Upon becoming pregnant with our first child my mind started to come up with lists of what I was going to need to take care of our baby. I began to agonize over what to put on our baby registry. I researched products. I talked to people about what they liked. I spent hours on the Internet googling what a baby needs. I found various checklists that were of course for the most part created by retails stores, that in an attempt to “help me”, listed all of the many many things that I would absolutely need to care for my child. Looking back at these lists now that I am two babies into this motherhood thing all I can do is laugh. 

I have discovered that so many of the must have items on my baby registry were completely unnecessary. When it comes down to it all a newborn baby does is sleep, eat and poop, they really don’t need much. 

Looking back, I kind of feel duped. These stores and their checklist in a way manipulated a first time mom and her desire to do right for her child. They marketed to me at a both joyful yet vulnerable time in my life. It seems, much like the wedding industry, if you put the word “baby” if front of it for some reason the price is double what it would normally be, even though it’s often half the size. 

I’ve compiled a list of items that worked well for me and I share them with the disclaimer that just because they were beneficial to me and my child in no way means that they will be beneficial to someone else’s. I simply want to shed light on the fact that a baby may need a lot less stuff then our current culture will lead us to believe. If you are looking for some more experience type items to register for check out my Alternative Baby Registry post. 

My Baby Essentials

1. Footie pajamas in both newborn and 0-3 month sizes.

This is all my babies really wore anyway. They were spending so much time sleeping or having their diaper change that it was just so much easier. 

2. Diapers and wipes

3. Crib with 2 sheets.

I made all the sleep mistakes with my first child. With my second child I swore I would do everything different. One of the biggest differences was I started my son in his crib immediately. Instead of having him in a bassinet in our room I put him in his crib and I had a mattress on the floor in his room.  I slept in there for the first few months. He now loves his crib and happily goes to sleep in it at night. 

4. Car seat

5. Thermometer

Although use this sparingly because you can easily drive yourself crazy obsessively checking the temperature of a sick baby.

6. Tylenol

7. Something to set your baby down on safely for a few minutes

 For example a bouncer or Dock a Tot

8. Baby wearing device of some sort

Once again definitely a personal preference but for me I love baby wearing and have no idea what I would have done without it. Some people hate it and find it uncomfortable and difficult. There is a learning curve so I’d recommend practicing before the baby comes. So much easier to figure out how to get these carriers to work without the pressure of a screaming newborn. 

9.  Swaddle

Although my daughter hated to be swaddled my son loved it so I definitely think this is an individual baby thing.

10. Video baby monitor

For when the baby gets older and is sleeping solo. 

11. Stroller

Also a personal preference thing and not a necessity but walks, especially with my first child, definitely helped keep my sanity.

12. Breast pump and a few bottles. 

I only nursed my daughter. My son struggled with breast feeding initially and I had to pump and give him bottles until we got things figured out. 

That’s it. Those were the things I absolutely needed at first. You’ll notice that some of the items that were necessary with one of my babies was unnecessary with the other. I can’t reiterate the fact that every baby is so different. Check out my Creating a Baby Shower Registry blog post for some ideas on how to handle the baby registry and baby shower process so you only end up with things you truly need for your newborn.