This post shows you the Underconsumption Core Baby Shopping List for First-Time Moms.
It’s not really a minimalist baby shopping list, as I don’t identify as a minimalist, and I have no clue how that really works in practical life (I’m not a Marie Kondo). However, this is definitely an underconsumption core baby shopping list, as I don’t think baby shopping should be overwhelming and expensive.
Here’s why this matters to me: I get easily overwhelmed when I’m learning something new. I want to dive deep, research everything, and feel confident I’ve done my best. But when it comes to having a baby as a first-time mom? The amount of information out there is insane.
It’s like stepping into a whole new world of unknowns, where it feels as if you don’t get everything right from the start, you’ve already failed.
But… are you really doomed if you don’t have it all figured out?
Let me tell you something I’ve learned from seasoned parents: the amount of stuff we buy just to “be prepared” is kind of wild.
Your baby will outgrow clothes in weeks. Your pediatrician might recommend different products than what you bought. And honestly? Some things you just won’t like or use at all.
So why do we buy so much?
Because we’ve been conditioned to believe that not having “everything” means we’re somehow falling short.
That’s why I created this Underconsumption Core Baby Shopping List for First-Time Moms.
It helped me get everything I actually needed for the first couple of months, and gave me the space to get to know:
- My baby
- Baby products
- Myself, as a mom
Once I had that foundation, it was easy to adjust and just send my husband to grab anything we still needed.
So this post is for all my fellow overthinkers, planners, and “let me spreadsheet this” moms: I want to help you buy only the essentials and avoid falling into the consumerism trap that leaves you overwhelmed, drained, and hundreds of dollars poorer.
Not to mention that it’s better for the planet, too.
Baby Furniture and Gear Shopping List Essentials
- Baby dresser – You basically just need somewhere to keep their things. It can be a whole shelf in your wardrobe and room in your cabinets, or you can get a simple dresser (from Ikea) and keep their things there. That’s it. You don’t need a fancy dresser with a changing table or anything overly designed. Just a dresser with 3 or 4 drawers, and that’s it!
- Baby crib – Whether you decide to get a crib or a cot, your baby needs a safe space to sleep. I’m not going to get into a debate about the safety of co-sleeping and everything related to that. Let’s focus on your baby’s needs! They need a designated space for safe sleep, and you can get a baby crib or cot. You can skip the Moses basket, as babies can only sleep there until they are 6 months old! Yes, it looks good, but it’s not worth the money. Also, don’t buy decorations for the crib, extra cushioning, pillows, or sleeping toys. These are not considered safe.
Crib Decorations and Bumpers Can Be Dangerous for Babies
Social media is flooded with ideas about nursery decor and designs, but some of the ideas and tips can be harmful to your baby!
Babies need to sleep on a hard, firm surface, so you need to buy a good mattress. And that’s it! Everything else, like bumpers, hanging toys, fairy lights, canopies, decorative pillows, and toys, can increase the risk of SIDS.
Also, sleeping in baby loungers or on soft beds can be harmful to the baby.
- Crib mattress – You need a new, hard mattress for your baby’s crib. Hard mattresses are recommended by experts all around the globe, and the best place to buy them is your local store, Amazon, or Ikea. Don’t go overboard. Just buy something simple and that’s it. Make sure it’s designed and approved for babies, and buy new, not secondhand, as it wears out over time and can get bumps inside that make it uncomfortable for the baby.
- Baby bedding – Get pure 100% cotton baby bedding, fitted sheets, and a breathable baby blanket if you’re not going to use a sleep sack. That’s it. You don’t need anything else, and you don’t need fancy decor. Get 2 or 3 sets so you can change and wash them regularly.
- Thermometer – Get a simple digital room thermometer and put it next to your baby’s crib or cot. You’ll need to make sure the temperature is optimal for your baby, depending on the season, your heating, or your AC.
- Travel changing pad – Get a simple travel changing pad for your baby, as you’ll need to change them on the go, and you need somewhere clean and sanitary to put them. You can also get disposable changing mats, but you’ll want something firm and solid underneath.
Optional Baby Gear That Saved Me With My Newborn
- Changing pillow – This one is optional! You definitely don’t need it, but to me, personally, it was a lifesaver as I couldn’t bend to change her. I put the changing pillow on the dresser, and it was so much easier than trying to bend over and change the baby on the bed. Again, this is optional, but I found it useful.
- Humidifier – as my baby was born in June and I live in a very hot climate, I had to have my AC on for the entire June, July, and August! Since AC makes your air really dry, if it’s on all the time, it will absolutely dehumidify the indoor air. That’s not that good for the baby, as dry air can cause allergies and even respiratory issues. We got a simple humidifier (the type you can get from Amazon), and we use it with demineralized water only! My husband cleans it every 7 days to make sure there’s no mold or mildew!
- Fan – Along with cooling the air, you want to have good air circulation. Since the baby sleeps in the bedroom, and we have AC only in the living room, we keep the doors open and use a very soft and silent fan for air circulation. There’s some talk online about how fans can also protect your baby from SIDS. I’m going to leave a link to the study from PubMed below.
- Baby monitor – Get any decent baby monitor without fancy apps or, God forbid, subscriptions!
Check out this study on PubMed about how the use of fans can potentially reduce the risk of SIDS.
Baby Shopping List for Clothes
Most first-time parents buy way too much.
First, we don’t know any better.
Secondly, we can’t resist!
But if you buy too many clothing items for your baby, you’re just gonna end up with a lot of stuff that you won’t have anywhere to keep!
Also, keep in mind that babies outgrow things pretty fast, and sometimes, you’re gonna be reaching for a new size in just one month.
But since babies can be messy, and there are a lot of spit-ups, blowouts, and drooling everywhere, you still need a good amount of baby clothes!
What You Need to Know About Baby Clothes
Babies typically go through:
- 1–3 outfit changes a day in the newborn stage
- Spit-ups and blowouts = a wildcard
So if you’re doing laundry every 2–3 days (which is common for baby stuff), my list is going to be perfect for you!
And since there are different lists for summer and winter babies, you need to choose one based on when your baby is born.
Summer (from April to September) and Winter (from October to March).
Summer Baby Clothes Shopping List
Bodysuits (Onesies)
- Short sleeve: 6–8 total
- 3 in NB (0–1 month), 5 in 0–3M
- Long sleeve: 2–3 in 0–3M
Pants / Leggings
- 2–3 pairs (0–3M)
- Good for layering with short sleeves on breezy days or in AC
Pajamas / Sleepers
- 3–4 light cotton pajamas with footies (0–3M)
- (use instead of or alongside a sleep sack for cooler nights)
Extras That Are Actually Useful
- 1–2 sleeveless or short-sleeve rompers (cute and breezy for hot days)
- 1 light cardigan or hoodie (for cooler evenings or air-conditioned places)
- 3–4 pairs of socks (even in summer—they help with regulating temp)
- 1 cotton hat (thin and soft—for outings, shade, or post-bath warmth)
PRO BABY TIP: You can skip the newborn size and just go straight to 0-3M. It’s also a clever idea to skip the newborn size and buy several 3-6 months (6M). But you can always do some extra shopping later on.
Winter Baby Clothes Shopping List
Bodysuits (Onesies)
- Long sleeve: 6–8 total
- 3 in NB (0–1 month), 5 in 0–3M
- Short sleeve: 2 in NB (0–1 month) and 2 in 0–3M
- Great for layering under sleepers or sweaters
Pants / Leggings
- 3–4 pairs (0–3M)
- Choose something thicker as you’ll need to keep your baby warm
Pajamas / Sleepers
- 4–5 sleepers with footies (0–3M)
- (You can layer them over bodysuits and keep your baby warm during the day and night)
Warm Layers
- 2–3 cardigans or sweaters (0–3M)
- 1–2 fleece one-piece suits or footed rompers (0–3M)
- (pram suits, for short outdoor walks or car rides)
Outerwear
- 1 warm baby bunting/snowsuit (for true winter weather)
- 1 soft baby blanket (to layer in a stroller or car seat)
Cold Weather Accessories
- 2 warm hats (one thinner for indoors or car rides, one thicker for outside)
- 2–3 pairs of mittens (babies’ hands get cold, and they scratch themselves)
- 4–5 pairs of warm socks or booties
Baby Essentials for Feeding and Hygiene
If you are going to bottle-feed, then you’re gonna need some extra stuff that you’ll learn about in the hospital.
- several baby bottles
- mild detergent and brushes
- drying rack
You can absolutely go without bottle warmers, sterilizers, and formula maker machines.
However, to each their own, and maybe these items are going to help tremendously. I don’t know, and I can’t tell. So, that’s why I can’t put them on the essential baby shopping list, as they are definitely not essential. But they are useful.
Some of the essentials are:
- Baby bottle x2 – I prefer glass bottles, but you can get plastic ones if you prefer. Just make sure to check that they are BPA-free. Even though I breastfeed, I still need a bottle, as sometimes I pump and leave milk in the fridge when I have to go out and run an errand.
- Small burp cloths x5 – Get at least 5 super absorbent burp cloths made from bamboo or cotton.
- Pacifier – get only one and see if you’re going to use it! Not all babies like or use pacifiers, so don’t buy too many.
- Muslin (tetra) cloth diapers x15 – muslin tetra diapers are going to be so useful! You’re going to use them for bathing, swaddling, putting the baby on the couch, placing the baby on them during doctor’s visits, and more!
- Newborn diapers x2 packs
- Waterproof changing pads – you’re gonna use them for traveling and for doctor’s visits.
- Shampoo and wash gel – Choose mild, baby-friendly shampoos and wash gels, and follow your midwife’s advice for baby baths.
- Diaper cream
- Body lotion
- Cotton gauze – to clean your baby’s mouth and tongue, to clean their eyes, and to absorb extra moisture from sensitive skin
- Baby towels – Get regular cotton towels, but use them only for your baby. Don’t buy microfiber ones, as they don’t absorb water that well.
- Baby cotton pads – you’re gonna need them to clean their face or to apply baby products
- Nail care kit – You can get a gentle baby nail file that absolutely works! It’s basically an electric nail trimmer kit with several different nail files that will trim your baby’s nails. Some parents prefer to use clippers, so whatever you choose, make sure to get it early, as the baby’s nails grow pretty fast.
- Comb and brush – You’ll need a comb for the cradle cap and a soft brush for your baby’s fine hair
- Nose aspirator – The battery-operated nose aspirator is not really a great solution for stubborn snotty episodes, as it doesn’t have good suction power. So, get a regular one (the one that you put on the vacuum cleaner).
- Saline solution and nasal syringes – You need nasal saline to help your baby clear the mucus.
- Detergent for baby clothes – To be honest, regular detergent won’t be harmful to your baby, especially if you use the extra rinse option, but I didn’t want to risk it and bought baby-friendly detergent without any harsh ingredients. I still use the extra rinse program, and I don’t use any scented sheets or fabric softener.
- Laundry hamper or bin (any basket or designated spot will do) – This is maybe optional, but you’ll want to separate the baby’s clothes from your own, so getting an extra laundry bin will be helpful!
Baby Gear and Transport
- Infant car seat (essential for safe travel, even if you don’t drive regularly) – if you plan to drive your baby anywhere (even just once, like coming home from the hospital), then yes, a car seat is non-negotiable in most countries, including the U.S. Hospitals usually won’t let you leave without one.
- Baby car seat mirror – this is such a simple way to keep an eye on your baby while you drive!
- Baby stroller – this is the most complicated and hardest item to choose, but you definitely need a baby stroller. Since there are tons of guides online and even more reviews and affiliate posts, I’m not gonna go that deep into the analysis.
I can just tell you what helped me pick the Cybex Balios S stroller. I analyzed our habits, where we like to spend time outside, and how often we go for walks. Since we have a dog and walk him 3 to 4 times per day and often go on longer walks in the city, we needed a city stroller that can handle stairs, sidewalks, potholes, and all seasons! It can fit in our tiny car (we drive a coupe), and it has a huge basket so we can keep all the baby essentials! - Play mat for tummy time / baby gym – You don’t need to get this until your baby is 3 months old, as you can practice tummy time on your chest.
- Baby carrier or wrap (great for hands-free bonding, might replace bulkier gear) – Not all parents use them, but if you do, get an ergonomical one that supports your baby’s hips in the “M” position, and that’s certified and approved for babies! I got a lovely Ergobaby carrier (as a second-hand gift) and it’s the best!
So, this is my essential baby shopping list! After several months of research, forums, Reddit, and TikTok, I found out that this works for me.
As I mentioned at the beginning, I’m not a minimalist; my whole apartment is full of decor and flea market finds, but when it comes to shopping for a baby, I really felt that most of the stuff on social media was not realistic or necessary.
And since my mom is a pediatrician, I learned that some things we think are amazing and life-saving (hello, baby bouncers) might not actually be that good for a baby, and definitely not necessary.
What do you think? Let me know in the comments! Also, tell me: What was your favorite and most essential baby item that you can’t live without?
Baby shopping and preparing baby shopping lists are all part of the Pre-Baby Talk. That’s why, when the baby comes, you’ll be ready and prepared for…
…all the love in the world.
Don’t forget to pin this post so you’ll always have these baby items handy!
This post showed you the Underconsumption Core Baby Shopping List for First-Time Moms.
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