$1708.63.
That’s how much it would cost if you got the cheapest of everything on a typical baby-must-haves for first-time moms list.
No really - I Googled “baby essentials,” copied that list of baby necessities, went on Amazon, checked for the lowest price of each thing, and added it all together.
$861.01.
That’s the actual amount I spent on things from my minimalist baby registry that included the absolute bare minimum baby essentials, and, as any other first-time mother would want, a few extra nice-to-have things.
What’s truly priceless?
Being 100% happy with every item I purchased for my little one, including going premium where it mattered.
In other words, having the baby budget to provide for everything our son needed without sacrificing or compromising on anything.
Also, less clutter was a huge added bonus.
Now that the first year has passed, I can reflect on what I believe to be the ideal list of things you need for a new baby.
Disclosure: Opinions expressed are our own. If you buy something through any of our affiliate links on this page, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting our site.
Jump to:
- My best baby purchases
- Baby necessities
- Pregnancy
- Clothing
- Nursery
- Bathing or Changing
- Nursing/Feeding
- Big-Ticket Items
- Baby "essentials" that didn’t make our cut
- What do I need to buy for a baby before it arrives
- Where to buy baby things for cheaper
- How to get good deals on new baby stuff
- Checklist of baby necessities
- Conclusion
In this post, you’ll find:
- My top picks for the best baby purchases
- A checklist of newborn essentials and practical extras, with details on quantities and best places to buy
- Tips on where to buy baby things cheap and how to snag the best deals
My best baby purchases
When it came to buying stuff for my new baby, I did an insane amount of research because I wanted it all: to get quality products that offered the best features for my baby, all while clocking in under budget.
To start off this post, I wanted to highlight the baby purchases where I got the biggest bang for my baby bucks in regards to:
- Quality
- Price, compared to what else is out there
- Actual/frequent use
Infant car seat
This was one of our premium purchases because we didn’t want to skimp when it came to car safety. But premium doesn’t mean we had to spend a boatload of money on it.
We picked this particular one* because:
- it had good reviews
- it was at a price that didn’t break the bank
- we'd get good mileage out of it, since it can be used as a rear-facing seat during infancy, converted to a front-facing seat, then still be used as a booster seat after that
Pack n play
This served a dual purpose. First and foremost, we wanted a temporary sleeping space for our son that was close to but not in our bed.
I had a complicated delivery that made me virtually bedridden for 8 weeks and this made it much more convenient than the crib.
Second, it served its main purpose as a playpen and makeshift sleeping area if we weren’t at home.
At a price point that was the same as or even cheaper than other bedding alternatives but with way more functionality, choosing this option* was a no-brainer for us.
Stroller
Some parents go without strollers. But since we went on daily walks with our son, it was a good investment for us.
We chose this specific model*, which came in under $100, because it could be used from newborn to a couple years of age.
This was way better than the suggestion that other lists make of having two separate strollers, one where the infant car seat snaps in, and then another umbrella stroller for when your baby is older.
Having only one stroller was a lot cheaper, and meant there was one less bulky baby item to store.
We didn’t think the feature of being able to snap in the car seat was that important.
If you’re worried about waking the baby up when taking him or her out of the car seat, we’ve found that for the most part, babies are deep sleepers so they probably won’t notice and just sleep through it.
And once they learn to walk, let them make it a habit to. It’s good for their legs.
Cloth diapers
At first, my husband was really hesitant about cloth diapering, but agreed to try it a few weeks in.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t anywhere near as difficult as we imagined it to be and we’ve stuck with it since. We simply use cloth diapers at home, while switching to disposables for outings and nighttime.
Parents spend an average of $30 per month on diapers, or $360 a year. We ended up spending about $225 total on both reusable cloth* and disposable diapers* for all the diapers my first son used.
That’s about $500 we saved.
Regardless of whichever system you use, be sure to check out we got cheap diapers for our kids.
Baby necessities
In this section, we’ll go through major categories of common baby items and share these key details:
- What is essential
- How many you should purchase & why
- Tips to pay less for things that baby needs
We've created a visual catalog of of all these newborn must-haves on Amazon.com*.
You can also click the individual links in each table below to be directed straight to the products. Some items are marked as optional, but are highly recommended because they'll make your life easier.
First, here's a summary of costs by category.
Estimated Budget | Category |
$100-$200 | PREGNANCY |
$100-$250 | CLOTHING |
$500-1000 | NURSERY |
$200-$1000 | BATHING/CHANGING |
$200-$1000 | NURSING/FEEDING |
$200-$1500 | MISCELLANEOUS |
$1300-$4450 | ESTIMATED FINAL BUDGET FOR EVERYTHING** |
**This is a very general estimate and meant to give a reasonable estimate for most expecting mothers. It is definitely possible to come in under this amount (and kudos if you do!).
Pregnancy
Growing a baby takes a lot of resources and energy. Mama should be at optimal health and comfort during this important stage.
The main tip here is to try to purchase items that can be used beyond pregnancy.
For example, choose bras that will provide support during pregnancy but which will also be suitable for nursing.
Quantity | Item | |
Category: | PREGNANCY | |
1-2 bottles | Prenatal vitamins* | |
2-3 | Nursing bras with support* | |
Maternity clothes | ||
1-2 pairs | Comfortable shoes* | |
1 bottle | Body cream* (for stretch mark relief) | |
1 | What to Expect When You're Expecting* book (optional) | |
$100-$200 | ESTIMATED TOTAL |
Clothing
People love buying cute little baby clothes, so get ready to receive a whole bunch of gifted outfits.
For this very reason, don’t buy any infant clothes because you’re likely to get more than you need as gifts.
If you do end up needing to buy newborn clothing essentials, go for second-hand stuff because your itty bitty one won’t stay that tiny for long.
Quantity | Item |
Category: | CLOTHING (get secondhand as much as you can) |
4-8 | Onesies, 0-6 months |
4-8 | Onesies, 6-9 months |
4-8 | Onesies, 9-12 months (can also offset with shirts) |
4-8 | Onesies, 12-18 months (offset or replace with shirts) |
4-8 | Pants, 6-12 months |
4-8 | Pants, 12-18 months |
1-3 | Rompers/dress-up outfits |
4-6 pairs | Socks/booties |
3-6 | Hats |
1-3 | Sweaters/jackets |
3-4 | Pajamas (1-piece) |
1-2 | Winter wear (blanket sleeper*, fleece suit) |
$100-$250 | ESTIMATED TOTAL |
How many baby clothes do I need in each size
For most people, 4-8 outfits should be fine, though I’d recommend going for larger sizes in the early stages.
Babies grow very quickly, especially in the first couple of months, so it’s better to have clothes they can grow into.
Also, there is no rhyme or reason to sizing so physically match the clothing to your baby when choosing the size, instead of relying solely on the tags.
Nursery
Purchasing your crib or bedding product brand-new and registering it promptly with the manufacturer increases your chances of being notified should there be a recall.
If you purchase your item used or pre-owned, there is a risk that you won’t be informed of a recall, or that you won’t qualify for a replacement product.
We ultimately decided to get our son’s bedding items used, including the crib, mattresses, waterproof protectors, and bedsheets.
We felt comfortable doing so because we thoroughly investigated the recall information of the model that we purchased, and the lady who sold the set to us said it was never used (her son took to co-sleeping right from the start).
You decide what you want to do at your discretion.
Since nursery items are a bit pricier than stuff from the other categories, being selective here will save you a bunch of money.
If the baby is going to be in your bedroom instead of a separate nursery, you can probably cross off quite a few of the items on this checklist.
As for the every-popular baby monitor, we don’t think it is necessary if you can hear sounds from the baby room. We live in a small one-story, and therefore opted to not get one.
Quantity | Item |
Category: | NURSERY |
1 | Crib* |
1-2 | Crib mattress* |
2 | Waterproof pads* |
2 | Fitted sheets* |
1 | Pack n play playard* |
3 | Receiving blankets |
1-2 | Heavier blankets |
1 | Baby monitor (optional) |
1 | Foam mat* |
1 | Area rug (optional if bedroom/play area is carpeted) |
$500-1000 | ESTIMATED TOTAL |
Bathing or Changing
There are lots of ways to get diapers on the cheap. Amazon’s Subscribe and Save option* is a cost-effective way to get disposable ones.
We went with cloth diapers and saved a bundle. If you’re open to doing the same, Amazon has some budget-friendly options for cloth diapers* as well.
Quantity | Item |
Category: | BATHING/CHANGING |
20 | Cloth diapers* |
40 | Cloth diaper inserts* |
Disposable diapers* | |
1 | Changing pad (or use blanket, towel) |
Baby wipes* | |
2 | Towels |
1 | Diaper bag |
2 | Baby wash* |
1 | Diaper rash cream* |
1 | Bath tub |
1 | Potty trainer* and/or toilet seat ring* |
6-12 | Washcloths |
$200-$1000 | ESTIMATED TOTAL |
Nursing/Feeding
I decided to go brand new-only on anything that was gonna go into my baby’s mouth. I got most of my feeding gear as free baby samples, but Amazon offers good prices for any of the items from this category if you do need to buy.
There is one exception to the Amazon-is-probably-cheapest rule: formula. First, sign up for rewards programs (Similac and Enfamil are the two I have personally used) if you haven’t already.
Then, buy your formula from the store so you can apply manufacturer’s coupons. You’ll get tons of from those free rewards programs.
Nipple cream* was something I paid a little more for to have organic, as I knew my baby would naturally end up ingesting it.
As for solid food, we introduced them at about 4-5 months. We only used the pre-made baby food packs if we got them as gifts. Otherwise, we basically threw fresh produce into a food processor* to make our own baby food.
Quantity | Item |
Category: | NURSING/FEEDING |
If nursing: | |
1 | Breast pump (insurance may cover) |
4-8 | Milk storage containers* (reusable ones or buy feeding bottles with caps) |
2-3 | Nursing bras* (get ones that will work from maternity through nursing) |
12 | Nursing pads* |
1 | Nursing pillow* |
1-2 | Nursing cover* |
1-2 | Nipple cream* |
4-8 | Baby bottles* (if bottle feeding) |
If feeding formula: | |
Formula (sign up for rewards programs to get free samples and coupons) | |
4-10 | Baby bottles* |
2-3 | Extra bottle nipples |
2 | Bottle brush |
When eating solids: | |
Baby food (make at home) | |
2-3 | Burp cloths |
2-3 | Bibs |
2-3 | Small, soft utensils |
2-3 | Plastic bowls* |
1 | Booster seat* |
$200-$1000 | ESTIMATED TOTAL |
Big-Ticket Items
These are the more expensive necessities that you really can’t get away with not buying, like a stroller and car seat. Since these bigger items are gonna cost you, be sure to check out our tips below on how to get good deals on baby stuff.
Quantity | Item |
Category: | MISCELLANEOUS |
1 | Stroller* |
1 | Car seat* |
3 | Car shades* |
1 | Baby carrier* (optional) |
1 | Baby rocker* (optional) |
Toys (get used) | |
Outlet covers* | |
1 | What to Expect in the First Year* (optional) |
$200-$1500 | ESTIMATED TOTAL |
Baby "essentials" that didn’t make our cut
There are tons of baby items that sound like necessities, but they really aren’t that vital. With a little creativity, you can find other substitutes that will function just as fine. Don’t pay that baby markup if you don’t have to.
Mittens: We cut our baby’s fingernails often enough, usually when he was asleep, that he barely needed these. On the rare occasion, we just used socks as makeshift mittens.
Dresser: We donated some of our own clothes to free up dresser space, and then put his most used articles of clothing in free storage organization cubes* that we got as a gift, so we didn’t need a dresser.
Changing table: Beds and sofas worked perfectly fine as a surface to change the baby on.
Diaper pail and liners: Not sure why you need a separate trash can just for diapers. The smell isn’t bad if you wrap the diaper tightly and throw out the trash regularly.
Baby shampoo: We used body wash for our son’s hair. One less item to buy and take up space in our bathroom.
Gentle laundry detergent: We used regular detergent and had no problems at all.
If you’re concerned about your baby’s sensitivity, toss one piece of clothing with your regular laundry and see if your child’s skin has any reaction. If not, then there’s no need to separate the baby's clothes from everyone elses - so much more convenient!
Pacifiers: Since I had problems breastfeeding, I didn’t use a pacifier at all because I wanted to prevent any nipple confusion. Even if the next kid doesn’t have feeding issues, I don’t think I’ll go with a pacifier since our son did fine without one.
What do I need to buy for a baby before it arrives
If you just want to know which newborn necessities are absolutely critical to have by the time baby is born, there are only five:
- Car seat*
- A place for baby to sleep*
- Some clothes
- Some diapers (reusable cloth* or disposable ones*)
- Formula (if you do not plan to breastfeed)
Where to buy baby things for cheaper
For used items, Craigslist or apps like Decluttr* and Letgo are best, since you can meet up with the seller and have a look at the item’s quality before you make the purchase.
For brand-new stuff, I basically stuck to Amazon and Target before my baby was born so I could take advantage of my baby registry benefits.
For extra things that we needed after my son came along, I mainly stuck to Target for several reasons:
- I got my item immediately (rather than waiting for Amazon’s shipping)
- Target runs lots of promotions for baby items
- I got 5% back with Target’s RedCard*
- It was easy to return the item if I ended up not needing it after all
How to get good deals on new baby stuff
Tip 1. Choose multipurpose baby items
The smartest way to save is to buy one thing that can serve many functions. Multipurpose items that will last from infancy into childhood are the biggest money savers. Here are some things that fit this description:
- Baby crib* that can be converted to toddler bed
- Car seat* that is rear-facing for infants, then becomes booster seat for kids
- Stroller* with fold-back seats that are flat for babies and upright for toddlers
- Rocker* that infants can lay in, that later converts to a seat for a toddler
- Toys for different levels of development
Tip 2. Save it all up for the baby registry discount
Most baby registries will let you buy anything remaining on your list at 10-15% off.
If you are able to plan it out right, buying everything you need in your first year using that registry completion discount can result in big savings.
Tip 3. Wait until promo days for Target gift cards
Target regularly runs promotions where you can spend $x to get a $x gift card, which I always took advantage of. Since I was gonna be buying stuff at Target anyway, why not get it for less?
Tip 4. Using cashback sites
If you plan to buy online, be sure to stop by Rakuten* first so you don’t miss out on free cashback. Rakuten gets a commission for listing retailers on their site, but they split that commission with you!
Simply log in at Rakuten, click on the store you want to shop at, and you’ll automatically be awarded cashback if you end up buying something that qualifies for the reward.
Rakuten is 100% free to use, and I’ve saved so much through them.
If you’re a first-time user, snag a $10 welcome bonus!
Tip 5. Super easy coupon stacking
If I’m at Target, my favorite coupon stacking store, I like to use manufacturer coupons (like the ones you get from your free Target baby registry*) along with the Target Circle app (formerly called Cartwheel) to double up on savings.
If it coincides with promo days for gift cards (see tip #3 above), that’s the cherry on top.
Tip 6. Save purchases for Christmas time
In addition to stores having excellent sales, it’s also the perfect opportunity for friends and family to get you the things you need for your baby.
Checklist of baby necessities
Grab our free convenient list of things needed for a newborn. Simply scroll past the preview image to find the link to save your own copy.
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Conclusion
Start your growing family’s finances on the right foot by focusing on baby necessities. Get the list of things you need for a new baby with the bare minimum baby essentials plus the practical extras from an experienced, money-savvy mom.
Stick to a minimalist baby registry of baby must-haves for first-time moms so you give your newborn the quality of life they deserve without it breaking your bank.
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