Field Notes / You Need Way Less Stuff

You Need Way Less Stuff Than You Think

The baby industry wants you to believe you need everything. You don't. Here's what actually mattered.

The Moment

Month 3 postpartum. I'm standing in the nursery looking at all the stuff. The $700 bassinet we used for 6 weeks. The designer diaper bag I never carried. The wipe warmer. The bottle sterilizer. The fourteen swaddles when we only ever used three.

We'd spent thousands of dollars on things we barely touched.

Meanwhile, the things we used constantly? The $60 IKEA crib. The $15 Target sleep sacks. The hand-me-down bouncer from a friend.

I felt like an idiot. And also furious at an industry designed to make new parents panic-buy.

The Conflict

The baby industry runs on fear. Fear that you're not prepared. Fear that you'll buy the wrong thing and your baby will suffer. Fear that other parents have figured out the secret gear you're missing.

Registry checklists have 200+ items. Influencers post their "must-haves." Your baby shower becomes a competition in consumption.

And you fall for it because you don't know what you actually need yet. So you buy everything, just in case.

Here's the reality: babies need very little. A safe place to sleep. Diapers. Clothes. Food. Everything else is optional.

The actual necessities

You need: somewhere safe to sleep (crib/bassinet), car seat, diapers, wipes, a few onesies, something to feed baby with (breast or bottle), burp cloths. That's it. Everything else is a nice-to-have, not a need-to-have.

The Learning

By baby #2, we'd figured out what actually mattered. Here's the breakdown:

What We Used Constantly

  • IKEA Sniglar crib ($60) - Worked exactly as well as the fancy ones. Babies don't care about aesthetics.
  • Halo or Nested Bean sleep sacks - Used daily. Buy 3-4 in each size so you have backups.
  • White noise machine - Hatch or cheap Amazon one, doesn't matter. Critical for sleep.
  • Blackout curtains - IKEA Majgull. Let them air out for a week before baby arrives.
  • Snoo rental (if you can afford it) - Worth it for sleep-deprived parents. Not necessary, but helpful.
  • Baby Bjorn bouncer - Lightweight, portable, babies love it. Used it for months.
  • Portable changing pad - Changed diapers on this on the couch, bed, floor. Barely used the changing table.
  • Burp cloths - Buy a dozen. You'll go through multiple per day.
  • Honest or Coterie diapers - Better than Pampers. Worth the slight upcharge.
  • Water Wipes or cloth wipes with warm water - Gentle on newborn skin.

What We Rarely Used

  • Wipe warmer - unnecessary
  • Diaper Genie - a regular trash can works fine
  • Bottle sterilizer - microwave steam bags are easier and cheaper
  • Fancy diaper bag - a backpack you already own works better
  • Baby towels - regular towels work fine
  • Changing table - changed diapers on a pad on the floor most of the time
  • Baby bathtub - sink or shower with you is easier

What We Returned (See Individual Field Notes)

  • Amazon blackout curtains (offgassed badly)
  • Willow pump (too heavy and loud)
  • Graco Pack 'n Play (way too heavy to move)
  • Haaka (awkward shape, Elvie Curve was better)

What to do instead

Start with the bare minimum. Buy more later if you actually need it. Amazon delivers in 2 days - you don't need everything before baby arrives. Borrow or buy secondhand for items you'll only use a few months. Spend money on help (postpartum doula) instead of gear.

The Updated Rule

Buy less. Wait and see what you actually use. Don't let the baby industry scare you into overconsumption.

The minimalist baby registry:

  • Sleep: Crib or bassinet, 3-4 sleep sacks, white noise machine, blackout curtains
  • Diapers: Newborn and size 1 diapers, wipes, changing pad, diaper cream
  • Clothes: 6-8 onesies in newborn and 0-3 month sizes. That's it. They grow fast.
  • Feeding: If breastfeeding: nursing bras, nipple cream, breast pads. If bottle feeding: 4-6 bottles, formula, bottle brush.
  • Bathing: Baby soap, towels (regular ones work), nail clippers
  • On-the-go: Car seat (the only legally required item), baby carrier, stroller (buy after baby arrives based on your actual lifestyle)

That's it. Seriously. Everything else can wait.

What I'd tell past me

Stop scrolling Instagram nursery accounts. Stop comparing your registry to your friend's. The $700 bassinet doesn't make you a better parent. The IKEA crib works exactly the same as the $1200 one. Spend money on a postpartum doula, not on gear you'll use for six weeks. Your baby will not care about aesthetics. Save your money and your sanity.

Not gospel

This is what worked for us. Your priorities might be different. If having a beautifully designed nursery brings you joy, get the fancy crib. Just don't feel pressured to buy everything because the baby industry says you need it.