When my wife and I found out she was pregnant with our son she immediately started making a list of things that we needed to buy (as in on the way home from el médico).

When it came time to register at Babies ‘R Us that list came in handy (understatement). And when we had bebeJosito we found out what stuff on that list we needed and what stuff we could’ve lived without.

I’m not talking about diapers, wipes, or onesies. Those are a given.  I’m talking about the little, less obvious things that are necessary to get you through the first year.

Absolutely need

1. Butt Paste. Your child will get a red chafed butt. And when he/she does you need to have something to sooth the pain or else you’re in for a world of hurt. I’m a firm believer in Butt Paste, but there are alternatives like Monkey Butt, Desitin, and A+D which work almost as well. 16 oz. $18
2. First Aid Kit. Your baby will get sick. Whether it’s an ear infection, a cut, or a fever you’re gonna need something to take care of them. Spend the money and get a first aid kit. As a bonus, most come with a hairbrush, comb, and nail clippers. $16
3. Munchkin Sterilizer. Boiling bottles takes forever and it gets old real quick. With the Munchkin you just add your bottles, some water, and then nuke it for 2 minutes. At the height of my son’s eating I was sterilizing 12 bottles a day. $18
4. Baby Monitor. Unless you want to hang out in the room while your child is sleeping, a baby monitor is a must. You don’t need anything fancy. Heck, you can turn your smartphone into a baby monitor. You just need to be able to hear if your baby is sleeping, screaming, or something in between. $30-$100
5. Car Seat and Stroller. If you’re gonna leave the house you’ll need a stroller. If you’re gonna drive with your kid in the car you’re gonna need a car seat. My wife and I went to WalMart and grabbed a pair of 5-star car seats on the cheap, and a friend of ours gave us a Snap N’ Go stroller that, when combined with a car seat, becomes a full fledged stroller. $100-$400
6. Pack ‘N Play. Instead of paying $500 for a new furniture suite, just get a pack ‘n play. It’s basically an all-in-one portable crib/bassinet/changing table/playpen. It collapses down to the size of a long duffel bag. My wife and I used it when we traveled. Super helpful. $100
7. Sleep. For the first three months you will have zero energy and very little patience. Eat right and get sleep. $priceless

Would be nice

1. Spoons. Build your kid’s fine motor skills and teach them how to feed themselves with this little utensil.
2. Diaper Genie. I have one. I bought it on consignment for $8 and cleaned it up with bleach. If I had bought it new it would’ve cost $40. Don’t buy new. If that’s your only option a trash can will do just fine.
3. Diaper bag. If the bag we have wasn’t a gift there’s no way we were gonna fork over $35 to buy one. All you really need is a purse, messenger bag, or a backpack. Chances are you already have one lying around your house.
4. Cradle Swing. We picked one up at a church consignment sale for about $30. Honestly, I don’t know if I would’ve paid full price, but I burned through three packs of batteries because my son loved LOVED LOVED this thing. So, maybe I would have paid top dollar. $115
5. Baby Bathtub. My mom washed me and my siblings in the sink. If your sink is too small, or you just want more room to work with then a baby tub is nice.

WTF are you thinking?

1. Burp cloths. Seriously, what? Go get a pack of cloth diapers or big bag of shop towels from Lowe’s. Either of those will cost you ~$12 versus $14 for a pair of designer burp cloths.
2. Full price or name brand clothes. Unless you’re a hermit you will know someone who has had a child, and they will most likely lend/give you some. Then there are thrift stores and consignment sales. FTLOG don’t pay full price for clothes that your child will only wear in between growth spurts!
3. Baby shoes. One pair is all you need if you want to take photos of your kid with shoes on. Otherwise, forget buying shoes. Your kid is going to grow like a weed for the first 12 months and you’ll be lucky if they walk a tenth of a mile in a pair.
4. High chair. For the first six months of your baby’s life you will be holding them when they eat. When they can finally sit up you’ll only need a high chair for a few months so you best get one used if you get one at all. If you’re really wanting to buy something, get a booster seat with a food try. They run about $25 and can go where you go.
5. Wipe warmer. If you’re baby is crying when you change them, a warm wipe is not the solution. Rodeo-caliber changing times is. Change faster and save your money.
6. Stuffed animals. You will be getting stuffed animals from friends and family until your child goes off to college. Don’t buy any.

There are plenty of other things that you can buy, but you need to focus your efforts on what you shouldn’t buy. Your child is going to cost a lot of money—a lot of money.

Do you have suggestions for what new parents need and don’t need? Do you disagree with anything I’ve written above? Chime in below or send me an e-mail at TiTy@y2kemo.com.

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