My Bare Essentials List: What I Think You REALLY Need for a Baby When You’re on a TIGHT Budget

Having a baby can be very expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. If you have the funds, you can easily find thousands of dollars of baby gear and equipment to buy. However, for many of us having a baby means stretching an already tight budget. So I’ve compiled a list of items I think you ABSOLUTELY NEED to make sure that you have before your little one arrives.

At the time I wrote this post, these items could be purchased new for roughly $600 total. If you have the wiggle room in your budget, you could upgrade some of these options and add other luxury items to the list. If $600 is a little out of your price range, remember that I based my numbers off of buying everything brand spanking new. Buying things like swaddle sacks, clothing, a pack n’ play, etc. second hand is a great way to save money! Be sure to check local consignment and thrift stores and buy/sell groups online. You can also look into cloth diapering and making your own pureés for your baby when the time comes.

I did not include certain common baby items like a stroller, a swing, a bouncer, and a crib on this list for a couple of reasons. These items may be “basics” but I don’t think they are absolutely necessary. You can make do without a stroller, your baby can be content on a blanket on the floor instead of a bouncer, and you won’t need a crib until baby moves into his or her own room (for us, this happened around six months). You can’t make do without a carseat or diapers, so they obviously made the list. Every item on this list is something that, if I didn’t have it when I brought my baby home, I would have sent my husband out for in the middle of the night.

SLEEPING

Despite how you may feel in those first few days, weeks, and months, your baby will actually sleep and will need a proper place to sleep. But it doesn’t necessarily need to get fancy or pricey.

• Somewhere Safe to Sleep – unless you choose to cosleep for nighttime sleep and for naps, you will need somewhere safe for your baby to sleep. The AAP recommends that babies sleep in the same room as their parents for the first 6-12 months. A common choice is a bassinet that can be place next to mom and dad’s bed. We decided to purchase a Pack N’ Play placed next to our bed. This has worked really well for us and he won’t outgrow it for a few years. Cal has slept well in it, we could easily feed him at night, and we were able to take the bed he was used to with us when we traveled. You can find a basic Pack N’ Play with the option to raise the mattress for around $100.
• 2-3 Swaddle Sacks – swaddling is a common suggestion for baby (and especially newborn) sleep. You can learn to swaddle with a blanket, but if your child wiggles out of it, they can end up sleeping with a loose blanket in their bed, which is not recommended. Swaddle sacks are an awesome solution to this issue and so easy to use. You can get a pack of three SwaddleMe sleep sacks for $22.
• 2 Swaddle Blankets – swaddle blankets are very versatile, which is why they made my list. They are ground cover, warmth, sun shade, nursing cover, spit up rag, comfort object all in one. You can typically get a four pack for roughly $25, however, these are one of the most common baby shower gifts, so I would not spend your hard earned money on them unless your baby has arrived and no one has given you any. Which is highly unlikely.
• 2-3 Pacifiers – some babies love pacifiers and some don’t care for them. I have a baby who loves his binky. I was determined not to give him a pacifier for 3-4 weeks so that we could establish breastfeeding. Here was the problem. Cal wasn’t a good nurser. He was a sleepy eater with a bad latch and didn’t comfort nurse. So by Day 4 of his life, he was given a binky and it made all of our lives much easier. Do what you think is best and tell the other opinions to suck it. You can get a pack of 4 Soothies for about $9.
• Portable White Noise Machine – for us, white noise is an essential part of Calvin’s sleep cues. Many people choose to purchase a white noise machine like the Hatch Rest sound machine for the nursery and a portable machine like the Hushh for naps on the go. We only own one white noise machine (the Hushh) and use it for all of Calvin’s sleep. It is rechargeable for use away from home, and when using it for overnight sleep, we simply leave it plugged in to the charger in the wall. I love this thing and highly recommend it. Ours was given to us, and retails for $20 to $25.

FEEDING

Breastfeed, pump exclusively, combination feed, formula feed, whatever works for you. Just feed your baby. I read something somewhere that said, “Breastmilk is incredibly good for your baby. But formula that is readily available in the quantity your baby needs is much better for them than breastmilk that they have to work too hard for and don’t get enough of. And a formula fed baby with a mentally healthy mama is a happier baby than a breastfed baby whose mom is being torn apart trying to nurse.” I do not care how you feed your baby. I don’t care if your method was a choice or out of necessity. Just feed your baby.

• Nursing Pads – whether you nurse or not, your body is still likely to produce some amount of milk. If given the choice between a damp bra and shirt that needs to be changed every couple of hours or nursing pads, I would take nursing pads. A big box is around $30 and if you need to restock, you can always buy more later.
• Nursing Friendly Bra – I used actual nursing bras and honestly, a nursing tank or any soft bra that can be pulled to the side will be just as good. I recommend something easy to maneuver and comfortable to sleep in. If you already have a bra that fits that descriptions, no need to spend. If you want a cheap but good nursing bra, Target has one for $17.
• A Bottle – even if you intend to exclusively nurse your infant, I still recommend having at least one bottle in your home in case of emergency. You never know how feeding your baby is going to go, but if your story is similar to ours and you have to start supplementing with bottled milk early, it’s easiest not to have to run to the store. You can find single bottles for around $8.

CLOTHING

My winter baby lived exclusively in zippered sleepers for the first several months of his life. Having a few onesies is good too, just for warmer days or doctor’s appointments.

You’ll notice that I recommend having clothes in both newborn and 0-3 month sizes before your little one arrives. This is because its impossible to know how big your little one will be, how they’ll be proportioned, or how quickly they will grow. My baby wore newborn sleepers until he was 2 months old. My friend’s little boy wore them for 2 weeks and then had to size up to 0-3 months.

• 8 short sleeve onesies (5 in newborn size and 3 in 0-3 mo size) – good for layering or for wearing on its own during warmer weather outside or indoors if you don’t have air conditioning. Also good for doctor appointments. You can get a 5 pack of each size for roughly $20 total if you buy new.
• 8 long sleeve onesies (5 in newborn size and 3 in 0-3 mo size) – good for layering during really cold weather if needed, or wearing on it’s own indoors. Bonus if they have built in mittens. Also good for doctor appointments. You can get a 5 pack of each size for roughly $30 total if you buy new.
• 16 zippered, footed sleepers (8 in newborn size and 8 in 0-3 mo size) – my baby lived in these exclusively for the first four months of his life. They’re super easy, no need to worry about him being cold or exposed to the sun, and the mittens on the ends of the sleeves are perfect for protecting everyone from tiny baby nails (AKA claws). You should be able to get 8 of each for roughly $70 total if you buy new.
• 3 knotted beanies (for a winter baby) – we as humans lose the most heat through our heads and our feet. I loved these beanies because they’re soft, stretchy, and they stayed on his little hean. Plus you can move the knot to adjust the size. You can get a 3 pack for about $9 if you buy new.

You can also find these clothing pieces for cheap at thrift stores, kid-specific second hand stores, and online buy/sell groups. Wherever you buy them, just be sure to wash them before your little one arrives.

DIAPERING

Babies poop and pee often. You should contain said poop and pee as much as possible.

• 300 diapers (first month) – if you have a baby shower, you will likely be given some diapers and won’t need to purchase many for your first month. If you do need to purchase some, just plan on changing a diaper 8-12 times a day for the first month or maybe two. If you have about 300 diapers, this should cover you fine for month one. If you have to buy all of them, this will be about $80 minimum.
• 300 wipes (first month) – you will also need wipes. A box of twice this many refills for a tub of wipes will be about $15.
• Diaper Bag – okay there are so many diaper bag choices and many of them market for hundreds of dollars. When you are on a budget, you DO NOT need to worry about all the bells and whistles. You need a bag to carry diapers, wipes, a change of clothes, and a couple other things in. I recommend a backpack. Any backpack will do. You can use one you already own, or buy one online for like $20.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Keeping your baby safe and being able to watch for signs of illness are a very important part of parenthood. However, having just a few basics is enough to get you through the first little while.

• Car seat – this item is non-negotiable and something that I personally think should always be bought new, even if you have to cut some corners or tighten your budget elsewhere. Buying a car seat used means you have no real idea if it’s ever been involved in an accident, how old it is, or if it’s up to current safety standards. You can find cheap, but unused, car seats for about $100.
• Soap and Lotion – babies have very delicate and sensitive skin. It’s important to keep it clean and hydrated. We bathe Calvin most nights before bed, but we only use soap like once a week or if he’s dirty. He gets lotion every night before bed and we’ve never had any issues with his skin. You can get a pack of both for about $10.
• Baby Tylenol – if you find that your child is running a fever, your pediatrician may recommend that you administer baby acetaminophen and observe your baby for other symptoms. If this is the case, it is very important that you have baby acetaminophen (Tylenol) on hand. Using an adult variety is not recommended because the dosage is different. You can get a bottle for around $6.
• Baby Thermometer – a good thermometer is important to being able to watch your infant for signs of illness. Make sure you have one before you bring your baby home and that you know how to use it. If you are concerned that your child has a fever, call your pediatrician and make you you let them know how you checked their temp (touchless, forehead, armpit, anus, etc.) This is important for them to know. You can get a cheap, but reliable, one for about $15.
• Laundry Detergent – it is often recommended that you use a laundry detergent that is gentle on sensitive skin and free of fragrance and dyes for washing your baby’s items. One of the most cost effective options is the Kirkland Free and Clear available from Costco. If you don’t have a membership, then I would recommend Tide Free & Gentle liquid detergent, which can be used on your whole family’s laundry. Don’t feel the need to buy a baby specific detergent. Just one formulated for sensitive skin, free of dyes, parabens, and fragrance.

There is one other thing I think every parent should have before their little one comes home, and that is a cloud photo storage system. I personally use Google Photos and love that it automatically backs up every picture on my phone’s camera roll to the cloud and that I can share those photos with whomever I choose. I can take as many pictures and videos of my baby and I want to and don’t have to worry about running out of storage. This is priceless for me.

How can you come up with an extra $600, you ask? Over time. I suggest that throughout your pregnancy, set a small amount aside each paycheck (say $100 a month for the last 6 months of your pregnancy) to buy baby essentials, but don’t spend any of your hard saved money until AFTER your baby shower. This way you’ll know what you still need to buy after the gifts you recieve! The only exception to this would be in the case of a REALLY AWESOME sale, in which case, dealing with returning potential duplicates is worth it.

Well, there you have it. All of the things that I think you absolutely need to have on hand when you bring your bundle of joy home from the hospital. As I mentioned above, you can buy all of these things for about $600 new, but if you shopped used and watch for sales and discounts on items that you need, you can easily keep the cost even lower.