Minimalist Baby Registry Ideas
If you are expecting your first baby, you may be wondering what baby items you REALLY need. There are so many resources out there that tell you that you need a million different baby products but the fact of the matter is babies are pretty simple! Babies really just need a safe place to sleep, food to eat, some clothes and diapers, and love.
I am expecting my third baby soon and have had the chance to reflect on what items I actually used with my other babies and what things I feel are just unnecessary this time around!
This is not a thorough list and of course is just from my personal experiences and opinions! You may find other things work great for your family but I hope this can give you some guidance.
Here are some things that you actually need:
Crib
Your baby needs a safe place to sleep! With both of my babies so far, we have kept them in a bassinet in our room for the first 4-6 months and then moved them into a crib in a separate room. However, you don’t NEED a bassinet and can definitely do just a crib! Whether it’s in your room for a few months, for the whole first year of their life, or in a separate room from Day 1, your baby will need a place to sleep. You can often find cribs for very affordable prices on Facebook marketplace or thrift stores.
Clothes
Babies need clothes to wear but they definitely don’t need as many as you’d think. I’d suggest, at a minimum, 10 pairs of clothes in each size. A lot of people only dress their newborns in sleepers for the first few weeks so you don’t even need to stock up on dozens of teeny outfits if you don’t want to! I think it’s good to have a few pairs of baby socks but hats and gloves aren’t super necessary.
Diapers
You are going to need diapers! Whether you decide to do disposable or cloth diapers, you will want to be prepared. Most people suggest that you don’t stock up on too many newborn size diapers though because they aren’t in that size very long.
Bottles (if you aren’t going to breastfeed)
If you aren’t planning on breastfeeding, you will want to be ready with bottles! Some babies can be picky about what kind of bottles they take, so I wouldn’t stock up on a bunch of one brand until your baby is here.
Here are some things you don’t really need:
Once again, this is just based on my opinion and experience! You might have friends or family that swear these items are must-haves and you can definitely figure out what works for you!
Diaper genie
We had a diaper genie with my first baby and I thought it was nice at the time, but over time it started to smell really bad. With my second, we would just bag up stinky diapers and take them outside to the trash. I just don’t think it’s a necessity!
Special baby detergent
Those special baby detergents just aren’t worth the money in my opinion! I usually wash my baby’s newborn clothes in a fragrance free, gentle detergent but then transition to just washing clothes with our normal detergent with time. You may find that your baby has extra sensitive skin but most of the time, special baby detergents aren’t necessary.
Changing table
My mother-in-law found this changing table someone was getting rid of, fixed it up for us, and we used it for my first two babies. However, it did fall apart after those years and this time I think I’m going to ditch the changing table altogether. It’s kind of inconvenient to have to go back to baby’s bedroom every time you do a diaper change. I would recommend just having a changing pad on hand to do changes wherever you are in the house.
Wipe warmer
I never used a wipe warmer with any of my babies. Many of my friends who received one off their registry remarked they felt like they weren’t super necessary. It can also dry out your wipes faster!
Here are some things that are nice to have but not necessary:
Dresser
Having a small dresser to store baby clothes can be really nice! A dresser can also double as a changing table if you put a changing pad on top. You can also store baby clothes in an empty drawer in your dresser, in totes, or plastic stacking drawers. You have lots of options!
Stroller
I love having a stroller to be able to go out on walks with my baby and navigate public spaces like malls, zoos, or parks more easily!
Baby monitor
Having a baby monitor can be very useful, especially if you have a large house or if your baby is in a different room as you at night. I have a video monitor that I use with an app on on my phone but a sound-only monitor would be useful as well.
White noise machine
I have appreciated using a white noise machine while my babies sleep. I think it can help block out outside noise during naptime and create patterns and habits for nighttime sleep as well.
Baby soap
I love using baby soap on my babies just because it smells so good! Any tear free, fragrance free, gentle soap would be great for your baby though.
Breast pump
If you are going back to work, this may be a necessity. If you aren’t working, it can still be nice to be able to build up a small milk supply so your partner can help with night feedings or a sitter can keep the baby for a few hours for a night out!
Baby wrap or carrier
I didn’t use a wrap with my first but we had a carrier. The carrier is more useful when babies are a bit older. Wraps are great for the tiny newborn stage. I loved my wrap with my second, especially with having a toddler around.
I hope these suggestions are helpful for you if you are making your baby registry!
If you are preparing for your first baby and birth, check out my positive hospital + epidural birth story or my positive unmedicated hospital birth story!
