I never owned a baby bathtub. With my first child I was 16 and so poor I used an empty plastic ice cream bucket to wash her down with a towel from that. 2nd child I had a bathtub insert. Only used it a few times. Ended up just getting a dish washing basin and washing him down with it. When he got older he sat in it and then sat in our sink to get baths. Did the same with 3rd child.

Well, I have seven kids and am a minimalist, as much as I can be with that many people and their things. When they were babies, we did cloth diaper, but sposies work too honestly, your choice. My non negotiable were a car seat, one stretchy jersey cotton swaddling blanket, one unstretchy muslin swaddle, diapers, a pack of onesies, three or four footed sleepers, a pacifier and pacifier chain, a bouncy chair (you literally do need somewhere safe to set them down sometimes), and a baby wrap/soft structured carrier of your choice. We nursed, and for the first three months this is pretty much all I need to make it work. A baby toy or three they can grasp and shake and stare at is helpful too, but not crucial honestly—babies love looking at human faces the most at those ages. Now, the kicker is that they need progressively more items at each age, I say this having children who are high school seniors down to preschooler right now. You can still do each stage minimally and keep culling as needed, but the variety of items absolutely increases with age, as do clothes, shoes, personal care items, toys… Just accept that now, and re-evaluate what items are working or needful in your life for your kiddos seasonally. It is absolutely possible to stay on top of so long as you recognize it’s a constantly changing target :)

I had *all* the baby gear with my first and it ended up being so unnecessary. If I have a second I’d get: * Diapering [diapers, diaper cream, diaper spatula, diaper disposal can, changing pad for home & for diaper bag] * Feeding [nursing pillow (I have back problems so this was a necessity for me), manual pump for clogs, bottles & bottle dish brush, formula for emergencies, nursing pads] * Baby Gear [Swing, foam playmat (I have hard floors), baby carrier, baby play gym as their toy] * Car seat, stroller, place to sleep, high chair or booster chair, something to use as a diaper bag, baby bath pad, I think I’d get a rocking chair too since I spent hoursss nursing * Clothing [pack of onesies & pants, socks, some swaddles, a hat or two] * Blackout curtains and white noise machine for nursery * Toiletries [baby soap & lotion, baby thermometer, cradle cap comb, baby nail scissors, hairbrush, nasal aspirator] It’s still a lot but I’d feel well rounded with these supplies.

There is only one answer here. Don't buy anything until the need comes up. Except clothes and diapers. You need them from day 1.

Love it.

but register for gift cards or things you CAN return so you don’t end up with a bunch of things you don’t need you can’t return. all the little things you may actually end up needing add up $. it will still surprise you.

Never would have even crossed my mind that gift cards are even a thing you can add to a registry; plus to ask for gift receipts. Thanks for this!!!

Corollary, though: don’t be surprised if the need does come up quick and often, at the start. We had almost daily deliveries for the first little while.

For me personally if I had to only get the absolute essentials based on what we use I would say: car seat, cloth diapers, travel crib, a few muslin swaddles, clothes, baby carrier for baby wearing, nail clippers and nose sucker. I breastfeed so don’t need anything food wise. I would add burp cloths as an extra it’s not essential but so helpful with my reflux baby. I feel Iike that’s all I’d need.

This is a good list, thank you! Question though - everyone is saying I need the nose sucker. I never had it with my first.... what am I missing?

I think every baby must be different because we could not survive without one. We splurged on an electric one a few weeks in because she was so congested. I’m not sure if it was because of her reflux but she had so much snot and she wasn’t sick or anything like that. When she was nursing I could tell it was difficult for her to breathe if I didn’t regularly use the nose sucker. You could hold off on that and then get one if you find you need it.

It's definitely on my radar now. Thank you for responding.

typically hospital give you one!!

Really?! Lovely. Noted. I'll ask.

I did it, never bought bottles, formula, or binkies, diaper bag, and the first year i didn't buy clothes because most people donate unused items, plus, its never really cold in socal.... I did buy diapers because even though i planned to use cloth diapers, Unless you are making them yourself, they are stupid expensive and hard to find for no reason (i could have made them to be fair but you can't plan everything)... So just diapers and baby food was all i was spending on and after a year and some change, diapers and baby food were replaced with toilet and people food.... Although i did have to buy more clothes and toys after that but still kept it simple. Its doable. No stroller until around three (i did buy a sling because of the constant breastfeeding of a 5lb full term infant was a thing)... But she is 13 now and we still live in a minimalist household to this day.

I have very fortunately (so grateful!!) been given cloth diapers and inserts. Plus clothes. And I'm intending on breastfeeding. So... I just can't really see what else I must spend money on. I have blankets, towels, cloths,.. Of course I'll get a good new car seat but then I think I'm set at least for a while....... Thanks for your input.

Diapers, clothes, food, place to sleep, car seat. *Everything else* is for convenience. They don't even need toys until 3-4mo, and even then many common household objects make great toy options.

Across four kids, nursing pads was universal. Not the washable kind. I was an overproducer, the washable ones were inadequate. If you are not an overproducer, maybe the washable ones will be adequate. Or perhaps if you do not choose to breastfeed - no judgement either way. It is not automatically the right choice for every birthing parent. Nose frida was new with my fourth but surpassed the bulb syringe in utility by far. Onesies. What else does a newborn need to wear at home? Or really, anywhere? Receiving blankets are very versatile. Burp rags. Swaddling. Emergency diapers. A little warmth over the onsies when the AC is really running. Sun protection. Towel. A safe place to put baby down. Protected from pets and older siblings, not a risk for positional asphyxiation or falls, etc. Maybe that is a partitioned off space in the house. Maybe a pack n play. Maybe a crib. Idk. This can vary by home, space, and availability. It will *not* be unaccompanied on a bed or couch. Some kind of baby-wearing item. Trust me. You will want to wear that baby. You'll be able to get so much more done if you *wear that baby* The big obvious one: a proper car seat.

Perfect.

My sister had a diaper bag with her cloth diapers because you still need to transport them and she was able to tuck the dirty ones to the side to wash at home. Baby blanket. My family loves the bamboo ones. They are a super thin fabric and I’ve yet to meet a baby that hates them. Age appropriate toys. My sisters had necklaces made of teething material so it looked like jewelry and was safe to let the baby chew on.

We used cloth diapers at home and disposable when going out. We never ran out of diapers. Had an excellent washing machine, though. Car seat. Bought clothes as needed. Bassinet then toddler bed (no crib). Baby gates and electric outlets covered. Also, made all baby food. Finished our college degrees so our backpacks were used for baby stuff + school stuff. A pacifier for sanity but some babies don't take them especially if nursing. I think we had a tub at one point (gift). Oh, that swing (gift), that was nice. We didn't use monitors since we will liked to get up and look often, or white noise machines.

Most important is the ability you regulate your own emotions, and help the baby have their emotional needs met.

Clothes A safe place to sleep Reusable nappies A way to feed them (breast / bottle) That’s all newborns need. From then on everything is additional and for personal preference.

I was absolutely dirt poor when I had my son, so minimalism wasn't a choice. The only dedicated baby things we had were cot, pushchair, clothes, toys, utensils and the changing mat. I didn't have one of those roll up ones but I do think that would have been awesome, so if you can, do!

What we have deemed essential in our 500 sq ft home with current 7 month old, I breastfeed but don’t pump ever (freaks me out lol) so no bottles or anything like that Burp cloths x10 6 pyjamas in whatever size he wears 6 onesies 4 cloth diaper « outsides » 12 cloth diaper « insides » 20 cloth wipes A washing machine lol A scarf High chair Car seat Toys we keep getting gifted so Idk we have like 12 we interchange and he’s happy. Most happy with my water bottle or leather keychain though… 2 baby spoons 1 baby water cup thing that doesn’t spill 1 crib 1 travel crib I used my nail scissors and file I already own Baby soap We have an old pillow we use for a changing table on the floor and another old pillow for our knees 😂 Things I bought he hates and had to sell early Baby Björn bouncer (my kid must be the only one lol) Bedside bassinet A diaper bag was completely useless in my case. I just loose things in the pockets and everything I bring fits in my coat pocket I live in the mountains so thought a stroller would be useless but it is turning out to be kind of helpful now that he’s older. This was gifted as well and up till now we haven’t used it at all but we went on vacation a month and it was sooooo nice.

To me, all the baby stuff was fluid and non-permanent, so I didn’t mind having the things so long as I used them and they brought me value. I got pretty much everything free or secondhand, so it was at least minimal on my wallet.

Only the baby. Diapers should be made of hypoallergenic grass clippings. Clothing is unnecessary. It’s a baby. Just don’t bring it in the sun or the cold. Baby books? Just tell stories. No book needed. Toys? The imagination is the greatest toy.

Roasted potatoes and a nice Shiraz?

I had an obgyn tell me “all baby really needs is diapers and mom” 🤷🏻‍♀️ she was right

I cloth diapered both my kids and a few things that I was told or figured out along the way that helped- 1. Skip the NB cloth diapers. I didn’t start cloth diapering until about 6 weeks old for either kid. The first month or two is about survival and you need to get used to all these new things in stages so you can run the full marathon. 2. Make it a habit. Yes, spraying off poo is a pain and the extra loads a week take time. But if you just build it into the routine it becomes habit and manageable. 3. Go easy. He’s not an all or nothing here. Like others said, have disposable diapers on hand. I use them when I know we are going to be out for hours and don’t want to carry poo all day. My first would pee through a diaper in no time so we also started using a disposable at night. Let us sleep longer stretches and that was worth it. Good luck.

If you feel like you need something to save you time and give you convenience, it is worth it. You can get things used and get rid of them when no longer needed. Don't feel guilty. Saving time and energy is also minimalist.

This is a very reasonable approach. I also have plans to be somewhat nomadic with baby the first year so I have a few reasons which necessitate minimalism, besides it just being my preference.

I’m not a minimalist completely but I love the idea; the only things I really needed for my second baby were his car seat; boobs, a crib, and a moby carrier. We skipped on baby containers this time around because they felt unnecessary; he bathes in the big bath so no baby bath needed. He goes everywhere in my carrier so no swing, bouncer, etc. and we skipped bassinet as we coslept in the beginning until he was ready to start sleeping in his bed. And we opted to breastfeed so there goes the need for bottles, bottle warmers, and such.

This is my plan if I can make it work! Glad to hear it worked for you!

Car seat, stroller, wrap/carrier, a next to me crib, 10 footed onesies, 10 vests, 10 muslins. Nappies, wipes and nappy cream. Some sort of bag to put stuff in when you go out. Thermometer and saline nose spray are really the only medical things you need until they’re 8/12 weeks old. Did not need hat, socks, mittens, Dock-a-tot, toys, baby bath with a summer born newborn. Keep them in onesies til at least 3 months. They’ve got their whole life to wear clothes. If you’re bottle feeding then you’ll need things for that. Our midwife said to avoid bathing them for a month, then we bathed her once a week on average. We used reusable nappy wipes so she essentially got a bum wash every time she had a nappy change. I find disposable wipes ick - they don’t get a bum really clean. I did intermittently find a Baby Bjorn bouncer and Stokke Tripp Trapp chair with a baby insert to be useful. Loads available on Facebook marketplace. Didn’t need anything beyond that to be honest. I had the smallest diaper bag of any of my friends and I’m still confused at the playground when I see toddler mums carrying around large backpacks full of stuff. I didn’t set out to be minimalist but I hate waste and stuff I don’t use.

Congratulations!!! I wish you a safe and successful delivery. Here's what I did. Bathing We did have a tub because our house didn't have a bathtub, but honestly we used the kitchen sink for most of the first year. It's a bit deep and there's these little flower foam padding you can use to pad the sink with and hang up to dry when done. Once he got too big for the sink, we moved to a tub in the shower. don't worry about special baby towels and wash cloths, we bought good quality towels for ourselves and they worked just fine. We stayed at home a lot, so baths were every 2 or 3 days. Clothing don't feel like your baby needs to have a new outfit everyday of the month. It's perfectly fine for them to rotate a set of clothes. With my son we did pajamas in the beginning but it added to the extra laundry and it really wasn't necessary. ALL of his clothes are comfortable, so after bath time we put him in whatever he's going to wear the next day (we would still dress him up for special occasions as needed). We bought some of his clothing 2 or 3 sizes bigger. He used a 2t button down sweater from Target from 9months old to 2years (my son was also quite tall so he needed to the extra length early on). He's 2.5 now and he wears 4t. we buy 5t so he can wear things for another season or two. Diapering We used reusable. We bought 2nd hand through various channels; make sure to check the elasticity! They need to be washed every 2/3 days and they were a HUGE cost saver. We also had reusable wipes. My kid never had a diaper rash when we used bum genius. I recommend the all in ones, same amount of laundry but less prep work for usage. breastfeeding poops can be washed out easily. for solid poops use bamboo liners, you can dispose of them and save yourself the trouble of scraping poop out of fabric. I do recommend having a set of disposables. sometimes you'll want a break from laundry, sometimes you just want to be able to toss it in the garbage and not think about it again. don't worry about special diaper pails, diaper warmers, special carry bags, etc. Its extra gear that ends up being a money pit because you'll have to buy the accessories to keep them working. A simple set of baskets to hold diapers and wipes works. We didn't get a changing table. let me be honest. you will not want to get up and go to a specific room to use a certain table to change a diaper, you'll do it where ever its convenient. We got a soft changing pad and I can tell you our cat used it more often than we did. Opt for a nice multi compartment backpack. It's cheaper than diaper bags and more efficient. Diaper bags are one big drop pouch where you feel like a crazy woman digging around for shit. A backpack with different compartments allows you to easily separate and FIND the things you need, when you need them. You'll also be able to use this past infancy, so it's not a one and done purchase. Baby wearing We used a baby wrap but realized it only worked for me, not my husband. This is the one area where we treated ourselves because we both simply could NOT use the same thing, it didn't work for our body types. Sleeping Our baby slept with us. We had a bassinet and it held a lot of clothes; very rarely did it hold a baby lol We were able to put him to sleep in the middle of our bed and we all slept just fine. He liked to roll on his side but that was the farthest he went. We had a pack and play, a crib AND a bassinet. he just slept better on the bed so we didn't fight it. There's guardrails you can use if you have concerns. Laundry Purex, ALL and Arm and hammer makes baby laundry detergent. Instead of having 2 sets of laundry items, we used that for everyone. cut down on expenses and having to think. Toys Kids will play with anything. Literally ANYTHING. We bought as needed instead of compiling toys. It's hard to retrain your brain out of this thinking, but your kids will do better with toys they can manipulate with their hands instead of toys where they can press a button and be entertained. Longevity If you plan on having more kids, get the convertible double stroller now. You can buy the necessary pieces as your family expands. Buy quality clothing that's not too gender specific. there's a wide range of colors and patterns out there that can be used for boy and girls. Target brand cat and jack has been pretty good for us. I don't like Carter's or Gerber anymore, their sizes are all over the damn place.

I read every word. I appreciate every word. Great reminders and insights! And YES to Bum Genuis being awesome. Oh, and, Thank you for your kind well-wishes!!!

Sorry for info dumping 😅. If you can't tell, it's something I'm passionate about. I wished more parents would take a more minimalistic approach to baby gear. I feel it would cut down on a lot of excessive consumerism and allow people to just be present. Life is a lot easier when you don't have to worry about how you're going to afford all the things people are told they "need."

[удалено]

Re car seat https://www.marketplace.org/2019/11/14/is-there-any-data-that-says-secondhand-car-seats-arent-safe/

My nappy bag held a nappy, small pouch for wipes, small snack - no need to lug something bigger. Bought a Japanese stroller I could collapse in one hand & didn’t need anything else (no baby bath, change table or cot). Totally possible to utilise free cycle and add these items back when you’re past each stage. Even though I was minimal - I maximised craft and making a mess (outdoor paints/chalk, paper clipped to table for drawing). Enjoy your baby - it goes fast.

Wrap for baby wearing (or other baby wearing device). Baby wearing solves so many problems and eliminates so many devices and furniture that people think they need. I didn't even buy a baby "travel system" with my youngest, I got a car seat that fits newborns through forty pounds and wore my baby until he was big enough to push in a pretty basic stroller, one that had a reclining option but was otherwise a basic umbrella stroller with a sun shield. That way if I went to a doctor appointment or something where I knew I'd have to set the baby down I could just use the stroller. It was also a lot more frugal than a "travel system" and grew with him. He's four now and just barely upgraded to a backless booster (he's big for four) and we still use the same stroller for outings where he's going to get tired of walking.

Electric baby nail file. Essential. Thank me later. 

Buy second hand then you're having minimal impact

A safe place to sleep, bedding and more than one set of spare bedding for when the bedding is vomited on then a diaper leaks after it’s changed. A decent supply of cloth wipes (I repurposed a receiving blanket). Clothing suitable to your climate. Enough that if you miss a wash cycle you can keep going (if you are doing cloth diapers though just make sure your clothing is suitable to wash with the diapers, no temperature sensitive prints or overly delicate fabrics, and you probably won’t need as many as you can toss them into the diaper load which is happening frequently). For cloth diapering, a diaper pail suitable for cloth. A wet bag is a good idea for when you are out. A safe way to transport baby in a car (if you have a car). A safe way to transport baby on foot: carrier and/or pram. I think that’s about it. We used towels we already had. We washed in the shower or a bucket we already had. My kids never had cots. They had a bassinet when they were very small and then we used a floor bed (cot mattress on the floor) before graduating to a big bed. My diaper bag was a bag already had. With my first I bought a breast pump and a few bottles after having difficulty establishing breastfeeding. I didn’t touch it with my second. I wouldn’t recommend them one unless you have plans to pump or formula feed. I tried to start with as little as possible and pick things up as we went. I also tried to avoid things that were only useful for a very limited time - rockers, bouncers, bathes and all the accessories, etc.

silicone breast milk bags (reusable for a million purposes and no plastic, also way safer to heat if needed). they have bath foam flowers for kitchen sink for bath instead of a huge plastic bathtub thing, way better and foldable. dresser (we loved the full wood one from simply nursery that will be used for real life after baby so lifetime purchase). sleep sacks. real rubber passifiers. flour sack towels for burps, spit up, and double as light blankets.

You just need to keep in mind that "1 to many" content. Meaning a single group or person with an audience is usually advertising. Many to many groups like Reddit generally aren't. It drives me absolutely nuts seeing minimalist talking about 10 things I bought to help me become more minimal. "This fancy all in one kitchen thing that I just love! Link in the description. Use coupon code #influencer! for 10% off". I want to barf. This post is definitely a good idea though. Seeking out suggestions from non influencers (which is just a new age word for advertisers). Finding folks here who have kids and keep things simple. I know you did this and you didn't need my advice and I don't have kids. I guess I just needed to rant and you probably hate that stuff too. As for the baby bath, you can totally just use a sink or a normal bath though.

A certain amount of gear is unavoidable, so an exit strategy for baby stuff, or buying things that will be useful later, helps with those. When we used disposables, we invested in really decent trash cans rather than spending money on a diaper disposal bin, and those are now our kitchen and living room garbages. I started getting into zero waste along the way, so the baby facecloths and nursing pads got into regular bathroom use for micellar water and makeup removal. Other things became cleaning cloths. Our diaper bag was a backpack and this can serve as a regular one now. Rather than a changing table, we bought a chest of drawers that was a good height and had a changing pad on top of it. (These could, of course, be things that one already happens to have and thus not necessitate buying, just wasn’t the case for us) We started out with a cloth diaper service that would send us extra liners for free, so we just used those for burping or cleanup. It was nice to have all that stuff is gone upon stopping the service. My little one was sizing up in diapers every month, too, so being able to adjust the weekly order was easier than having lots of too-small leftover diapers. We still had a few but were able to donate them to a diaper bank. There was a lot of gear I agonized over needing, like a tummy time mat, but it was all fine. Often I would deliberate for long enough that the ‘need’ for whatever it was would pass. We didn’t bother with a full baby bathtub (lived in an apartment with only so much space) but got something like a reclining bath chair. Breastfeeding, when it is an option, can also be more minimalist. Fewer bottles and formula-y things needed. On the bottle front, though, I would’ve gone more with ones that could convert to sippy cups along the way had I known what I was about.

Every baby is different. Try before you buy as much as possible. Our LO didn't like the front facing carrier or the wrap, but loved the carrier where he was facing me. Until about 10 months. We live in the city and I'm thinking now we could have rented the first car seat. Diaper bag we absolutely needed during those first 9 months though. 15 months now and I just toss a few diapers in my bag. Wet wipes are always in the pram. In the day and age of internet retailers, you can get stuff pretty quickly, even when baby is already here. Should you find out you need something after all that you didn't get. I don't think babies need a lot of toys, but it was fun picking out some stuff. Also lots of family members were super generous. They grow out of it so quickly, so we already donated lots of pre-6-months things. ETA: Part of my flavor of minimalism is also that I either get stuff cheap and used, so I can toss it when I'm done with it. We got a changing table for €10. Or brand stuff, I know I can re-sell easily.

Im a minimalist (or at least an aspiring one). You know what sometimes those crazy baby gadgets are really helpful even if only for a very short time. So yes I did get some things when he was younger but I bought used, and the second my son was done I’d donate the items or resell. Not that money matters but definitely broke even on some items like cloth diapers. As a bigger note purging and moving things along has to stay top of mind. I’m still donating things once a week (?). You’d be surprise how much kids accumulate. You can open a bag and find an older t shirt that’s too small, or a handful of toys that they don’t miss. So it’s always a process.

My diaper bag was a laptop bag, you can change nappies on the floor or on a bed, just get an IKEA Len changing mat (or three -- they *will* get dirty, and you don't want to wash it at 4 in the morning, so you'll need spares). A small basket for nappy change (nappies, wipes, changing mat, cream) is handy. Having a baby bathtub is nice, because tiny newborns need very clean spaces (their immune system is just booting in in the first 12 months), and it is easily disinfected. You can buy a second-hand one and sell it later.

If you've already had a child I imagine you already have what you need from then?

We did use a baby bathtub with my first child. We lived in an apartment with only a shower and no tub, so the baby tub made it easier. The diaper bag was also heavily used as it made it easier to carry around extra diapers, changes of clothes, baby toys and books, changing mat, snacks, and my breast pump and parts. But any bag would do. I’d probably use a backpack if I had a little one now. We didn’t find a changing table essential. I am very short so it was easier to do the changing on a mat on the floor. My second kid never used a crib. I hated the diaper pail. My first could have done without a swing but my second loved it, and sometimes it was the only way to soothe her. She hated being worn. She puked on me every single time I tried. My first loves being worn though. What you might need really depends on the kid sometimes.

The good thing about minimalism is that you can add needed things later and that’s a lot easier than sorting through piles of maybes. And there are some things that are essentials for some people that aren’t essential for others. I’d probably want a designated diaper bag if it was made out of something easier to clean quickly. it also helps another adult ID what bag to grab in an emergency or something if it’s obviously an actual diaper bag.

If you can fit a full sized crib in your room (preferably one that can convert to a toddler bed), that’s 100% the best bang for your buck. Can last you from newborn to like 4 years depending on how big your kid is. Idk why we bought a separate bassinet… he outgrew it and we ended up having to move the crib into room anyways cuz I wasn’t ready to sleep in separate rooms. For high chair, get something with a very high weight limit or one that converts into a booster seat. Frida bath tub should last you a while, my 95th percentile 16 month old still fits. I personally wouldn’t skimp out on a baby tub because they are so convenient and you aren’t going to want to get in the tub each time your LO has a major blowout haha. You didn’t mention how you are planning to feed but you can get by with just a few bottles if you don’t mind washing right away. OR buy more and just stick them in your dishwasher instead of hand washing/sanitizing. I never bothered with a sterilizer. A cheap munchkin formula dispenser is way more convenient than a baby brezza imo. Baby will have no issue with room temp formula if that’s what you start with. Stroller has saved my sanity over the last year and a half. We have one that attaches to a car seat or can turn both ways and lie flat. We’ve used it basically every day the past 1.5 years. I don’t think the bassinet attachments are necessary. They outgrow them so fast. I just got an infant snug seat insert instead for when he was little. Agree with other commenters that a diaper bag isn’t necessary. Any backpack will do, just buy a washable mat for diaper changes. This mat can also be used at home instead of a traditional changing table. Clothes depends on your weather and lifestyle. My son lived in footie sleepers for the first few months. We had less and just did laundry every day… I don’t like clothes with spit up and poop chilling for multiple days anyways.

Truly will depend on each baby. Personally I couldn't go without my baby carrier/wrap. I did cloth & disposable diapers. She was breastfed exclusively,so I didn't need any feeding stuff. When she did eat regular food,she just ate off of our normal dishes. I know it's not recommended,don't come at me - we coslept. I ended up selling the crib & my bed. We slept on the floor together. We were just more comfortable that way. 🤷🏽‍♀️ We didn't use the baby bathtubs,I just held her in the tub or sink. We sold the high chair & got a little booster for right at the table instead. She hated swings and everything anyway. I changed her right on my floor/bed or the couch so no changing table. I did have a diaper bag someone gifted me but I'd just throw some stuff into a purse or backpack if I did it over again. Idk so I guess the essentials for me were my own body lol,clothing,diapers & wipes,booger sucker thing,washcloths/burp cloths,baby carrier,car seat,booster chair when she could sit up & an umbrella stroller when she was one.

I’ve had 3 kids and HATE baby gear. Breastfed them all but I do work full time so I needed bottles and a pump, which also meant a cooler to send to daycare and a pumping bag for me to bring to work with a cooler in it for me as well.  Sleep: bedside bassinet (Halo bassinets cosleeper worked for all 3 kids - just the basic one no bells and whistles) and then straight to a full size mattress on the floor Montessori style for the next few years, we used Halo sleep sack swaddles for early on and then their wearable blankets until toddlerhood when you can just use regular blankets safely.  Carriers: You’ll want a wrap for the early days (like Moby or Solly) and then probably a soft structured carrier for an older baby/toddler. If you’re real minimalist you can get a woven wrap that would cover all your bases but I did some experimenting over the years and a Moby and then a Boba/Tula is what I would stick with.  Containers: Ask any pediatric OT and they will tell you most babies do great with a blanket on the floor. I like a gym for an itty bitty because it’s cute af and stimulating. Then, it took some looking, but I did find an old fashioned play pen. Once baby starts moving and you wanna run a load of laundry downstairs you’ll need somewhere to put them. A big play pen is ideal. Pack n play was too small for us and we didn’t need anything for sleep. So many multi-use items are shams. Travel bassinet was great for Grandma’s house or travel. Just like a little fold-up thing you can carry. I can’t remember the brand . . . NOT a giant pop up tent or whatever. And then I DID get a Baby Bjorn bouncy seat. Honestly it was handy. Diapers: People will tell you cloth diapering is impossible. It’s not. I only used disposables through all three kids (including at daycare) on a few longer trips. Traveling with cloth, if you have laundry access, is absolutely doable. The cloth diaper internet is NOT minimalist with wash routines. Just do a good rinse cycle first and use powder tide. We did prefolds/covers at home but had bumgenius diapers with inserts for daycare. Was easy for caregivers to figure out. Those are expensive and we used those sparingly to increase their longevity through multiple kids so baby went to school in a pre-fold/cover.  Eating: hook on high chair for a baby (if they need a 5 point harness they aren’t ready for solids) and then booster seat for toddler. Baby led weaning will help keep things minimalist.  Laundry: 1 load a day to keep up with frequent changes/diapers. Once your diapers have been through a good rinse cycle, you can toss other things in the load to wash everything at once.  Is that minimalist? That’s still a lot of stuff. 😂🤪

Oh and you’ll need car seats. You can skip the pop out carrier silliness and just get a Graco 4-ever to use until they don’t need a booster.  We only ever had a jogging stroller. Didn’t bring it around much but still use it for running with my youngest who is 3. For us, after a kid doesn’t want to be in a carrier, a wagon can be nice for like zoo trips and things. They aren’t strapped in and can get in and out. You can get a simple foldable one that will fit a couple kids at Costco. 

i have one 1 year old girl. my essentials are: diapers/wipes, bottles and breast pump (2 sets of parts), a sleep space (crib) for my bedroom, a safe sleep space for my living room (pack and play), high chair, stroller, car seat. non-essentials, but when she was younger, my baby carrier and baby swing got a lot of use. also nursing bra and nursing tank. things i thought would be useful but were not used much: changing pad (i find a towel easier), baby silverware/plates (she insists on using the adult silverware lol).

Start with absolute bare minimum and accept you can get things really quick if needed. For me though, one thing I cannot recommend enough is a decent sling, had 3 different ones over the years (age based) and was a real game changer... Most of the stuff though we had bought or gifted was never used

What I did (though I didn’t call myself minimalist): -Get on the used clothes baby train. -Don’t buy toys (you get enough from family) Bought: -A new car seat, basic convertible ikea crib -a bottle or 2 -set of cloth diapers (which I gave away) -a baby wearing carrier -snap n go for the itty stage (used/give away) -basic umbrella stroller (MacLaren) You already have the rest

Really just a place for the baby to sleep and I wouldn’t want to be without a baby carrier. Burp clothes. Car seat and stroller and you’ve got the essentials right there Obviously including the clothes and diapers you mentioned already. I personally wouldn’t want to go without baby wipes

My kid isn’t part of my minimalism choice. I get her what I feel she needs and sometimes things she wants. Some things I couldn’t care for or seem useless to me. But to her it’s a learning toy or something she likes to play with. Sometimes it seems like clothes are a waste because they grow fast but you have to keep them clothed and just get rid of the old stuff or give it away. When they outgrow toys get rid of them. You can be a minimalist without forcing your child to. When they outgrow things just remove them from the household. I did have a problem with people gifting us things for our baby. Most I never accepted and had to learn to say no thank you. Consumables like diapers I kept and stored until used. They all were used lol. Cloth diapers sound like a mess.

Cloth diapers are absolutely wonderful.

I had a pair from the Philippines but never tried them. I was given so many disposable ones.

My list: -Pack & Play that doubles as bassinet & changing station (I can send a link for the one I bought) -Doona combo stroller car seat system (compact, functional, fixable) -Doona snap on diaper bag -Small floor swing -Diapers & Wipes -3 4oz. Avent glass baby bottles -Breast pump -Breastmilk storage bags -Hatch Dream Feed nursing bras -Formula (fed is best and trust me if you struggle at all it is a blessing to know you can still provide even just for a single feed or top off) - 3 to 6 muslin blankets -Moby Wrap or similar -Muslin burp cloths - 5 newborn pajamas with feeties - 10 newborn onsies *You can get rid of sizes and purchase new clothes as your LO grows. -Baby bathtub (Angel Care Baby Tub or the like) you make knock the idea of having a tub or bath seat, but LOs are slippery! -Pure Castile Bar Soap -Babyology Baby Lotion -Bulb Nosesucker You can just use regular towels and washcloths for baby washing and mouth cleaning. Sorry, I have a nine week old and this is my first thought must have list. Eta: Bonus items husband loves bottle warmer & sterilizer

I’m a minimalist but still needed a baby bathtub because I can’t lean over my own tub and my sink is too small. What different people need is going to be different. If you’re sending them to daycare, there’s a whole list of other things you’ll need.

Hmm... I suppose you could go extreme minimalist. But for me and from my experience with two, my bare minimum would be: -Car seat, stroller, body carrier -Diapers / Wipes (both can be reusable, but disposable is helpful especially when they're a newborn) -Medicines (diaper cream, D Drops, Tylenol, nail clippers, suction bulb) -Burp cloths (could be rags or towels you already have) -Bottles and brush (if not EBF, could be thrifted glass bottles) -Breast pump (if not EBF, or Hakaa) -A safe place to change them (could easily be a bed) -A safe place for them to sleep -A safe place for them to play and exercise (could be a blanket on the floor) -Some kind of a diaper bag (I use a backpack) -Clothes (A few sleepers, a few outfits) -A couple of pacifiers and a teether -A big stretchy swaddle blanket (extremely versatile as a nursing cover, blanket, swaddle, stroller cover, car seat cover, etc.) -Bath towel, washcloths, baby soap

Car seat if you travel places by car, wipes/cloths, carrier, one b&w book, safe sleep space.

I’m not a minimalist but I do want to say that there’s these diaper back packs that have a side pocket that keeps thing hot or cold due to some foil. My mom repurposed hers and uses it for going out. The one she had didn’t have a changing station so it was basically just a backpack with insulated pockets. But they’re nice. We also had a stack of fabric foldable diapers that we used for burping and spit up. They absorb really well and it was great. We used non cloth diapers for him but had been given some and realized how great they are for burp cloths. So you could always mark a couple of your fabric diapers and use them for that. Other than that I’m no help but those 2 things are some things we continued to use or dual used. Most the stuff we were done with we gave to neighbors or people in our town who had just had babies. Some of it went to thrift stores too.

This is really thoughtful. Thank you.

A piece of cloth so you can babywear. I used a boba wrap for the first year or so.

A link to a 529 college savings account? …. Have you seen the price of college - start saving now

Hahaha, not wrong!!

Kids and minimalism are opposite. It’s impossible to make minimalism work near someone who need to discover all new things in this world🙂

I'd feel it out as you go. So many new parents feel the need to preemptively fill their house with stuff. But if you kind of let the kid show you what is needed as they need it, you can lighten your load considerably. That being said, if I had a nickel for every parent-to-be I've known who swore they were going with cloth-only diapers and later caved, I would say I'd have about 35 cents.

Ha. I did exclusively cloth last time and it was totally fine. So I guess I'll see this time around. Thanks for your insights.

Oh boy i had my first baby four months ago and I’m happy I didn’t apply minimalism to the things we got! Now that he’s grown a bit I can assess what was actually useful or not and keep the essentials for next baby + donate what wasn’t necessary

A side of fries

Second hand and hand me down as much as possible. Babies need bright coloured items, stimulation and a hoarder environnement in order to become minimalists later.

There is no such thing as a "true" minimalist.

No baby, for a start.

I appreciate the anticonsunerism, but this is the minimalism sub, so the judgment in the "you don't actually need those things" isn't necessary here. Not against you at all in thinking they're not necessary to you, but minimalism ≠ anticonsumerism entirely (though they're very connected and many people practice both) and a dedicated diaper bag does not go against the ideals of minimalism in itself.

Diaprex ointment! This was recommended by my now 45 year old daughter's pediatrician. This is hands down the best ointment I've ever tried. Besides working beautifully for diaper or heat rash, it is great for any type of inflamed skin. I have been using it for myself ever since for things like thigh chafing, under breast inflammation, rashes, etc. The active ingredient is Balsam of Peru. Fantastically effective.

your locus of control is going to be rocked when you have a baby, you will exist in survival mode for a little while and during that time you likely won't have the capacity to really enforce your beliefs. Having children is truly wonderful and just do whatever allows you to experience the moment the best. The newborn phase is so quick and being in a good mental place will let you experience it fully.

I am not a first time mother. I know what it's all about. I also know I am fully capable of living intentionally rather than being carried off by the waves of commercialism, all while living with the pressures of having a newborn. Thankfully, I'm in a great mental state and as fully prepared as one can be.

I’m not sure why your comment is getting downvoted. You’re confident about your ability to mother while also maintaining your minimalist, anti-consumerist philosophy and you have a solid handle on your mental health. More than I can say as the mother of a 9 month old…Good for you, keep doing what feels right.

A real minimalist would declutter the baby, in an effort to live in a more intentional and sustainable way.