Minimalist Mommas- what are the things that you HAVE to have? - Page 3

[braidmama]

Oh boy! Love this post! I can see allof the other mamas here covered evertyhing already but I love lists so here's what I used with mine (everyone under the sun told me that I'd need a million ridiculous things ,so glad I stood my ground here, this was my first babe but in the future I know now what I'll actually USE).

-2 dozen prefold diapers and 3 covers
-plain white onesies (actually found the gowns to be kind of useful especially for cloth diapering!)
- soft structured carrier (I have Beco but I think the mei teis are nice if you don't want lots of buckles! They are great from newborns all the way til the toddler stage which is nice! I also have a ring sling that was a hand me down from my sister. It had some stains I couldn't remove so I just sewed so pretty fabric I had over it and now its one-of a kind )
-convertible carseat (at times its a pain to repeatedly take ds out of the carseat to place into the beco or sling rather than just unclip a bucket carseat but I enjoy the closeness we have and I think we have a lot more bonding time because we spend so much more time right next to each other, ALSO! We won't have to buy another carseat until ds outgrows the 65 lb weight limit or his height outgrows the carseat, but he probably won't need one anymore anyway so that's a win!)
- double electric breastpump- this was a need for me since I have had to go back to work, oh how I wish I could stay home! Also, we had latching issues for a few weeks at first so this was a lifesaveer for me, although I absolutely loathe pumping.
-waterproof pads- we cosleep part of the time but always have one under us and the babe and under him in the crib when he sleeps in it- just to protect the mattress. Actually-ha! I stole like 5 of those heavy fabric pads from the hospital when we had ds and they're super helpful.
-Blankets/Hats...we recieved way too many as gifts and the ones that come in layette sets were always too small for ds from day 1! Not to sound ungrateful but we donated all of the blankets that weren't handmade for us. We ended up with 4 handmade blankets and 3 handmade sweaters. There's a mama made quilt in the works as well
-Boppy pillow. I actually used this constantly. It came with a cover which is great so you can just pop it in the washer when it needs cleaning. It seems like it's be super easy to make if you had access to a sewing machine, as well.

Hmm...I think that's pretty much it, tbh! We did get few small wooden toys and such as well but nothing crazy. Another thing that i found quite lovely is lavender essential oil. I sprinkle a few drops on ds's sheets before bedtime to help calm him and sometimes in with the laundry as well.

Phew! I always make ridiculously long posts.

[Sorin]

Someone upthread mentioned that you don't know the personality of your babe until it gets here, and that is so true! I have a Moby and a Bjorn, and DD *hates* to be carried around! I should amend that to say that she hated to be carried around as an infant. All the stories about babies loving to be snuggled close with lots of skin to skin napping peacefully in a sling did NOT work with my babe. From day one, she wanted to be carried facing out. She had to see what was going on! If I tried to wear her facing inward with her head on my chest (the newborn carry on the Moby), she would cry! When she got a little bigger and could fit in the Bjorn (facing inward, again), she would spend the entire time with her back arched and her head craning upward so that she could see something! She's now 5 months, and just the other day I tried carrying her facing outward both in the Moby and the Bjorn. She tolerated that much better, but it is still not her favorite thing. When I do carry her, she is most content with her butt in the crook of my left arm so that she can look around and not miss anything. Of course, she's now getting too heavy for me to carry her like that for a long time (but my left bicep is getting really strong!)

For us, now that she is older, her play-place has really come in handy. We got two as gifts, and she loves them. They are the kind that have toys that dangle down and play music. I can put her on her back under a bunch of rattles and stuffed animals and things, and she bats them around and talks to them for a loooong time (seriously, like an hour!) The play-place has really been a life saver for allowing me to get stuff done! If someone wants to buy you something, you could ask for one, or I'm sure you could find a used one on Craigslist.

Oh, and I also agree with the bouncy seat. I credit our bouncy seat with allowing me to shower and eat during the newborn stage.

Congrats on the new babe!

[SilverFish]

we were super frugal. i hate buying stuff anyway, we live in a tiny apartment, and then my baby arrived 5 weeks early, and since i'd been putting everything off (since i hate shopping) we literally had nothing when she arrived. that's a pretty good way to keep things simple!

anyway, i'll say what we got that was essential (and amend in brackets what i'll be doing next time) for the newborn stage.

1. borrowed moses basket. we hadn't bought a crib yet, and this was an easy way to keep her nearby while napping. i also found i needed at least one stretch of sleep sans baby so i could really stretch out, move around, otherwise i ended up with a backache.
2. nb diapers. (next time, i'll go all out with cloth... we started with only 12 used part-time... i think i'd want at least 24-30 prefolds and 6 covers)
3. home-made stretchy wrap. (i've since graduated to many different kinds of carriers, but i still think stretchy wraps are perfect for newborns.)
3. hand-me-down and gifted clothes. mostly onesies, sleepers, socks and hats... our baby wasn't terribly messy, so one outfit per day worked out well. i did have to buy some new preemie sized clothing, but hopefully not next time.
4. hand-me-down and gifted blankets. never even had to THINK about buying blankets, we recieved so many.
5. breastfeeding supplies: ointment, pillows, pads, LC's phone number on speed dial... pumps, bottles and sns, but again, we were a special case. most people won't need all that paraphenalia.
6. carseat. we used a borrowed bucket for a few weeks, then graduated to a convertible. (next time i think i will start off with a bucket again, it is nice to buckle in a floppy and fragile newborn indoors).
7. stroller. we had no stroller at all (still only have a simple umbrella stroller) but i think next time we will get one suitable for a newborn. i really wanted to go for walks and short outings, but i would get worn out REALLY quickly trying to carry her, and juggle a diaper bag and my shopping. i still find strollers incredibly annoying most of the time, but they are nice for that low key PP period when you want to get out, but need to take it easy.


and that's it. toys, swings, different kinds of carriers, jumpers, etc, are really not needed for a few weeks at least! your life will be nursing, changing diapers, sleeping and self-care for quite a while, so anything extra is mostly just a waste of space. it wasn't until about 2-3 mos that i started wanting anything extra in the way of carriers, toys, baby holders, clothing, etc. even the lack of stroller which i regret now, was totally doable.

[Bubblette]

We found we needed way more than we bought- and we thought we were being pretty minimalist...

NEEDS:
carseat
some baby sized blankets- can get away with 3-4, I would recommend more like 10
diapers - we chose sposies for the 1st 6 weeks then onto fitted cloth but prefolds would be cheeper.
wipes
clothes- all gifted to us
mama's boobs so some breast pad and nipple ointment
miracle blanket swaddle - best investment we made DS can't wiggle out of it, it fit from 1 week when we got it and will fit for months to come and he sleeps soooooo much better in it
dish towels for spit up rags - could use prefolds or anything else absorbent and a reasonable size
waterproof bed sheet - baby pee, milk, spit-up etc it has saved our mattress
*a double electric pump, one bottle, a few itty cups - I went back to school at 8 weeks so a must for us but not for everyone.

really nice to have:
soft wrap like moby - easy to make on your own on the cheap too
moses basket / something to put itty bitty baby in
a few toys for around 3 months old- rattle, brightly colored, stuffies etc
crib comforter - for floor time on our cold tile floors
books

things i now want to buy:
ergo!
mirror for car seat

things I haven't used/used much so far:
stroller! other than the detachable basket which a 4 months we never use anymore
boppy - i found a regular pillow better
crib
bouncer
the little bitty thin swaddle blankets were too small very very quickly
baby towels/washcloths - we just used ours

[nerdymom]

Hi mama! I know I will be repeating a few things here but I just love these kinds of posts. When I was pg we were unemployed and living in one small room at my parents house. So we did things very simply. In your situation here is what I would do:

Essentials
-Car Seat, the MyRide65 has an infant seat and rfs to 40lbs. I love it.
-Diapers. Cheapest would be flats and covers, however prefolds are easier to learn, and I love them. Use a snappi or pins and you can get by with fewer covers. I got by with 3 covers washing every other day. But 4 or 5 would have been nice, I wouldn't have done as much "spot cleaning" on diaper day! A wool or fleece soaker or longies for nighttime is nice but far from essential. I still don't have one, though I have one (fleece) cut out on my sewing table. Also washable wipes (with plain old water on 'em), and Charlies Soap to wash with.
-Clothing. Simple is better. Cotton pants and onesies, sleep gowns for night time (not outgrown as fast). Cotton breathes nicely and is easy for baby to move in. Babies get messy. I would say at least 2 outfits per day, the final quantity depends on how many days in between laundry you want to go.
-SPOCFor a baby carrier, nothing works harder than a SPOC (Simple Piece Of Cloth). A woven wrap like a Didymos or Storchenwiege can be used from birth to toddlerhood. Or you can make your own for very little. A stretchy wrap like Moby is only good for the first 6 months or so, from a safety standpoint. Afterthat baby is too strong and can stretch the wrap even if properly worn. An Ergo is very nice, not as versatile as a SPOC and there is some discussion about how early they can be worn in it. A ring sling is a wonderful thing, but after the baby is about 25lbs it can become too much strain on the mother's back.
-Washable Breast Pads Flannel. Very nice on the sore nips.
-Blankets Soft, flannel receiving blankets for bundling, warm soft blanket to line a basket or make a nest on the floor.

Nonessentials that make my life easier
-umbrella stroller. I didn't buy one until DS was 6 months old or so. And then I bought one that was about ten years old. I used it mostly to carry the diaperbag and cooler when we went to the zoo, to the park, etc. Now he is a toddler and he actually rides in it when he's tired. I still drape the bags over the handles.
-Diaperbag. I didn't have one for a while, I just used a big tote bag. But cloth dipes take up a lot of space and I do love my diaper bag.
-Snug Tuck Pillow. We love ours, we got it when DS was 4 months and had rolled off our high bed and freaked us out. For the new baby we are upgrading from a full size bed to a king. And we will put the snug tuck pillow back on. baby sleeping arrangements...done.
-My Brest Friend I had a surgical birth and for months had abdominal pain. This pillow made nursing much much easier for me, especially in the beginning.
-A small portable swing Someone gave me one and I thought I would never use it. But I did. I used it to sooth DS while I showered or cooked, mostly. It was very nice. Also small and fold-able, which mattered a lot to us.

eta - your kid does not need toys nor will she/he play with them until they are older. My son now loves his cars and a ball, but before that he enjoyed a wooden spoon for chewing, a pan for banging, a small glass jar with rice in it (lid taped on with packing tape) for a rattle.

[Abraisme]

My list:

diapers
clothes
carseat
moby wrap
swaddling blanket (Miracle Blanket)
vibrating bouncy seat (cheap and worth every penny!)

I have a co-sleeper, but it's not critical. I think that babies should sleep in a carrier for the first few months and then you can lay them in your bed.

I also bought a nice stroller when I was pregnant. My DD is 13mo and has probably been in it twice. With my baby it was not needed at all and really takes up a lot of space.

[Coconut Chronicles]

Love nerdymom's list!

For us the essentials were:

Car Seat (I didn't want a bucket so we got a convertible that fit him from birth - Radian XTSL)

Diaper stash (which included prefolds, covers, kissaluvs and thirsties pockets... also snappi, pins, diaper cream etc)

Kimono shirts (I had dozens of these plain white shirts. They didn't irritate the cord area and were perfect for ecing)

First aid/grooming kit

Couple blankets

Waterproof pads when we coslept

Earth Mama Angel Baby post partum kit (this was a godsend)

A serious support system for breastfeeding

Breastfeeding "gear" (cream, pads etc)


Things that weren't essential but I really appreciated having

Swing (DS loved to nap in it)

Sling

Baby Bijorn potty

Pack n' Play

Fold up travel stroller

A fully stocked freezer

[P.J.]

I also find a breastfeeding pillow (like a Boppy or My Breast Friend) essential.

I love our glider, but it was expensive and takes up lots of space.

I used the Moby wrap a lot in the newborn days, and still use it around the house, but for longevity I recommend an Ergo (w/infant insert for the first few months) or other soft structured carrier or Mei Tai. From what I hear, lots of people don't use a Moby much past 7 months.

And of course, a swaddling blanket. We love our Aden & Anais, it's quite big, but it's muslin and was great in the hot summer months. Now we use the Swaddle Me kind.

I also use reusable wipes, there are several kinds available or you can make your own. I moisten them with water and a few drops of lavender oil.

And, for going out, the car seat and a good diaper bag. My DH and I share a diaper bag, no need to get two.

Good luck!

[ann_of_loxley]

Elimination Communication...its amazing and I really hardly use any cloth nappies at all!

I guess it depends on the baby. DS1 was a pretty placid baby and was just happy to lay anywhere. DS2 need to be held all the time. So whilst I got away with two slings with DS1 - I need more with DS2! ...but whilst DS1 was happy with a bouncer chair - waste of money for DS2! lol

I am too lazy to figure out when you are due lol - DS2 was born in April so he really needed hardly any clothes! DS1 was September and it got cold fast so he needed more!

I don't have a cary so I do need a shopping trolly (like the kind old ladies have lol) when out so I can carry anything I have with me and plan to buy!

So - with DS2 (hes quite the minimalist! hehe)...I use everyday:

Slings - ring slings, wraps, water sling, etc!
A soft nice play blanket (nothing fancy - I got mine at IKEA and its super cheap but durable and nice for a naked baby!) - to set baby on if he wants to be on the floor or I must set him down for a few seconds!
Hippychick flat sheet - its waterproof and goes on the bed. My boobs leak a lot...its saving our mattress!
A wooden spoon - his favourite toy (hes 5 months old by the way)
Amber teething necklace - he got TWO teeth at three months of age...no fuss! Convinced these things work as DS1 was a wreck and I didn't have one with him!
Cellular blankets - you can do anything with these. Swadle them or just use them at night!
A few fluffles - these are nappies made of microfibre. They absorb a lot and dry in a matter of a few hours!
Breastpads - get a few disposables to see how you leak first. I leak loads so I can't actually use re-usable breastpads as its just rediculous!
Car seat - one that is comfy and keeps them rear facing for longest. I actually am using a 'bucket' until he outgrows that as to be kept rear facing to 55lbs - the next car seat he has to be 9kgs to go into and he is very near that now but then that will last him until he is roughtly 6 years of age - though he will probably outgrow it in height first.

and thats it I think!

[BetsyS]

One thing I rarely see mentioned that I adore is my high chair. I have the kind that sits on a chair (Fisher Price space saver), and it reclines, so it can be used from birth. Sometimes, it's nice to have somewhere to put baby down (while you use the potty, while you cook, while you eat), and I like having baby at my height, instead of always on the floor level (like in a bouncy seat). Yes, you can wear/hold your baby while you do these things, but if you have a baby that doesn't mind, it's really nice to eat supper with both hands.

This is also my 3rd baby, so having a baby at the table in a high chair sort of establishes his place as part of the family, at the dinner table.

**and, of course, a new baby is no where near eating food. But I find a high chair useful a lot sooner than that. In fact, I have 2 high chairs in current use. One for the 3 month old, in recline position, and one for my 2 year old, as a booster (he eats at the table; no tray).

[HonkyTonka]

Originally Posted by donutmolly

My strategy for being a minimalist mama is to wait to see what I really need before I buy it, and to borrow or try out anything before I pay retail.

This!

thing I couldn't live without:

home made extra large flannel receiving blankets
a carrier (ring sling in the beginning for nursing on the go)
mirror for car
thermometer (I'm a worrier)
sun hat
a safe place to put dd (not on floor (dog)) while I cook/shower. (For me it was a bouncy chair and an exersaucer, both of which I got as gifts...)

[MJB]

My must haves:
-convertible car seat (one that will last from birth until 5-6)
-diapers
-baby clothes
-boppy pillow
-baby carrier (if I had to pick just one, I'd get a mei tai)

That's pretty much all we have, actually, and we're on kid #3. I had a lot more junk with my first (bouncy seat, exersaucer, infant carseat, stroller, moses basket, baby bath tub, etc) but found I didn't like having all that clutter around. I do have several different baby carriers and use them all, a crib/toddler mattress and sheet (on the floor, montessori style) and a high chair that will last her until about 5. That's really it. I do plan to get a bottle/sippy but haven't yet and she's 2 mos. old. She's my first child to have her own bed before 2, and she sleeps in our bed at night so it's not a need at all.

[Adaline'sMama]

Originally Posted by MaerynPearl

Things I absolutely MUST have -

• Car seat
• Diapers
• A few outfits/socks/hats (not a lot of anything but at least a couple of each because babies can get messy!)
• Somewhere for baby to sleep (because a sidecar crib is still something... and our bed isn't even big enough for the two of us comfortably let alone the two of us and a baby)
• Somewhere to put baby when not asleep (bouncy seat or swing. I have one of each now because I realized they each have their times when they are helpful to me for my kids but every baby and every mommy is different)
• Blankets (swaddling is awesome)
• Nail scissors or file (biting them is unsanitary and unsafe, using clippers runs the risk of cutting fingers more than the tiny scissors do)
• Baby carrier (I have a moby and a sling) for baby wearing

This is pretty much my exact same list. I would say I dont really need a place to put the baby for sleeping or a bouncy chair. What I must have is my little mesh chair that goes in the shower. She sits in it and I wash her then put her down and wash myself. She sat in all over the house until about 2 weeks ago (too mobile now) and was totally unimpressed with her bouncy chair.

Oh, and upon reviewing this thread, breastpads. I had to have them. I used hemp washables and they were awesome.

[ann_of_loxley]

I forgot to add muslins! They are great for everything! My 5 year old still uses them at the table like a cloth napkin! We bought more this time around!