What I absolutely needed:
Diapers and wipes - I received/registered for/prepurchased a variety in order to see what worked best for my Little One (so far Huggies Pure & Natural diapers and wipes are my favorites, but I have yet to try any of the store brands).Kimono shirts & pants - These are little shirts that button across baby's chest and don't rub against the umbilical cord stump. I also used the shirts that they put Little One in at the hospital, but the kimono shirts don't have go to over her head, which she hates, so I preferred these.
Diaper Ointment/Petroleum Jelly/Safety Swabs
Baby Tub/Baby Wash/Hooded Towels
Footie Pajamas - I didn't start putting her in these until after her cord stump fell off. Little One wears these almost every night because she normally kicks out of her swaddle and this way I don't have to worry about her feet getting cold at night. Gowns are OK until the cord stump falls off, but they tend to bunch up; therefore, after her cord fell off I quit putting her in gowns.
Receiving Blankets - Square ones work best for swaddling.
Burp cloths
Socks/Caps - I keep socks on her all the time (it IS winter) and dress her in a cap if we're going somewhere when it's cool.
Books - I constantly refer to What to Expect the First Year & The Nursing Mother's Companion.
Car Seat - We are starting out with the Graco SnugRide 30 and one base for each car, and so far it has worked well. We went with the 30 because you can adjust the harness from the front which is SO much easier. We'll cross the convertible car seat bridge when we get there.
Strollers - I love both of our strollers! I read everywhere that the travel systems were a waste, but we purchased the equivalent of one by choosing the Graco Trekko stroller (we purchased the components separately to save money), and it works well for us in the rural area in which we live. Cons are that it is heavy and huge (it won't fit in my car, only my husband's SUV). I picked up a used Graco Snugrider Stroller Frame, AKA the Mall Crawler, which fits easily into my trunk and is super light. Cons are that you can only use it for a limited amount of time while they still fit into the SnugRide. I plan to purchase an umbrella stroller when she grows out of her seat.
Changing table - Some minimalists argue that this isn't a necessity, but when I'm visiting grandparents' and have to bend over to change a diaper I am so glad that we purchased one.
Fisher Price Rock N Play - We are using this in lieu of a bassinet and she loves it. It actually hurts my feelings that sometimes when I'm holding her, she'll start to fuss and when I put her down in the Rock N Play, she is happy again. However, I'm afraid I set myself up for disaster because she loves it so much that we haven't yet been able to get her to sleep in her crib :-/.
Bottles/Nipples - We tried four different kinds of bottles/nipples until we found one that Little One could use. I suggest not getting heavily invested in any brand in particular until you're sure what your Little One is going to be able to use. I bought some used bottles and new nipples for trial purposes, and am glad that I didn't waste a whole lot of money on one type of bottle, because the kind that came most heavily recommended didn't work for my Little One. We are currently using the Medela kind, and I only happened to try it because they included a nipple with the manual breast pump that I purchased.
Dishwasher Caddy - When I first saw one of these on a registry I thought it was ridiculous, but trust me, it works. It has special spots for nipples/baby utensils, and is easy to keep it all together in the wash without the small parts falling through the cracks and into the pan of the dishwasher. Genius!
Thermometer
What I've enjoyed having but don't consider absolutely necessary:
Activity Mat - This another thing that I found used, and she enjoys playing with all of her hanging toys. If you have one of these, you'll also need rings for hanging toys. I had no idea what rings were before I had a baby, but an experienced mom friend gave me some and they've been helpful.Cute outfits - Resist the urge to purchase these in abundance. People will give you adorable outfits, and they grow so fast it seems that she doesn't really have much of a chance to wear them all. I'm trying hard to get photos of her in each of her outfits, but it's tough.
Good digital camera - I really bought mine to take on vacation before I knew I was pregnant, but it's been nice to be able to take quality photos at home and e-mail them out or upload them and pick up prints (or better yet, send my husband after the prints). If you spend the money on a nice camera, I would also urge you to spend the time to learn how to use it before Little One arrives because taking photos of a squirmy newborn is not easy.
Bumbo Floor Seat - If I hadn't already bolded that, I would have bolded floor. I even put something soft under it when she's on the floor since I've heard of kids flipping out of them and I don't want her to hurt her head. My Little One is not a huge fan of tummy time, so I'm hoping that this will help in that area.
Pacifiers - My Little One prefers the Mam kind, but isn't a huge fan in general. I would suggest trying a couple different kinds, and then stock up on the kind that they like.
Bottle Drying Rack - A paper towel works just as well, but doesn't look as sexy on the counter.
Diaper Bag - I put off buying one and have been using a large purse and zipper baggies to hold things like diapers and changes of clothing, but I think I'm outgrowing my purse and hope to find one soon.
Sling/Baby Carrier - We have used a ring sling with Little One and when she likes it, it's been very helpful. Sometimes she hates it and we end up having to use the stroller.
Play yard - My mother is going to keep Little One when I return to work, so she has one that she is going to use as a crib, but we don't have one at our house and haven't yet felt that we need one.
Baby monitor - We purchased a used one, and since she's been sleeping in the same room with us we haven't gotten much use out of it.
What I consider completely unnecessary:
Anything in size newborn - Be it diapers or clothes. My Little One was almost 9 lbs. at birth and didn't fit into newborn diapers at all, and only wore the newborn clothes for a couple of weeks.Shoes - Since they can't walk, they don't need them. I was given a couple of pairs that I put her in on especially cold days.
Powder - I had no idea, but in order to avoid respiratory issues it's no longer recommended for use on babies.
If you are planning to breast feed (in my opinion, why wouldn't you be?), go ahead and check to see if your insurance will cover an electric breast pump. If they don't and you're not sure if you will need a pump, I would at least recommend purchasing a manual pump. You'll also need breast milk storage bags, at least a few nipple pads, and if you're shy like me, I'd definitely recommend a feeding cover. I didn't get this type, but I've heard that there are some with a wire frame that allow you to see the baby and that would definitely be helpful.
Keep in mind that some items, such as high chairs, aren't needed immediately. If purchasing all of the gear at one time is causing a money crunch, put off the purchases that you can until you can afford it.
Consignment sales are where it's at! Experienced moms told me about these, and we stocked up at our first sale and I'm looking forward to going again. They can be a bit overwhelming, so I recommend making a list and trying to be strategic. Seek them out early, since many only come around (at least in my area) a couple of times a year, and if possible register as a first-time parent (if applicable) in order to shop earlier to take advantage of better selection. I think that this is much better than going to yard sales, because everything is all in the same place rather than getting up early and running around like crazy wasting gas on a Saturday morning.
Hand me downs are where it's at! I am very fortunate that quite a few friends were willing to part with their gently used baby gear. What a huge help! Think of the money that you can put into their college fund rather than spending it on new clothes that they won't get to wear for long.
If there's something that I've overlooked, feel free to add it below.
