Baby Registry Items For The Mindfully Minimalist Mama
NO AMOUNT OF STUFF makes you “prepared” or “equipped” for motherhood.
Tis the season for over shopping! With holiday sales in full swing and baby number two on the way, I’ve been making my list of things to shop on sale. I decided to turn it into a post for first-time moms building a registry and second timers looking for cleaner alternatives and a more minimalist approach this time around.
Preparing for a second baby is easier with things in storage, hand-me-downs galore, AND the true lived experience of what you really need – and don’t. Years of working as a doula before becoming a mother gave me a strong advantage when it came to sifting through the marketing propaganda and consumer-culture madness that tells parents that just one more purchase will make motherhood easier.
Let me tell you, NO AMOUNT OF STUFF makes you “prepared” or “equipped” for motherhood. No amount of gizmos and gadgets make postpartum or early motherhood easier.
What I DO know to be true is that the only investment that does make motherhood easier is the investment in your well-being and care during your pregnancy, birth and postpartum window. You can read more about the four pillars of postpartum care in my book, Growing Together, and in this post here.
Babies don’t care about things. They just need you. They need a mom who is well cared for, who is able to tend to her baby’s needs.This is why I use Little Honey Money, the baby registry redefining gifting to do exactly that. This registry allows you to create funds for postpartum support, like doulas, food delivery, massage, chiropractics, therapy, etc.
That said, of course there are some things you will need to have on hand, like a car seat and diapers. This list walks you through the stuff I would never buy, the things I loved having last time, and the products I will be reordering this time around.
This is the guide for the minimalist mama who wants to be well-equipped with high quality items without accumulate a bunch of waste.
My rule of thumb before purchasing anything is to ask myself: Do I really need this? Does a friend or family member have one I can borrow? Can I purchase it second-hand? Is there a more sustainable version available?
The Things You Won’t Find on My Registry
Owlet Ankle Bracelet- This thing gives me the heebie jeebies. You can read the rant I posted a couple of years ago here with more of my thoughts on why monitors like these feel so deeply dystopian. A hard pass for me.
Fancy Camera Monitor - Although “smart” camera monitors are marginally less creepy, my feelings remain; I don’t need or want a monitor to tell me my baby’s temperature, or oxygen level, and I actually don’t want a baby monitor that connects to my wifi or phone, where there is risk of it being hacked. YES, this is a thing. Our home is small, our walls are thin and we all sleep together, so we rarely used a monitor, but when we did, we used this one: Low EMF, no wifi, old-school monitor screen, no medical reports preying on parental anxiety.
Snoo - I know everyone loves the Snoo and swears by it for sleep, but I just can’t get behind the idea of a mechanical crib connected to an app that senses a baby’s movements and rocks him back to sleep. Call me old-fashioned, but I would like to do that part myself. In fact, I believe it to be a very necessary aspect of motherhood. Not only is the Snoo controllable from your phone in the other room, but it is wired with EMFs/Wi-fi that I would never want my baby sleeping on. There are lots of things I am open to robots replacing, but caring for my newborn is not one of them. Yes, new parenthood is exhausting and tiresome; this is why we need optimal nutritional support and nourishing care. Babies are meant to sleep in close proximity to their mamas; they are meant to be met with human connection when they cry.
Digital Changing Pad - Obsessing over baby’s weight is a slippy slope towards anxiety and can even get in the way of breastfeeding. Your pediatrician will weigh baby and look at the full picture of his or her growth and health. There is no reason to monitor your babies weight at home unless you have medical instruction to do so.
Baby Containers, Bouncers, Walkers or Seats - Putting your baby in an unnatural seated position, a supported stand or any restrictive baby container is not ideal for their development. I really love the account On Track Baby for more info on this. The best place for baby to be is in your arms, in a carrier or on the ground. When babies are on the floor they get to practice using their muscles and lifting up their heads etc in preparation for rolling, sitting and crawling.
Wipe Warmer - Warm wipes are nice. I warm them on my chest or between my hands. Voila – it’s free!
Bottle Paraphernalia - If you plan to bottle feed regularly or formula feed; bottles, washers, and warmers will come in handy for you. My daughter never took a bottle so none of these gadgets were necessary for us. All milk came straight from my boobs (or a cup later on when she started sipping). I did have a few glass bottles on hand to turn to just in case. Again, this is one of those situations where you will need to decide what is best for your family and flow (no pun intended). If you do go with bottles, always choose glass and opt for preemie bottle nipples that slow the flow of milk, mimicking the breast and making baby work harder at the bottle. This can prevent your baby from nipple confusion.
Toys - Your newborn doesn’t need toys. He or she will play with anything; your keys, wooden spoons, you name it. The joy of accumulating childhood toys and stuffies will come later. For now, I promise, your baby will not know the difference. Focus your funds on care for you and the basic necessities you need to feel supported in the early months.
For Babe:
Car Seat - Obviously, this is a must-have item. You can get one second-hand, but ultimately, the safest and cleanest route is to invest in a new one. I love the Nuna because it is SO light and easy to take in and out of the car.
Baby Carrier - I call the baby carrier my “desert island” item. If there were only ONE item I could have for motherhood, it would be a carrier. Hands down, the best and most widely used product of this season. My favorite brands are Artipoppe, Solly Baby, and Wildbird. The Solly Baby Wrap is soft and cozy for newborns, but they do grow out of it fairly quickly. The Artipoppe is wearable for years, and its structure makes it great for front or back carry, long walks, hikes, naps on the go, and travel – also by far the chicest. The Wildbird Ring Sling is great for everyday wear – the sling is light to carry in your purse and perfect for a baby who likes to go in and out often. It’s made for easy hip carrying as babe gets bigger, but can also be used for smaller babies too. Check out an article here about baby wearing. If you can splurge on all three, do it. If you have to choose just one, go for a structured carrier like the Artipoppe.
Sheep Skin- I have one of these on the diaper changing table, and I have one for tummy time on the floor. So cozy. For floor time playing, I like these mats too.
Snot Sucker - I have an obsession with the snot sucker, and I am constantly wondering what mothers did before this brilliant invention came to be. It comes in handy more and more as your child gets older and more germy but great to have on hand for newborns too.
Diapers and EC Potty - When it comes to diapering, you have the choice between disposable and reusable. We did some reusable but ultimately went with Healthy Baby Diapers and started Elimination Communication around six weeks of age. If you want to learn more about, EC check out Go Diaper Free. You will need a little potty.
Wipes - With a newborn, we use dry wipes and add water to them at each diaper change. This assures no rashes in the early sensitive weeks.
Changing Pad - We never got a changing table, but instead popped one of these pads on top of our bedroom dresser. It worked perfectly! We threw a sheepskin over it for extra comfort. This time around, I am splurging on this pretty one for downstairs. Since we bed-shared, many diaper changes took place in bed in the middle of the night. Having these pads for quick changes in the bed was a game-changer. Also, having a mattress protector on your mattress is a must.
Blankets - To keep baby cozy. You will also need a bunch of Burp Cloths that can be easily washed.
Nail Clippers - The most terrifying task of early parenthood is cutting those tiny fingernails. Some moms bite them off or just file them. I honestly don’t know what the best way is, but this has been the safest clipper I have found, and this electric file is helpful too.
Air Filter - Never a bad idea to have an air filter in the room where your baby sleeps, especially if you set up a nursery with new paint, furniture, carpet, etc.
Humidifier - Honestly, this humidifier is one of the top ten best purchases of my life. Babies aside, as someone with lifelong allergies and sensitive sinuses, it saves me in the dry season. I love it because it doesn’t get moldy like so many of the other common brands and is ridiculously easy to clean.
Maybe Now, Maybe Later:
These are items that do come in handy but can be easily sourced from hand-me-downs or can be put off until later depending on your parenting style.
Crib - As a co-sleeping mama, we didn’t use a crib at all until our daughter got bigger and started napping alone. Sometimes those naps took place in our bed, but once she started rolling around, the crib was a nice nap spot. If you know you will not be co-sleeping, a crib is necessary.
Crib Mattress - If you get a crib, you will need a clean mattress that fits with the one you purchase.
Side Car Bassinet - I never had one of these because my baby always slept in the bed with me. However, if you want to cosleep but have other kids in bed, pets, or a reluctant partner, this can be a nice happy medium to keep babe close to you.
Moses Basket - Babies grow out of these quickly, and although we didn’t use it very often, it was nice to have a place to park babe close by for naps while in the living room.
Diaper Pail - Technically, you can use a regular trash can but diaper smells really make their way through a room. So if you aren’t taking out the trash daily, a diaper pail is a good thing to have. Always go with unscented bags.
Stroller- I didn’t put my daughter in a stroller for the first few months, at least. I much preferred the carrier snuggles, and we live on a very steep hill where walking out the door with a stroller is not an option. Now that she’s a toddler and too big for the carrier, we use this light and easy-to-travel-with stroller. It is not a newborn stroller. But personally, I don’t see the use for a newborn stroller if on a budget. That said, some can’t live without it. If you do lots of walking, it worth it to get a stroller for baby, but for me, it goes on my later list.
High Chair - This is a necessary purchase, but you won’t need it until babe is about six months old. Consider getting second-hand or as a hand-me-down and skipping it in the newborn stage so you can focus finances on nourishing YOU.
Rocking Chair - We received this one as a gift and really liked it. Three years later its still in use. Although it is a sweet thing to have in the early weeks, know that your breastfeeding journey and baby’s ability to sleep are not dependent on a rocking chair which is why I put it in the maybe category.
Baby Bath - My daughter bathed with me for the first six months of her life. We never used a baby bath. Didn’t even own one. If your home doesn’t have a bathtub, then a baby bathtub will be necessary. Eventually, at around six months, when she started bathing independently, I purchased the Lalo bathtub.
Onesies/ Clothes/ Etc - One can never have too many onesies. Babies do a lot of spitting up and blowouts that make for many changes throughout the day and night. Nearly all of my daughter’s clothes came from things my mom saved from my childhood or hand-me-downs from my sister’s daughter’s closet. Kids grow fast, and they get messy, which is why I don’t recommend splurging on a bunch of new clothes. If you do, choose organic cotton and natural fibers when possible. Here are some brands I love: MamaOwl and Colored Organics
For Mom
Books - Three must haves for every expecting moms bedside table
Growing Together - My week-by-week pregnancy and postpartum companion brimming with empowering advice to help expectant mothers care for their bodies, nurture their babies, and make confident decisions throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
Safe Infant Sleep - A guide by James McKenna on breastsleeping, a form of co-sleeping based on the inherent biological connection between breastfeeding and infant sleep.
The First 40 Days - A postpartum guide by Heng Ou offering food, rituals, and self-care practices to help new mothers recover, restore energy, and nurture their bodies in the first six weeks after birth.
Breastfeeding Support
Two of the greatest perks of breastfeeding (aside from the wonderful health benefits for you and baby, of course) are that it’s free and doesn’t require a bunch of bottles and parts that need constant cleaning. Here are some items that did support my early breastfeeding journey:
Breast Pump - Although I never really used a breastpump or fed from a bottle, I did have this pump on hand just in case there was any trouble breastfeeding. Its a worthwhile investment for peace of mind – and some insurances cover the cost.
Haakaa - It is worth getting at least three of these! They go a long way in helping to collect excess milk while nursing or hand expressing milk between feeds without having to go through the trouble of pumping. Over the first six months, I filled a large freezer worth of milk to store with just the Haakaa.
Silverette - These silver cups are a godsend in soothing and healing chapped and sore nipples.
Breast Friend Pillow - A firm breastfeeding pillow like this one is so helpful in the early days and weeks of breastfeeding. Having this support helps with latching and keeping your back and shoulders from hunching over.
Ointment- When not using the Silverettes, I would apply this ointment to help with nipple discomfort. Remember to also get some sunshine on the nipples and air them out!
Wishgarden Tincture- Wishgarden has herbal remedies like Happy Ducts and Milk Rich to help reduce inflammation and support milk flow and supply.
Milk Freezer Bags and Trays- Whether you are pumping or collecting excess let down in the Haakaa, you will need a place to store and save that precious breast milk. Plastic freezer bags are ideal for small freezer space, and we did use them at times, but I tried to prioritize plastic-free options such as silicone trays. Once the tray was full, I would transfer the cubes to a silicone bag.
Healing and Self-Care Items -
These items are a must in your postpartum arsenal for vagina or cesarean healing and yummy bathing rituals.
C & The Moon - My skincare line is formulated with new moms in mind with a subtle vanilla aroma. The body scrub is incredibly hydrating and the multipurpose oil is fantastic for supporting your hair postpartum.
Cooling Postpartum Pads, Organic Cotton Pads, Peri Bottle, Lume Box, Herbs, Arnica, Bath Salts, Witch Hazel, Organic Cotton Postpartum Diapers
Food Delivery Services:
Other Support Services:
These were some of the postpartum care modalities that were on my registry and truly foundational for me postpartum. You can find a list of recommended practitioners across the country on my website here.
Cranial Sacral for Mom and Baby, Lactation Consultant, Chiropractic, Couples Therapy, Pelvic Floor Therapy, Acupuncture and Home Cooking Postpartum Doula.