Minimalist Baby Checklist

When you are trying to live off a tight budget and raise a family, minimalism kinda finds you. You quickly realize single use products are a waste of money and space. The same thing can be said of children’s products. Kids can be as expensive or thrifty as you’d like. As a mother of four, with number five on the way, having a minimalist baby has become routine for us.

There’s so many parenting and baby products out there that you really don’t need. If you want to save money and skip out on clutter in your home here’s the minimalist baby checklist you need.

What you need for your minimalist baby

With our first baby, we were given so much stuff. Diaper genies, so many clothes, burp cloths, nursing and cart covers, toys and teethers. But over time we learned we didn’t need hardly any of it. And now, with our fifth little bundle of joy on the way I’m here to share a minimalist baby checklist that will prepare you to welcome your precious baby into the world.

Don’t get me wrong, we are so grateful to everyone who helped us welcome our first baby into the world. I’m just here to share what we actually use and why so that you can prepare for baby with minimal waste and stress.

What your baby absolutely needs

• Mama’s milk
• Diapers (cloth or disposable) and wipes
• Shelter

Really that’s all they need. As long as they have a safe home, a clean bottom, and warm milk from mom, they will be perfectly happy. (Formula if milk is not available)

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Minimalist Baby Bedding

• Muslin swaddle blankets
  • We use these swaddle blanket for everything from their intended purpose to burp cloths and nursing covers. They are lightweight and slightly stretchy allowing for a snug wrap around the baby. They’re also larger then other blankets we’ve used which makes it easier to swaddle your baby.
• Crib
  • To be perfectly honest, we don’t use a crib until our baby is 6-9 months old, and even then only during the day time. We love co-sleeping during the early months. In fact, it’s the only way I’ve found to actually get some rest as a nursing mother. I know it’s a bit controversial, but if you aren’t taking any heavy medications or drinking alcohol then I believe there’s no reason to fear sleeping with your baby. Of course, learn more about safely co-sleeping before your baby arrives. A great book for all new parents to learn more about sleep is Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Dr. Marc Weissbluth
  • Lately I’ve been converted to mini cribs. Since baby won’t need a crib for more than a year or two it’s nice to have an option that can be easily stored for the next baby. Plus, they are great if you are short on space. Their portability allows you to temporarily set it up in your room if you’d like and later on graduate them into the big kids room.
• Crib mattress
• Sheets
  • I like to have at least two sheets per bed for washing purposes.

Baby Gear

• Baby wrap
  • We love Moby’s baby wrap. We use it all throughout the first year if not longer. It allows you to keep baby close while still taking care of your responsibilities. It’s an absolute must once you start adding siblings to the mix.
• Car seat & Stroller
  • The car seat and stroller combos are my favorite. That way if baby falls asleep in the car, I can simply lift him seat and all into the stroller so the nap continues. We have always used Graco for our strollers and car seats. You don’t need a fancy car seat at all. The one in the combo pack is more than enough for your baby through the first year. The stroller will last for years and years to come.
• Highchair
  • We have used the same high chair since our first child was a baby. It has never tipped over, never had the tray fall off, even with toddlers dangling over the edge. Ours is from Graco. Seriously, it is the most sturdy hair chair ever. It’s sturdy enough for the acrobatics of my toddler escape artists.
• Clothes
  • Babies don’t need super cute clothes, just practical ones. They will spit up all over themselves and have blowouts. We’ve found that we only use about five onsies and a couple pair of pants for each size. Even though we have more clothes than that, we always seem to go back to the same ones wash after wash. Get clothes suitable for the season your child will be growing up in. You’ll likely want footie sleepers if your baby is born in winter, plenty of socks and some beanies.
• Diaper Bag
  • There are so many cute and practical options out there these days. We still use the same bag that was gifted to us almost seven years ago. We fill it with diapers, wipes, and a change of clothes for baby and toddler (those new to the potty). We don’t have a whole lot of toys, and I hardly ever remember to bring toys with us when we go places. Our kids do just fine finding other ways to entertain themselves if a toy is unavailable. It is amazing how many supplies you can tuck into a diaper bag, though.
• Diaper Rash Cream
  • You can be as careful as possible making sure your child always has a clean bottom but eventually you’re baby is going to poop and you’ll miss it. By the time you realize he’s been sitting in it he already has a rash. Some babies have more sensitive skin than others and will get a rash after a few minutes in a poopy diaper. The best diaper rash cream we’ve used is Butt Paste, but you can also learn how to make your own.

Nursing Supplies

• Boppy nursing pillow
  • A lot of the time I’ll nurse lying down, but when I’m working with my older kids on their homeschool lessons, or need to keep an eye on an unruly toddler, this pillow is a back saver. It makes nursing so much more comfortable and snuggles your baby right up to your breast. Very often my babies will fall asleep while nursing in the boppy. We use it through the first year.

• Haakaa breast pump
  • A lot of breast pumps come with a bunch of pieces and tiny little things that need to be taken apart and washed between every use. I don’t know about you, but anything that has little pieces and is hard to clean isn’t going to last long in my home. At this point in my life as a full time SAHM I don’t pump as much as I used to. However, this pump is great for relieving some engorgement when your milk first comes in and allows you to set some milk aside to freeze for later. Best part, it’s all one piece and is easily washed. Best pump hands down.
• Small glass jars
  • Store your liquid gold in small glass jars for a multipurpose, plastic free storage alternative. Linked are two different jar options for storing your breastmilk. Note that you should always leave a one inch head space when freezing liquids in glass jars. You could also opt for single use plastic milk bags. Those last for a long time if you are a stay at home mom.
• Nipple cream
  • So often I’ve gone without nipple cream but man there are times when I really wish I had it. If you are especially crafty you can make your own nipple cream at home.
• Breast Pads
  • For a long time I used washable breast pads to save money. Those are a great option and Bamboobies has the most comfortable of any reusable breast pad I’ve tried. The down side of the reusable ones, and why I’ve now switched to disposable nursing pads, is that they are not hefty enough to absorb my robust milk supply during the first three months postpartum. After one let down they are soaked through and I’m a wet, milky mess. The disposable ones can absorb the milk from all of my let downs for twelve hours and I still feel dry while wearing them.
• Mother’s milk tea
  • This stuff tastes amazing and helps you produce plenty of nourishing milk for your baby.

And that’s it! This is all the things we’ve found to love and use all the time with a new baby. What things would you add to the minimalist baby list? Let me know in the comments

Happy mothering! 😀

Check out these other posts if you are new to motherhood 🙂

How to be a stay at home mom when money is tight

Embracing motherhood. How to find peace and joy as a mother.

How to be a productive homemaker