Baby doesn’t need a lot! If you’re trying to keep a clutter free, minimalist, and peaceful home environment, you don’t need every single baby item that is marketed to you.

Read along for the most thorough minimalist roundup of baby items. This minimalist baby essentials list is especially great for first time parents!

These are the only items I had with my first and second baby, and I actually used every single item! If it’s not on the list, that means I didn’t have it and didn’t miss it.

A few tips before we get started, from one parent to another:

1. Do not open all of your new baby items before bringing your newborn home. You will learn very quickly exactly what you items you want to use, and there may be some you’d like to return or exchange.
2. Baby items purchased off of a registry at Target can be returned up to a year after the purchased date, and up to 90 days on Amazon.
3. Even if you’re not planning any kind of “baby shower”, you should still make a baby registry to receive great discount codes and free baby sample boxes. Target and Amazon are my top choices!
4. Even though this is an essentials list for your newborn, I am including essentials that apply to the postpartum mom as well. After all, this is the fourth trimester!

Happy nesting!

The Essentials for a Newborn

These are the bare-bone essentials for a little newborn.

1. Nutrition
2. Diapering and clothing
3. Safe sleeping arrangement
4. Carseat for transportation

Other than unconditionally LOVE, you’ve got to feed the baby, catch the poop, and have a place for them to sleep. This is great starting place as you prep for a new little one.

Below I’ll elaborate on each of these categories and share my non-negotiables.

Even if you’re planning to breastfeed, it is still a good idea to have the following in your toolkit, especially if you’re expecting your first baby and don’t have previous experience.

1. Breast pump

Most women qualify for a free breast pump through their health insurance. Choose a basic, hospital grade pump, such as the Spectra, and get familiar with it before baby comes home. A breast pump is useful to help ease a little bit of engorgement when your milk comes in, pump a bottle so a family member can feed baby, and build a little stash if you choose to do so.

You should also look at the manual breast pump options, wearables, and milk collectors. You will find your preferred method of collecting and feeding baby.

2. Bottles and bottle brush

Have at least 4 bottles on hand. After doing my research we landed on the Philips Avent glass bottles, because the nipple only releases milk when baby is sucking, unlike other bottles which have a fast flow. Glass bottles are easier to clean, and less toxic.

Thanks to my baby registry on Amazon and Target, I also received samples of a couple other brands such as Dr.Brown’s and MAM bottles which we experimented with. You don’t need a lot of bottles!

We used a bottle brush to wash our bottles, because I’m a germaphobe and wanted a designated brush for baby’s bottles.

3. Small can of organic, high quality formula

I know, I know, “formula?!”. Hear me out.

This is purely for peace of mind. Purchase a small can of organic, high quality formula, and tuck it away in your pantry. Trust me.

Especially if you’re a first time parent, this little backup plan will bring you immense peace of mind as you figure out your breastmilk situation.

4. Nipple care

I have to admit, breastfeeding was incredibly difficult and painful for me. I was not prepared with the necessary items to take care of that pain. Thank goodness for Amazon Prime shipping! Nipple care items are a must-have for your fourth trimester.

These items brought me great relief and helped me fight the clogged milk ducts that I kept getting nonstop (I seriously didn’t even know those were a thing before having my baby!).

• High quality nipple cream
• Silver nipple covers
• Ibuprofen for clogged ducts
• Sunflower lecithin for clogged ducts
• Breast pads for leaky breasts

5. Nursing and/or pumping bra

You don’t need a lot of new bras, but chances are your bra size will change with pregnancy and nursing. It is convenient to have a pair of comfortable nighttime nursing bras, as well as a pair of sturdier nursing bras that you can wear in public under your outfits, and accommodate to pumping if you need.

6. Muslin burp clothes

You can get a pack of these for less than $10 on Amazon. You’ll use them to wipe spit, breastmilk, and other questionable fluids. 🙂

7. Gas drops

For baby’s tummy, look for a natural based bottle of gas drops at your local Natural Grocers or Whole Foods.

Diapering and Clothing

1. Diapers and wipes

Decide if you will cloth diaper or use disposable diapers. If using disposable diapers, have a package of newborn and size one on hand.

Tip: You don’t need to bring diapers to the hospital, they will be provided. Take home the open package of diapers from your hospital room that was used for your baby! Each diaper counts.

Wipes are very handy for when baby is super tiny, but by about 3 months, we would only use wipes when on the go. At home, we could just wash the poopy bum under running water.

2. Diaper cream

Consider getting a talc-free baby powder for dusting your cuties little bum between changes, as well as a trusted diaper cream. I used the Burt’s Bees baby powder, and the Desitin zinc oxide diaper paste when needed.

3. Changing table or pad

I can feel that I will get a few eye rolls regarding this. I know many minimalist parents can just change their baby anywhere, floor! bed! couch!.

We had a regular clothes dresser, and I put a changing pad on it for the sake of having a comfortable spot to diaper countless times a day. I am so thankful for this small detail, because I was in tremendous pain after giving birth, and bending over a low surface to change my wiggly newborn was torment on my back.

We purchased the Skip Hop changing pad brand new on Facebook Marketplace, and used it for 100% of diaper changes during the first year (and beyond the first year, truly).

4. Clothing

You will need practical and comfortable clothing for baby. Think cotton!

When I was expecting my first, my sister recommended wrap-over bodysuits, and fold-over waist footed pants. Game changer!

In this concoction, the endless diaper changes were easy and didn’t require unclothing the entire scrunchy newborn. I had a three pack of these fold-over waist pants, and a 5-pack of the body suits. Along with a few newborn onesies that were gifted to me at my baby shower and a pack of baby socks, this was plenty of clothes for my September newborn.

Depending on the season in which your little one is born, you might need a couple more layers.

Tip: From my experience both attending countless baby showers, and having my own, people always bring baby clothes! So you might want to hold off spending a ton of money on baby outfits – I know, it’s tempting! I was very fortunate to be gifted plenty of baby clothes to last me the entire first year of baby’s life.

4. Fragrance-free detergent and a good stain remover

If you don’t already have a fragrance-free laundry detergent, consider getting some for your newborn’s laundry. It doesn’t need to be a specific “baby detergent”, that’s just a marketing tactic! Don’t forget a stain remover.

Safe Sleep

1. Bassinet, crib, or a “pack ‘n play”

I scored a brand new bassinet for $30 on Facebook marketplace. It was as basic as a bassinet gets but – $30 brand new!

I had initially thought I would just use the crib for our baby, but I couldn’t pass up a $30 cute bassinet and I am so thankful we made that purchase. The bassinet was a cozy spot for my little one, it had wheels so I could push it into any space, and it barely took up any space in our bedroom.

We did have a crib for baby that was used starting at 4 months. I know parents that have used a crib from the get go, and made it work. I also know parents who have used pack n’ plays for sleep.

2. Crib mattress and crib sheets

Eventually, even if you do use a bassinet for a little while, you will need to move baby over into their crib. You will need a mattress, two waterproof mattress covers, and two crib sheets.

3. Swaddle and blanket

From experience and observation, people enjoying gifting expectant parents a ton of blankets, and swaddles. The hospital will also have a swaddle for baby that you can take home.

We realized within 24 hours of being mom and dad, that we were amateurs when it came to swaddling. Thankfully, my Amazon sample baby box had come with a fool proof baby swaddle wrap, which had velcro on it. We used that swaddle over and over, and eventually purchased a second one!

4. Rocking chair

Since we are in the safe sleep category, I am going to include rocking chair here. We were gifted a few Target gift cards and used them to purchase a very basic rocking chair that was on sale.

I enjoyed the convenience and comfort of having a place to sit during middle-of-the-night feeds, or when needing to gently rock baby. Admittedly, I know many parents who didn’t use one, so it is up to you if this makes the essentials list. 🙂

Transportation

1. Carseat

Can’t leave the hospital without one! Even if you travel by bus, you are obligated to have a carseat that is not expired and hasn’t been in any accidents.

2. Stroller

A stroller was essential for our family because we enjoy going for lots of walks, and getting out in public. Picking a stroller took longer than I would like to admit!

Bath time, hygiene, and extras

1. Tub

Washing a delicate and wrinkly little human is tricky! For convenience, and to avoid putting baby in direct contact with the bathroom sink, we purchased a little tub by the Frida brand. This bath tub has grown with us into toddlerhood! It does take up some room in our tiny bathroom, so if I had to pick a tub all over again, I would get a collapsible bath tub.

2. Baby wash

You don’t need a ton of soap or baby wash. We purchased a bottle of non-scented baby wash at Natural Grocers, and it lasted us an entire year because you really do not need to use a lot. Babies smell heavenly as it is. 🙂

3. Nasal saline spray and nasal aspirator

There WILL be boogers, and you will want to get them out for the sake of your little’s comfort. It is easier to use saline spray first, to loosen up the snot before you use your weapon of choice to remove it.

4. High chair

I’ll squeeze this into the list, because although not required for a newborn, it’ll come in handy closer to a year. It’s a great item to put on your registry!

For the recovering mom

1. Postpartum care items for mom

If you’re a soon-to-be-mama, you might be so captured by getting all the things for baby, it’s easy to let your own postpartum care slip off the radar.

In addition to the nipple/breast care mentioned up above, here is a list of essentials for the mama in recovery.

1. Peri bottle
2. Hemorrhoid cream
3. Soothing peri spray (highly recommend Earth Mama brand)
4. Pads
5. Comfortable, wide, cotton underwear (not ashamed to say I got mine from Costco!)

This is my list of essentials, and, it is quite minimalist considering all that is marketed toward parents. Every parents is different, and will quickly learn their own personal favorites and must-haves. Your personal list of essentials will depend on your lifestyle. Let me know which items you think should have made it on my list, and which of my items you could do without!