A minimalist shopping list for newborns

Almost every newborn list is written by someone selling something. This is the short version: what we actually used, and what we would skip.

Sleeping

1. A cradle. Ours hung from the ceiling, which comes with a built-in perk — whenever the baby moves, the cradle moves, and she often settled herself. It does not fall down; babies are not that heavy. If you plan to co-sleep you can skip it, but we liked having one place for naps, day and night. One-time expense.

Nappies and changing

2. Nappies. Three routes: cloth and reusable, more sustainable disposables, or elimination communication from day one. We wanted the first or third and ended up with the second, for reasons that fill their own post. French, Scandinavian or local brands were the best of what we found. Recurring expense.

3. A changing mat. Waterproof, and it prevents a surprising amount of mess. Ours was borrowed from neighbours who had finished having children and told us to keep it. Free.

4. A changing station. We converted a movable desk — a fair metaphor for the change in job and obligations. Free.

5. Bags for used nappies. They do not smell much at first; that escalates once food arrives. We worked through the stash already in the cupboards, which doubled as a decluttering exercise.

If you go with cloth nappies or elimination communication, items 3, 4 and 5 are largely unnecessary.

Feeding

6. A colic-free bottle. Only if you intend to bottle feed alongside breastfeeding. I came to regret ours; friends find theirs invaluable, because a partner can feed and the mother can step away. It is useful later for water, after six months, or for mixing probiotics. One-time expense.

7. Milk storage bags. For pumped milk. I still have five or six kilos of expired breast milk in the freezer and a list of unfulfilled recipes for turning it into soap. Recurring expense, optional.

Going out

8. A carrier. We started with a wrap scarf and moved to a structured carrier, then never went back. One-time expense.

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9. Chamomile suppositories. 10. An all-purpose nipple cream. 11. An onion. Halved, left in the room overnight — an old remedy for a blocked nose that costs nothing to try.

Later on

Barefoot shoes. A scooter or bike. Water bottles. Remote controls — the real ones, because the toy versions are never convincing.