Minimalist Baby Registry Essentials

My son just turned one and after surviving the first year, I finally feel like I am in a place where I can offer useful minimalist baby registry suggestions to other new or soon to be new moms. This list is for new moms (or dads!) who want to know what they REALLY need when baby arrives.

In all honesty – you don’t need much. You could technically survive with just diapers and wipes, a few swaddle blankets, and a safe place for your baby to sleep. The rest is really just for your convenience, but your convenience matters!

Below is a list of all of the items that we regularly use and nothing more. The length of this list might surprise you considering the “minimalist” title, but if you’re planning on staying active and productive (running errands, eating at restaurants, getting stuff done around the house, etc.) while still caring for your baby then you will benefit from having some “stuff.” I consider every item on this minimalist baby registry checklist to be essential for making my life more efficient during the first 6+ months of motherhood.

Where to Register

Just about every item on this list can be found via Amazon. I organized every item I recommended in my Amazon Shop to make browsing easy.

If you’re still debating where to register, I highly recommend Amazon Baby Registry!

(This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see my disclosures here.)

NEWBORN TRANSPORTATION ESSENTIALS

Car Seat

CAR SEAT – A must have if you plan on traveling anywhere by car. You can go one of two ways here: convertible car seat or infant car seat (read more about the differences between the two on BabyList). I chose the UppaBaby Mesa infant car seat which attaches to our UppaBaby stroller. It can also be used to carry your newborn around outside of the car. This was handy when a stroller was too bulky and wearing the baby didn’t make sense (e.g. visits to the dentist or chiropractor). Also, some hospitals ask that you place your newborn in their car seat before discharging you from the hospital. Check with your hospital beforehand to confirm their policy. Other great options that I considered are the Britax, Maxi Cosi, and Nuna Pipa. We were also gifted a Graco convertible car seat for when our babe grew out of his infant seat. *NOTE: If you are going for the ultimate minimalist car seat option I’d recommend starting with the convertible seat option . My son grew out of his infant car seat in 6 months!

Stroller

STROLLER – As far as I’m aware, there are three main stroller categories: modular, jogger, and travel. The best stroller for you depends on your lifestyle. Sometimes it can be nice to have more than one stroller (gasp!). I was gifted a modular stroller (UppaBaby Cruz) and I purchased a jogger second-hand for us to use for weekend walks on the beach. Choosing a stroller was easily the most difficult decision for me. Something that helped was creating a spreadsheet with all of my “nice-to-have” features along the left column and all of my favorite strollers along the top. In the end I chose the stroller(s) that checked the most boxes!

Diaper Bag and Changing Mat

DIAPER BAG – I am still loving our $35 diaper backpack.

CHANGING MAT – Our Skip Hop changing mat has worked great for us. It includes pockets that can store diapers and wipes so I can either fold it in the diaper bag, or carry it on its own. This can be used on the go and at home in lieu of a regular changing pad if laid on a bed or the floor.

Carrier

CARRIER – A high quality baby carrier might be my #1 most valued baby item. Before I gave birth, I collected multiple second-hand baby carriers including a cute fabric baby wrap (I’ll say to you what many others said to me – cute, but not worth it). If I was to go back in time, I would have told myself to forget the rest and invest in the Ergobaby 360. I didn’t want to believe the hype (because $$$) but I finally broke down and purchased one. It still cost me over $100 purchased second-hand but it seriously saved my back and shoulders. I still use this regularly and my son is now close to 25lbs. Don’t forget the infant insert for babies less than 12 lbs!

NEWBORN CLOTHING ESSENTIALS

Clothing

5-10 ONESIES – The number of onesies you need really depends on how frequently you plan on doing laundry. I do a load nearly every day so we’re fine with just a few in each size. Sleeve length also depends on the climate/season your baby is born into.

2-4 LEGGINGS – Only necessary if you live in a cooler climate. My son was born in the summer and he didn’t wear leggings or socks until he was close to 4 months old.

Accessories

SOCKS – See above.

BEANIE – My summer baby wore a beanie in the hospital and not much again until the weather turned cold.

SUN HAT – For summer babies, this one adjusts the size so it grows with your baby. A baby rash guard is also helpful if your baby is crawling / walking around during summertime. I try to avoid unnecessary sunscreen application where I can!

Sleep Attire

SLEEPERS (optional) – Again, optional depending on climate and desire for convenience. My newborn slept in a onesie and a muslin swaddle (or sometimes just a diaper and swaddle) most nights. On cooler evenings, the sleep gown was our favorite since it enabled fast diaper changes. With that said, you could also get by with your baby wearing a onesie, leggings, socks, and a swaddle if born during a cooler season and opt to avoid sleepers altogether.

Swaddles

7-10 SWADDLE BLANKETS – Some people swear by expensive velcro or zipper swaddles, we were just fine using muslin blankets. Plus, they can be used for SO many other things (stroller cover, nursing cover, burp cloth, play mat, etc.). Because we used them for so many purposes, it was nice to have a few extra on hand.

NEWBORN SLEEP ESSENTIALS

Bed

PACK N PLAY – If I was to go back in time, I would completely forego a bassinet and instead opt for a pack n’ play. Many like this one include a newborn sleeper attachment, and can travel easily. You could technically forego a crib altogether and keep your baby in one of these until he/she is a few years old. 4moms has a very popular version that is attractive if it’s going to be used as a more permanent fixture in your home. Our Graco version has suited us just fine so far. *NOTE: If you don’t have space for a pack n’ play in your room AND you choose to invest in the UppaBaby Vista, you can buy an inexpensive stand for the bassinet that the stroller combo includes. I love a multi-use product!

2 PACK N PLAY FITTED SHEETS – Great to have 2 sets as new babies sleep around the clock so you’ll inevitably need to wash one set just as baby is going down for a nap (sheet options for Graco brand pack n’ play).

Sleep Accessories

NIGHT LIGHT (optional) – This isn’t essential, but a good night light was SO nice to have during the first 6-8 months! I can’t find our exact night light anymore but it is similar to this one in that you can press on and off and adjust the brightness level.

BABY MONITOR – My husband chose this one because he was paranoid that wifi versions can be hacked. Regardless of cyber-security, we still use this one and it works great!

WHITE NOISE MACHINE – It took us 9 months to get our son to sleep through the night. I don’t know why we resisted a white noise machine for so long! We started getting much better sleep very soon after we started using one. It also helps our son sleep better when we travel (maybe because it helps us mimic his home bedtime routine). Either way, I’d say this is a worthwhile early investment!

NEWBORN NURSING ESSENTIALS

Nursing Bras

NURSING BRA(S) – Really nice to have a few comfy pairs.

SLEEP NURSING BRA – Things were sensitive those first few weeks and soft sleep bras helped me deal at night. Also if you’re leaking a lot, sleep bras plus nursing pads are the way to go.

NURSING PADS – Helpful in case of leaks.

Nursing Extras

LANOLIN CREAM – Breastfeeding isn’t always easy or glamorous. I was gifted a tube and used it regularly during the first 6-8 weeks of breastfeeding when things were still sore. Bring this with you to the hospital too! Earth Mama Angel Baby has a nipple butter that’s also supposed to be great that I’ll probably try next time.

NURSING COVER (optional) – If you plan on breastfeeding in public and want to keep things modest, forget covering up with a flimsy blanket over your shoulder. These covers are SO much easier. I got two so I am never without a clean one. They also work as fantastic car seat / stroller covers that won’t blow away in the breeze. They can also be worn as a scarf accessory in-between feedings.

20 BURP CLOTHS – You will use these all the time, everywhere during the first 6 months. We still keep 1-2 stored in our diaper bag for emergencies!

Pumping

PUMP – I very highly recommend one with a rechargeable/portable battery so that you can be mobile while pumping. During my morning pump I was able to make myself breakfast, do the dishes, and answer emails without any problem. I used the Spectra S1 and had zero problems.

HANDS FREE BRA – An absolute must if you want to multitask (which trust me, you will)

4-8 BOTTLES – Before you load up on bottles, make sure your babe likes the brand you choose. Our baby was SUPER picky when it came to bottles and after trying three highly recommended brands (Dr. Browns, Tommee Tippee, and Comotomo) we finally got him to take the Avent bottles. Avent bottles were also great because they’re the only bottle brand I found that directly attached to the Spectra S1 pump. It was super convenient to pump straight into the bottle that we used to feed him!

BREAST MILK BAGS – Not much to say here other than I wish there were good options that weren’t single-use.

Glider (Optional)

GLIDER (optional) – Not an essential (I almost didn’t get one myself) but it’s really nice to have. I highly recommend something soft/upholstered with armrests and a high back to rest your head against (you will be SO grateful for this during those middle of the night feedings). To this day (toddler age 2), one of my favorite parts of our bedtime routine is cuddling in this chair and reading books.

Baby Food

Lastly, it’s worth noting that around 6 months old your baby will likely start trying solid foods. If you’re interested in registering for feeding-related items, check out my baby food essentials list.

NEWBORN DIAPERING ESSENTIALS

Changing Mat

CHANGING MAT – If you’re trying to keep things minimal, ditch the changing pad and just get a changing mat. You can lay it on a bed or on the floor for diaper changes. It wipes clean easily, and can travel in your diaper bag with you for on-the-go changes.

Diapers Etc.

DIAPERS – I am not loyal to a diaper brand, most worked just fine for our baby. I do wish I had tried cloth diapering during his first 6 months as disposable diapers are a leading contributor to landfill waste! Baby poop is water soluble while the baby is still exclusively breast-fed so washing dirty cloth diapers isn’t a huge deal. Watch this video to learn more about cloth diapering!

WIPES – These are nice if your baby has sensitive skin since they include just water and fruit extract. The only problem is they are a pain to pull out of the packaging one-handed.

DESITIN – We are still using the same container we originally purchased on our son. Worked better than Aquaphor or other products to prevent diaper rash for us.

DIAPER CREAM BRUSH (optional) – I say this is optional because you could technically apply that butt cream with your fingers… let’s just say it’s a very nice to have item.

Laundry Stain Removal

BORAX – Blow-outs will happen. I did SO much laundry during those first 6 months and a lot of it required pre-soaking to get rid of poop stains. Put a few tablespoons of borax in a full sink of warm water then let it dissolve before adding stained clothes for a few hours. Then wash regularly with the rest of your laundry to remove stains.

NEWBORN BATHING ESSENTIALS

Bath Gear

BABY BATH – You could technically get by with sink baths until your baby can sit up, but if you birth a giant baby like mine (10lbs) it might be helpful to just use a baby bath. I love that this one collapses so it can be stored away easily in-between bath times.

SOFT TOWELS – The towels you already own are probably perfectly fine, save your money and skip the hooded towels (unnecessary!)

SOFT WASHCLOTHS – Again, nothing fancy just something super soft. You could even cut up an old cotton t-shirt and use that as your soft wash cloth.

Bath Products

EARTH MAMA WASH – I like the ingredients in this baby wash and it didn’t overly dry out my baby’s skin like other baby wash products did.

COCONUT OIL – I swear this helped eliminate my baby’s acne and dry, flaky scalp issues. We didn’t use anything else to moisturize our baby’s skin until he started to get eczema on his cheeks. For that we used Eucerin cream.

Grooming

CRADLE CAP BRUSH – If your baby has cradle cap or a dry, flaky scalp this brush will help clear things up.

NAIL FILE – Because clipping baby fingernails is the scariest, we have used this tool from day 1 instead.

BABY NAIL CLIPPERS – The nail file only lasted us for about 3 months before I had to get brave and use baby nail clippers. We still use these (although I have to do it while our son is distracted by baby songs on the TV or else he won’t sit still enough!).

OTHER NEWBORN ESSENTIALS

Health

THERMOMETER – Our pediatrician recommended that we stick to the classic rectal thermometer for our babe, so that’s what we got. Luckily, we haven’t had a reason to use it so far but feel good that we have one just in case.

NASAL ASPIRATOR – We didn’t use our nasal aspirator often, but when we needed it we were SO glad to have one. When my toddler gets sick to this day (2 year old toddler) we use the Nose Frida to give him some relief and the ability to breathe more easily before naps and bedtimes.

Pacifier

PACIFIER – Like with bottles, you might need to try a few different pacifiers before you find one that your newborn likes. Our son HATED pacifiers until around 4 months old. Now he happily sleeps with his every night.

PACIFIER CLIPS – These aren’t essential per se but they sure do come in handy if you want to avoid losing pacifiers everywhere you go!

Play

LOVEVERY PLAY MAT – Newborns don’t really interact much with toys, but they do start noticing contrast colors and become much more aware of their surroundings. Our baby used this play mat for a solid 6-8 months.

BOOK – As mentioned above, newborns don’t interact too much but they will pay attention to contrast colors. Black and white books are what kept ours most captivated.

BOUNCER (optional) – I say this is optional, but when our son turned 4 months old we were gifted this exact bouncer and it was honestly the best thing that happened to us. For 3+ full months our busy baby was able to happily entertain himself for 30+ minutes at a time in this thing! He is now one and still likes climbing on the outside of it and pressing the music buttons. This one also looks great because it converts as your baby grows. Our one year old now loves standing to play so this concept is great. I also love that you can buy matching chairs as it converts to a table.

Final Thoughts

Browse all of these items in one place via my Amazon Shop. Plus, you can register for everything on this list and more via Amazon Baby Registry (super easy and streamlined).

My last tip would be to buy second-hand whenever possible. It will save you a ton of money. Also, a majority of baby supplies are made with plastic materials. By buying second-hand you can feel better about not directly contributing to over-consumption / over-production of non-renewable resources. I personally love using Facebook Marketplace for this.

Above all, congratulations! Motherhood is the best 🙂

Want more? Click here to see our minimalist nursery.