Diaper, children's room furniture, sling, stroller - what does my child really need?

When a child is born, a family makes all sorts of new purchases. Suddenly, the home is filled with things that were previously completely irrelevant. Especially with the first child, many parents ask themselves: What do we really need?

And rightly so, because most of what we buy as adults is something we "need." We look forward to our new family member and feel closer to the new situation when we can connect with it and adjust to it through certain purchases. It's a wonderful experience to set up a nursery, get new baby clothes, and already put the stroller in the hallway.

The mother's natural nesting instinct also plays a special role here. Many women report that in the last few weeks before birth, they spend more time tidying, cleaning, and getting everything in order to prepare the nest for the new arrival. If you notice this tendency in yourself, feel free to indulge it and enjoy it! You're in labor fever—and you can also express your anticipation through your actions. Your creativity will help you fully enjoy the process and avoid feeling like you're drowning in work.

But back to the topic: what does my child really need? What do we really need to give our baby a safe, healthy start in life? Especially when things are financially challenging or you as a family shop based on values, good advice is hard to come by.

Therefore, here is a brief overview of the necessary and unnecessary everyday items.

Furniture & Co.

As with almost all consumer goods, this question should be based on your lifestyle. Here are some useful questions to ask:

• Will the baby have his or her own room or will he or she sleep in the parents' bedroom?
  This will determine whether a baby needs a wardrobe, extra living space to begin with, a separate bed, and all sorts of small furniture. As a guideline, a baby truly needs its own bed, unless there's a large family bed in which the baby can sleep safely. When it comes to a wardrobe, it's best to choose a model that can be used for several years, regardless of the child's age. A changing table is useful if you're particularly concerned about keeping things tidy and having everything in its place; in everyday life, other surfaces, such as the sofa or the car when out and about, are often used more often than the changing table itself.
  Conclusion: If every single decision really matters financially, a nursery can wait. It's not something a baby absolutely needs, because, at heart, they want to be with their parents all the time.
• Should the baby be carried a lot or is a stroller our first choice?
  A tip for those on a tight budget: You don't have to buy a new stroller; a used one will do just fine! Used strollers are usually in great condition because children grow quickly and therefore aren't used for very long. It's worth checking out! If the baby is going to be carried a lot, a stroller should be lower on your list. But a stroller is also a wonderful alternative as a bed during the day—many babies sleep very well in the fresh air, for example, on the patio. Wrapped up warm and cozy in the stroller, you can kill two birds with one stone, eliminating the need for an extra crib.

Small utensils

• Breast pumps, bottles, and the like. It's advisable to think carefully beforehand about whether or not you want to breastfeed. And even if you decide to breastfeed, having at least a bottle and a breast pump at home is always a good idea. Unforeseen incidents like mastitis or engorgement can occur; an important appointment might be coming up that you have to attend without your baby; or your baby might refuse the breast for some unknown reason (this is where the support of a midwife in the weeks after birth is especially valuable!)
• Pacifiers, stuffed animals, music boxes... no special advice is needed here. It's just important to remember that in the first weeks and months, babies play less than they sleep, need a clear bed to avoid accidents (so no stuffed animals near the head), and keep the sleeping area free of overstimulating items. Make sure the colors are muted, the fabrics soft, and the environment not too noisy when they're resting. Everything else is up to you – the only real needs for babies are plenty of physical contact, the sucking reflex during breastfeeding, warmth, and generally the closeness of their parents. A pacifier can help if your baby cries a lot or if you're too tired to satisfy the sucking reflex by breastfeeding.

Clothing

• The most important tip for clothing is: Always remember that your baby grows very quickly! This means that anything you buy won't be used for long. It's especially worthwhile to either rent clothes or buy secondhand – although when renting, always keep in mind that stains are often irremovable, especially in babies and toddlers.
• Asking friends and acquaintances for clothes is always worthwhile. Flea markets are always a good place to indulge your shopping spree at a reasonable price. They're fun, keep costs in check, and you can acquire many treasures.
• Shoes: Not necessary at the beginning. Even first-walker shoes are only useful after several months.
• Jackets, etc.: When choosing warm clothing, make sure it's not too restrictive for your baby. Many things look cute, but aren't particularly practical: A thick winter jacket often severely restricts movement. A good alternative is always a warm sleeping bag or footmuff for the stroller, or a full-body suit. Hats and socks, on the other hand, are important because they protect your baby from serious colds.
• Diapers: A very exciting topic, because disposable diapers are a huge burden on both your wallet and the environment. The quality differences are also extreme, and it takes a lot of patience to figure out which diapers are leak-proof and won't irritate baby skin. A good alternative that's increasingly finding its place in society is cloth diapers. Unlike the old days, they consist of an impractical piece of cloth, but are now technically on par with disposable diapers: They come in all sorts of colors and shapes, are adjustable/grow-with-the-child, have washable liners, and are made of durable, skin-friendly material. Plus, it's great fun to get caught up in the motif frenzy :-)

Now you have a brief overview of the purchases you will have to make with your baby – in summary, the baby needs much less than you might think.If it brings you joy and you have the financial means, nothing stands in the way of your shopping experience, but if not everything is feasible from the start, you can sit back and relax: As long as you are there for your baby, it will have everything it needs.

If you would like to learn more about family and pregnancy, mindfulness, nutrition or sustainability, Check out more exciting blog articles on these topics here.

AUTHOR: SARAH ACKER