A Minimalist Baby Checklist (15 Essential Items You Need)

Each parent needs to prepare a list of essential items for their little one to avoid panic buying a lot later on. If you’re looking to avoid clutter in your house or just want to keep only limited useful stuff, think of things you can do without or find an alternative to. Some essential things you need include a crib, baby carrier or stroller, diaper bag, changing table or underpads, breast pump, bottles and binky, swaddling blanket, bath essentials, cleanliness supplies, booster seat, blanket, clothes, baby monitor and play mat.

When you have a baby on the way, you know things will get hectic. Not only are you going to get busy parenting your little one, but the other half would be spent keeping their things away and making sure your home doesn’t look like a mad house.

As much as you would hate to see your house littered with your baby’s stuff, there are still a bunch of things that are absolutely essential to buy.

But how do you separate what’s necessary from what’s not? That’s where a minimalist baby checklist comes in handy!

Importance of a minimalist baby checklist

For parents who wish to keep things tidy and don’t want much stuff lying around their home, there’s a way to make sure things go out of control.

It can be hectic to handle things if people around you just gift you things without any plan, and that’s where a baby registry also comes in handy.

For minimalist parents, a baby registry checklist is helpful as they can decide the things they want beforehand and avoid the unnecessary cluster of things.

The truth is you only need a few fundamental necessities when preparing and caring for a newborn.

Each baby is different, and it’s even scientifically proven that babies are born with their personalities or temperament.

Once your baby arrives, that is the time when you can decide to expand your baby registry depending on what your baby seems to like.

For example, you might later discover that your baby likes bouncing instead of swinging motions, so you can purchase a baby bouncer instead of a swing.

The minimalist baby checklist

This list is a good thing to share with loved ones if you’re going for a baby registry, and it serves as a base before your child comes into this world.

Preparing a list often helps parents understand what’s important and avoid a clutter of baby things around them.

It’s good for minimalist parents, including those who love to travel, as you don’t have to carry a lot of stuff with you.

1. A crib

The essential thing is to get a crib, something each parent needs for their little one.

Various versions are available, depending on what suits each parent’s needs. Some might like it to be a bit fancy others might opt for a simpler version.

Make sure the mattress is comfortable; you could even go for a breathable mattress. Ensure the mattress fits the space and the sheets are tightly fitted on it.

Parents who love to travel and are often on the go could go for a portable play yard and avoid getting a crib altogether.

2. Baby carrier or stroller

Some parents like to have a stroller to avoid carrying their child and find it more suitable for them, and others find using a baby carrier more appropriate to their needs.

It depends on what’s comfortable for you according to your situation. With a crib, you don’t have to carry the baby constantly and can even fit your baby’s stuff in it.

Using a baby carrier might be something parents opt for if they believe it is necessary to have skin-to-skin time as much as possible.

It’s not absolutely necessary to buy a stroller, for you can go on fine without it by carrying your baby until they turn into a toddler.

In fact, it might even help them to learn to walk faster than it would be if you get them used to a stroller.

3. Diaper bag

When you think of a baby, you think of diapers. It’s like babies are represented by diapers only, and it’s one of the most used and needed items.

On average, a baby in their first year can go through 2,200 diapers.

That also means a lot of money would be spent on buying diapers alone, only to be thrown out in a couple of hours or even immediately if the baby poops.

That’s why most parents opt for cloth diapers or go for a combination of disposable and cloth ones.

A diaper bag contains a lot of essential things your baby would need, including:

  • Diaper rash cream
  • Wipes
  • Changing mat
  • Change of clothes
  • Sanitizer

While these are some basic items, the rest might change depending on your baby’s age and what you feel comfortable with.

A newborn would have different requirements than a toddler for a diaper bag.

4. Underpads or changing table

It’s awful to change a diaper only to find your little one peeing in the middle of changing or worse.

Parents can use a changing table, or an underpad could do the trick if they don’t want the clutter.

It’s washable and waterproof, so it seems perfect for changing your baby wherever and whenever you want to. Since it’s a foldable piece, you can keep it stored away anywhere.

5. Breast pump

It’s a must for every mother and even more so for a working mom. You can maintain your breast milk production even if you can’t seem to feed your baby on time.

This way, your partner also gets to participate in the feeding process and do their bit in raising the little one.

It’s also good for the beginning when some babies find it difficult to latch.

6. Bottles and binky

You do need to keep 3-4 bottles handy because as much as you think you can get away with just two bottles, you won’t be able to.

You can’t expect to keep up with immediately cleaning bottles as soon as your little one is done feeding, so keeping 3-4 bottles will be useful when you don’t have time to clean them.

A binky is needed to soothe your little one in between the feedings as they suck on it not to feel distressed.

7. Swaddling blankets

Not only do you need to provide comfort and safety to your little one where the swaddle blankets are really helpful, but you also need to wipe away their mess.

It’s fairly common for babies to burp and spill or spit out. That’s where swaddling blankets will come in help.

Initially, they will be used for swaddling, but soon you’ll find yourself cleaning your little one’s mess.

8. Bath essentials

You don’t need to buy everything that says baby attached to it when it comes to bath essentials.

As fun and cute as it might be to assemble a kit of supplies, you would find yourself not even using most of them.

All the items you need include:

  • Baby soap
  • Baby shampoo
  • Baby oil
  • Baby bath towel

9. Other cleanliness supplies

Some of the essentials you require to need to keep the baby safe and healthy include a few grooming essentials as well:

  • Nail clippers
  • Baby thermometer
  • Baby proofing supplies

10. Car seat

It’s one of the essentials you need to have on your checklist. Don’t think that it’s safe to carry your baby in your lap in the front passenger seat.

While you and your partner are wearing a safety seatbelt, your little one has nothing to keep them safe in case of an accident.

They need a car seat that is specially designed to keep them safe and comfortable in the backseat of the car. You should get one that is easy to install and uninstall.

11. High Chair/Booster Seat

This may not come in handy for some time (about 4-6 months), but it’s a necessity. You will need a safe place to put your baby for his (or your) meals.

Most minimalist parents prefer the booster seat since it is adjustable depending on your child’s height, so your baby can use it longer.

Also, booster seats are lower than high chairs, so you minimize the risk of dangerous falls.

12. Clothes

Yet another minimalist baby essential is clothing. It’s easy to get tempted by all those cute baby outfits at the baby shop, but buying a lot of them is usually a waste of money since babies grow fast

Baby clothes for minimalists

Stick to neutral clothes, and maybe splurge on one or two “going out” clothes. The basics are the ones your baby will wear every day.

Besides, it’s not wise to repeatedly expose newborns to crowded and public places, so going out clothes aren’t that heavily used.

13. Blankets

For less temperate seasons, when a muslin cloth is not enough to keep your baby warm, blankets or sleepers come in handy.

Sleep sacks are popular because they are easy to use, don’t easily come off, and keep your baby warm without the risk of covering his face.

14. Baby monitor

Speaking of keeping an eye on your baby, if you decide on a stationary sleeping arrangement like a crib, a baby monitor will help keep your anxiety levels in check.

This gadget is especially useful if you have a large house with multiple rooms and many blind areas.

Play items in your baby registry probably won’t be used until your baby reaches at least a month old. However, these are the most practical ones if you decide to buy ahead of time.

15. Play Mat

A play mat is not only there for playtime but also provides a safe, cushioned space where you can put your baby down without touching the cold floor or bumping into the hardwood or tile.

To summarise

Anticipating the arrival of a little one can take up so much time, preparation, and cost. Making your list of things you need for your baby can help you be prepared and stop you from panic buying later on.

Each baby and parent has different requirements, so their list would also differ. There’s no need for comparison here; this list might also change once your baby arrives.

Hopefully, this minimalist baby checklist will help you track what is essential for a baby.

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Vanessa is a freelance writer and a two-time certified boy mom to a toddler and a preschooler. She believes that raising happy kids is a delicate balance between doing your best as a parent and seeking help when you need it.

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