Tell me what baby gear you think is not necessary? I would love to hear, I know there has to be even more we can cut and keep the essentials so we can pour our time into the people that really matter vs taking care of a bunch of stuff.
What are your thoughts on cloth diapers? We've found it has saved us so much money (the cost of laundry is considerably lower than the cost of diapers for us). It also helps eliminate some of the items you mention, like no diaper genie/special trash can. Lots of folks swear by cloth as a way to reduce diaper rash, we found we almost never needed diaper creams/ointments.
As someone who has spent a lot of time in a third-world country, I'm amazed at how little people, even babies truly need. More than anything, they need love and attention. Those things can't be bought.
Exactly. Newborns dont need much, nappies, some clothes, car seat, carrier or pram, maybe formula and some bottles if breastfeeding is not a option or there is a problem. And i dont even live in third world country and i am not a minimalist 😉
Your closing words about what to do when you receive things you don’t need/want was so great to hear. Thank you for putting into words what I haven’t been able to express.
My dad told me I was getting butthurt over receiving a random bathtub/changing station from someone who didn’t even put their name on the gift. I was getting pretty annoyed because it’s something that I 1). didn’t ask for, and 2). will have to figure out how to get rid of if it becomes another waste of space in my house. Had another person drop off some hand-me-downs from her baby that I also really don’t want or need, but I feel like such an a$$ for getting annoyed with these people not asking me at the very least if I want the stuff!
I agree with everything exect for bibs. My daughter was born in fall so I didn't want her to be all wet, so changing the bib often meant that she is not covered in saliva and get cold
Same. From 6m on we had bibs on our girl. She drooled like crazy and we just changed those constantly instead of her getting rashes and sitting in wet clothes. I can't stand seeing a baby with wet clothes or rashes that could be avoidable.
We are using a pack n play as the crib. A regular dresser as a changing table and no shoes no socks since I hear not to lol this is my first baby but I think very practical and hate wasting money and hoarding a bunch of items I don’t need
Yes I probably am doing the same at this point and I did use the pack n play for last two babies in my room to have a safe place to nap in. It is wild how little is needed to take care of our littles ❤️
My grandson loved sleeping in his pack n play. She got one of those thicker mattresses and he still sleeps ii it at age 3 and will go right into a regular bed.
Facts because the pack and play all in one is great and the only reason my kids had a crib was because I was gifted one in both my first two pregnancies but after baby number two I’m not even going to assemble it
Yaaassss!!! Im expecting my first baby in 3 months and it seemed like the bassinets were too small and would not last long, so i bought a portable crib/playpen that has the "half lowering side" like the new bassinets, so u can put it next to your bed and i am yet to try how this works for me but im soooo happy with this purchase!
Great video! I'm a first-time mom & really appreciate the intentionality you bring to each of your item decisions to buy/skip. I'm seeing a lot of interesting baby products as I'm building my registry & it's easy to get carried away. Thank you for providing recommendations for clean products without toxic or unnecessary ingredients, too!
This was an excellent video and has been super helpful to me in both building my registry and refocusing my mindset as a soon-to-be first time mom. Thank you!!
Ah sooo excited for you! You are way ahead of the curve trying to learn all you can as a first-time mom. I wish I had been more minimal then. Congrats mama!
As an infant teacher, we LOVE and need bibs😅 especially during the teething phase, they will drool so much and get their clothes wet, bibs save you from having to change their clothes. We have some babies that go through 3 bibs a day
Agree with almost all of this! This helped with mentally preparing for baby #3 and my fight with wanting things that everyone else wants and also knowing it won’t be necessary Thank you ❤
Pacifiers were a life saver for us. My kid wanted to suck on something all the time and I breastfed on command but I did not want her to get used to using me as a pacifier. Also, easier to wean baby off a pacifier than thumb sucking. It has also been proven that pacifiers reduce the risks of SIDS in infants. After a year we only used pacifiers for sleep and long car rides to keep her content. Right before her 2nd birthday we weaned off pacifier completely. She breastfed beautifully up to 8 months when I decided it was time to go to formula for mental health reasons. She used the pacifier in the hospital and no nipple confusion whatsoever. Phillips avents are the best for breastfed babies. Some kids use it a lot longer but it’s our responsibility as parents to decide when the use of a pacifier has done it’s job and wean them off it.
I have had friends do it very well, so I agree it can be done. I am just proof that you don't HAVE to do it. But my friends with paci's love their choice too. Fun that we can all mama so different at times and our kids are fine ❤
My oldest 2 took pacifiers, both stopped at around age 3 completely and by age 1 it was in bed only. It was not hard to wean them. My 3rd had a gagging issue and did not take a pacifier and it's brutal not having a soother for him. I'm always holding him, which is okay, but it takes a toll on mental health and on physical health as well! My arms and back really took a beating...#4 is expected in the spring and I'm trying for a pacifier again with that one
I could cry I just found your page and I’m so happy. Christian, First baby and I’m TOTALLY tryna be minimal and mindful with this baby and our purchases since I have left my career to be a mom. So happy rn!!
Thank you so much for the perspective change! I have been so worried about the baby registry and not how I’m preparing to be the most intentional mom for my baby! Such a great mindset!
I’m expecting my 5th as well! I love the mindset behind this, even though we do some things differently. Several of my babies have had lip ties, which made breastfeeding a challenge. We adapted for what each baby needed. However, I would suggest looking into insurance benefits for an electric pump! It’s nice to have on hand in case breastfeeding does not go as planned, and then you’re not scrambling in that postpartum stage to figure it out. Most insurance companies will cover most, if not all of the cost for a basic electric pump. Along that line of thought, don’t overdo it on the bottles - but maybe grab one bottle from a couple different brands to see what works for your baby if you need to go that route. Not much investment up front, and if you don’t need them you can always donate them or give to a friend later. I love the idea of looking at the baby items as “tools”, to see what we really need and what functions well.
Ah so fun you are pregnant with your 5th! and YES good point, if your insurance will cover it, it is nice to just have. Also, my friends who do use bottles say the same, you never know what style of nipple and bottle ya might like, so not going overboard investing in a style until you know you like it-I totally agree with that point too. Great wisdom ❤
something bibs (the ones with the waterproof type liners) can be good for is babies who drool a lot! Keeping baby clean and dry as much as possible helps so much with rashes and skin irritation. Our first drooled so much all the time her clothes would get soaked all day and we'd be changing her clothes so often to try and keep her dry. the bibs with the liners helped us keep her clothes dry so we didn't have to change her clothes so much.
They have come up with a better diaper pail!! Ubbi diaper pail. Uses whatever trash bags you already have! Stainless steel so it keeps stink in and a charcoal pouch at the bottom keeps the smell/moisture down. 1000% worth it
Also, how bad is the smell when you go to change the pail? I think that is my concern, just have so many smell memories I would love to forget forever from a diaper pail haha
Thank you for sharing your thought about rehoming gifts! I have a hard time letting go of things I don’t use just because family has bought them for me. So I really need to hear that!
I have ubbi diaper trash can, and it keeps in smell really well, is high quality, and actually looks pretty cute. I know I will use it for all my babies, so I think it’s worth.
Ok that is good to know! thank you for letting us all know, bc esp in apartment situations it is tough to take a diaper to an outside trash all the time
@@girlteachmeyesss I’ve heard really good things about the ubbi and plus you don’t have to get specific liners for it, they fit normal kitchen trash bags
Interesting perspective. Currently pregnant with baby #4 and I agree with some things, I am also not what you would consider a minimalist, so that could be why. One note I wanted to mention is nowadays, most insurance companies cover the cost of an electric breast pump, so I think it's worth it to take advantage of that if you can. If not, there are some amazing affordable electric breast pump options as well, I get your perspective, but that's really only realistic for SAHMs as well as not having bottles.
Same! I'm 34 wks now with twin boys and my family thinks I need double Everything! And that is not the case! I am trying so hard to keep it very minimal!! Congratulations btw!
Whahoo that is amazing! So happy for you and yes I can't imagine how much stuff that would be to manage so I think you are smart going more minimal esp with two babies. Oh congrats what a blessing!
yes! Most of these are so spot on! This could Help new moms so much because all those things clutter your space and mind and will make you stressed when you are tired. I do think bibs are needed for teething times. And I still have a monitor. Also, i learned doing exclusive breastfeeding was so much easier (pumping gave me so many painful clogs). Having my husband wake up at night didn’t help because I would wake up anyway when baby cried or from leaking and needing to pump.
I agree so much. Things will not make us good parents or people. They just may or may not make our lives easier. Thanks for saying this. This is something I haven’t heard from any influencer moms so far. But a lot of expectant first-time parents needed to hear this, especially coming from a mom of four.
Loved this video! Im pregnant with #4 and even after bavy #3, there was so much that i decluttered and found was useless and didnt need. Bibs however i needed for my first 2. They drooled so so much and changing the bib was easier than changing clothing
Yay for number 4! That is amazing and yes same everytime I got pregnant I was like why did I save this or that, I don't like it or never used it. So purging feels good, but also so many thoughts of why did I get this
Pregnant with #4 as well. Will go over my baby boxes again now and be very realistic about what I used and need to keep. Last time, it was annoying to have so much so I cut down on tons and I can probably go even more minimal
This video was all that I needed . As a first time mum , currently in week 26, I wanted to find a video like this so I wouldn’t feel like I needed majority of the things you mentioned in the video. Am so much relieved now. My gust always wanted me to wait and I have been patiently waiting to get advice from ppl like you. Thank you once again. Really appreciated 🙏🏽
I love a baby monitor. It's really nice to see if the baby looks like he is going to fall back asleep. You don't want to go in there unless you have to!
Pregnant with my first due in 4 weeks currently and pretty happy with this list! I didn’t get the majority of these so far so I feel pretty good!! I put the UBBI diaper pail on my registry and I think it might be a good one! It’s steel so it doesn’t absorb smell like plastic does and you can use any bags with it which I really like so we’ll see if I made a good choice!
Love my ubbi! I’ve used it so far for 6 months and it’s great. It can’t be a little awkward to get full bags out but it’s worth it to me. Congratulations mama!
Quite a few here that are hard necessities for me. Just keep in mind, if you enjoy these things and they make motherhood easier, get them! Just as we need to normalize minimalism, we should also normalize the mom that likes to have all the things! A solid diaper bag, monitor, swing, etc. are a must in my opinion. Also-my son had pretty severe baby eczema. DEFINITELY speak to your pediatrician to make sure baby's skin has what it needs. to say no to oils, lotions etc. can absolutely do more harm than good. GREAT VIDEO THOUGH. Super helpful!!
How funny as a mom of soon to be 8 things I love are a good diaper bag. Also I love burp cloths. The flannel and cloth diapers are what I use and LOVE! Bamboo towels are the best for baby the hooded baby bamboo towel.
I lov watching these videos bc it has helped me so much as a first time mom getting my registry ready. One thing I would love from these types of videos would be an example registry so I could kinda visualize all the good and what is recommended with links!
Ah that is a great idea! Here are some of my favorites organized together, but maybe in the future It would be good to have a downloadable registry to help mamas out. girlteachme.com/new-baby-favorites/
I am currently pregnant with my third child. My two older girls were exclusively breastfed as I was fortunate enough to stop working after my first was born. I tried getting into a pumping routine with my first but did not like it nor did I feel it was necessary for me personally. I didn’t even pull out the electric breastpump at all for my second.
This is an excellent video, for someone who is very interested in early child development you were spot on with so many points & unnecessary products!! Less is definitely more w babies and often more beneficial for them, such as freedom of movement! ❤
This gal's got it right with the mindset change. I've been going crazy trying to navigate the hyper consumerism and fear-mongering-based marketing and it's exhausting!
This was super helpful to me; thank so much. Have also grabbed the freebie and it's so helpful. Currently 4.5 months and I'm still experiencing home sickness and your guide has helped me realise it's because I'm not eating breakfast. Fruits calm my MS down so will stock up on those. Thank you
Ah so sorry you are still feeling sick! That is the worst! And so glad the guide has been a help, that makes my day! Also, maybe add some protein if you can stomach it. A couple bites of a chomps beef stick seemed to level me out if I was starting to feel nauseous. Sending love your way!
totally with you on the diapers! we registered for this really expensive diaper pail (ubbi I think?) and enjoying it was such a nightmare eventually we just started using plastic grocery bags. also, unrelated tip that's changed my life: if you wash baby (or adult!) socks in a mesh garment bag, they don't EVER get lost in the washing machine or stuck inside of other clothes, etc. it's made my life SO MUCH EASIER.
What kind of utility bag are you using??? I’ve tried 3 different brands d of bags and the zippers all come undone in the wash or dryer! Ughhhh! I love the concept! The follow through just hasn’t been there yet!
Great video! Having my first in a few weeks and we live in a small apartment and do not want to much clutter. What was great was that since we are stationed on the other side of the country away from family, many people gave us gift cards. I am able to have more time to research and figure out what I need and do not need, Of course some people gave gifts and I am grateful for them, but now everything else that was on the registry I can reevaluate what I want to get.
I concur with everything on this list. With my second child I didn’t use most of these things except the swing for a few months and wipe warmers (which I did not always use but was helpful at night). I wish they would stop making so many gimmicky products for new moms.
Ah yes their are so many gimmicky products, but it is just preying on new mamas who don't know. And that breaks my heart, bc with my first money was super super tight, but I just didn't know. It is a marketing machine for sure!
This video has been the most helpful one I’ve watch my whole pregnancy! Made me feel more confident in some of my decisions of things to not purchase/put on registry. You’re awesome! Gained a subscriber!
They really are, a gal mentioned one made of stainless steel that is better. I am still nervous about that horrible smell of a week or more of dirty diapers that have fermented together 🤢 BUT she said it was way better
I used bibs more from 4 months to uhh even now sometimes for my almost 2 year old. She got teeth really early and was a big drooler. They saved our outfits. I stocked up on the cotton bandana ones that have a snap so they cant pull them off and the bandana look is super cute.
Love all the tips, and like the fact that you emphasized for certain items like the swing that some mommas may find it useful and some not. Great tips! A good suggestion I have received for the good to have items to wait it out with a list until the baby is here and procure depending on the needs of the baby. I am going to get the universal standard items that are needed like the car seat, stroller, diapers, a dresser (adult type) nothing baby like and in good solid wood so that it can be used when they are older. Same for other furniture that can fulfil the long term need for the child.
As a first time mom, this video was super helpful! My hubby and I live in a small space and I’ve been trying to embrace minimalist lately so I’ve been stressing over what I actually need versus is cool to have versus a waste of money. Will plan my registry accordingly
I was in a walker as a baby and I didn’t have hip dysplasia or bowed legs. I walked at 9 months though and my mom swears it was from my legs being strengthened from the walker.
My babies also walked around the 9 month mark and I felt like it was due to the walker as well ...my middle child was actually pulling himself up and taking steps a 6/7 months
I had my first baby at 19 over 4 years ago and there was a lot I didn’t get because I just couldn’t afford to and didn’t have the space for. Activity center? Baby blankets. I loved having a baby carrier and later on I did get a cheap swing for my son which he hated so I gave it away after like 2 weeks. I thought wipe warmers were silly. They dry out your wipes and half the time you’re not changing them by the wipe warmer lol. Never used a burp cloth. I kept the clothes from my first boy to put on my second I’m 40 weeks with now. I didn’t use baby powder but I loved having an on hand zinc cream because if being naked to air dry the start of a rash wasn’t enough to make a diaper rash go away I loved how fast it got rid of the redness and irritation. My mom is an occupational therapist so I avoided certain toys like bouncers and walkers because she would inform me how they weren’t the best for development of milestones. My first refused bottles and pacifiers. This time I’ll return to work instead of being a sahm so I have to introduce a bottle this time but there was just a lot of stuff I didn’t have to use. So I agree with a lot of this
Wow I love that insight and yes so beautiful that while you didn't have all the options to get the best of the best in baby items, that you did showed up and loved your baby. I wish more women knew how little it takes to love our babies well. I think marketing preys on our insecurity as a mama to make us feel like we need so much, but it is really not true. WOW I am so excited for you mama praying for a smooth, beautiful birth for you!
@@girlteachme thank you so much! And this is very true. Babies need love and care more than all the fancy accessories. Consumerism and marketing definitely prey on mom’s who are just trying to love their babies and they feel like they must have all these things to prove it. Presence, not presents ❤️
This has been the best not only things not to buy video, but also a reflection for me. As a first time mama, I fell into the trap of buying so many things before birth and during postpartum (late night Amazon purchases 😅). Now that I’m pregnant with Baby #2, I know what works for our family and I relate to most of the things you mentioned. Also, I laughed out loud when you mentioned how stinky the diaper genie gets. We’re currently still using ours for our first baby and the odor is HORRENDOUS. And those liners just add up in finances. Planning to get rid of it soon and considering the Uppi Diaper Pail like some other mamas recommended. 😊
gracious isn't that smell so special, you only know if you know. And YES, so incredibly glad that this video was helpful for you. That makes my day! Sending love and prayers your way baby #2! Excited for you!
I love baby towels for my kids BUT you have to make sure it’s terry cloth. A lot of baby towels are micro fiber and they don’t absorb ANYTHING! Target has terry cloth baby towels by Cloud Island ❤. I agree with everything else you said though
This is super helpful being a first time mama and wanting to make sure I have what I really need and just not unnecessary items. So thank you. Question regarding bottle supplies and gear etc. would you say a bottle sterilizer is really needed? Or would you say washing bottles in a dishwasher does the same thing? I am really unsure of if I should be asking for the dr browns bottle sterilizer on my registry for my first baby. I’m so new to all this. Thank you
I have only done bottles with my first when I worked, so maybe some more experienced mamas in this area will jump in. But I just did a free and clear soap and hot water. I am so happy for you! Becoming a mama is such a gift! 😘
Thank you! You mentioned filing the nails down. Been trying to find a good way to go about it, I absolutely hate the slippers so thinking file be better yes
As a gerd baby mom - burp cloths were a necessity. I never would have had enough muslin blankets to clean up all that reflux spitup. And if you plan on going back to work you'll need a pump if you plan on also breastfeeding. So obviously YMMV with this video.
Things have come really handy for us (baby is 6 months now) - white noise machine tops the list, crib (it can be modified later but so far very helpful), a hanging toy above crib which our baby loves to watch, baby swayer (it’s like bouncer but sways instead)-very useful when I want to eat or just relax, bottle steriliser. My mom stitched his clothes, I knit the cap and booties. Bought some clothes too but got many of them as gift so I have stopped buying clothes for him. Other than this haven’t really needed anything else.
Btw, we have diaper free hours during the day, which means I keep him in his cotton undies and change them when he pees .. it keeps him rash free . My mom says it helps them with pee control from young age. It takes some effort but if it’s feasible for you and if weather isn’t too cold , try it.
This is so specific to your needs. No first time mom should follow most of this. You never know what you are going to need. You are establishing what your needs are as a momma. This is good if you have a few kids and know what you typically need. This is also the second video that says babies don’t need much for their skin. Another mom specific thing. You don’t know till you have your little one. Most kids with lots of melanin need moisturizer. It’s always good to have a good natural oil on hand which is one of the best things for cradle cap and little dry ankles or flaking facial skin. People please. First time mommas. Put it all on the registry till you know your needs. Then for your next baby make these kinds of decisions
Totally agree! There are must haves which are standard no matter the kind of mom or baby like car seat, stroller, diapers. The rest really depends on the child and the environment, e.g. for fall/ autumn babies the needs may be different. I agree with some good to have items like the massage oil, most likely it will help the baby stay calm and it's good for their growing organs, bones, muscles. I am going to have my little one in October and I think it's best to put off most of the things until the baby is here and based on the needs to purchase at the time. Also, consult your own mom, mil, midwife and take what makes sense to you. A list is a great start with some details and links and once the baby is here, the items can be easily procured in today's time. A lot of people also mentioned having very little space, living in an apartment, good place to start would be to declutter, sell and/ or donate items not being utilized to create space and have peace.
Ok. The things I am still getting on this list. 1. Baby monitor. I hate to hear the sound of crying and get to a sleeping baby. So baby monitor comes in handy for me to make sure I need to make the trip to the bedroom. I am in the kitchen cooking, outside hanging clothes, in the garden or taking a bath and checking on my baby when I need to is nice. I have never continously hovered over the monitor, so I am good with it. 2. Baby bottle and electric pump. On my first I breastfed and pumped a lot cause night time feeds were exclusively for my husband as that was their bonding time. So we need those bottles and pump still. The manual one would be too exhausting and I now plan on getting the new wearable ones that I can use even when cooking. As for price, the previous one was a cheaper unknown brand that I used without any problems, so I will get whatever my money can buy. 3. Bibs. 2-5 minutes after every burp there was a throw up. And teething drool started at 3 months. So bibs are a no brainer here. 4. Mittens. Not only helped with scratches but also used thicker ones for warmth. And even socks had to go inside the rompers on very cold days. There is no such thing as central heating where we live😂. The rest of the stuff, I never even considered on my first and won't even now. Interesting how each baby has different needs so I can't say never on anything.
Yes, a dressed up baby is worth its weight in therapy. I'm expecting #4 and disagreed with a few of her recommendations. But her point is great. You need a lot less than you think, even if the exact things you don't need aren't the same as what she says
With my 4th baby I did buy manual breast pump ( on ebay , check out how many unused baby items in there ) and 2 bottles just in case. I did pump few times to have some milk in the freezer if I will need to use in emergency case but we never did. So will not be buying it with baby #5. Also I didnt buy formula either. I took 3-4 different samples from our pediatrician clinic to check if she would like it , so I could buy 1 box to keep in the cupboard but she didnt accept any of them. So do not waste your money buying full size baby formula, get few free samples while pregnant. Another thing is baby bath. I bathed my baby in the sink when we were staying in hotel and works fine. So if you have ok size sink in your bathroom or kitchen , you do not need bulky baby bath at all. After 6 months they do not need it anyway.
Yes my grandma gave my kids their first baths and she always cleaned the kitchen sink and did it in there, I am glad she showed me that bc I knew there was another way when we were in seasons where a baby bath tub took up too much space in our small house. Glad you left your thoughts, I know they can be helpful to another mama ❤️
I used and loved a baby bath for my 3 kids. I actually put the bath into the kitchen sink so they had support while in there. Little ones are so slippery! I'm thinking to maybe get a smaller option or just a sling type for #4 because that thing (still have it!) is so bulky
As a mother of 3, expecting number 4, I agree with everything except bibs (I just have a few), clothes for the firsts months (my case, premature and very small baby so they use NB and 3M for months!!), the electric pump (again, long nicu stay) and pacifier, I NEED IT, but maybe wait until you see which one your baby likes and then buy it…
I dont get the nursery thing they are meant to stay with you anyway at first. Better off saving making a special room for them when they are older and can choose what they'd like with you.
I used a lot of burp wipes, it was so nice to put a small cloth under my babys head so if he had any spit ups in his bassinet, stroller or swing, i didnt need to replace a whole entire cover. Wet wipes warmer, I LOOOVED mine. My kiddo was born in January. I used it in our bedroom, mostly during the night, it was nice because it wouldnt wake him up, and used regular wipes when we were downstairs during the day. When he was older and didnt need night time diaper changes, i just kept it unplugged because it worked as a great weight, so i didnt need 2 hands to pull out wipes. A lot of people think its a waste, but i absolutely loved mine. Baby towels suck. They're too small. The only one that I saw in normal size is the copper pearl brand, but i dont know how absorbent they are, i havent tried them myself. Any other brand, is not worth it. Avocado slicer is not only really needed for the nut part, so you dont cut yourself. Definitely not buying baby furniture except crib, which for the second baby my sister is giving me hers. Im getting a baby monitor, I sleep much better knowing ill hear my kiddo crying than always having to wonder if hes actually crying. Phanthom crying is legit and I hate it. My kid drooled all over the place, not just spit. Bibs were my life savers. I had a lot of baby creams in every diaper changing corner, but i only used any creams, lotions, all of that, i only used when really necessary. Baby crib bumper thing, I used the mesh one because my kiddo would get his hands stuck between the slats. I never had a diaper geanie but im planning to try out the diaper pail that uses regular diaper bags. With my first kiddo i used doggy bags to tie diaper bags so they dont stink. I got the graco swing for my kiddo, and he LOOOVED it. He tried the mamaroo like 3 times and HATED it. Im so glad i didnt buy it for him.
I’m having my first baby and my sisters and cousin who’s had their baby months before me are just giving me all their lightly used and unused baby stuff so basically everything is marked off my baby registry besides a car seat and stroller which they are still using themselves, so basically I don’t have to buy anything cause my sisters just want to get the stuff out of their houses so I’ll be receiving baby diapers and cloths that my sisters kid grew out of quickly and she has boxes and boxes of diapers and cloths for different ages and so my sisters and cousin are saving me thousands just by giving me this stuff which helps a lot and I do let them know that, we’re a pretty close knit family so my sisters know what I like and what I’ll be looking for so I don’t have to worry about them giving me anything I don’t like or won’t use. Anyway I do like your video it is very helpful and I’ll be passing it on to another sister of mine who I just found out is also expecting her first, and this will be very helpful knowledge for her since pregnancy is overwhelming at times.
Wow i love this video. You've completely convinced me that i really dont need some of the things i put on my registry. But it makes complete logical sense. Thank you for sharing youre thoughts and reasonings. ❤
I think baby bibs are essential for when they start eating solids - 6m+ - I like the silicone catcher bibs. Been using the same 2 for 3 years now! Perfect for pasta / noodles / rice Totally agree on the clothes. My daughter was born in the spring (and Covid) so we were always home and never needed to dress up. A diaper and a t shirt worked great! Lol
I felt so heard when you talked about the pacifiers. My first had latch issues as a premie and I had to pump and bottle feed and work diligently to get her to breastfeed. It was awful. I decided to wait the 6 weeks to introduce a pacifier because I didnt want to ruin our breastfeeding progress. By the time I introduced the paci she had zero interest in it. Thats when I decided we really dont need one. But my second is a thumb sucker. The Dr advised that she might need braces if it goes on too long, but she might need braces anyway. Thank you for being honest about your experience.
So nice to hear you talking about this. I’ve started to feel overwhelmed with everything happening around me and the pressure of gazillion decisions about things I didn’t even care about.
My kid was the Queen of droolers for months. So bibs were a MUST! She flew threw so many bibs in a day! Also, my daughter never latched so I was an exclusive pumpers. I actually regret getting the free pink spectra off of insurance and not putting in the extra money for the blue version.
Wow that does sound like you needed bibs! Yes if you are exclusively pumping then I would really pour some cash into making that the best experience possible for sure. That is a big job and I admire my friends who have done that, bc it is a commitment ❤
It is a really good question and one reason I hesitated making this video, but honestly you wouldn't believe how much I OVER spent the first time and now with time I see what was really necessary. It is just so HARD to know that from the beginning bc it is a new job and it is easy to get marketed to. So that was my hope to just speak from an angle of helping a first or even second time mama save money. AND you wouldn't believe how much changes from one pregnancy to another with new gadgets that come out, it's wild.
@@girlteachmeI’m glad you decided to make the video! I’m about to become a first time mom in 3 weeks or less (it’s baby’s call now!) and it’s taken loads of financial and general stress off of me. I mean, our ancestors raised us with much much less, we should be fine without most of these things, right? ☺️ Hope you’re having a wonderful day.
Things break. Clothes stain, and get worn out. Babies are born in different seasons. I'm expecting #4 and only need a few things like a new car seat, a new haaka, and maybe a couple burp cloths. Once baby gets here, there's the consumables that you need new ones of (diapers, wipes, rash cream, lotions gripe water etc.) It gets less and less each time
On baby #2. I’m not doing a baby monitor or pacifiers either. Didn’t do them with my first….the monitor has always just been unnecessary because of house size (now in a small townhouse) and there’s no way we couldn’t hear baby. Pacifiers, to each their own, I just prefer not having one more thing to buy, sanitize, and wean off of. I actually didn’t even do bottles with my first- he exclusively breastfed. I would’ve loved to have the option because I felt SO touched out all of the time, he just wasn’t feeling it…..will be doing bottles this time (glass only) but still not binkies. Not doing a crib. Just got a bedside sleeper with a drop wall that doubles as a pack n play as she grows. Not doing a walker, they freak me out. Wipe warmers were always a no go for me. Just jam a few wipes in your bra first if you so choose. One thing I am doing very differently is cloth diapering this time! We’re doing the laundry anyway, and I don’t want to worry about buying diapers. I’ll buy them once and be done. Also will be making our own baby food this time- so I did invest in a steamer that doubles as a sanitizer/warmer. I’m a c-section mama, so one thing I WILL be investing in are some aftercare products for myself, like cooling pads/liners and scar patches. I agree with so many things on this list! It’s amazing how we figure out what we need and what’s just fluff!
Yes I get the touched out thing, that is very REAL. And yes that is tricky with multiple floors to be able to hear the baby. I have always had one floor so great point 🙌
Yes, I only hot a monitor with #3 when we moved to the larger house. He also cried super quietly and I often wouldn't hear him. I started running to check him every few minutes and couldn't get anything done. It's definitely not a necessity but it's really handy if the situation is right
Well my favorite person went out of business which is so sad! Jamie Kay's are cute and so are Quincy May. They are a bit pricey so just getting a couple of simple staple pieces seemed to just make me smile and were beautiful in pictures.
I love that after birthing and mothering multiple children we all have preferences. The best advice I ever got in accordance with motherhood was to listen to all the advice and suggestions everyone offers, take what you like, toss what you don’t, and use what’s left. We have the ultimate veto power when it comes to our own child(ren.) I hated the diaper genie as well-I have a hypersensitive sense of smell that thing was atrocious! I’ll soon have a new baby full time in my home and another often visiting. (This time around they will be my grandchildren.) I’ll have to insist all diapers are taken out after changes that day-not just on my account but also due to the dogs! I hated the walkers and jumpers, some of the carriers, but loved my bedside sleeper and medela pump and Avent bottles with the orthodontic nipples. They were HARD to find!!! Love the idea of forwarding unneeded gifts
Im expecting #4 and also try to be minimal. While i disagree with many of the things on your list, what boggles my mind is how many people buy things for vaby up to a year or 2 of age - before they are even born! I only buy what i need for the first 2 weeks before i give birth and the rest i buy as needed. Much easier to see what you really actually need when youre almost in that stage vs before even having a baby at all
they only thing besides a carseat and bassinet that im getting ahead of time is preemie clothes. i learned my lesson the first 2 times that i have very small babies and they were born 1-3 weeks early. so im expecting my 3rd to be about a month early and probably 4.5-5lbs and its just because of genetics. but finding preemie clothes is TOUGH so ordering online ahead of time :)
I had the opposite. My babies are born average but get huge super fast. My mother in law buys a couple very expensive pieces for each baby and I begged her to get bigger sizes. She finally listened to me by #3 but still sent one tiny one. She lives in another country and till it got here, it didn't even fit anymore. What a waste
I agree with looking for functional items first, how i see it is I imagine what will I be doing ( baby is on the way) during the day and what are the tools that can make my new life easier, for instance we got some teething toys that you can fill with fruit or freeze , so the Bebe can chew and gets some stimulation from it too etc.
The swing was a life saver until they were almost one. My kids loved to nap in it. And bay wearing, NO! not for us. I need time do stuff for me and other chores
Yes, swing is a must. What's not a must is getting a $500 one. Got one for free off our neighborhood freebie chat after the one I used for the first 2 kids broke (that one was under $100) and I'll be using it again this spring with baby #4.
The diaper geni is a surprise. Im taking it off my registry now but def concerned about the diaper situation. I guess we will see how we do without first!
Tell me what baby gear you think is not necessary? I would love to hear, I know there has to be even more we can cut and keep the essentials so we can pour our time into the people that really matter vs taking care of a bunch of stuff.
Bassinet!!! Team pack n play all the way!! I had the halo with my first and HATED it.
What are your thoughts on cloth diapers? We've found it has saved us so much money (the cost of laundry is considerably lower than the cost of diapers for us).
It also helps eliminate some of the items you mention, like no diaper genie/special trash can. Lots of folks swear by cloth as a way to reduce diaper rash, we found we almost never needed diaper creams/ointments.
Any clothes other than sleepers with zips. 4 or 5 would be more than enough.
Diaper genie and all the baby monitoring equipment.
Please make a video for the must haves for a new born!!! New mama here and completely lost! I am on my 13th week! 🙏🏽❤️
As someone who has spent a lot of time in a third-world country, I'm amazed at how little people, even babies truly need. More than anything, they need love and attention. Those things can't be bought.
Exactly what i think.
Exactly. Newborns dont need much, nappies, some clothes, car seat, carrier or pram, maybe formula and some bottles if breastfeeding is not a option or there is a problem. And i dont even live in third world country and i am not a minimalist 😉
But we don’t live in a third world country.. the needs are different
Amen! We buy too much of all kinds of things we truly do not need. Diaper bags go out of style?
Amen
Your closing words about what to do when you receive things you don’t need/want was so great to hear. Thank you for putting into words what I haven’t been able to express.
Ah isn't it tricky!?! I want so badly to be full of gratitude and show that. And then also not have a million things in my home I don't love
I often go to return things especially if I know where thy bought...Walmart, winners and Carter all accept returns without receipt...
My dad told me I was getting butthurt over receiving a random bathtub/changing station from someone who didn’t even put their name on the gift. I was getting pretty annoyed because it’s something that I 1). didn’t ask for, and 2). will have to figure out how to get rid of if it becomes another waste of space in my house. Had another person drop off some hand-me-downs from her baby that I also really don’t want or need, but I feel like such an a$$ for getting annoyed with these people not asking me at the very least if I want the stuff!
I agree with everything exect for bibs. My daughter was born in fall so I didn't want her to be all wet, so changing the bib often meant that she is not covered in saliva and get cold
Agreed my baby went through so many bibs
Same. From 6m on we had bibs on our girl. She drooled like crazy and we just changed those constantly instead of her getting rashes and sitting in wet clothes. I can't stand seeing a baby with wet clothes or rashes that could be avoidable.
We are using a pack n play as the crib. A regular dresser as a changing table and no shoes no socks since I hear not to lol this is my first baby but I think very practical and hate wasting money and hoarding a bunch of items I don’t need
Yes I probably am doing the same at this point and I did use the pack n play for last two babies in my room to have a safe place to nap in. It is wild how little is needed to take care of our littles ❤️
I vote portable bassinet/crib/playpen all in one! I would never buy all the baby furniture again.
My grandson loved sleeping in his pack n play. She got one of those thicker mattresses and he still sleeps ii it at age 3 and will go right into a regular bed.
Which one or style do you recommend? We have limited space so that's kind of what I was thinking. I have a 3 in one bassinet on my registry.
@@natashaf6886 I had the Graco 3 in one years ago. Loved it. Bassinet, crib, playpen in one! That's what I will do for grandkids.
Facts because the pack and play all in one is great and the only reason my kids had a crib was because I was gifted one in both my first two pregnancies but after baby number two I’m not even going to assemble it
Yaaassss!!! Im expecting my first baby in 3 months and it seemed like the bassinets were too small and would not last long, so i bought a portable crib/playpen that has the "half lowering side" like the new bassinets, so u can put it next to your bed and i am yet to try how this works for me but im soooo happy with this purchase!
Great video! I'm a first-time mom & really appreciate the intentionality you bring to each of your item decisions to buy/skip. I'm seeing a lot of interesting baby products as I'm building my registry & it's easy to get carried away. Thank you for providing recommendations for clean products without toxic or unnecessary ingredients, too!
This was an excellent video and has been super helpful to me in both building my registry and refocusing my mindset as a soon-to-be first time mom. Thank you!!
Ah sooo excited for you! You are way ahead of the curve trying to learn all you can as a first-time mom. I wish I had been more minimal then. Congrats mama!
As an infant teacher, we LOVE and need bibs😅 especially during the teething phase, they will drool so much and get their clothes wet, bibs save you from having to change their clothes. We have some babies that go through 3 bibs a day
It feels like the more babies I have the less and less I realize I need! Spot on! ❤
Agree with almost all of this! This helped with mentally preparing for baby #3 and my fight with wanting things that everyone else wants and also knowing it won’t be necessary
Thank you ❤
Ah so glad! So little is needed to be a good mama and the pull from marketing is very real! Excited for you with baby #3! What a blessing!
Pacifiers were a life saver for us. My kid wanted to suck on something all the time and I breastfed on command but I did not want her to get used to using me as a pacifier. Also, easier to wean baby off a pacifier than thumb sucking. It has also been proven that pacifiers reduce the risks of SIDS in infants. After a year we only used pacifiers for sleep and long car rides to keep her content. Right before her 2nd birthday we weaned off pacifier completely. She breastfed beautifully up to 8 months when I decided it was time to go to formula for mental health reasons. She used the pacifier in the hospital and no nipple confusion whatsoever. Phillips avents are the best for breastfed babies. Some kids use it a lot longer but it’s our responsibility as parents to decide when the use of a pacifier has done it’s job and wean them off it.
I have had friends do it very well, so I agree it can be done. I am just proof that you don't HAVE to do it. But my friends with paci's love their choice too. Fun that we can all mama so different at times and our kids are fine ❤
My oldest 2 took pacifiers, both stopped at around age 3 completely and by age 1 it was in bed only. It was not hard to wean them. My 3rd had a gagging issue and did not take a pacifier and it's brutal not having a soother for him. I'm always holding him, which is okay, but it takes a toll on mental health and on physical health as well! My arms and back really took a beating...#4 is expected in the spring and I'm trying for a pacifier again with that one
I could cry I just found your page and I’m so happy. Christian, First baby and I’m TOTALLY tryna be minimal and mindful with this baby and our purchases since I have left my career to be a mom. So happy rn!!
Thank you so much for the perspective change! I have been so worried about the baby registry and not how I’m preparing to be the most intentional mom for my baby! Such a great mindset!
I’m expecting my 5th as well! I love the mindset behind this, even though we do some things differently. Several of my babies have had lip ties, which made breastfeeding a challenge. We adapted for what each baby needed. However, I would suggest looking into insurance benefits for an electric pump! It’s nice to have on hand in case breastfeeding does not go as planned, and then you’re not scrambling in that postpartum stage to figure it out. Most insurance companies will cover most, if not all of the cost for a basic electric pump. Along that line of thought, don’t overdo it on the bottles - but maybe grab one bottle from a couple different brands to see what works for your baby if you need to go that route. Not much investment up front, and if you don’t need them you can always donate them or give to a friend later. I love the idea of looking at the baby items as “tools”, to see what we really need and what functions well.
Ah so fun you are pregnant with your 5th! and YES good point, if your insurance will cover it, it is nice to just have. Also, my friends who do use bottles say the same, you never know what style of nipple and bottle ya might like, so not going overboard investing in a style until you know you like it-I totally agree with that point too. Great wisdom ❤
If you sign up to get baby boxes, you get enough bottles to last for 3 kids 😂😂😂 I still have some unused ones from 2 babies ago
something bibs (the ones with the waterproof type liners) can be good for is babies who drool a lot! Keeping baby clean and dry as much as possible helps so much with rashes and skin irritation. Our first drooled so much all the time her clothes would get soaked all day and we'd be changing her clothes so often to try and keep her dry. the bibs with the liners helped us keep her clothes dry so we didn't have to change her clothes so much.
They have come up with a better diaper pail!! Ubbi diaper pail. Uses whatever trash bags you already have! Stainless steel so it keeps stink in and a charcoal pouch at the bottom keeps the smell/moisture down. 1000% worth it
Oh interesting! Thanks for sharing. Proof that we all learn from one another, so going too research that now 🤓
Also, how bad is the smell when you go to change the pail? I think that is my concern, just have so many smell memories I would love to forget forever from a diaper pail haha
Thank you for sharing your thought about rehoming gifts! I have a hard time letting go of things I don’t use just because family has bought them for me. So I really need to hear that!
I have ubbi diaper trash can, and it keeps in smell really well, is high quality, and actually looks pretty cute. I know I will use it for all my babies, so I think it’s worth.
Ok that is good to know! thank you for letting us all know, bc esp in apartment situations it is tough to take a diaper to an outside trash all the time
@@girlteachmeyesss I’ve heard really good things about the ubbi and plus you don’t have to get specific liners for it, they fit normal kitchen trash bags
Very helpful, to the point, no fluffing. Got a lot of preparing to do and I APPRECIATED THIS quick and to the point delivery. Thanks girl!
Interesting perspective. Currently pregnant with baby #4 and I agree with some things, I am also not what you would consider a minimalist, so that could be why. One note I wanted to mention is nowadays, most insurance companies cover the cost of an electric breast pump, so I think it's worth it to take advantage of that if you can. If not, there are some amazing affordable electric breast pump options as well, I get your perspective, but that's really only realistic for SAHMs as well as not having bottles.
Pregnant with twins this is my 2nd pregnancy and I am definitely doing a minimalist style this time! I loved all your thoughts and opinions!
Same! I'm 34 wks now with twin boys and my family thinks I need double Everything! And that is not the case! I am trying so hard to keep it very minimal!!
Congratulations btw!
@@housefullofawesome thank u, Congratulations to u too ☺️
Whahoo that is amazing! So happy for you and yes I can't imagine how much stuff that would be to manage so I think you are smart going more minimal esp with two babies. Oh congrats what a blessing!
Wow yes double everything would be so intense! Excited for you and congrats!@@housefullofawesome
@@girlteachme 😊 thank you
yes! Most of these are so spot on! This could Help new moms so much because all those things clutter your space and mind and will make you stressed when you are tired. I do think bibs are needed for teething times. And I still have a monitor.
Also, i learned doing exclusive breastfeeding was so much easier (pumping gave me so many painful clogs). Having my husband wake up at night didn’t help because I would wake up anyway when baby cried or from leaking and needing to pump.
Really helpful! I'm 29 weeks pregnant and I've just been spending time looking online for things to buy for the baby. Thanks for your tips!
I agree so much. Things will not make us good parents or people. They just may or may not make our lives easier. Thanks for saying this. This is something I haven’t heard from any influencer moms so far. But a lot of expectant first-time parents needed to hear this, especially coming from a mom of four.
Loved this video! Im pregnant with #4 and even after bavy #3, there was so much that i decluttered and found was useless and didnt need.
Bibs however i needed for my first 2. They drooled so so much and changing the bib was easier than changing clothing
Yes! I loved the carters water resistant ones!
Yay for number 4! That is amazing and yes same everytime I got pregnant I was like why did I save this or that, I don't like it or never used it. So purging feels good, but also so many thoughts of why did I get this
Good to know!@@rebeccalacy2792
Pregnant with #4 as well. Will go over my baby boxes again now and be very realistic about what I used and need to keep. Last time, it was annoying to have so much so I cut down on tons and I can probably go even more minimal
This video was all that I needed . As a first time mum , currently in week 26, I wanted to find a video like this so I wouldn’t feel like I needed majority of the things you mentioned in the video. Am so much relieved now. My gust always wanted me to wait and I have been patiently waiting to get advice from ppl like you. Thank you once again. Really appreciated 🙏🏽
I love a baby monitor. It's really nice to see if the baby looks like he is going to fall back asleep. You don't want to go in there unless you have to!
Pregnant with my first due in 4 weeks currently and pretty happy with this list! I didn’t get the majority of these so far so I feel pretty good!! I put the UBBI diaper pail on my registry and I think it might be a good one! It’s steel so it doesn’t absorb smell like plastic does and you can use any bags with it which I really like so we’ll see if I made a good choice!
Love my ubbi! I’ve used it so far for 6 months and it’s great. It can’t be a little awkward to get full bags out but it’s worth it to me. Congratulations mama!
I agree, I have this as well and it is worth it.
Quite a few here that are hard necessities for me. Just keep in mind, if you enjoy these things and they make motherhood easier, get them! Just as we need to normalize minimalism, we should also normalize the mom that likes to have all the things! A solid diaper bag, monitor, swing, etc. are a must in my opinion.
Also-my son had pretty severe baby eczema. DEFINITELY speak to your pediatrician to make sure baby's skin has what it needs. to say no to oils, lotions etc. can absolutely do more harm than good. GREAT VIDEO THOUGH. Super helpful!!
Love your perspective. Being a mom is how you show up not what trinkets you buy. Great video!
So good to hear someone say that the mittens aren't helpful! I've been saying this for years.
How funny as a mom of soon to be 8 things I love are a good diaper bag.
Also I love burp cloths. The flannel and cloth diapers are what I use and LOVE!
Bamboo towels are the best for baby the hooded baby bamboo towel.
When she said no to Diaper Bags, I nearly fell over lol
I lov watching these videos bc it has helped me so much as a first time mom getting my registry ready. One thing I would love from these types of videos would be an example registry so I could kinda visualize all the good and what is recommended with links!
Ah that is a great idea! Here are some of my favorites organized together, but maybe in the future It would be good to have a downloadable registry to help mamas out. girlteachme.com/new-baby-favorites/
I've been so distracted by stuff. Your video really helped re-center me. Thank you will be buying your guide
I am currently pregnant with my third child. My two older girls were exclusively breastfed as I was fortunate enough to stop working after my first was born. I tried getting into a pumping routine with my first but did not like it nor did I feel it was necessary for me personally. I didn’t even pull out the electric breastpump at all for my second.
This is an excellent video, for someone who is very interested in early child development you were spot on with so many points & unnecessary products!! Less is definitely more w babies and often more beneficial for them, such as freedom of movement! ❤
This gal's got it right with the mindset change. I've been going crazy trying to navigate the hyper consumerism and fear-mongering-based marketing and it's exhausting!
This was super helpful to me; thank so much. Have also grabbed the freebie and it's so helpful. Currently 4.5 months and I'm still experiencing home sickness and your guide has helped me realise it's because I'm not eating breakfast. Fruits calm my MS down so will stock up on those. Thank you
Ah so sorry you are still feeling sick! That is the worst! And so glad the guide has been a help, that makes my day! Also, maybe add some protein if you can stomach it. A couple bites of a chomps beef stick seemed to level me out if I was starting to feel nauseous. Sending love your way!
Even when I had my first child I was a very practical mom and only buy necessary things. Love your video ❤
I like the blankets too. So multipurpose. Changing pad cover, towel, hankie. Imagination is the limit
You don't realise how much i needed this video. You said some things that i really needed to hear ❤
Ahhh thanks for pausing to encourage me! That is my goal, grateful God could use my words to help you! Sending love your way 💕
totally with you on the diapers! we registered for this really expensive diaper pail (ubbi I think?) and enjoying it was such a nightmare eventually we just started using plastic grocery bags. also, unrelated tip that's changed my life: if you wash baby (or adult!) socks in a mesh garment bag, they don't EVER get lost in the washing machine or stuck inside of other clothes, etc. it's made my life SO MUCH EASIER.
AH Genuis! I just threw a bunch of mismatched socks away today bc with 4 kids there are sooo many socks
What kind of utility bag are you using??? I’ve tried 3 different brands d of bags and the zippers all come undone in the wash or dryer! Ughhhh! I love the concept! The follow through just hasn’t been there yet!
@@brandywine4000 dollar tree carries mesh laundry bags of many sizes
Wow. Thank you for this INSIGHT! I appreciate you and this information.
Great video! Having my first in a few weeks and we live in a small apartment and do not want to much clutter. What was great was that since we are stationed on the other side of the country away from family, many people gave us gift cards. I am able to have more time to research and figure out what I need and do not need, Of course some people gave gifts and I am grateful for them, but now everything else that was on the registry I can reevaluate what I want to get.
Prepping to be a first time mommy. This was such a treat to watch.
I concur with everything on this list. With my second child I didn’t use most of these things except the swing for a few months and wipe warmers (which I did not always use but was helpful at night). I wish they would stop making so many gimmicky products for new moms.
Ah yes their are so many gimmicky products, but it is just preying on new mamas who don't know. And that breaks my heart, bc with my first money was super super tight, but I just didn't know. It is a marketing machine for sure!
In Montana a wipe warmer is helpful!
This video has been the most helpful one I’ve watch my whole pregnancy! Made me feel more confident in some of my decisions of things to not purchase/put on registry. You’re awesome! Gained a subscriber!
Thank you for mentioning especially the diaper genie. They are horrible!!!
They really are, a gal mentioned one made of stainless steel that is better. I am still nervous about that horrible smell of a week or more of dirty diapers that have fermented together 🤢 BUT she said it was way better
I agree with everything you mention on your video. I’m expecting baby #4 and I keep things minimal.
I used bibs more from 4 months to uhh even now sometimes for my almost 2 year old. She got teeth really early and was a big drooler. They saved our outfits. I stocked up on the cotton bandana ones that have a snap so they cant pull them off and the bandana look is super cute.
The bandana ones are so much cuter, I agree!
Love all the tips, and like the fact that you emphasized for certain items like the swing that some mommas may find it useful and some not. Great tips! A good suggestion I have received for the good to have items to wait it out with a list until the baby is here and procure depending on the needs of the baby. I am going to get the universal standard items that are needed like the car seat, stroller, diapers, a dresser (adult type) nothing baby like and in good solid wood so that it can be used when they are older. Same for other furniture that can fulfil the long term need for the child.
That sounds like a great plan. Thanks so much for watching, I'm glad you found it helpful ❤️
As a first time mom, this video was super helpful! My hubby and I live in a small space and I’ve been trying to embrace minimalist lately so I’ve been stressing over what I actually need versus is cool to have versus a waste of money. Will plan my registry accordingly
Great video, I have 2 and 100% agree with everything on your list. For teething I use Camelia Drops they work amazing.
18:56 thanks for that reminder! Stuff isn’t who you are. Thank you, I needed that wisdom!
I was in a walker as a baby and I didn’t have hip dysplasia or bowed legs. I walked at 9 months though and my mom swears it was from my legs being strengthened from the walker.
My babies also walked around the 9 month mark and I felt like it was due to the walker as well ...my middle child was actually pulling himself up and taking steps a 6/7 months
I had my first baby at 19 over 4 years ago and there was a lot I didn’t get because I just couldn’t afford to and didn’t have the space for. Activity center? Baby blankets. I loved having a baby carrier and later on I did get a cheap swing for my son which he hated so I gave it away after like 2 weeks. I thought wipe warmers were silly. They dry out your wipes and half the time you’re not changing them by the wipe warmer lol. Never used a burp cloth. I kept the clothes from my first boy to put on my second I’m 40 weeks with now. I didn’t use baby powder but I loved having an on hand zinc cream because if being naked to air dry the start of a rash wasn’t enough to make a diaper rash go away I loved how fast it got rid of the redness and irritation. My mom is an occupational therapist so I avoided certain toys like bouncers and walkers because she would inform me how they weren’t the best for development of milestones. My first refused bottles and pacifiers. This time I’ll return to work instead of being a sahm so I have to introduce a bottle this time but there was just a lot of stuff I didn’t have to use. So I agree with a lot of this
Wow I love that insight and yes so beautiful that while you didn't have all the options to get the best of the best in baby items, that you did showed up and loved your baby. I wish more women knew how little it takes to love our babies well. I think marketing preys on our insecurity as a mama to make us feel like we need so much, but it is really not true. WOW I am so excited for you mama praying for a smooth, beautiful birth for you!
@@girlteachme thank you so much! And this is very true. Babies need love and care more than all the fancy accessories. Consumerism and marketing definitely prey on mom’s who are just trying to love their babies and they feel like they must have all these things to prove it. Presence, not presents ❤️
This has been the best not only things not to buy video, but also a reflection for me. As a first time mama, I fell into the trap of buying so many things before birth and during postpartum (late night Amazon purchases 😅). Now that I’m pregnant with Baby #2, I know what works for our family and I relate to most of the things you mentioned.
Also, I laughed out loud when you mentioned how stinky the diaper genie gets. We’re currently still using ours for our first baby and the odor is HORRENDOUS. And those liners just add up in finances. Planning to get rid of it soon and considering the Uppi Diaper Pail like some other mamas recommended. 😊
gracious isn't that smell so special, you only know if you know. And YES, so incredibly glad that this video was helpful for you. That makes my day! Sending love and prayers your way baby #2! Excited for you!
Most helpful video that I’ve seen. There has been many videos called “minimalist newborn list” and they are not minimalist at all…..
Expecting baby number #4 and I absolutely LOVE this video!
Thank you!!!
I love baby towels for my kids BUT you have to make sure it’s terry cloth. A lot of baby towels are micro fiber and they don’t absorb ANYTHING! Target has terry cloth baby towels by Cloud Island ❤. I agree with everything else you said though
This is super helpful being a first time mama and wanting to make sure I have what I really need and just not unnecessary items. So thank you. Question regarding bottle supplies and gear etc. would you say a bottle sterilizer is really needed? Or would you say washing bottles in a dishwasher does the same thing? I am really unsure of if I should be asking for the dr browns bottle sterilizer on my registry for my first baby. I’m so new to all this. Thank you
I have only done bottles with my first when I worked, so maybe some more experienced mamas in this area will jump in. But I just did a free and clear soap and hot water. I am so happy for you! Becoming a mama is such a gift! 😘
Thank you! You mentioned filing the nails down. Been trying to find a good way to go about it, I absolutely hate the slippers so thinking file be better yes
Yes, filing is gentle and takes away the fear some have about clipping babies nails but also helps to avoid any accidents. Good luck!
As a gerd baby mom - burp cloths were a necessity. I never would have had enough muslin blankets to clean up all that reflux spitup. And if you plan on going back to work you'll need a pump if you plan on also breastfeeding. So obviously YMMV with this video.
Things have come really handy for us (baby is 6 months now) - white noise machine tops the list, crib (it can be modified later but so far very helpful), a hanging toy above crib which our baby loves to watch, baby swayer (it’s like bouncer but sways instead)-very useful when I want to eat or just relax, bottle steriliser. My mom stitched his clothes, I knit the cap and booties. Bought some clothes too but got many of them as gift so I have stopped buying clothes for him. Other than this haven’t really needed anything else.
We don’t have good private streets here so I didn’t find a pram/stroller useful.
Btw, we have diaper free hours during the day, which means I keep him in his cotton undies and change them when he pees .. it keeps him rash free . My mom says it helps them with pee control from young age. It takes some effort but if it’s feasible for you and if weather isn’t too cold , try it.
Oh man so much information 😮💨 I’m a first time mom and man I need to rewatch with a note book
Remember that every baby is different and that stores don't close once baby is born. If you need something you didn't get, you can buy it then
This is so specific to your needs. No first time mom should follow most of this. You never know what you are going to need. You are establishing what your needs are as a momma. This is good if you have a few kids and know what you typically need.
This is also the second video that says babies don’t need much for their skin. Another mom specific thing. You don’t know till you have your little one. Most kids with lots of melanin need moisturizer. It’s always good to have a good natural oil on hand which is one of the best things for cradle cap and little dry ankles or flaking facial skin.
People please. First time mommas. Put it all on the registry till you know your needs. Then for your next baby make these kinds of decisions
Totally agree! There are must haves which are standard no matter the kind of mom or baby like car seat, stroller, diapers. The rest really depends on the child and the environment, e.g. for fall/ autumn babies the needs may be different. I agree with some good to have items like the massage oil, most likely it will help the baby stay calm and it's good for their growing organs, bones, muscles. I am going to have my little one in October and I think it's best to put off most of the things until the baby is here and based on the needs to purchase at the time. Also, consult your own mom, mil, midwife and take what makes sense to you. A list is a great start with some details and links and once the baby is here, the items can be easily procured in today's time. A lot of people also mentioned having very little space, living in an apartment, good place to start would be to declutter, sell and/ or donate items not being utilized to create space and have peace.
Might be the best video I’ve seen so far for a first time mom, thank you!!!
I only used a diaper warmer because 1. It was given to me. but 2. It was the middle of winter in a poorly insulated house. We only used it at night.
Ok.
The things I am still getting on this list.
1. Baby monitor. I hate to hear the sound of crying and get to a sleeping baby. So baby monitor comes in handy for me to make sure I need to make the trip to the bedroom. I am in the kitchen cooking, outside hanging clothes, in the garden or taking a bath and checking on my baby when I need to is nice. I have never continously hovered over the monitor, so I am good with it.
2. Baby bottle and electric pump. On my first I breastfed and pumped a lot cause night time feeds were exclusively for my husband as that was their bonding time. So we need those bottles and pump still. The manual one would be too exhausting and I now plan on getting the new wearable ones that I can use even when cooking. As for price, the previous one was a cheaper unknown brand that I used without any problems, so I will get whatever my money can buy.
3. Bibs. 2-5 minutes after every burp there was a throw up. And teething drool started at 3 months. So bibs are a no brainer here.
4. Mittens. Not only helped with scratches but also used thicker ones for warmth. And even socks had to go inside the rompers on very cold days. There is no such thing as central heating where we live😂.
The rest of the stuff, I never even considered on my first and won't even now.
Interesting how each baby has different needs so I can't say never on anything.
I loved dressing my baby up it helped With PPD.
Yes, a dressed up baby is worth its weight in therapy. I'm expecting #4 and disagreed with a few of her recommendations. But her point is great. You need a lot less than you think, even if the exact things you don't need aren't the same as what she says
With my 4th baby I did buy manual breast pump ( on ebay , check out how many unused baby items in there ) and 2 bottles just in case. I did pump few times to have some milk in the freezer if I will need to use in emergency case but we never did. So will not be buying it with baby #5. Also I didnt buy formula either. I took 3-4 different samples from our pediatrician clinic to check if she would like it , so I could buy 1 box to keep in the cupboard but she didnt accept any of them. So do not waste your money buying full size baby formula, get few free samples while pregnant. Another thing is baby bath. I bathed my baby in the sink when we were staying in hotel and works fine. So if you have ok size sink in your bathroom or kitchen , you do not need bulky baby bath at all. After 6 months they do not need it anyway.
Yes my grandma gave my kids their first baths and she always cleaned the kitchen sink and did it in there, I am glad she showed me that bc I knew there was another way when we were in seasons where a baby bath tub took up too much space in our small house. Glad you left your thoughts, I know they can be helpful to another mama ❤️
I used and loved a baby bath for my 3 kids. I actually put the bath into the kitchen sink so they had support while in there. Little ones are so slippery! I'm thinking to maybe get a smaller option or just a sling type for #4 because that thing (still have it!) is so bulky
As a mother of 3, expecting number 4, I agree with everything except bibs (I just have a few), clothes for the firsts months (my case, premature and very small baby so they use NB and 3M for months!!), the electric pump (again, long nicu stay) and pacifier, I NEED IT, but maybe wait until you see which one your baby likes and then buy it…
Good wisdom! 😘 thank you for sharing your experience, I know this comment will be a help for another mama.
I dont get the nursery thing they are meant to stay with you anyway at first. Better off saving making a special room for them when they are older and can choose what they'd like with you.
A nursery is so lovely in pictures, but truly not necessary. I have enjoyed keeping my babies close too, they are such a joy and grow so fast. ❤️
@@girlteachme so true! whats the rush!
One of greatest blessings was rehoming our precious baby's items ❤️
I used a lot of burp wipes, it was so nice to put a small cloth under my babys head so if he had any spit ups in his bassinet, stroller or swing, i didnt need to replace a whole entire cover.
Wet wipes warmer, I LOOOVED mine. My kiddo was born in January. I used it in our bedroom, mostly during the night, it was nice because it wouldnt wake him up, and used regular wipes when we were downstairs during the day. When he was older and didnt need night time diaper changes, i just kept it unplugged because it worked as a great weight, so i didnt need 2 hands to pull out wipes. A lot of people think its a waste, but i absolutely loved mine.
Baby towels suck. They're too small. The only one that I saw in normal size is the copper pearl brand, but i dont know how absorbent they are, i havent tried them myself. Any other brand, is not worth it.
Avocado slicer is not only really needed for the nut part, so you dont cut yourself.
Definitely not buying baby furniture except crib, which for the second baby my sister is giving me hers.
Im getting a baby monitor, I sleep much better knowing ill hear my kiddo crying than always having to wonder if hes actually crying. Phanthom crying is legit and I hate it.
My kid drooled all over the place, not just spit. Bibs were my life savers.
I had a lot of baby creams in every diaper changing corner, but i only used any creams, lotions, all of that, i only used when really necessary.
Baby crib bumper thing, I used the mesh one because my kiddo would get his hands stuck between the slats.
I never had a diaper geanie but im planning to try out the diaper pail that uses regular diaper bags. With my first kiddo i used doggy bags to tie diaper bags so they dont stink.
I got the graco swing for my kiddo, and he LOOOVED it. He tried the mamaroo like 3 times and HATED it. Im so glad i didnt buy it for him.
I’m having my first baby and my sisters and cousin who’s had their baby months before me are just giving me all their lightly used and unused baby stuff so basically everything is marked off my baby registry besides a car seat and stroller which they are still using themselves, so basically I don’t have to buy anything cause my sisters just want to get the stuff out of their houses so I’ll be receiving baby diapers and cloths that my sisters kid grew out of quickly and she has boxes and boxes of diapers and cloths for different ages and so my sisters and cousin are saving me thousands just by giving me this stuff which helps a lot and I do let them know that, we’re a pretty close knit family so my sisters know what I like and what I’ll be looking for so I don’t have to worry about them giving me anything I don’t like or won’t use. Anyway I do like your video it is very helpful and I’ll be passing it on to another sister of mine who I just found out is also expecting her first, and this will be very helpful knowledge for her since pregnancy is overwhelming at times.
You’re so genuine it was empowering to listen to you ❤
First time mom here and this was so helpful! I’m going back to reduce my registry
Wow i love this video. You've completely convinced me that i really dont need some of the things i put on my registry. But it makes complete logical sense. Thank you for sharing youre thoughts and reasonings. ❤
Ah so glad it was a help to you! That makes my day!
Better to get less, you can always buy it later if you feel like you do need it.
I think baby bibs are essential for when they start eating solids - 6m+ - I like the silicone catcher bibs. Been using the same 2 for 3 years now! Perfect for pasta / noodles / rice
Totally agree on the clothes. My daughter was born in the spring (and Covid) so we were always home and never needed to dress up. A diaper and a t shirt worked great! Lol
I felt so heard when you talked about the pacifiers. My first had latch issues as a premie and I had to pump and bottle feed and work diligently to get her to breastfeed. It was awful. I decided to wait the 6 weeks to introduce a pacifier because I didnt want to ruin our breastfeeding progress. By the time I introduced the paci she had zero interest in it. Thats when I decided we really dont need one.
But my second is a thumb sucker. The Dr advised that she might need braces if it goes on too long, but she might need braces anyway.
Thank you for being honest about your experience.
So nice to hear you talking about this. I’ve started to feel overwhelmed with everything happening around me and the pressure of gazillion decisions about things I didn’t even care about.
Bibs definitely saved me during Teething time ! Was like a tap and saved from lots of washing and rashes
My kid was the Queen of droolers for months. So bibs were a MUST! She flew threw so many bibs in a day! Also, my daughter never latched so I was an exclusive pumpers. I actually regret getting the free pink spectra off of insurance and not putting in the extra money for the blue version.
Wow that does sound like you needed bibs! Yes if you are exclusively pumping then I would really pour some cash into making that the best experience possible for sure. That is a big job and I admire my friends who have done that, bc it is a commitment ❤
By your 5th baby do you really need to buy anything I mean you have stuff from the other four. Genuine question.
It is a really good question and one reason I hesitated making this video, but honestly you wouldn't believe how much I OVER spent the first time and now with time I see what was really necessary. It is just so HARD to know that from the beginning bc it is a new job and it is easy to get marketed to. So that was my hope to just speak from an angle of helping a first or even second time mama save money. AND you wouldn't believe how much changes from one pregnancy to another with new gadgets that come out, it's wild.
@@girlteachmeI’m glad you decided to make the video! I’m about to become a first time mom in 3 weeks or less (it’s baby’s call now!) and it’s taken loads of financial and general stress off of me. I mean, our ancestors raised us with much much less, we should be fine without most of these things, right? ☺️ Hope you’re having a wonderful day.
Things break. Clothes stain, and get worn out. Babies are born in different seasons. I'm expecting #4 and only need a few things like a new car seat, a new haaka, and maybe a couple burp cloths. Once baby gets here, there's the consumables that you need new ones of (diapers, wipes, rash cream, lotions gripe water etc.) It gets less and less each time
agree with basically all of these! less physical clutter means less mental clutter
On baby #2. I’m not doing a baby monitor or pacifiers either. Didn’t do them with my first….the monitor has always just been unnecessary because of house size (now in a small townhouse) and there’s no way we couldn’t hear baby. Pacifiers, to each their own, I just prefer not having one more thing to buy, sanitize, and wean off of. I actually didn’t even do bottles with my first- he exclusively breastfed. I would’ve loved to have the option because I felt SO touched out all of the time, he just wasn’t feeling it…..will be doing bottles this time (glass only) but still not binkies.
Not doing a crib. Just got a bedside sleeper with a drop wall that doubles as a pack n play as she grows. Not doing a walker, they freak me out. Wipe warmers were always a no go for me. Just jam a few wipes in your bra first if you so choose.
One thing I am doing very differently is cloth diapering this time! We’re doing the laundry anyway, and I don’t want to worry about buying diapers. I’ll buy them once and be done.
Also will be making our own baby food this time- so I did invest in a steamer that doubles as a sanitizer/warmer.
I’m a c-section mama, so one thing I WILL be investing in are some aftercare products for myself, like cooling pads/liners and scar patches.
I agree with so many things on this list! It’s amazing how we figure out what we need and what’s just fluff!
Yes I get the touched out thing, that is very REAL. And yes that is tricky with multiple floors to be able to hear the baby. I have always had one floor so great point 🙌
Yes, I only hot a monitor with #3 when we moved to the larger house. He also cried super quietly and I often wouldn't hear him. I started running to check him every few minutes and couldn't get anything done. It's definitely not a necessity but it's really handy if the situation is right
Could you share where you bought some of the kids clothes with simple patterns? 🙂
Well my favorite person went out of business which is so sad! Jamie Kay's are cute and so are Quincy May. They are a bit pricey so just getting a couple of simple staple pieces seemed to just make me smile and were beautiful in pictures.
If you look out for it, they are everywhere. Even Walmart, target, old navy and h&m have stunning simple or neutral baby clothes
The Baby Stuff gig is a huge money maker. My sister always jokes about How did Cave Babies survive without a wipes warmer?
I love that after birthing and mothering multiple children we all have preferences. The best advice I ever got in accordance with motherhood was to listen to all the advice and suggestions everyone offers, take what you like, toss what you don’t, and use what’s left. We have the ultimate veto power when it comes to our own child(ren.)
I hated the diaper genie as well-I have a hypersensitive sense of smell that thing was atrocious! I’ll soon have a new baby full time in my home and another often visiting. (This time around they will be my grandchildren.) I’ll have to insist all diapers are taken out after changes that day-not just on my account but also due to the dogs! I hated the walkers and jumpers, some of the carriers, but loved my bedside sleeper and medela pump and Avent bottles with the orthodontic nipples. They were HARD to find!!!
Love the idea of forwarding unneeded gifts
For my first I mainly bought clothing for 6-12m, but it was just my luck that she was size 0-3 until she was 9m 😂. ❤
Im expecting #4 and also try to be minimal. While i disagree with many of the things on your list, what boggles my mind is how many people buy things for vaby up to a year or 2 of age - before they are even born! I only buy what i need for the first 2 weeks before i give birth and the rest i buy as needed. Much easier to see what you really actually need when youre almost in that stage vs before even having a baby at all
they only thing besides a carseat and bassinet that im getting ahead of time is preemie clothes. i learned my lesson the first 2 times that i have very small babies and they were born 1-3 weeks early. so im expecting my 3rd to be about a month early and probably 4.5-5lbs and its just because of genetics. but finding preemie clothes is TOUGH so ordering online ahead of time :)
I had the opposite. My babies are born average but get huge super fast. My mother in law buys a couple very expensive pieces for each baby and I begged her to get bigger sizes. She finally listened to me by #3 but still sent one tiny one. She lives in another country and till it got here, it didn't even fit anymore. What a waste
New to your channel! Off topic, but I'd love to see some of your cast iron skillet recipes! Looked so yummy!
Ah that would be fun! I will add that to the list ❤ thank you for the idea
For a diaper pail I highly recommended the Ubbi
I agree with looking for functional items first, how i see it is I imagine what will I be doing ( baby is on the way) during the day and what are the tools that can make my new life easier, for instance we got some teething toys that you can fill with fruit or freeze , so the Bebe can chew and gets some stimulation from it too etc.
100000% agree with the diper genie and the wipe warmer.
Right!!!
The swing was a life saver until they were almost one. My kids loved to nap in it. And bay wearing, NO! not for us. I need time do stuff for me and other chores
The swing really is a lifesaver for me too, my back needs a break and it really replicates the movement of the womb, so yes I agree ❤️
Yes, swing is a must. What's not a must is getting a $500 one. Got one for free off our neighborhood freebie chat after the one I used for the first 2 kids broke (that one was under $100) and I'll be using it again this spring with baby #4.
The diaper geni is a surprise. Im taking it off my registry now but def concerned about the diaper situation. I guess we will see how we do without first!
Never had a diaper pail. 3 kids so far...the stinky ones go in a bag I save to reuse from the grocery store in the regular trash can