Having a baby is an exciting time — and an expensive one! From cribs to car seats to strollers to highchairs, the bills can quickly mount. While many expectant parents are lucky enough to have friends and family “shower” them with gifts, there are often many must-have items on your registry even after a baby shower.
Of course, this begs the question of what is truly necessary for a baby. Lists of newborn essentials abound on the internet, with different websites insisting that you simply cannot have a baby without spending a few paychecks on top-of-the-line gear. The reality is that providing the essentials for a baby is a lot simpler than these sites and stores would have you believe.
Your newborn only needs a few things: sleep, food, warmth, cleanliness and safety. Based on these basic categories, you can easily put together a list of necessary items for your newborn, carefully budgeting so that you don’t break the bank before your little one has arrived.
Sleep Basics
When it comes to where babies should sleep, it seems as though everyone has an opinion. The good news is that you can choose what works for you and your family, from co-sleeping to a bassinet in your room to a crib in a nursery. As long as you make sure that your sleeping arrangements are safe, there is no wrong choice for where your baby sleeps.
With that in mind, you can choose a crib, bassinet, co-sleeper or a pack ’n play for your little one. Each one will require sheets if that if your baby’s primary sleep location, plus a mattress for a crib and covers to protect the mattress. To save money, ask friends or family if they have a crib or other sleep furniture that they’re no longer using. As long as the item is in good condition and complies with modern safety standards, there is no reason why you can’t use a second hand crib, pack ’n play, cradle or bassinet. Just wipe it down thoroughly to clean off any old dust or dirt, and you are ready to go. Even better: since you’ve saved money with a used crib, you can purchase bedding to match your nursery decor without guilt!
Feeding Time
As with sleeping arrangements, how you feed your baby can inspire controversy. The bottom line is that you should make the choice that is best for your family, whether that be breast feeding or formula feeding. You can then pick up what you need to successfully breast or bottle feed your newborn.
If you’re using formula, look for bottle starter kits. They often include everything you need for bottle feeding, including a bottle warmer, bottle sterilizer and a bottle brush for cleaning. You’ll also need between 6 and 8 four-ounce bottles and 6 to 8 eight-ounce bottles, both with nipples. Add a few bibs and you’ll be set to go. Keep in mind that you can also ask friends and family members for used bottles — you may just want to purchase new nipples to ensure that they’re in good condition and that your baby is getting the right flow of milk. Be sure to check out store sales and coupons as well!
For nursing mamas, the essentials are a nursing pillow, breast pads, breast pump and milk storage bags and bibs. You may be able to get a breast pump through your insurance, directly from the hospital. Otherwise, consider borrowing one from a friend; with new tubing, it is perfectly sanitary to use a second-hand breast pump. Again, look for sales on the other necessities both online and in stores.
Wardrobe Must-Haves
It is easy to go overboard on baby clothes; they’re so little and so cute! But your newborn truly does not need that many clothes, and they definitely don’t need fancy outfits. Babies spit up and have accidents quite a lot, so expensive clothes are typically not worth the money — especially because babies tend to grow very quickly. Save money by only buying the essentials, and get as many used clothes as possible. You can buy a few special outfits, but aim for your baby’s wardrobe to be mostly hand-me-downs.
Your newborn only needs a limited amount of clothes. Sleepers with zippers or snaps are an easy outfit, so buy 6 to 8 of these items to rotate. The same number of onesies (both short-and long sleeve) can be paired with a few pairs of stretchy pants and topped with little hoodie jackets. Make sure to add little mittens to prevent the baby from scratching, along with hats to keep his or her head warm. Again, if you can get many of these clothes from friends, family or thrift stores, you’ll save a bundle!
Keeping Clean
When it comes to keeping your baby clean, you don’t need much! Just a plastic tub, a hooded towel, some washcloths and baby wash. That’s it! All of these items (other than the baby wash) can be purchased second-hand. They can easily be cleaned or sanitized and you’ll save a bundle over buying brand new.
For diapering, consider using cloth diapers. While it isn’t the right choice for every family, it can save a lot of money over the long run. If you use disposable diapers, sign up for online subscription services where diapers are delivered each month — you’ll save money and have them brought right to the door when you need them most!
Staying Safe
Finally, no baby essentials list would be complete without mentioning safety gear. You will absolutely need a car seat, an ear thermometer and a baby nail file to keep your newborn safe. While experts don’t recommend used car seats, you can often find deals on them at stores. If you add it to your registry and don’t receive a car seat as a gift, most places will give you a discount to complete your registry. That could be a significant savings on big items like car seats!
Wardrobe Must-Haves
It is easy to go overboard on baby clothes; they’re so little and so cute! But your newborn truly does not need that many clothes, and they definitely don’t need fancy outfits. Babies spit up and have accidents quite a lot, so expensive clothes are typically not worth the money — especially because babies tend to grow very quickly. Save money by only buying the essentials, and get as many used clothes as possible. You can buy a few special outfits, but aim for your baby’s wardrobe to be mostly hand-me-downs.
Your newborn only needs a limited amount of clothes. Sleepers with zippers or snaps are an easy outfit, so buy 6 to 8 of these items to rotate. The same number of onesies (both short-and long sleeve) can be paired with a few pairs of stretchy pants and topped with little hoodie jackets. Make sure to add little mittens to prevent the baby from scratching, along with hats to keep his or her head warm. Again, if you can get many of these clothes from friends, family or thrift stores, you’ll save a bundle!
Keeping Clean
When it comes to keeping your baby clean, you don’t need much! Just a plastic tub, a hooded towel, some washcloths and baby wash. That’s it! All of these items (other than the baby wash) can be purchased second-hand. They can easily be cleaned or sanitized and you’ll save a bundle over buying brand new.
For diapering, consider using cloth diapers. While it isn’t the right choice for every family, it can save a lot of money over the long run. If you use disposable diapers, sign up for online subscription services where diapers are delivered each month — you’ll save money and have them brought right to the door when you need them most!
Staying Safe
Finally, no baby essentials list would be complete without mentioning safety gear. You will absolutely need a car seat, an ear thermometer and a baby nail file to keep your newborn safe. While experts don’t recommend used car seats, you can often find deals on them at stores. If you add it to your registry and don’t receive a car seat as a gift, most places will give you a discount to complete your registry. That could be a significant savings on big items like car seats!