Minimalist guide to new born baby essentials shopping
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Minimalist guide to new born baby essentials shopping + FREE printable

November 5, 2016 /

In the summer of 2015, when I was heavily pregnant and waddling through Gulf Mall, unsure and confused of what to buy for the newborn from all the checklist I had come across, I had decided I will make a minimalist guide for newborn baby shopping. (Yeah, this post have been gathering dust in the drafts section of over a year now! :D) We really do not need everything as advertised. Most of the baby gears and products are marketing ploys.

The reason for going the minimalist route are many :

– Being on a budget.

– No extra room to use as a nursery.

– Small apartment.

– General minimalist lifestyle.

I shall point out a few guidelines below while buying clothes, sleeping essentials, gears, feeding related items etc. At the end of this post, there is a free-printable which can be used as an aid while shopping. There is extra space to add gears and clothes of your choice.

 

1)CLOTHES :

i) DO NOT stock upon clothes for the age range of 0 to 3 months. 2 reasons.

●Every (dress) gifts for the newborn will be mostly for the age range of 0 to 3 months.

● They outgrow it too soon.

ii)Yes, babies need to change their dress often due to puke and poop, but there is no need for 10001 clothes.

iii)Instead of stocking on one particular brand, try buying different brands.  There are certain brands which run really small, whereas others run big for the age group.

iv)No need to stock up until 6 months or so. We can go shopping even after the baby is born? Rather, it will be a good break especially in the first few months, when they are not yet mobile and are sleeping most of the time.

2)DIAPERS

Disposable diapers – Same points as above. Do not stock upon size zero and do not buy one particular brand. Certain diapers do not suit some babies skins.

Cloth diapers – Do not buy in bulk cloth diapers of the same brand. Try different brands and different styles of CD. Find what fits best and works well for your baby and take it from there.

3) BEDROOM –

If co-sleeping, absolutely nothing extra is required. A clean bed sheet would do. (Pillows and blankets for babies are not recommended!). If having a separate room for baby or sleeping in the same room but separately, all that is required is a safe place for the baby to sleep.

It can be a co-sleeper OR Crib OR Moses basket OR a Bassinet. No need of all the three. I repeat, no need of all the three.

4) FEEDING

I would suggest to buy breast pump/bottles etc after the baby is born. Because we can decide if it is breast-feeding or bottle feeding that works for us only after the baby is born. There is absolutely no need to buy every pumping paraphernalia or every formula on the supermarket shelf.

5)TOYS

In the first few months, a brightly colored soft rattle would do. They do not need continuous entertainment and are happy to just sleep.

6)GEARS

Yes, Jumperoo is the best-selling product on Amazon. You can forego it actually.  Yes it would bring you 15 minutes of rest but so would a play mat with many toys.

Rocker /Bouncer/Vibrating chair – All are the same thing in different packages. We survived without it but most mothers find it really effective especially if baby is having colic.

7)SOLID FOOD

Since solids are started only at 6 months of age, buying high chair, spoons and bowls can be done around 5 to 6 months of age rather than buying before the baby is born.

8 )CHANGING TABLE

This can be skipped! Use a dresser or the bed with a stay dry sheet or even the floor with a dry mat

9)MISCELLANEOUS

No need of every brand of diaper bag.

Baby proofing should be done when the baby’s starts to become mobile.

Baby wardrobes can be avoided if you already have built-in closets in all rooms or big wardrobes.  But it does help to have one place for all baby items especially in the first few months because the socks, mittens and caps are so tiny and are easily misplaced!

Are you a minimalist when it comes to baby gears? Do you have any more points to add?

 The FREE printable – Checklist for new born baby essentials shopping 

 

Minimalist guide to new born baby essentials shopping

 

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