Newborn Essentials: Minimalist Edition

Everything You Need for Baby’s First Year: Save vs. Splurge

Becoming a new mom is exciting—but let’s be real, it’s also overwhelming. Walk into any baby store here in Houston, and you’re bombarded with aisles of products, all claiming to be “essential.” So, how do you know what you really need and what’s just a marketing gimmick?

As a mom of three & Cypress newborn photographer, let’s just say I can relate. I recently polled local parents on my IG stories about their newborn essential must-haves and things they wish they hadn’t wasted money on during those early months of their baby’s life. Here’s what they said.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links which means I earn a small percentage from purchases made from the links.

Bare Minimum Newborn Essentials

The reality is– especially in those early months– babies don’t need nearly as many accessories as you might think.  They’re pretty simple, actually, and most of the parents who participated in my IG poll agree!  Here are a few of the basic newborn must-haves Cypress, TX newborn parents recommend having on hand (and lots of ‘em!)

Burp Cloths

This one is fairly self explanatory & a prime example of sticking to the basic essentials for your little one.  You can never have enough burp cloths!  Even after you’re past the spit up stage, they can be repurposed for great cleaning cloths.  Side note: along the same same lines, Aiden and Anais burpy bibs specifically came highly recommended!

Onesies

Cute outfits are great for outings, but onesies make life so much easier when you’re changing what feels like a million diapers a day.  They can be layered under everything & it stings a lot less to throw out a plain white onesie that is beyond repair than a sweet little monogrammed outfit.

Pajamas with Zippers

The last thing you want to do when you’re sleep deprived and fumbling with a diaper change in the middle of the night is worry about lining up snaps on PJs.  If you take nothing else from this list, please invest in the zipper pjs, specifically the ones that zip from the bottom!  You can keep your little one mostly covered and hopefully get them right back to sleep.

Swaddles

This one came highly recommended by the parents who participated in my survey.  Once baby starts rolling over, these aren’t an option anymore, but they are worth their weight in gold before that point! I preferred the velcro swaddles because I didn’t want to mess with the intricacies in the middle of the night but Love to Dream seems to be a favorite as well.

Humidifier

You may not need a humidifier right away, but it’s one of those purchases you’ll be grateful to have on hand when it is needed.  Your options are limited for sick littles, and a humidifier is a game changer when their first cold hits. The best part?  This is one baby registry item that can be used for years & years!

First Year Baby Products Worth the Splurge

I know I said that babies are low maintenance and that’s true!  But there are some pricier purchases that came recommended over & over again in my poll.  So, what’s worth the splurge?

Doona

Coming in hot at #1: the Doona! This all-in-one car seat and stroller combo got glowing reviews from the parents that answered my survey and for good reason!  When you compare the price of individual seats & strollers, the price tag on the Doona is really very reasonable, but it’s the ease of use that has parents everywhere singing its praises.  You can fold & unfold this complete travel system in seconds, and that’s a total game changer!

Sound Machine

When you’re sleep deprived, you’ll do just about anything to catch even a few more minutes of z’s.  The DOHM sound machine came highly recommended for that reason!  White noise machines can mimic what baby is used to hearing inside the womb which helps them fall asleep faster.  This is another example of something that  can be used well past the newborn days.  One mom said her daughter is still using her sound machine 10 years later!

Frida Baby

If there’s one company that really gets it, its Frida.  From the nose frida for suctioning stuffy noses to the windi to help relieve upset baby tummies (and even their extensive line for postpartum mamas), Frida has you covered & everything they make is worth every red cent!

Baby Carriers

You never understand how nice it is to have two free hands until you have a clingy baby going through a growth spurt.  A baby carrier can give you the best of both worlds & is another popular splurge purchase that is actually worth it.  Be sure to pay attention to weight limits when you’re browsing and adding them to your shower registry, but Tula really knows their stuff! 

Newborn Things to Skip

It can be so tempting to throw everything on the registry and you may be convinced you 100% need the newest gadgets all of the influencers are pushing online. While, just like every baby, everyone’s preferences are different, the gadgets listed here were amongst the most popular (or least popular, depending on how you look at it) items to skip. 

Wipe Warmers

While they sound nice and one or two parents found them worthwhile, most found them completely unnecessary. Your baby will adjust to room-temp wipes just fine.

Too Many Newborn-Sized Clothes

Your little one will likely outgrow them in just a few weeks. (Seriously, they grow at crazy speeds those first few weeks!) Stick to a handful of outfits and be sure to request various sizes for that first year especially.

Bottle Sanitizer

If you have a dishwasher, there’s no need for another appliance that takes up cabinet or countertop space.  The moms in my survey agreed, even the ones who own a bottle sanitizer haven’t used it more than once or twice at most.  Save your money!

Diaper Cream Spatula

The overwhelming response on this one is that it is completely unnecessary.  In fact, one mom said, “I think the diaper cream spatula is the DUMBEST ‘new’ invention,” and pretty much everyone agreed with her. 

Fancy Swings and Bouncers

Some swings and the like get rave reviews, but others quickly become a laundry catch-all in the nursery.  The general consensus on my poll was that lots of parents find their babies loathe them entirely. It’s best to wait and see what your baby prefers before investing. My advice?  Ask around to see if you can borrow one before forking out hundreds that could’ve been spent on diapers instead.

Every baby is different, and what works for one mom might not work for another. The best advice? Start with the basics and add as needed. Focus on what makes life easier for you and your baby, and don’t feel pressured to buy every product on the market.

The one thing I recommend to every parent? Newborn photos!

Cypress,TX Newborn Photographer

Hey, I’m Melanie B of Mel B Photo. As a newborn, maternity, and family photographer serving the Tomball, Cypress, and Spring areas of Houston, TX, I’m here to capture every chapter of your young family’s story.  Ready to invest in a stress-free experience and emotion-packed, authentic images to remember every detail of this stage of life?  Check out my newborn packages here and don’t forget to follow along on Pinterest for tips & inspiration!  Want to book your session or have more questions? Contact me here. Let’s create memories together!

If you liked this post, check out these related blogs from Mel B Photo:

Using Nursery Details for a Cohesive Theme
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