Keeping it Simple! Everything Else!

Family & Parenting, Family Money Saving Tips, Money & Finance, Parenting

Avoid clutter and keep things simple. Discover what you really need to take care of your new little one and what you don’t.

Babies come with a lot of stuff that they need. That doesn’t mean you have to suddenly find your life overrun with diapers, loud toys, and sippy cups. There are some things that you need and quite a lot that you don’t (but that ads and Pinterest will claim you do!).

The nursery, diapers, clothes, toys, and feeding accouterments are the basics but there are still a few more things you’ll need for your little one. In this post, I’ll go over all the other things you’ll need before bringing your little one home for the first time.

Other Necessities

Car Seat
Stroller/Wraps
Diaper Bag
Portable Spot to Lay Baby Down
Mat for Rolling and Crawling
First Aid Kit

Car Seat

Before you even think of leaving the hospital, you’ll need a car seat. In some cases, your newborn may have to pass what is known as the Car Seat Challenge before being discharged.

Choosing a car seat is especially important since you will be using it day in and day out for years. Safety and ease of use are the first two things to consider. There are several types of car seats available now, and I highly recommend reading through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s information about them and how to choose a safe one for your situation.

We opted for a convertible style to allow our son to rear-face for as long as possible since this has been shown to be safest. Some parents prefer the infant style at first so they don’t have to wake up the baby when they are in and out of the car so much. It also offers a convenient napping spot when visiting friends and family.

Stroller/Wraps

When you’re not at home or in the car, you’ll need a way to transport your little one. This is where strollers and wraps come in handy. To figure out the best option for your situation, try to imagine where you’ll be taking your little one and then think about how best to take them with you. If you’re going to be taking your baby on walks through the park or around the neighborhood, a stroller can easily work for that, but if you’re looking at a lot of hiking and off-road adventures, a wrap might be the better way to go.

In our case, we went with both! When looking for either, try them out to make sure they are easy for you to work with. Some strollers can be quite heavy and awkward so you’ll want to be sure you will be able to manage it if you’re out alone with your child. This is another reason we opted to get a wrap. It was easier for me to carry our son most of the time instead of trying to maneuver a stroller around. Find what works best for your situation.

For more information on wraps, check out my post on different styles and how to find the best fit for you!

Diaper Bag

You will be using your diaper bag every single day so find one that works for you, can adapt, and that you love. That cute Winnie the Pooh tote may seem like a good idea at first but once you’ve been carrying it around for 6 months, you’ll wish you had something a bit more adult-looking.

We opted for a backpack style with insulated compartments since my son would be coming with me to work every day. It made it much easier to pack him and his stuff into work.

Other moms may opt for a large purse or tote bag style. Whatever you choose, make sure you can easily get to everything you’ll need when you’re out. Diapers, wipes, burp cloths, and a changing pad are just the basics you’ll want to have with you.

I highly recommend looking for one with several pockets or dividers of some type instead of a single large space. This helps you keep the bag organized and makes it easier to find what you need quickly. Afterall, you don’t want your wet bag with a dirty diaper sitting next to your little darling’s bottle.

Portable Spot to Lay Baby Down

Blankets are the obvious and the most versatile option for this. The idea is that you have someplace safe to lay your little one down for a nap wherever you are. We kept polar fleece blankets around and picked up a Boppy Lounger for at home. Even though he no longer fits in it, our son still loves laying on it so it was well worth the $15 we spent (yay, clearance!). Just remember that you need to keep an eye on your baby when using loungers like this so that your child doesn’t slip down and have trouble breathing. With blankets on a firm surface, you don’t have this issue.

We also had a portable bassinet for when he was at the office. It was easy to move and gave him a safe place to sleep while I was working.

Mat for Rolling and Crawling

As your little one starts to move more, you may want to look at getting them a mat to give them a safe space to explore. We opted for a foam mat that gives our son a little padding while still being firm enough to get traction. Blankets can give them padding but it’s easier for them to work through the movements if they are on a surface where they won’t slide around too much.

You can get as fancy or as plain as you want. I have friends who opted for the big, colorful squares that would normally be used under gym equipment. They work just as well as the cute animal or princess versions on Amazon and can generally be picked up at the local Home Depot or Menards.

First Aid Kit

No parent wants to think about their child getting hurt but you want to be sure to have everything on hand you may need should something happen. Many new parents overlook this but it’s important to have before you bring your baby home. A few things to keep on hand are infant tylenol, thermometer, nasal aspirator, bandages, antibiotic ointment, and a medicine pacifier or spoon. This will spare you the frantic run to the store if your baby spikes a fever or gets a little scrape.

Conclusion:

You may have noticed that we left off swings and bouncers from this list. While some people still like to use these, they take up a lot of space, can only be used for a short period of time, and many have been found to be unsafe. For those reasons, we made the decision before our son was born to not get either. Honestly, we have never regretted that decision.

Do you have any must-haves you found invaluable when raising your little darling? If so, please comment below on what it was!