When you’re preparing to welcome a baby into your home, creating a baby registry is a must! But with so much on the baby market these days, it’s hard to know what the essential baby items are and what you can skip.
If you’re a minimalist at heart or simply working with a small space, Newton Baby is here to help you create a minimalist baby registry checklist to cut down on clutter!
We’ll give you a few questions to help you decide what the baby necessities are for your family. After, we’ll include a list of what we think should go on every minimalist baby registry checklist.
Questions Every Minimalist Should Ask When Creating A Baby Registry
You can be a minimalist while raising a baby! To figure out what to put on your baby registry checklist, here are five questions to ask when shopping for baby items.
1) Is It Safe?
If you’re a minimalist, you may be thinking about which baby products you can skip. That’s not a bad way to think, but don’t cut so many corners that you put baby’s safety at risk! Before deciding not to register for something, ask yourself, “Is it safe not to have this?”
That being said, the important question to ask about everything you do put on your registry is this: “Is it safe?”
For the first few months of their life, your baby will spend the majority of their time snoozing. This means that sleep safety should be one of your top priorities!
To keep your precious infant safe while they sleep, follow these guidelines:
- Use a firm crib mattress that fits correctly in the crib
- Put your baby to sleep on their back
- Keep pillows, blankets, toys, and crib bumpers out of the crib
- Share your room but not your bed
- Put your baby to sleep with a one-piece pacifier designed for their age
When it comes to safe sleep and creating your baby registry, here’s one item you won’t have to think twice about including: a breathable mattress.
If your baby rolls onto their stomach at night (which they’re bound to do once they learn to roll over at around four to six months), a breathable mattress like Newton Baby’s Crib Mattress will help reduce the risk of suffocation.
Our Crib Mattress allows for the best breathability because both the mattress and the mattress cover are breathable. It also helps regulate your baby's body temperature so they can sleep safely and comfortably at nap time and bedtime!
2) What Size Should I Buy?
If you’re a minimalist or you’re working with a small nursery, it’s tempting to buy the smallest items possible. But before you buy everything in miniature sizes, consider comfort and practicality.
(Expert tip: If you decide to purchase a mini crib, go with Newton Baby’s breathable mini crib mattress and you won’t have to sacrifice breathability for the right fit!)
With some items, it will be well worth saving space and buying small. With others, it’s better to sacrifice a little bit of space for your comfort and sanity. And remember that some bigger items (like a full-size crib mattress) will last for years.
3) Will I Use It Again?
If you plan on having more kids, this is an important question to ask. When trying to cut out clutter, it can be tempting to buy less expensive items and get rid of them when your baby outgrows them.
But, it’s important to consider if it’s worth it in the long run to buy higher quality items that will see you through more than one child. If so, don’t forget to choose gender-neutral colors!
4) Does It Have Multiple Functions?
The key to a minimalist baby registry is choosing items that have more than one function. Don’t buy two things when one will do the job!
For example, instead of stocking up on nursing covers, burp cloths, swaddles, and a changing mat, just buy several swaddles. They allow you to wrap your baby snug as a bug when it’s time for them to sleep and also double as burp cloths, nursing covers, and stroller covers.
Wrap your baby in comfy, breathable cotton with Newton Baby’s Organic Swaddle Blankets. Our muslin cotton swaddles are 100% breathable and come in four adorable patterns!
5) When Will My Baby Be Born?
This question has the most to do with the clothes you buy for your little one. If there’s anything that can clutter a baby nursery, it’s clothes!
If you’re serious about minimizing, consider what time of year your baby will be born and buy clothes accordingly. Purchase size-appropriate and weather-appropriate clothes, and avoid going overboard with the fun extras.
When your baby is a few months old, purge their closet of the newborn clothes that they’ve outgrown and buy what they need for the next season.
The Minimalist Baby Registry Checklist
Keep in mind the questions we mentioned above to create your own baby registry. To get you started, take a look at Newton Baby’s minimalist baby registry checklist! Adjust this list according to your family’s must-haves.
The Nursery
Between rocking, cuddling, feeding, and sleeping, you and your little one will spend a lot of time in the nursery. Here’s a list of minimalist nursery essentials.
- Crib (or a cradle or bassinet)
- Crib mattress
- Crib sheets
- Baby monitor
- Dresser or changing table
- Rocking chair or glider
- Lamp (or nightlight)
- Clothes hamper
- Humidifier
Clothing
Dressing your little one in cute baby clothes is such fun! But if you’re really cutting out the extras, minimize your baby’s wardrobe.
When deciding what and how many you need, you’ll also want to think realistically about how often you’ll do laundry.
- Onesies (5-7)
- Sleep sack or swaddle (2-3)
- One-piece footed pajamas (4-5)
- Sweaters or jackets (1-2)
- Dress-up outfits (1-2)
- Pairs of socks or booties (5-7)
- Newborn hat (2)
- Winter hat (2)
- Summer hat for the sun (1)
- Pants (5)
- Shirts (5)
- Scratch mittens (3-4)
- Winter mittens (1)
- Swimsuit (1)
Diapering
No matter what else you get rid of, you can’t cut corners on diapers!
If you opt for disposable diapers, plan on using around 10 diapers per day for the first month or so. While it’s convenient to have a diaper stockpile, you can buy diapers as you go if you don’t have much storage room.
For cloth diapering, buy at least 15 cloth diapers (more if you don’t plan on washing every other day). You’ll also need diaper covers and fasteners.
In addition to the diapers themselves, here’s a list of the diapering essentials:
- Changing pad
- Diaper pail and liners
- Diaper rash cream
- Diaper wipes
- Diaper bag
Speaking of diapering necessities, put an extra mattress cover and a waterproof mattress pad on your registry. When your baby has a blowout in the crib, you’ll be able to wash one and put the spare on the bed without skipping a beat.
Newton Baby’s mattress covers and mattress pads are machine washable to make cleanup a breeze!
Bath Time
You don’t have to have fancy gadgets and bath toys to make bath time a success! Here are the basics you’ll need to keep your little one fresh and clean:
- Baby bathtub
- Soft washcloths
- Baby shampoo and/or body wash
- Bath towel
- Baby hairbrush
Feeding
For the first few months, all your little one will need is formula or breastmilk and bottles.
When your baby starts eating solid foods, you’ll need a highchair, baby spoons, and the like. But in the spirit of minimizing, you can put off buying those things until absolutely necessary.
For formula-feeding:
- Bottles with nipples
- Dishwasher bottle basket
- Bottle-cleaning brush
- Baby formula
- Bibs
- Burp cloths
- Insulated bottle carrier for traveling
For breastfeeding, you’ll need the above list (except for the formula) and these items:
- Breast pump
- Breast milk storage containers
- Nipple cream
- Nursing bras
- Breast pads
Health And Safety
As soon as your baby is born, their safety and happiness suddenly become your top priority! Here are the things you’ll need to care for them and keep them safe at home and on-the-go.
- Nail clippers (or nail scissors or a file)
- Bulb syringe
- Baby thermometer
- Medicine spoon
- Medicine Syringe
- Cotton balls
- Cotton swabs
- Petroleum jelly and gauze (if you have a circumcised little boy)
- Baby medicine (talk to your pediatrician about what you should have)
- Baby-proofing supplies
- Car seat
Playtime And Carrying
The necessities for playtime and carrying your baby depend entirely on your preferences and your family’s favorite pastimes. Adapt this list to your family’s lifestyle:
- Books
- Baby swing
- Rattles
- Soft blocks
- Bouncer seat
- Baby carrier (great for hiking!)
- Baby sling
Embrace Your Inner Minimalist
Becoming a parent doesn’t have to mean that your house will be overtaken by baby stuff. Embrace your inner minimalist and fill the nursery with only the things you and your little one will use!
As you create your own baby registry checklist, use our minimalist checklist as a starting point and ask yourselves the five questions we mentioned at the beginning.
That way, you’ll be sure that your home and nursery are outfitted with the true baby essentials — like diapers, a car seat, and a Newton Baby Crib Mattress — and none of the cluttering extras. Happy registering!
