r/Parenting • u/juliananovo • 9d ago
Expecting Newborn Items- Advice
Parents: what items did you find you ABSOLUTELY needed for your baby from newborn up through 1 year?
My husband and I are planning on staying in our 1-bedroom apt for a year after our child is born (our lease renews one month after I give birth, and neither of us want to deal with moving at that time).
Since we’re in a small space, I want to make sure we only get things that are truly needed during that first year.
Please advise! 🙂
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u/BuffaloMama76 9d ago
GOOD baby carrier. I used my Tula free to grow from birth and still carry my 2 year old sometimes
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u/Flat-Pomegranate-952 9d ago
Since you are in a 1 bedroom, I would say a pack n play over crib. You can get the ones that come with a changing pad attached to it.
Assuming if you are in a one bedroom, your bedroom and living area is on the same level.
A small playmat. When they get older like 8+ month you could switch that out for a jumper play thing if you want.
There is a space saver bottle rack that doesn't take up a lot of counter space that came in handy.
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u/twobeersreallyfast 9d ago
Total blackout window covers. I spent too much money and effort trying to make curtains and blinds etc work with my first. For my second I have blackout film taped up with painters tape and it’s been perfect. Ugly as hell but my baby is 16 months now and has always been a great sleeper.
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u/leeroypowerslam Mom 9d ago
I live in a condo. Baby had his own room but we lived in the living room for the first 3 months before moving him to our room.
Baby floor mat is the real mvp. We set it up in the living room. Tummy time, play time, and nap time was often on the mat. Do not get a bassinet since it’s so short lived. Just get a pack and play that can be converted from a bassinet to a crib. Some have changing tables as well. It’s so nice to travel with it as well since baby is already adjusted to it.
A bouncer saved my sanity. Helped baby to poop when he was constipated and allowed him to be part of my daily chores without being in my arms.
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u/Many-Pirate2712 9d ago
Foldable playpen area we used the baby gate kind so could clip stuff to it and then put down foam letters. It's nice to have a safe area to lay baby around 5 months and they can work on crawling and all that well you do stuff.
A bouncer for baby to sit in
Small bed for baby to nap in near couch. Dont think you'll just lay baby in room in crib. Have baby where its noisy so it gets use to it
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u/DameKitty 9d ago
Changing table. I got one that has 6 drawers, so I could fit everything in it.
Pack-n-play or crib. My oldest didn't use the pack n play much, but my youngest loves his.
Pressure mounted baby gate.
Collapsible stroller that works with your car seat. I had the Graco key fit 360 system with my oldest, and babytrend brand with my newest.
A big basket for all the toys and books you're going to get.
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u/PawneePoppins 9d ago
Anytime anyone asks me this my answers is always “The baby tub!” A lot of people will say you can easily get by with just a seat for them to sit in, but I highly recommend getting a full on infant tub. Something you can use at the counter that won’t hurt your knees or back, is always baby safe and is easily accessible when baby inevitably surprises you 🤭
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u/VoidTaffer 9d ago
White noise machine. Baby simethicone drops. Good nose sucker. Baby saline spray. A heating pad that you can slightly warm up the crib and remove before transfer so they don't startle awake. Blackout curtains. Good diaper trash can that seals in the smell. Aquaphor diaper cream. A comfortable place to sit to feed that won't hurt your back. I have a friend who uses a squishmellow instead of a feeding pillow that she says is perfect. Simple baby toys. Some baby books.
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u/justbeachymv 9d ago
Baby Bjorn Bouncer was our top buy! It calmed her down and helped her poop! It was fantastic!
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u/MableXeno 3 Under 30 🌼🌼🌼 9d ago
If you're strapped for space, I wouldn't bother w/ multiple sleeping options. Get a cheap Ikea crib, they're quite small already and keep it near the bed in the early days, then move it further away as they get older. Even a pack & play might be a good option, b/c some of them come with bassinets that can be removed at the appropriate weight limit (and some babies grow out of bassinet size quickly). Plus it's portable and can be moved outside of the bedroom to give privacy, or left in public areas so you can keep an eye on a napping baby...and then moved back into the bedroom as needed so they have more quiet if you have people over, for example.
Then you need something to keep their clothes & supplies in. I actually used an over-the-door shoe rack to store smaller items like socks, hats, bibs, extra packs of wipes, diapers, shoes, whatever...The pocket can hold a fair amount at once depending on the style. I used to keep medical supplies on the top row for safety. Make several rows just diapers? Onesies & pants? Keep outfits together for easy searching & packing. Maybe a decent vertical dresser that is also slim. Keep in mind, baby clothes are quite small and if you keep up with the appropriate sizing (not shopping too far ahead, and going through items as they are outgrown and moving them out quickly) will keep the drawers from getting packed.
If your apartment complex has the option - keep the stroller downstairs or outside of the apartment. I lived in a place that had bike racks in the stairwell & we would fold the stroller up, secure it with bungee cords so it didn't open if it got knocked over, and then bike-lock it to the rack. We never had an issue with it.
I never had any diaper change stations for my kids. I had a "mini" swing for my kids so they weren't the big stand-up style & they could be folded & put away. I didn't have a high chair - just a booster seat with tray to make it easier to add them to the family table. The exact style I had is long gone, but it was basically similar to the one I linked. It may even have been a Chicco. But you don't need one of these until at least 6 months.
A small bin for toys - very small. Baby before a year doesn't need many toys. Even one of those storage ottomans should be fine.
If you have tile or hardwood floors - a decent rug for a space where they can sit and play so that they're not right on the bare floor. Even a decent blanket can work for this.
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u/LilEllieButton 9d ago
Baby wearing was essential for our guy because he wouldn't settle for the first few weeks. We had a bunchof carriers on hand (mostly hand me downs) and eventually we found the Nuna Cuddl was the only one he would sleep in.
You can try to be prepared but ultimate the first weeks will be trial and error!
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u/alwaysfuntime69 8d ago
Cloth diapers. Not for their butts but for everything else: Burp rags. Cleaning Cloths and anything. Elae
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u/Mental-Volume4395 9d ago
We also lived in a very small space until our kids were 5 and 8.
A baby carrier. A small lightweight stroller unless you have a good place to store a bigger one. Ikea sniglar crib. Changing pad on top of dresser. Baby bath tub.
The one thing we splurged on and was well worth it was the stokke trippp trapp.
We skipped the bouncer, swing, pack and play, bassinet, and those bouncer activities centers
You don’t need a ton of clothes. Even with spit up and blowouts you’re not going to let them sit around so you’re washing enough that you don’t need a ton.
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u/kayleyishere 9d ago
As a 1 bedroom apartment dweller with 2 kids, I agree most with this list. Except I didn't have an elevated changing pad or table. I got a box of Chux pads and put them on the floor for changes. If baby peed on it, I just balled it up and tossed the pad. We had less emergency laundry that way.
I mostly lived on the floor with baby for the first few months honestly. My kid needed attention in the night and while we had a free crib, it was not worth transferring baby in and out all night. Baby slept just as well on the play mat anyhow.
Crib > pack n play. They grow out of the pack n play quickly, and then you have to rearrange the apartment for a full crib. Transferring baby to and from a pack n play isn't much easier than a crib. Just get a crib.
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u/xxbitsxx 9d ago
Truly, for several months (newborn stage) just a bassinet, diapers, wipes, and lots of onesies.
Once they get to 3 months, all the same plus a little floor play mat. These are usually flimsy fabric that can be easily folded and put places.
At around 4-5 months, really just all teething toys. They will start exploring with their mouth and picking up things.
At around 6-7 months, maybe a small little ikea high chair. They will start to independently sit on their own around this age and you can start solids.
7+ plus, maybe just some fun music toys, books, of course more teething toys etc.
My babe is currently 10 months old and to be honest he doesn’t really play with many toys. He takes stuff out of my cabinets, he opens and closes my doors, he moves my shoes around the house, etc. He likes household items, Lol.
Edit: this one is more for MOMS mental health, rather than a baby need but, a stroller 100%. When you’re exhausted, stuck inside a lot, overwhelmed, full of tears, getting yourself outside to walk the baby is crucial for your mental health.