Baby Essentials, an Intentional Approach on What your Baby Truly Needs

An Intentional Approach on What Your Baby Truly Needs

Newborns are so exciting! Wether it’s your first or third! (Like me!) Expecting a new life into your family is a beautiful time! However the pressures of needing to have it all for a new born comes creeping in. You may be asking yourself “What do I really need?” “Do I really have to get that?” Or “Which one is better?” There’s so much pressure in our society for Moms today. But I’m here to tell you that You really Do Not Need it all! This post breaks down a simple baby essentials list you will need to make it through the new born stage!

No, You Really Don’t Need It All

I remember back when I had my oldest child Jade. Researching and asking Moms I worked with what I needed. I felt so overwhelmed trying to make a registry for my girl. I would get different answers from every mom I talked with. So I want to begin by saying; “No you don’t have to have everything!”

Some women have a wonderful support system and family, they can have above the basic baby needs, others are not as fortunate. I also want to point out that some Moms want to be minimal in baby essentials. This is where I find myself. As I am bringing my third baby into this world I have let go of many things I thought I needed and what I actually have. It is easy to get all the things and then over crowd your house with baby goods. In addition to overcrowding your house only use an item a time or two before realizing you really don’t like it or don’t need it.

I am going to go over the basics of what your baby really needs today! If you’re doing this yourself without a support system all of these items are easy to come by and can be inexpensive as well! I’m also here to give you support! So take a deep breath put the baby list you might have started aside until after you have read my baby essentials list!

Large Baby Essential Needs

• Crib
• Pack and Play (with bassinet, easier for a new born)
• Portable Bassinet
• Travel system ( more below on what this is)
• Bounce chair

Sleeping Arrangements

I listed three different types of sleeping arranges for a baby. The Crib. A bassinet. Lastly a pack and play. Let me just talk briefly on why I recommend all three of these sleeping arrangements for your baby!

First a bassinet. This is due to baby waking up frequently at night early on, You’ll want something you can fit right near your bed. They’re pretty easy to move around and are designed for you to be able to grab them easily for those night time feeds! They’re also super light weight! (It’s super important to not lift and lug right after having a baby).

Secondly a Pack and Play. It’s just the best invention and will last for years to come! On a side note they do have the option of getting a bassinet that hooks right into the pack and play. I liked this option for when I was in my living room, The pop in bassinet makes it easier to reach in and get the baby out. When the baby outgrows it; No worries! Just take it out!

Most commonly known; the crib. At some point your baby will be going into their room where they should have a designated place to sleep such as a crib. But before pulling out your wallet and searching amazon; I can tell you from personal experience you don’t actually need to get one right away if you don’t want to. Your baby will be fine for awhile in the bassinet or pack and play. Honestly my babies stayed with me in the bassinet for as long as I could have them. According to this website quoting American Academy of Pediatrics, you should plan on “rooming in” with your baby for at least their first 6 Months of life. (No Affiliate links, educational purposes only). So if you’re struggling to find an affordable crib you don’t have to get one right away.

Transportation and other devices

Let’s get into one of my other favorite items; the Travel System. This system is brilliant if you’re looking to score two items for one price! A travel system is when you get a car seat and stroller all in one! If you are an outdoor person, want to take walks, or want a stroller for your newborn I highly recommend! Not only is it cost effective but if you want the ease of clipping the baby into the stroller with the car seat this is where it’s at! No worrying about taking your baby in and out of the car seat just clip the whole seat in! You also don’t have to worry if your baby is too small for the stroller, they’ll be strapped in the car seat! You also don’t have to worry if you bought a separate car seat if it’ll fit in your stroller. The travel system ensures the perfect fit!

Lastly a bounce chair is something I strongly recommend as well. A bounce chair sits your baby at a reclined position. It’s great when your baby start to become aware of the world around them, they can look out and beyond. I would sit the bouncer right on my kitchen table as I was working so that way my baby could see I’m right there and watch me do all my chores. Another reason I recommend this chair is for when your baby gets a head cold. Sitting your baby up slightly helps drain their nasal passages and makes it easier for them to breathe!

Smaller Baby Essentials

• Clothes/ Bedding
• Bottles/ utensils
• Basic care/ toiletries
• First Aide

Clothes/ Bedding

It is so easy to go over board on baby clothes! Coming from experience I had baby clothes I didn’t even know I had until I was cleaning out drawers. Babies grow quick! With that being said don’t plan on tons of clothes, especially in a certain size.

Look for easy zipper onesies for your newborn. It makes those night time changes easier! If you’re having a baby when it’s colder out consider fleece onesies or long sleeve ones. I kept my daughter in sleep onesies for the first few months of her life, it was easiest for me and her! Simplest is best and your baby is going to be sleeping a lot when they first come home, so have them be comfortable will keep them happier!

Bedding; we all want that nursery that is matching with the wall decor right down to the sheets. But let’s face it; like anything for a child you have to have back up and some nice blankets for going out or random napping. Having all the bedding items isn’t necessary. It’s also recommended that your baby sleeps without things like blankets and pillows at first as well. Only having a few baby blankets are great at first! So don’t feel bad if you don’t have the comforter crib set you want now. You’ll have plenty of times for your child to get that special room as they get older!

Bottles/ Utensils

For all my children I didn’t have a plethora of bottles for each. Mainly because I breast fed my children. I had about 5 bottles on hand. There is so many out on the market today, I suggest doing some research prior to purchasing. If you’re planning to breast fed keep in mind you will want a bottle that is more natural to that of mom. Regardless of what you choose I suggest looking at different reviews or only buying one bottle at first before getting a whole set that may not work for your baby.

If you are breastfeeding and thinking about a breast pump; go through your insurance! Most often you can get money off or a completely free breast pump! If you don’t like what your insurance will cover consider buying the pump used and purchasing all the hardware new.

You also don’t need a ton of other utensils either. I have 3 baby spoons I got from the store to feed my baby. I also actually didn’t have baby forks but we have cocktail forks in my house and they work great as kid utensils! So regardless of what you have versus what you don’t, you don’t need to purchase it all. As your baby grows older it is good to transition them to a sippey cup. But once again you don’t need to purchase many at first. Try one brand before getting more to see how your child likes it.

Basic Care/ First Aide Baby Essentials

There’s so much on the market for essential care items for your baby. For this post we are just looking at items as they’re whole and not comparing different brands or types. As I said previously; you do not need it all.

Bath time I recommend a simple baby wash/ shampoo as well as lotion. Diaper paste with zinc oxide such as Desitin and A and D ointment. These both work great for rashes. You can also use powder as well, I personally am not a big fan of powder. What ever you choose, you do not need a ton of. They will last you for eternity! (Or it seems)

Diapers! No matter if you cloth diaper or use disposables you will need to have a plan especially when your baby first arrives. Plan for your newborn baby to go through about 10 diapers a day. (Yes that is a lot!) Don’t forget wipes too!

First aide items to keep on hand would be a thermometer, infant Tylenol/ acetaminophen, antibacterial creams, and a bulb syringe.

Cost Effective Ways to Get your Baby Essentials

Consider getting some of your items used. Buy from garage sales, social media, etc. There is nothing wrong with finding used items for your new baby! In fact where I live there is an event every 6 months mothers can go to and it’s all baby essentials you can purchase used. Anything from car seats to strollers, clothes, to toys. Checking your social media event pages is a great way to find events like these!

Saving items, if this isn’t your first child consider what items you already have and what you actually need. You don’t have to purchase new items for every child. Most often your children are already grown into a new stage and don’t use the items you have for a baby anymore. I have saved most of my baby items and I do not hardly need anything for my newest baby to soon arrive!

Closing

No matter where you are in your life, if you’re bringing a baby into the world you shouldn’t feel daunted by how much you need for them. I speak from experience that less is really more. With this being my third pregnancy I have let go of thinking I have needed all the fancy gadgets. In reality you don’t need them if you can’t afford them.

I hope you find this blog post helpful! Please Share and Subscribe to be on my email list if you are looking for more posts created by me! Have a Blessed Day!