If you’ve ever wandered through a baby store or scrolled a registry checklist online, you’ve probably wondered if you also need to buy a second house to store all the “essential baby stuff.” Spoiler: you don’t.
After four kids, countless middle-of-the-night Amazon orders, and approximately 237 bottle brushes later, I’ve learned which baby gear actually earns its keep — and which things are basically very cute dust collectors. So grab your lukewarm coffee and let’s talk about what’s worth having for your new little human (and your sanity), and all the stuff you can skip.
Essential Baby Stuff Table of Contents
- Feeding: Because Babies Are Small but Have Big Opinions
- Bathing: Cute Towels Optional, Soap Required
- Sleeping: Where the Magic (and the Crying) Happens
- Changing + Playtime: Because Babies Are Tiny but Messy
- Travel: Tiny Humans, So Much Stuff
- Books: For You, for Baby, and for Sanity
- NOT Essential Baby Stuff (You’ll Thank Me Later)
- The Bottom Line
Feeding: Because Babies Are Small but Have Big Opinions
There are a million bottle options out there — glass, plastic, anti-colic, wide-neck, narrow-neck, NASA-engineered — but here’s the truth: your baby will decide what works, and you’re just along for the ride. This is the essential stuff for feeding your baby.
We loved Dr. Brown’s glass bottles (and I have approximately 4,000 if anyone wants some), but each of my kids had a different favorite. Translation: don’t stockpile one kind until your baby actually approves it. Start with one or two and test the waters.
Pro tip: Make sure you’ve got slow-flow nipples (stage 1) for those first few months — babies like to sip, not shotgun.
You’ll also want:
- Bottle brushes (plural — these disappear faster than socks in the dryer)
- A bottle drying rack — the Boon one that looks like fake grass is surprisingly genius.
- Burp cloths — old-school cloth diapers may not have much pizazz; but their utility makes them the MVP here.
If you’re nursing, a few must-haves:
- A breast pump (most insurances cover them now, so you can spend your $200 elsewhere — like on cute footie pajamas or, you know, snacks). Medala is a solid brand choice here, and the Pump-in-Style got me through all 4 kids.
- Milk Storage bags: So you don’t have to cry over spilt milk: The Lansinoh bags had the lowest leak rate and they freeze well and thaw well.
- Extra pump parts so you’re not washing them every five minutes.
- Nursing covers — Milk Snob is my fave for coverage and versitility, Hooter Hiders make it easier to peek at your baby. By baby #4–any shirt, scarf, jacket (or sometimes none-of-the above: let’s normalize nursing!) worked fine.
- A Boppy pillow (or My Brest Friend, which sounds like a questionable startup but is actually very helpful). These nursing pillows are also great neck support for mid-day couch naps.
- Breast pads to save your shirts and dignity. And for those tender ladies: Lansinoh lanolin is sanity saving.
And yes, a rocking chair or glider is lovely for those endless feeds — and I still love reading in our nursery splurge Luca glider by Monte. But if your budget (or space) says no, your couch will do just fine.
Speaking of furniture, we didn’t add a highchair to our collection (hello-another thing to dust!). Get this portable Fisher Price seat that goes anywhere, and stores small.
Bathing: Cute Towels Optional, Soap Required
You don’t need a spa setup — just a baby tub or bath seat that keeps your squirmy newborn from sliding around.
Fancy temperature gadgets? Skip them. Use your wrist like a regular person.
Those tiny hooded towels are adorable, but the matching baby washcloths? Useless. You’ll end up using whatever rag is clean.
Sleeping: Where the Magic (and the Crying) Happens
Sleep is essential, and here’s the baby stuff to help. You’ll need a crib and mattress (or, you know, a cardboard box with high sides — it worked for the Finns).
Stock up on:
- crib sheets
- mattress protectors (trust me): the waterproof under-the-sheet variety. They market some mattress protector toppers that are truly just created to add to your already Mt. Everest size laundry pile–skip these.
- Swaddling blankets — Aden & Anais are the best. “Receiving blankets” are not. I don’t know what they are receiving–kittens maybe–but real human sized babies, definitely not.
If swaddling feels like baby origami, try Velcro swaddlers — no folding, no crying (from you or the baby).
You’ll also want a monitor of some kind. We used audio-only and survived, but if you’re a video-monitor type, go for it — just maybe password-protect it so strangers aren’t watching your baby sleep. (Yes, that’s a thing. You’re welcome for the new anxiety.)
Bassinet: Totally optional– but IMO lovely for the first few weeks when you’re still measuring sleep in 7-minute increments. This easily allows you to have your precious one next to you for those late night feedings.
Pro Tip: Babies are not quiet sleepers. While they are blissfully dreaming, these grunts and signs can be really disruptive to your sleep. We booted our sweet babes to their own room at 4 weeks to cut down on the disruptions.
Crib bumpers: Adorable, yes. Safe? Absolutely not.
Changing + Playtime: Because Babies Are Tiny but their Messes are Not
You’ll want a changing pad (even if it lives on your dresser) and a few covers — because bodily fluids are a way of life now. A small portable one for your diaper bag is nice too.
A swing is essential so you can, at some point, pee in peace. We adored our Fisher Price Cradle n’ Swing, but just pick one you can stand to look at daily.
Add a few pacifiers, maybe a sleep sack for when your little Houdini starts breaking out of the swaddle, and a diaper pail (I liked the Ubbi — it doesn’t use proprietary bags, but there’s no foot pedal to open it).
For later months, an Exersaucer is fun (and buys you approximately 11 minutes to drink coffee while it’s still hot).
And diapers? Pampers are great for newborns, but once the poop gets real, switch to Huggies or Kirkland. You’ll thank me later.
Travel: Tiny Humans, So Much Stuff
A moving truck, always fully stocked would be nice, but the list of essential baby stuff you need for getting out of the house with your baby is actually pretty short.
A Pack ’n Play is a must — keep one at grandma’s house if you can. Don’t waste money on all the “deluxe” attachments unless you like assembling furniture at midnight.
Buy your car seat new (safety first, always). We used Graco SnugRide and later Britax Boulevard — both solid, safe choices. Once you’ve crossed into the land of many children, trying to get seats to fit across the back row of your car becomes a real concern. A narrow seat like the Radian model can be a life saver & is cheaper than buying a bus to transport your new army.
And yes, you’ll need a stroller, but please don’t spend your baby’s college fund on one. For us, hands down, the BOB was a great choice. We knew from day one running was going to be part of our baby’s future, so having a stroller that handled those miles was essential. If you’re planning city walks, zoo strolls and leisurely outings, a jogging stroller is too heavy to be a good option. Test a few in-store, consider an option that works with your infant car seat— find one that’s light, easy to fold, and doesn’t make you swear under your breath every time you have to pack it.
If you’re planning to babywear (10/10 recommend), my absolute favorite was the Didymos wrap. It’s beautiful, well made and accommodates newborns and toddlers alike. Dear Husband did not enjoy the complex weave & wrap required. For those looking for a true plug-and-play option the ErgoBaby is great for your back, no instructional videos required. You can get an infant adaptor to make it work for the newborn stage too.
Diaper bag–You’re going to be carrying this everywhere for a long, long time (or until you adopt the “handful of diapers and keys” technique for leaving the house.) Pick something with pockets that can help you stay organized. Want to what to stock it with: find those tips on the blog here.
Books: For You, for Baby, and for Sanity
Books for and about baby are essential. There are a lot of parenting books out there, many of which will make you feel like you’re studying for a final exam you didn’t sign up for. But fear not — the required reading list for surviving early parenthood is mercifully short.
Two I actually recommend:
- The No-Cry Sleep Solution
- The Happiest Baby on the Block
They’re both thoughtful, readable, and full of practical tips that won’t make you want to throw the book out the window at 2 a.m. when your baby is wide awake. Just remember: no one else is an expert on your baby. You’ll find what works for you — sometimes it just takes a little trial, error, and caffeine.
Now, let’s talk about reading to your baby.
Yes, I know — they can’t talk yet. And yes, you’ll feel a little silly at first reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar to someone who occasionally forgets they have hands. But science (and my own experience) says: read anyway.
If you need convincing, grab The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease — I’ll wait.
And when you’re ready to start reading stories that don’t make you want to poke your eyes out with a spoon, here are our family’s all-time favorites:
- I Just Ate My Friend — we all make mistakes.
- Leave Me Alone! — the title speaks for itself, especially around bedtime.
- I Want My Hat Back — has serious staying power; I will never tire of it.
- Life on Mars — a gentle reminder to pay attention to the little things.
- Penguin Problems — a walrus delivers life advice we all need.
- Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day — timeless perspective.
- Walter the Farting Dog — if you don’t laugh at this, I’m not sure you’re ready for parenthood.
- A Little Bit Brave — sometimes, you just have to face the scary stuff (like diaper blowouts).
- Attack of the Underwear Dragon — it’s funny, it’s silly, and I just made you say “underwear.”
- First 100 Words — not a storybook, but pure gold for early learning (and sibling teaching moments).
Bonus round:
- Anything by Sandra Boynton (especially Hippos Go Berserk!)
- Frog and Toad (honestly, friendship goals)
- Mo Willems — a national treasure. Elephant & Piggie are a hit, but don’t sleep on Knuffle Bunny.
Reading together is one of those simple things that builds connection — which, as a newborn photographer, happens to be my favorite thing to capture.
NOT Essential Baby Stuff (You’ll Thank Me Later)
Let’s save your registry — and your sanity. The list above is covers the essential baby stuff. You do not need:
- Bottle warmer (that’s what warm water is for–just set your bottle in a bowl of hot water for a few minutes and voila!)
- Wipes warmer (it grows mildew and requires cleaning–who has that kind of time?)
- Baby food maker (it’s just a food processor that costs more)
- Bumbo seat
- Playmat–I promise a soft blanket and a sibling works just as well for tummy time
- Crib sheet protector: unless extra laundry is your thing.
- Crib bumpers (again, no)
- Video monitor (unless it helps you sleep — in which case, go for it)
- “Receiving blankets”: unless you need dust cloths for your bottle warmer.
- Breast pump sterilizing bags. Unless you have a preemie regular soap and water is find to clean your pump parts (boil once, wash forever).
The Bottom Line
You don’t need every gadget and gizmo to keep your baby fed, warm, and loved. You mostly need a few key items, a comfy spot to sit, and enough burp cloths to get you through the day. The rest? Pure marketing.
And when you finally come up for air from the feeding-burping-diapering loop, you’ll realize how quickly this season passes — messy, sweet, sleep-deprived and all.
When that moment comes, I’d love to help you freeze it in time.
At Manning Road Photography, my newborn sessions are relaxed and connection-focused — no stiff poses, just honest moments of love (and maybe a little chaos).
📸 Let’s plan your newborn session — because the sleepless nights fade, but the photos will always bring you back to this beautiful blur of beginnings.
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