For first-time moms, finding the essentials for a newborn is overwhelming. With new products being designed and marketed to us all the time, it’s no wonder that as we add children to our families, we begin to realize what the essentials truly are. To help our first-time moms (and moms of multiple kids looking to simplify), we’ve compiled this list of low-waste newborn essentials.

Every family is different with the values and routines we enjoy, so don’t feel pressured to purchase something from this list that you know doesn’t fit your lifestyle. This list is how I would purchase if I could do over my first newborn experience (or repeat the really good decisions!). This low-waste baby essentials list is just that – baby essentials that are intentional, minimal, low-waste, and make the newborn phase easier to navigate.

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Glass Baby Bottles

Natural Rubber Pacifier

Swaddle

The PERFECT Pajama

Ultra-soft, made from non-toxic and sustainable fabrics, I wish I had known about this brand sooner. They are the only pajamas you will ever buy from newborn to 10 years. You honestly don’t even need outfits for the first few months. All newborns do is sleep and they grow so fast, it doesn’t make sense to have outfits until maybe 4 months old. The colors are perfect, the comfort is 1000%. For a newborn I would get 5 pairs in each size and just do laundry often. My daughter has been wearing her one pair for 2 ½ years (I sized up) and they look just as good as they did on day 1.

*photo from* *Huckleberry Bonnets Co* *photographer* *@iazzetti.photos*

Baby Bonnets

Our baby bonnets are perfect for keeping your little one’s head warm while also making an adorable outfit. Handmade from OEKO-Tex 100 linens and recycled floral sheets, our baby bonnets are durable, functional, and take up no space in your diaper bag. Every purchase donates 1% to Charity:Water and O.U.R. Rescue. Subscribe and save 30% and free shipping on every box.

Moses Basket

This was essential for the first few months with my daughter. She was directly next to my bed in a moses basket and it was a life saver. I got mine for $15 with a rocker stand on Facebook marketplace which was such a blessing since finances were tight. However, it was cheaply made and she grew out of it very quickly. If you are in a pinch, check FB, and if you can invest in something higher quality to last through multiple children, I highly recommend Plum and Sparrow! Their baskets are handwoven by women in a village in Africa that meets Fair Trade standards and they are beautifully crafted to last through multiple generations.

Water Wipes

Reusable Homemade Wipes

For a low waste, non-toxic option for wipes, try this homemade baby wipe recipe. Simply swap paper towel for a reusable cloth.

Boo Diapers

Not everyone can make cloth diapering work whether it’s a spouse who isn’t on board or the added stress of learning a new way of caring for an infant. If that’s you, it’s okay! Boo diapers are amazingly absorbent, super soft, and made from plant-based materials without ingredients like chlorine, and the best part is they decompose over 60% in just 75 days! That’s compared to 500 years, YEARS, for traditional diapers. Plus, they donate diapers to families in need and are a part of 1% for the Planet.

I can’t say enough good things about Boo, you have to give them a try. Even if you cloth diaper, it’s good to keep some disposable ones on hand for family members who aren’t familiar with cloth diapering, for those emergencies when you need a backup, or in case cloth diapers don’t work out.

Cloth Diapers/Diapering Beginner’s Guide

I never used cloth diapers because I didn’t really know about them until my daughter was potty trained. I won’t recommend a specific diaper brand since I haven’t tried them, so I’m linking two videos that were very helpful for me when researching cloth diapering. If I ever have a second child, I’ll consult these videos.

Everything I Wish I Knew Before Cloth Diapering

What I’ve Learned from One Year Cloth Diapering

Coconut Oil

I tried countless diaper creams for my daughter and while some seemed to fix the rashes and sore areas, nothing compared to plain coconut oil. Honestly, it’s a miracle food. To save time and money, I order mine through Thrive Market. But, in a pinch, you can grab a jar at your local grocery! (save an extra 40% with the above link)

Organic Bamboo Reusable Nursing Pads

I had an overflow of breastmilk, so if you want to plan ahead, I would get two sets of these so you’re never left leaking everywhere.

Nipple Cream

You could really use coconut oil again here, but for those wanting a more travel friendly option, this cream worked really well for me!

Car Seat

This one is definitely a personal preference, but for us, we found that this carseat served us the best. One purchase to last 10 years from infancy to a booster seat. While it doesn’t turn into a stroller or pop out of the car to carry, it made financial and functional sense. If you choose some of the wraps below, it will be easy to take your baby anywhere and it will be better on their joints and head to carry them that way than leave them in their carseat.

Solly Baby Wrap

Solly Baby Loop Carrier

Sakura Bloom Carrier

Wild Bird Ring Sling

Saline/Snot Sucker

Some of the most horrifying experiences as a new mom were having my baby scream and not being able to nurse and not understanding why. It seems so simple now since I realized, but at the moment I had no idea her nose was entirely plugged and she couldn’t breathe. Babies can only breathe out of their nose in the first few months, so a clear nose is VITAL.

A saline solution and snot sucker were life savers. We started on the nose frida and it has worked wonders, but I recently learned of this alternative that uses no filters and has a softer, flexible nozzle for a better fit in the baby’s nose.

Diaper Bag

I haven’t linked a diaper bag because honestly, I never found one that was the right fit for me. I think everyone’s needs are different when it comes to a bag and the one that did work the best for me has been discontinued. Think about the items you want to carry for yourself and your baby (you want one bag to do the job). Think about it growing as your baby does. I found a lot of diaper bags had a bottle pouch but nothing that could fit a toddler water bottle. One bag that I’ve been most interested in trying if I ever have more kids is one that wears like a backpack but zips open like a suitcase so there’s no digging to the bottom like Mary Poppins.

There you have it! A beautifully minimal, low-waste newborn essentials list for your baby registry, personal checklist, or peace of mind. I hope this is helpful and remember – there is no one size fits all to motherhood and the most important things that you can offer your child is a safe place to live, sustenance, and a lot of love.