Babies will never judge their parents for the amount of stuff that they had when they were little or didn’t have when they were babies. In fact, most babies only need a few basic necessities in order to be adequately cared for and they don’t need a bunch of fancy things. A baby will use most of their baby gear for a short period of time and they quickly grow out of it. If you are expecting and have a limited budget, I would recommend that parents buy or register for the following items in order to properly care for their newborn baby.
Disclosure: This post reflects my own opinions and you may find additional products that you need or want in order to care for your baby. My list is based upon my own opinions and experience with raising my own three children.
- Diapers – These are a must have and during the first two months, it will seem as if you are constantly changing your child’s diaper. However, it does get better and as your baby grows they won’t use quite as many diapers as they do in the beginning.
- Wipes – Wipes are a more of a convenience item; however, they make diaper changing easier. Some parents choose to make their own baby wipes, I personally haven’t tried this. You can also buy some cheap, inexpensive white wash clothes and use warm water to clean your babies bum. This will create a small amount of additional laundry to do but buying white wash clothes you can cut down on paper waste and they can be re-used until they wear out.
- Baby Wash – Buy your baby specially formulated body wash or shampoo that is made specifically for your baby’s delicate and sensitive skin. It is also specially formulated so that it doesn’t burn their eyes in case it gets into their eyes.
- Clothes – As we all know clothes are a must have, but if you are on a strict budget there are ways that you can find clothing that fits your budget. Consignment shops, second hand stores, e-bay, craigslist, and garage sales are a great way to stock up on clothes for a reasonable amount of money. If your lucky, you can find someone who is willing to give you hand me downs. For the first year, your child will change sizes very quickly and it doesn’t make sense to go and buy top of the line name brand clothes for your child, unless you find a great bargain.
- Blankets – You can get by with a few light receiving blankets and one or two heavier blankets. In fact, during the first 4-5 your baby shouldn’t have anything in the crib or bassinet with them to avoid suffocation. Receiving blankets can also be used for burp clothes.
- Bottles and Bottle Brush – If you plan on using formula to feed your baby, then you will need to stock up on bottles. I would plan on buying a minimum of 9 so that if you don’t get a chance to wash them you have enough to cover each feeding. Also, a bottle brush is needed to adequately clean the bottles.
- Crib or Bassinet – Your baby needs a safe place for them to sleep. You can use a bassinet for the first few months of their life, but once they are able to pull up the you baby needs to move into a crib for their safety. Crib bedding sets are unnecessary; however, you will need several crib sheets and a breathable bumper pad.
- Toys – Babies don’t need a ton of toys to play with; however, toys are a great way to interact with your child. Find toys that your baby can play with for a few months. I wouldn’t invest a ton of money buying them a large variety of toys. They quickly grow out of them and will no longer play with them.
- Car Seat – This item is one thing that you can not skimp on. I personally recommend that you buy this item new or put it on your baby registry. Car seats have expiration dates and you never can fully know the history on the car seat unless you personally know the person that you are getting it from. You don’t want to ever use a car seat that is expired or has been involved in any type of car accident, including fender benders.
- Finger Nail Clippers – You will quickly find out why you should invest in baby nail clippers fairly quickly once your baby is here. Their nails are very sharp and tend to grow very quickly.
- Pacifiers - Babies are born with a sucking instinct and most babies love sucking on things between feedings. A pacifier can easily fill this role. My motto on a pacifiers: “You can take away a pacifier but you can’t take away your child’s thumb if they find it.”
- Formula – If you plan on using formula, you will have to buy your baby formula. Don’t stock too much formula because sometimes babies have digestive issues or other problems and don’t tolerate certain brands of formula very well. If you want to save money, you can breastfeed your baby.
- Diaper bag – You will need to carry all of your baby gear around in some type of bag. Diaper bags can be expensive; however, you can get creative and find something that works for you. When my son was born, we decided to use a freebie bag that we had lying around the house. It was a great way to recycle a bag that we already had that would have typically been stashed into a closet to collect dust.
- Medication – As a mom, I found it helpful to always keep some diaper rash cream, baby gas drops, and children’s Tylenol on hand so that if my baby needed it, I didn’t have to worry about running to the store in the middle of the night or when my baby wasn’t feeling well.
- Thermometer – I recommend that you buy a cheap digital thermometer so that you can use it only on your baby. A young baby’s temperature has to be taken rectally and it shouldn’t be used for any other purpose.
- Stroller – A stroller is a great way to take your baby places without having to break your back carrying your child all over the place. A cheap umbrella stroller is perfectly suitable for a baby that can sit up on their own.
A baby will remember the way that their parents loved them more than anything that you can buy for them. There are many resources that can assist parents who don’t have enough money to buy basic items to care for their baby, check your local phone book or area for pregnancy assistance. If you are unable to buy food or don’t have medical care, you should contact your local Health and Human Services Department immediately.
To get weekly updates to Uplifting Families, please subscribe to my newsletter or join in the conversation with me on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and G+.
What was your favorite baby product that you can’t live without when taking care of a newborn?
