List of Essential & Must-Have Baby Items (and Others You Don’t Need)
Babies are not very materialistic. They don’t care about how beautiful their nursery furniture is, how educational their toys are, or how fashionable their clothes make them look. In fact, there are very few items that a baby actually requires: a place to sleep, diapers, a baby car seat, basic clothing, and milk.
But even though a baby’s needs are simple, that doesn’t mean yours are. There is a lot of baby gear on the market these days that can significantly enhance your ability to care for your child or just make it that much easier. But sorting through the available items and making sense of the marketing hype is often overwhelming. Plus, the potential expenses can be frightening. So how do you determine what is worth spending money on and what is essentially worthless?
But even though a baby’s needs are simple, that doesn’t mean yours are. There is a lot of baby gear on the market these days that can significantly enhance your ability to care for your child or just make it that much easier. But sorting through the available items and making sense of the marketing hype is often overwhelming. Plus, the potential expenses can be frightening. So how do you determine what is worth spending money on and what is essentially worthless?
To get you started, here’s a list of baby essentials and a list of items to stay away from based on my experience
10 Essential Baby Items You Need
While only a handful of things are actually necessary to raise a healthy child, the following items simplify the demands of caring for your baby. Here are the things I used and appreciated most when caring for my newborn daughter:
10 Essential Baby Items You Need
While only a handful of things are actually necessary to raise a healthy child, the following items simplify the demands of caring for your baby. Here are the things I used and appreciated most when caring for my newborn daughter:
1. HumidifierThis was one of the few items I did not receive as a gift before my daughter was born. Understandably, a humidifier isn’t too exciting. However, since I didn’t receive one as a gift, I blew it off as not very important.
I realized how wrong I was when my daughter got her first cold. When a baby has a cold, there really isn’t much you can do for them in regards to medication (and nose blowing). A humidifier, however, allows your baby to breathe easier, especially in the case of stuffy noses and coughing. Once I got a humidifier, my child slept much better.
Tip: Get a humidifier that has a filter and is simple to clean. Consider adding a few drops of an essential oil like eucalyptus to the water or in the medicine well if your humidifier has one. This worked wonders on clearing my daughter’s most stubborn stuffy noses.
Cost: $25 to $200 (Crane Drop Shape Cool Mist Humidifier for $45)
I realized how wrong I was when my daughter got her first cold. When a baby has a cold, there really isn’t much you can do for them in regards to medication (and nose blowing). A humidifier, however, allows your baby to breathe easier, especially in the case of stuffy noses and coughing. Once I got a humidifier, my child slept much better.
Tip: Get a humidifier that has a filter and is simple to clean. Consider adding a few drops of an essential oil like eucalyptus to the water or in the medicine well if your humidifier has one. This worked wonders on clearing my daughter’s most stubborn stuffy noses.
Cost: $25 to $200 (Crane Drop Shape Cool Mist Humidifier for $45)
2. Swaddle Blanket
miracle baby swaddling blanketUnless you are a nurse, wrapping a newborn in a swaddle can be a bit foreign. As much as I tried and tried, I just could not get my little one swaddled as tightly as the nurses did in the hospital.
So instead of wasting my time and getting frustrated, I used a blanket specifically designed to easily swaddle an infant with the use of flaps and Velcro. Not only did it simplify my life as a parent, but my daughter looked so cute all swaddled up!
Cost: $10 to $30 (Miracle Baby Swaddling Blanket for $30)
miracle baby swaddling blanketUnless you are a nurse, wrapping a newborn in a swaddle can be a bit foreign. As much as I tried and tried, I just could not get my little one swaddled as tightly as the nurses did in the hospital.
So instead of wasting my time and getting frustrated, I used a blanket specifically designed to easily swaddle an infant with the use of flaps and Velcro. Not only did it simplify my life as a parent, but my daughter looked so cute all swaddled up!
Cost: $10 to $30 (Miracle Baby Swaddling Blanket for $30)
3. Moby Wrap My daughter's has a really big personality and a really big voice to go along with it. She is extremely vocal about what she wants, and most of the time, her number one want is to be held. Holding a baby can be an amazingly peaceful thing, but holding a baby 24/7 is not only impractical, it can also drive you a little nuts.
That is why I loved the Moby Wrap. It allowed me to carry my daughter with me and still have my hands free without overly straining my poor arms.
Cost: $40 (Original Moby Wrap for $40)
That is why I loved the Moby Wrap. It allowed me to carry my daughter with me and still have my hands free without overly straining my poor arms.
Cost: $40 (Original Moby Wrap for $40)
4. Pacifier
Before I actually had a baby to take care of, I always thought I wouldn’t let my child have a pacifier. However, when my daughter was a day old, I remember crying, “Where’s a pacifier?!” My belief about pacifiers was forever changed.
For the next several months, I was highly reliant on the pacifier to calm my daughter during the difficult transition from womb to world. Plus, she broke her pacifier habit on her own once she discovered her thumb.
Cost: $3 to $6 (Philips Avent Soothie Pacifier for $4)
Before I actually had a baby to take care of, I always thought I wouldn’t let my child have a pacifier. However, when my daughter was a day old, I remember crying, “Where’s a pacifier?!” My belief about pacifiers was forever changed.
For the next several months, I was highly reliant on the pacifier to calm my daughter during the difficult transition from womb to world. Plus, she broke her pacifier habit on her own once she discovered her thumb.
Cost: $3 to $6 (Philips Avent Soothie Pacifier for $4)
5. Play Yard
The play yard is incredibly versatile. More commonly called a Pack ‘N Play, this item can be a crib, a bassinet, a changing table, and a play area all in one. If you plan to travel with your baby, having a play yard ensures that he or she will have a proper place to sleep while away from home. It’s also a safe place to lay your baby down while you take care of yourself or your other children.
Cost: $60 to $200 (Graco Pack ‘N Play Playard with Bassinet for $62)
The play yard is incredibly versatile. More commonly called a Pack ‘N Play, this item can be a crib, a bassinet, a changing table, and a play area all in one. If you plan to travel with your baby, having a play yard ensures that he or she will have a proper place to sleep while away from home. It’s also a safe place to lay your baby down while you take care of yourself or your other children.
Cost: $60 to $200 (Graco Pack ‘N Play Playard with Bassinet for $62)
6. Video Monitor
I can sum up the benefit of a video monitor in three words: peace of mind. That is what you’ll get when your baby is alone in the crib with the door shut. It’s comforting to always be able to see your child peacefully sleeping. And if she or he is not sleeping, it’s certainly nice to see what he or she is up to. It’ll also help you know if it’s a good time to go in to get your baby.
Cost: $140 to $300 (Samsung Wireless Video Security Monitoring System for $150)
I can sum up the benefit of a video monitor in three words: peace of mind. That is what you’ll get when your baby is alone in the crib with the door shut. It’s comforting to always be able to see your child peacefully sleeping. And if she or he is not sleeping, it’s certainly nice to see what he or she is up to. It’ll also help you know if it’s a good time to go in to get your baby.
Cost: $140 to $300 (Samsung Wireless Video Security Monitoring System for $150)
7. Library Card
We all know that reading to children at a young age is of great benefit. It develops their vocabulary, their understanding of words, and their listening and communication skills, and gives them a love for reading. To expose your baby to as many stories as possible, get a membership card at your local public library instead of buying books. This will make reading to your baby more fun for both of you.
Cost: FREE
We all know that reading to children at a young age is of great benefit. It develops their vocabulary, their understanding of words, and their listening and communication skills, and gives them a love for reading. To expose your baby to as many stories as possible, get a membership card at your local public library instead of buying books. This will make reading to your baby more fun for both of you.
Cost: FREE
8. Co-Sleeper or Co-Sleeper Bassinet
For nursing mothers, the co-sleeper is a lifesaver! Or at least, a sleep saver. This is a safe place for your infant to sleep that attaches securely to your bed. It’s a better alternative to directly sharing the bed with your infant and allows you to easily breastfeed your baby in the middle of the night without having to get out of bed and travel to the nursery. Plus, I found that next to me, my baby slept much more soundly than he did in his crib.
Cost: $50-$300 (Arm’s Reach Mini Co-Sleeper Bassinet for $140)
For nursing mothers, the co-sleeper is a lifesaver! Or at least, a sleep saver. This is a safe place for your infant to sleep that attaches securely to your bed. It’s a better alternative to directly sharing the bed with your infant and allows you to easily breastfeed your baby in the middle of the night without having to get out of bed and travel to the nursery. Plus, I found that next to me, my baby slept much more soundly than he did in his crib.
Cost: $50-$300 (Arm’s Reach Mini Co-Sleeper Bassinet for $140)
9. Breast Pump
A good breast pump is essential if you’re a working mother and want your baby to have the benefits of breast milk throughout the day. Moreover – and this may be the biggest perk – you can pump before bed at night and your husband can wake up to feed the baby while you get your much-deserved sleep.
You can purchase expensive electric pumps, but I recommend a simple manual one that is easily portable, such as the Avent models. It’s also a relief to have one on-hand if your body thinks you need to nurse when you’re somewhere without your baby, like at work.
Cost: $30-$300 (Avent Isis Manual Breast Pump for $20)
A good breast pump is essential if you’re a working mother and want your baby to have the benefits of breast milk throughout the day. Moreover – and this may be the biggest perk – you can pump before bed at night and your husband can wake up to feed the baby while you get your much-deserved sleep.
You can purchase expensive electric pumps, but I recommend a simple manual one that is easily portable, such as the Avent models. It’s also a relief to have one on-hand if your body thinks you need to nurse when you’re somewhere without your baby, like at work.
Cost: $30-$300 (Avent Isis Manual Breast Pump for $20)
10. Infant Car Seat Stroller
This is great option if you want to streamline and multipurpose your infant car seat if you have made the decision to buy one. The infant car seat stroller is relatively light and easy to unfold one-handed. Your baby’s infant car seat then clicks into place atop the stroller, and voila, you have a stroller that doesn’t require a bunch of handling of the baby.
Most importantly, your sleeping baby doesn’t have to become an unsleeping baby through the process of unbuckling from the car seat and rebuckling into the stroller. This is a huge stress-reliever in and of itself.
Cost: $65-$100 (Graco SnugRider Infant Car Seat Stroller Frame for $69)
This is great option if you want to streamline and multipurpose your infant car seat if you have made the decision to buy one. The infant car seat stroller is relatively light and easy to unfold one-handed. Your baby’s infant car seat then clicks into place atop the stroller, and voila, you have a stroller that doesn’t require a bunch of handling of the baby.
Most importantly, your sleeping baby doesn’t have to become an unsleeping baby through the process of unbuckling from the car seat and rebuckling into the stroller. This is a huge stress-reliever in and of itself.
Cost: $65-$100 (Graco SnugRider Infant Car Seat Stroller Frame for $69)
Baby Items You Don’t Need
There were some baby purchases I made that I didn’t end up using, found a better alternative for, or that just didn’t work like they were supposed to.
Here is my list of items I wish I didn’t get for my baby:
There were some baby purchases I made that I didn’t end up using, found a better alternative for, or that just didn’t work like they were supposed to.
Here is my list of items I wish I didn’t get for my baby:
1. Diaper Pails
When I was deciding on a diaper pail for my nursery, there seemed to be a negative aspect to every pail on the market. Some were expensive and required refill cartridges, others had bad reviews, and the rest required lots of batteries.
In the end, most people told me that no matter which one you choose, they all stink after a while. So I decided not to even buy one. Instead, I use a cheap plastic trash can that I dump into my big garbage can outside each evening (or if it really stinks, then during the day).
This process has worked really well for us, and I didn’t waste money on a pail or the refill cartridges. And if you decide to save money using cloth diapers instead of disposables, you won’t even need a diaper pail at all.
Cost Savings: $25 to $90 for the pail and up to an additional $100 for the cartridges (Munchkin Arm and Hammer Diaper Pail for $25)
When I was deciding on a diaper pail for my nursery, there seemed to be a negative aspect to every pail on the market. Some were expensive and required refill cartridges, others had bad reviews, and the rest required lots of batteries.
In the end, most people told me that no matter which one you choose, they all stink after a while. So I decided not to even buy one. Instead, I use a cheap plastic trash can that I dump into my big garbage can outside each evening (or if it really stinks, then during the day).
This process has worked really well for us, and I didn’t waste money on a pail or the refill cartridges. And if you decide to save money using cloth diapers instead of disposables, you won’t even need a diaper pail at all.
Cost Savings: $25 to $90 for the pail and up to an additional $100 for the cartridges (Munchkin Arm and Hammer Diaper Pail for $25)
2. Bedding
On the cover of every baby gear catalog, there is always a crib with a nicely laid out quilt and bedding set complete with bumper and dust ruffle. Most of them are very cute and they tend to set the theme of the room.
However, bedding for a baby is not only completely unnecessary, it is also a risk factor for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). In fact, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends not putting any soft bedding in, on, or near a crib. This includes bumpers as well.
Truly, the only bedding a baby really needs is a sheet. If your baby is cold, put them in a wearable blanket or footed pajamas instead of baby bedding. You can still design a strongly themed nursery without the bedding.
Cost Savings: $50 to $500 (Migi Little Tree 4 Piece Crib Bedding Set for $180)
On the cover of every baby gear catalog, there is always a crib with a nicely laid out quilt and bedding set complete with bumper and dust ruffle. Most of them are very cute and they tend to set the theme of the room.
However, bedding for a baby is not only completely unnecessary, it is also a risk factor for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). In fact, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends not putting any soft bedding in, on, or near a crib. This includes bumpers as well.
Truly, the only bedding a baby really needs is a sheet. If your baby is cold, put them in a wearable blanket or footed pajamas instead of baby bedding. You can still design a strongly themed nursery without the bedding.
Cost Savings: $50 to $500 (Migi Little Tree 4 Piece Crib Bedding Set for $180)
3. Sheet Savers
Sheet savers are waterproof pads you put on top of the fitted sheet on the crib mattress. When your baby spits up or has a leaky diaper during the night, you can supposedly change the sheet saver instead of the entire fitted crib sheet.
When I heard of them, I thought it was such a good idea that I went out a bought a whole bunch. The first night my baby came home from the hospital, I put her in the crib on top of the sheet saver thinking he would stay right there. Little did I know that even newborn babies can move all over their cribs and get some distance with their spit-up. Needless to say, the sheet savers never saved my crib sheets from anything.
Cost Savings: $10 to $20 (Organic Waterproof Quilted Sheet Saver Cover for $13)
Sheet savers are waterproof pads you put on top of the fitted sheet on the crib mattress. When your baby spits up or has a leaky diaper during the night, you can supposedly change the sheet saver instead of the entire fitted crib sheet.
When I heard of them, I thought it was such a good idea that I went out a bought a whole bunch. The first night my baby came home from the hospital, I put her in the crib on top of the sheet saver thinking he would stay right there. Little did I know that even newborn babies can move all over their cribs and get some distance with their spit-up. Needless to say, the sheet savers never saved my crib sheets from anything.
Cost Savings: $10 to $20 (Organic Waterproof Quilted Sheet Saver Cover for $13)
4. Infant Car Seats
For me, the infant car seat turned out to be a waste of money. My daughter really hated being in it, and apparently, this is the case with many babies. I ended up having to buy a convertible car seat when my daughter was only a few months old. Eventually, all babies need to be in a convertible car seat when they grow out of their infant car seat, but any baby can ride in a convertible car seat as long as they meet the minimum weight, which is usually about five pounds.
So why not start your baby out in a convertible car seat? One advantage to an infant car seat is that it provides added protection and prevents newborns’ heads from falling forward or swaying too far to either side.
Cost Savings: $70 to $250 (Graco SnugRide 30 Infant Car Seat for $130)
For me, the infant car seat turned out to be a waste of money. My daughter really hated being in it, and apparently, this is the case with many babies. I ended up having to buy a convertible car seat when my daughter was only a few months old. Eventually, all babies need to be in a convertible car seat when they grow out of their infant car seat, but any baby can ride in a convertible car seat as long as they meet the minimum weight, which is usually about five pounds.
So why not start your baby out in a convertible car seat? One advantage to an infant car seat is that it provides added protection and prevents newborns’ heads from falling forward or swaying too far to either side.
Cost Savings: $70 to $250 (Graco SnugRide 30 Infant Car Seat for $130)
5. Diaper Stackers
This is another baby item that many people buy because it will fit into the theme of their nursery. At first, it seems like a good idea to put your diapers in a decorative bag that is hooked onto your changing table. But after a while, the diapers end up stacked on the changing table for easier access.
Also, some diaper stackers can be very expensive (up to $100). It’s just not worth spending that much money on something that will become useless or at best is unnecessary.
Cost Savings: $10 to $100 (Dexbaby Nursery Organizer for $17)
This is another baby item that many people buy because it will fit into the theme of their nursery. At first, it seems like a good idea to put your diapers in a decorative bag that is hooked onto your changing table. But after a while, the diapers end up stacked on the changing table for easier access.
Also, some diaper stackers can be very expensive (up to $100). It’s just not worth spending that much money on something that will become useless or at best is unnecessary.
Cost Savings: $10 to $100 (Dexbaby Nursery Organizer for $17)
6. Wipe Warmers
As if having your pants pulled down 10 times a day for all the world to see isn’t bad enough, babies also have to go through the shock of getting their behinds cleaned up with wet, cold wipes. My she does pretty good with diaper changes until that cold wipe hits her skin.
An obvious solution to this problem would be to get a wipe warmer that stores wipes at a nice, cozy temperature of about 99 degrees. The problem with such products is that they are recalled again and again due to fire hazards. I’m not sure about you, but I would rather continue to use a cold wipe on my daughter than put a fire hazard in his room.
Tip: You can achieve the same effect as a wipe warmer by using a cloth and warm water. It’s better for the environment too!
Cost Savings: $20 to $30 (Prince Lionheart Ultimate Wipes Warmer for $20)
As if having your pants pulled down 10 times a day for all the world to see isn’t bad enough, babies also have to go through the shock of getting their behinds cleaned up with wet, cold wipes. My she does pretty good with diaper changes until that cold wipe hits her skin.
An obvious solution to this problem would be to get a wipe warmer that stores wipes at a nice, cozy temperature of about 99 degrees. The problem with such products is that they are recalled again and again due to fire hazards. I’m not sure about you, but I would rather continue to use a cold wipe on my daughter than put a fire hazard in his room.
Tip: You can achieve the same effect as a wipe warmer by using a cloth and warm water. It’s better for the environment too!
Cost Savings: $20 to $30 (Prince Lionheart Ultimate Wipes Warmer for $20)
7. Changing Table
Many bedrooms are very small and there is not much room to squeeze in furniture. If this describes your situation, consider which nursery furniture you really need. You will definitely need a crib some cribs come with a built on changing table dresser combo so you may want to look in to those as well but they are more pricey, you’ll probably want a dresser for your baby’s clothes, and you may want a rocker as well.
This leaves little or no room for a changing table. So instead of making the costly purchase of a changing table, consider making a changing area on the dresser or on the floor. I found that changing my baby’s diaper on the floor was the safest place once he became mobile.
Cost Savings: $50 to $300.
Many bedrooms are very small and there is not much room to squeeze in furniture. If this describes your situation, consider which nursery furniture you really need. You will definitely need a crib some cribs come with a built on changing table dresser combo so you may want to look in to those as well but they are more pricey, you’ll probably want a dresser for your baby’s clothes, and you may want a rocker as well.
This leaves little or no room for a changing table. So instead of making the costly purchase of a changing table, consider making a changing area on the dresser or on the floor. I found that changing my baby’s diaper on the floor was the safest place once he became mobile.
Cost Savings: $50 to $300.
8. Bassinet/Cradle
As I mentioned in the above section of essential baby items, a play yard is a must have due to its mobility and versatility. So if you are definitely going to buy a play yard, such as a Pack ‘N Play, don’t buy a traditional bassinet or cradle because those would be redundant purchases. You can buy play yards with bassinet features on them that work just as well. That said, the co-sleeper bassinet is an exception since it has additional functionality discussed above.
Cost Savings: $60 to $400
As I mentioned in the above section of essential baby items, a play yard is a must have due to its mobility and versatility. So if you are definitely going to buy a play yard, such as a Pack ‘N Play, don’t buy a traditional bassinet or cradle because those would be redundant purchases. You can buy play yards with bassinet features on them that work just as well. That said, the co-sleeper bassinet is an exception since it has additional functionality discussed above.
Cost Savings: $60 to $400
Final Word
There are many baby items not mentioned in the lists above, including high chairs, bouncers, and swings. All these items can be great if your baby enjoys them. If he or she does not, however, they are a waste of money. Consider borrowing these types of items from friends and family until you determine which are worth the investment. Moreover, there may be some items on this list that you strongly agree or disagree with. After all, every baby is unique.
What are some of your favorite must-have baby items? Which would you consider a waste of money?
(photo credit: amazon.com )
There are many baby items not mentioned in the lists above, including high chairs, bouncers, and swings. All these items can be great if your baby enjoys them. If he or she does not, however, they are a waste of money. Consider borrowing these types of items from friends and family until you determine which are worth the investment. Moreover, there may be some items on this list that you strongly agree or disagree with. After all, every baby is unique.
What are some of your favorite must-have baby items? Which would you consider a waste of money?
(photo credit: amazon.com )