How We Live a Minimalist Lifestyle (as best we can)
Prior to our life with a baby, we found ourselves a home with space for everything we hoped to have (space for living/entertaining, contained kitchen, 2+ bedrooms so we could house guests, office space, and 2+ bathrooms). We’re so glad we found a not-too-large place that checked these boxes, as maintaining a home of this size is a lot more manageable for us and helps us avoid unused things, like extra rooms or a rarely used stored items. I furnished and brought in decorations that would complement our home without overwhelming it, and we regularly move things around and donate what’s no longer serving our family as it should.
When we found out I was pregnant, we started prepping for what our lives might look like, searching for tools that matched our needs and making sure we stocked up on items that might be needed as soon as our little one arrived. In that mindset, it’s so easy to start seeing everything as absolutely necessary, so we tried our hardest to only get and hang onto the essentials and nothing else.
Everyone’s lists of needed baby items looks different, and ours has changed many times over, but we found a couple things really helpful. She slept in her travel bassinet for the first four months, for example, as it allowed her to stay in our bedroom and eliminated the need for another piece of more permanent furniture. We also didn’t stock up on disposable diapers, because we had committed to cloth diapering and didn’t want to succumb to what was, according to many, the easier option (side note: I highly doubt it would have been any easier for us to go with disposables since we use a diaper service).
Onesies and the like aside, here are the items that were essential to making our life with a newborn easier, happier, and healthier overall:
CLOTHING
Zutano booties, 0-3mo
Knee socks — because no one has time for pants with how often newborns eliminate
Swaddle UP Original, small (x2)
Swaddle UP 50/50, medium (x2)
FEEDING
Caddy for nursing supplies
Haakaa pump with suction base and lid
Comotomo baby bottle, 5oz (x2)
Spectra pump
Boon countertop drying rack (x2)
SLEEPING
Newton Baby breathable crib mattress
Newton Baby breathable waterproof mattress pad
Baby monitor — without wifi or internet access, to avoid privacy concerns
GROOMING
NoseFrida/suction bulb
Baby nail clippers with built-in light
EXPLORING
Indestructibles books
Monti Kids Level 1
Lovevery Play Gym
Comotomo teether
TRAVELING
Baby K’Tan
Guava Lotus w/ bassinet conversion kit
Baby Jogger City Mini GT
Nuna Rava convertible car seat
CLOTH DIAPERING
Wipe down changing mat (x2 — 1 for each level of our home)
Wipe down travel changing mat
Thirsties diaper cover, size 1 (x10)
Prefold, 4-8-4 for 7-15 lb — for travel (x24)
Cloth diaper doubler (x12)
Diaper service — for home
Snappi (x5)
Dry/wet bag, medium (x4)
Dry/wet bag, large (x2)
Diaper pail (x2 — 1 for each level of our home)
Diaper pail liner (x4 — 2 for each pail)
A list like this while we were preparing for our little one’s arrival would have been a big help. We, however, learned a lot about what we value and what it is we can live without from the things that are now serving other families!
It’s still overwhelming at times when we hear and read about all the “necessary” gear for babies and children, but keeping things as minimal as possible has helped us feel more grounded, comfortable, and confident as we begin our lives as parents.
