The whole baby market is a complete racket. Don’t get sucked in. Sure if I had a 4 bedroom house with a 2 car garage maybe I’d get all the bells and whistles but I don’t. I have a 1,600 square foot apartment in NYC (which is actually quite big for city standards) and I’d like to take a more minimalistic approach, if possible, because we all know this is just the beginning and the baby stuff will inevitably increase over time. Therefore, I need to be careful with both purchases and gifts.

And I don’t know who needs to hear this but you’re not a bad mom if you don’t buy three thousand baby items. I swear the whole baby industry preys on poor mommies and their mom guilt. You’re an exceptional mommy! You don’t need all the extra clutter! You don’t need all the extra stuff! Let’s focus on what you do need (besides a day at the spa).

I remember when I put my registry together I felt so overwhelmed. I put it off for months until I really couldn’t put it off any longer. Let me help you put together a concise list of items you actually need. I also added commentary on what we selected in each particular category:

• Baby carrier – we have the Ergobaby Omni 360 Carrier. My husband absolutely loves this carrier.

• Stroller – we thought long and hard on which stroller to buy. Since we live in Manhattan and space is limited we had originally decided that we didn’t want to have two strollers (one for traveling and one for everyday). We purchased the UPPAbaby Minu hoping it would satisfy both needs. I love that the Minu is lightweight and travels so easily (some of the elevators in Europe are so small, our Bugaboo Fox would never have stood a chance). UPPAbaby also has a great warranty – we had a brake issue earlier this year and they sent us a brand new frame without any issues. We’ve traveled to Italy, the UK, Panama and Florida with the UPPAbaby Minu and have no complaints thus far. However, as Zoe got older and bigger and started to have daily stroller strikes we thought maybe it was time for an upgrade. Enter Bugaboo Fox. So far the Bugaboo Fox has been amazing. I’m loving the features. It does take some getting used to as I find the smaller, lighter strollers are more agile. However, there’s no denying that the Bugaboo Fox is a more comfortable ride for Zoe. I also like that it has a much larger storage basket so my grocery runs have been much easier. We also got the wheeled ride on board so when Zoe is sick of sitting in the stroller seat but doesn’t want to walk he’s able to sit or stand on the board. I swore I would never be the mom with multiple strollers but here I am with 2 (or 3 if you count the Doona which brings me to my next item…)

• Car seat – Doona Car Seat/Infant Stroller is brilliant. It’s an infant car seat that also doubles as a stroller (all one piece). It’s super convenient, especially for city life

• Electric breast pump – I choose the Spectra S1 Plus Pump because I heard it wasn’t painful to use and it has a rechargeable battery so you can pump almost anywhere (I know someone who pumped in the car on her way to/from work). I got most of the pump subsidized by my medical insurance so check with your insurance before purchasing!

• Manual pump and milk collector – if you plan on breastfeeding, the Haaka Pump and Ladybug Milk Collectors are essential (I ordered 2 of each). The Haaka pump is a manual pump. The ladybugs are useful milk collectors. Also these products are BPA, PVC and phthalate-free

• Crib – we went with the Oeuf Sparrow Crib. Our main criteria was non-toxic and sturdy and the Oeuf checked both boxes. Also, the finishes are non-toxic, water-based and free of VOC health hazards

• Mattress – since we went with the Oeuf Crib we selected an Oeuf Mattress. We purchased the Pure & Simple Organic & Natural Crib Mattress. We liked that it was made with 100% certified organic cotton and GREENGUARD certified

• Play gym – we purchased the Lovevery Play Gym. I liked that it was something that could grow with our son (it cleverly turns into a tent once your baby outgrows tummy time). It’s very smartly designed with different developmental areas. Also, the products used are safe

• Duck thermometer – when you’re going on so little sleep, the last thing you want to do is question if the bath water is the right temperature (I was so sleep deprived I didn’t even trust myself). I purchased this Dreambaby Duck Thermometer a few weeks after the baby was born and loved it. I now travel with it since it’s small and doesn’t take up a lot of space. Ours can also tell the temperature of a room (not just water) which comes in handy. This also doubles as a play toy for my son

• Bouncer – the Babybjorn Bouncer is the holy grail of bouncers. This was one of the best gifts we received; the baby loved being in it. I was so sad when he’d outgrown it. Someone gifted us an extra fabric seat cover which at the time I thought was a waste of $100 but I quickly learned how useful the extra fabric cover was

• High chair – we got the Mima Moon High Chair and as I much as I loved how smart and sleek it looked in our kitchen I found it a bit annoying to clean. My parents have the Abiie Beyond High Chair for when we visit and after a few months we traded ours out for the Abiie and have been quite happy. It’s also BPA free, latex free, lead free, and phthalate free

• Noise machine and night light – the Hatch Rest Noise Machine and Night Light is hands down one of the best gifts we received. It has multiple settings for sounds and light. It even has a time to rise clock for when your baby gets older (you can change the color to help your son/daughter learn when it’s time to wake up). If only they made a noise machine, night light and baby monitor…if anyone wants to launch a start-up with me and take it to Shark Tank you know where to find your girl lol

• Baby monitor – speaking of  baby monitors, that is another essential. We went with the Owlet. I like the Owlet but it’s an app on my phone which isn’t super convenient for when the nanny is watching the baby so now I need to buy another monitor that comes with a screen. These are the things I didn’t think about when I purchased the items so keep that in mind when you’re selecting your baby monitor 

• Activity Center – we selected the Skip Hop Silver Lining Cloud Activity Center. This activity center has both sensory and  developmental activities. It’s also made to grow with your baby as it turns into a table 

• Foam mat – we purchased the Wander and Roam Reversible Antelope and Stripe Foam Play Mat. When most mats are obniouxly colorful and tacky, this mat is muted and beautiful. It’s also reversible which is fun when you want to change things up. Plus it’s made with non-toxic (latex, BPA, formamide, and PVC free) TPU foam

• Bottles – we ordered a bunch of different bottles but the ones that worked best for us was the Medela Slow Flow (something else that you will learn is that bottle tips vary in the strength of the flow of the milk)

• Feeding pillow – we were gifted the Boppy Feeding Pillow and I’m grateful I was gifted it because it’s not something I would have bought but now that I have it I can’t live without it. You can use it when nursing or bottle feeding. It can also double as a tummy time for your little one. I must say it’s a genius invention and really useful 

• Breast Milk Storage Bags – there are so many of these breast milk storage bags on the market. While this is a fairly inexpensive purchase I would still do research as some reviews I read had leakage issues and the last thing you want is losing precious drops of milk (you’ll be saving every drop as if it was holy water). I purchased the Medela Breast Milk Storage Bags (6oz) and had no issues

• Drying rack – we got the Boon Grass Countertop Drying Rack for bottles, baby plates, baby utensils, Haaka’s, pacifiers, teeters, etc. 

• Formula – in case you either can’t or choose not to breastfeed 

• Portable diaper changing pad – we purchased the KeaBabies Diaper Changing Pad. There are so many on the market and all pretty much can do the job. I wanted one that was compact, simple, and was machine washable (just think about how dirty the diaper changing stations are at airports and busy restaurants)

• Electric nail file – this was one of the best purchases we made. Newborn babies have nails that are somehow razor sharp and require constant care. Electric nail files are efficient and painless. We purchases the Little Martin’s Drawer Electric Nail Trimmer

• Thermometer – you will inevitably need a thermometer. We opted for the American Red Cross Deluxe Health and Grooming Kit that came with a thermometer and other baby essentials including a medicine dispenser, brush, and comb. There are a bunch of these kits on the market and you can’t really go wrong. I particularly liked this one because it was BPA free

• Disposable diapers – I’ve put off posting this blog post because the diaper research never seems to end for me. I started out with Coterie and while I like them I could never seem to get the subscription right (I either had too many and then my son had moved up a size and we didn’t know what to do with the extra diapers that he had outgrown or we had too little and I was scrambling to locate more diapers at the local Whole Foods which NEVER seemed to have his size in stock). So we then moved on to HealthyBaby which is the only diaper that is EWG verified. That has to count for something right? My advice is definitely do your research on diapers because so many have chlorine, fragrances, dyes, parabens, etc. and you definitely don’t want that for you baby. Also, here’s your reminder to stock up on diapers as you’ll be going through them pretty quickly. 

• Cloth diapers – when my son was around 1.5 my sister gifted us some cloth diapers and I wish I had started using them sooner. Cloth diapers are definitely more work but not as painful as I thought it would be. I mean I’ve become so desensitized to his poopy diapers that cleaning the cloth diapers isn’t so bad. We have been using the Grovia Diapers and I actually love them and they’re such a money saver – I’ve done the math and believe it or not I’m saving over $100 a month in diapers 

• Diaper rash cream – we use Earth Mama Organic Diaper Balm. We wanted something clean and organic and this fit the bill. To date, the baby has never gotten a diaper rash

• Diaper Pail – there are a lot of fancy diaper pails to choose from but we didn’t think that a diaper pail was something worth splurging on. We got the Dékor Classic Diaper Pail and are quite happy. It’s easy to refill the trash bags and does a good job of controlling the smell because let’s face it, some of those dirty diapers can smell lethal 

• Wipes – wipes are an absolute necessity. We went with Water Wipes 

• Bath tub – we purchased the Stokke Flexi Bath Tub in XL. Living in tight quarters, we liked the fact that it folded flat. Also, it has a non-slip base so it’s made safe when your baby starts squirming around. It’s also BPA free 

• Burp Cloths – trust me when I say you can never have enough burp cloths. We opted for the Burt’s Bee’s Organic Burp Cloths – I liked that they were 100% GOTS certified organic cotton

• Baby shampoo and body wash – we were previously using Cerave Baby Wash and Shampoo per the recommendation of our pediatrician and then recently switched to Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Liquid Soap since it’s cleaner. While Dr. Bronner’s may be a little pricey you get what you pay for it. Both are good options

• Laundry detergent – babies have sensitive skin so I wanted a detergent that was gentle; we alternate between Seventh Generation Free & Clear and Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Liquid Soap. So far the baby has not had any issues with these detergents. We also set our washer to double rinse (which I highly recommend – most washers have this setting these days) to ensure that we’re getting all grime, dirt and detergent off

• Onesies – you’d be surprised at how many onesies you go through a day during the newborn phase. From diaper blowouts to spit up messes you will need plenty of onesies. I like Burt’s Bees Onesies because they are affordable, great quality and GOTS certified 100% organic cotton

• Swaddles – you guessed it – Burt’s Bees again for the win. I do love the brand and you can’t beat the price points for GOTS certified 100% organic cotton. I made sure that we were plenty stocked with Burt’s Bees Swaddles at all times as you’d be surprised how quickly you go through them. I also used the swaddles that they gave us at the hospital – they come in handy in a pinch

• Nipple Cream – I used the Lansinoh Lanolin Nipple Cream for no other reason than it was what the hospital provided and it seemed to be sufficient so I continued to purchase that particular brand

I tried to narrow down to the absolute must-have items. Try to enjoy the process! So grab a matcha latte and get to work on that baby registry! You’ve got this!

I thought I’d write a post about preparing for a baby because I don’t want you to make the same mistakes I made. Some of these pieces of wisdom I’m going to bestow onto you might be so obvious to you but they weren’t to me (please don’t judge me) so I wanted to write this post in hopes I can save you from some of the misery that I had as a new mom.

My first bit of advice is to if you’re planning to move (for whatever reason) do so with ample time before your due date. In my case, my home was simply too small for the baby. At the time, I lived in a beautiful, luxury building with every amenity possible but the apartment was just too small. Frankly, I had even outgrown the apartment years prior but stayed because I owned it and it was just easier to stay. We didn’t start seriously looking for apartments until my third trimester. I think the reason was a combination of factors: I was too preoccupied with work, I was sick all the time (nauseous, fatigued, borderline migraines), we couldn’t decide on a neighborhood, etc). But we really should not have put it off. We finally signed on a lease at the beginning of February and our move in date was February 15th. I thought I had plenty of time. Our due date was March 20th and my doctor said that based on my medical history and statistics she expected me to deliver late so I thought I had 5 weeks at least to unpack and settle into my new home. Little did I know that Zoe would arrive on February 26th, 2022 – just 11 days after our move in date. We were still in boxes and most of our furniture hadn’t even arrived. It was quite a rollercoaster but we made it work. 

If you’re planning to have outside help, make sure you have a back up. Even if it’s a relative, make sure to have a back up lined up. My husband and I had compiled a list of recommended night nurses/nannies and wrapped up interviews the fall/winter of 2021. We found what we thought was the perfect woman; a sweet Panamanian lady who had extensive experience and was going to provide help as both a night nurse and nanny. We communicated to her that we intended to hire her and gave her the due date. Fast forward to the baby’s arrival, we called her, texted her, emailed her, sent a pigeon, sent smoke signals… nothing. She had completely ghosted us. It was quite frustrating that she would leave us high and dry but we quickly made alternative plans. Luckily my mother had recently retired. My mother got on the first flight from Florida and stayed with us for six weeks until we felt we had it under control. We then hired a part time nanny shortly thereafter. 

If there are items on your registry that did not get purchased by friends and family, purchase them at least a month before the due date. Since we had just moved into our new home, we didn’t get around to purchasing the odd bits that weren’t gifted to us. It was easy enough to make the necessary orders on Amazon, but I’d like to save you that headache because trust me when I say your hands will be quite full once your newborn arrives.

I recommend reading a few books before the baby comes. I was so clueless and didn’t know the first thing about being a parent. I had never even had a pet rock. The closest I came to being a mommy is when I tried to adopt a dog from an animal shelter in my mid-twenties and got denied (still pretty hurt about getting denied but I think I asked too many suspicious/damaging questions such as ‘so what do dogs eat?’ and ‘can I bring him to bars with me or does he need to be a service dog?’. I prepared by reading 3 books: ‘Moms on Call, Basic Baby Care, 0-6 Months,’ ‘Bringing up Bébé,’ and ‘Be Your Child’s Pediatrician.’ ‘Moms on Call’ by Laura Hunter and Jennifer Walker was a very straight forward and educational read that covers everything from baby care to sleep routines. It’s more of a Western approach to parenting. Certainly read it with a grain of salt – I found it helpful since I was so bewildered but I will admit some of the advice didn’t align with my parenting style. ‘Bringing up Bébé’ by Pamela Druckerman is the skinny on French parenting. It’s more of a fun, anecdotal read and less practical but I found it enjoyable. ‘Be Your Child’s Pediatrician’ by Rachel Weaver is an excellent resource for mommies seeking natural remedies to support their child’s health. This book is a more homeopathic and natural approach to parenting that mostly resonated with me.

There are also a lot of amazing mommy blogs out there that have a wealth of information. I would, of course, highly recommend The Mommy Archives but I’m clearly biased. A quick google search yields so many wonderful mommy blogs that not only have useful information but get you excited of what is to come!

Tackle whatever is on your personal to-do list. Do not put anything off. For example, one of the items that was on the top of my to-do list was my taxes. I thought I had more time to do it but with the baby coming 3 weeks early I simply ran out of time. So whether it’s something as important as applying for life insurance of as insignificant as a hair cut (the significance of a hair cut is actually debatable as it’s a top priority for me lol), please get it done. 

I recommend storing some easy frozen foods in your freezer. I’ll admit, I’m not big on any frozen foods unless it’s ice cream. I try to eat healthy and frozen foods by and large don’t exactly fit that category. However, once you bring home your newborn it’s going to be a bit chaotic and you won’t be so quick to turn your nose up to a frozen pizza. 

I hope these tips are helpful. I certainly could have used this advice before Zoe arrived. Sometimes I wish I could go back and do it all differently but then again my baby arrived healthy and happy and that’s all that matters, right?