The Minimalist Newborn Essential List
Marketing for newborn products can be both extremely enticing and equally overwhelming. I’m that mom who has no desire to fill her home with unnecessary baby gadgets. I have been transitioning into a more minimal lifestyle for the past couple of years and I'm very deliberate about the products I buy.
My mission as a consumer and human being is sustainability and eco-consciousness and as a mother is to create an environment in which my child(ren) thrives in a rich learning environment that creates hands-on learning and fosters a sense of wonder, creativity, and responsibility without excessiveness. We use products/items that last and have multiple uses. We do not use plastic or toxic ingredients in our home, and everything is either wooden, glass, or silicone, and made from natural and/or organic ingredients.
I understand that this list may not be appealing to or practical for everyone’s lifestyles, but I wanted to share what works for my family.
Gear
Stroller/Car seat: I’m very active, so I chose a jogger travel system. I initially considered a 4-in-1 to prevent having to buy another car seat, but I appreciated the idea of not having to disturb a sleeping baby when moving to and from the car. I also took into consideration the cooler months. The travel system and car seat cover made winter-time exceptionally stress-free.
Carrier: I absolutely love baby-wearing. It provides a sense of connection, comfort, protection, intimacy, and productivity that is unmatched. I also practice attachment parenting, so baby-wearing has been a lifesaver!
You will see many different carriers; some more fashionable and practical than others and some better or less fitting for newborns. Two are perfect for me. I have a moby wrap that I used when my son was a newborn and an ergonomic carrier that I bought around six months. I still use both and he is now ten months. I prefer the wrap for when I’m aiming for adequate coverage and the carrier for when I am more active. Both can be used in and outdoors. If you were to only buy one, I would suggest the Ergobaby Omni 360; it can be used throughout every stage, whereas the wrap is a little timelier, especially as your baby grows. The one I got was a little more on the pricy side because it’s mesh (to prevent overheating). I love the fanny pack and hood that came attached with an option to wear it all-ways (front, back, and hip). However, there are others that are less expensive: The Ergobaby Embrace, The Ergobaby Original, The Ergobaby Multi-Position.
Diapers: We use cloth diapers/wipe at home, organic diapers, and wipes on-the-go. This serves multiple purposes as cloth wipes can also be used as burp cloths. Cloth diapering may appear to be very intimidating, but depending on the method(s) you use, it can be quite simple. I use pre-folds; which consists of a cover, insert, and pre-fold, and for the cloth wipes, you can buy them or make them out of old t-shirts and receiving blankets as I do.
Diaper/Breast Pump Bag: This one is a personal preference. I find that any good quality bag can be used as a diaper bag but I appreciate my spacious breast pump bag because I use it for both. It’s beneficial for when we are visiting family and friends and I want to pack the basics along with any other gear I may feel we’ll need. I also like to pack a few books and flashcards with us when we go out. I’m really big on keeping my son stimulated at all times.
Breast Pump: If you plan on breastfeeding, a breast pump may be a necessity. Especially if you plan to go back to work or wish to have a social life once you get acclimated. I would suggest two pumps; one electric and one manual. *You may want to check with your insurance company before purchasing one. Most offer one included as a benefit of your plan*
Bottles: One glass 3-pack got us through the first 8-9 months. We then introduced the glass spout-less and straw sip-cups. My son is exclusively breastfed until he turns one but another baby who uses bottles more often and/or who uses formula may require for bottles to be replaced more often. Even so, I would suggest buying a small pack each time, to prevent waste.
Highchair: Each family differs, but I wouldn’t consider a high chair a newborn essential, because I didn’t use it until my son was almost one year old. I mostly skipped the baby food phase entirely via baby-led weaning. At about ten months; we started sitting him in his Abiie Beyond wooden highchair when we would give him his cup, helping him to associate it with food. That way, when he started solids at twelve months, he was familiar with it. Nevertheless, I can see how it would be essential for a family to introduce solids at six months (hence, the reason I listed it) and we loved his Abiie chair. Eco-friendly, very easy to clean, aesthetically pleasing, and it grows with the child.
Sleep
Co-sleeper: Despite the negative connotations behind co-sleeping, we have comfortably done so since birth. I knew I wanted to co-sleep with my baby for at least six months, so we chose the Babybay co-sleeper and I think it was a great investment. It attaches to the side of your bed, giving you the satisfying alternative of co-sleeping with your baby next to you if you decide you may not want them in bed with you, that particular night. It has many modifications; the wheels make it mobile to move from room to room and it also has a setting that enables it to later turn into a full-sized bassinet (allowing us to skip the crib phase and ease straight into a toddler/full-size bed).
Aromatherapy: I am intuitively connected with herbs and earth and believe aromatherapy to be the balance and harmony of body and mind. I noticed early on that my son took a liking to this holistic treatment as well. Every night as a part of his bedtime routine, we diffuse essential oils and allow the aroma to lightly fill the room with soft nature tunes playing as background music.
Bathing
Bath & Body/Hair Care: A newborn mesh tub and a few organic washcloths and towels were the only bath items we bought. We didn’t need to buy any baby soaps or lotions marketed for newborns, because we use raw black soap, Dr. Bronners’ all-purpose, and Shea butter for our household — all of which is completely natural and safe for babies. I wash my son’s hair with black soap and moisturize it with a mixture of shea butter, jojoba oil, and black castor oil. (All things we use daily, so there were no extra purchases made).
Clothing
We waited until delivery to find out what we were having so our clothing was very neutral. We found that only a few organic onesies and sleepers were actually needed, as I wash often and get as many uses out of each item as possible.
Accessories
The accessories I found to be essential were organic crib/co-sleeper fitted sheets, a few receiving blankets (for swaddling and other obvious reasons), basic grooming tools, reusable bamboo nipple pads, the Nose Frida, a hands-free pumping bra (I made my own using an old bra but you can also buy one), and the beloved wallaby organic wooden teether. We do not use any creams/ointments, just raw Shea butter, and breastmilk. The Boppy Nursing Pillow and Organic Snuggle Me may not be essentials for some, but they were very much appreciated in my family.
Toys and Learning
These come with a little disclaimer. Toys are not a necessity for babies. They are much more creative than we, adults give them credit for. They will make entertainment out of anything and I also find that my son discovers new things best, when given freedom around our home.
Play Gym: I did a lot of research on what play gym I wanted to invest in. I chose the Lovevery Play gym. I wanted something that could grow with the baby and stimulate him during each leap, and this play gym exceeded my needs. My son is always finding new ways to play with it. It is high quality, high contrast, eco-friendly, and machine washable. Development and stimulation were definitely in mind when this was designed. It also has a play tent option that is great for all stages, including toddlers.
Toys & Books: While embarking on this minimalist journey, I find comfort in knowing that I am investing in the right types of toys that will serve us for a solid, imaginative, timeless, and open-ended play. A few items that I believe to be essential are blocks, characters, balls, art materials, sensory items, wooden vehicles, and books, particularly with sound and texture (for the beginning stages). I have watched my son find multiple ways to entertain and stimulate himself with just these items alone. Often, we make the most play from household items that we already had.
The newborn stage was delightful and the complete opposite of what I expected it to be (based on stories from other families). I believe mindfulness and our multi-purposed approach played a huge role in our experience. Regardless of your approach, I hope you found this list to be beneficial in one way or another.
What are some of your favorite newborn essentials? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below.