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You hear it all the time: babies come with a lot of stuff. But do they really have to?

If you’re anything like me, the thought of your house being overrun by brightly colored plastic toys and singing baby contraptions in every room is, well, stressful.

When we were creating our baby registry, my husband said, “Do we really need ALL this stuff? Doesn’t the baby just need love, diapers, and us?”

My husband was on to something. We definitely needed more than diapers and our love, lol, but HOW much more you need is up for debate.

I created this list because these are the things I felt were actually invaluable. If you are not wanting to over clutter your house, and you want a minimalist guide to baby gear that will lighten the load of motherhood while maintaining the beauty of your home, this is it.

(This post may contain affiliate links. You can read our full disclosure policy here.)

#1. Baby Wrap Carrier

If you only want one wrap, I would go with this one.

Experts agree that baby wearing promotes bonding between parent and child and supports the emotional development of your baby.

If you don’t want a bunch of baby contraptions lying around your house, then wearing your baby is a simple solution.

This particular wrap has stretchy material and a lot of give compared to others I tried, so it’s easily adjustable to any size baby and very comfortable. 

Buy Boba Wrap Baby Carrier Here

#2. Baby Bouncer

Bouncers are awesome because they are lightweight and are a safe place to have your baby while cooking, showering, etc.

There is a wide variety of different styles of bouncers, but they don’t have to be bulky and obnoxious to be effective.

I love the streamline look and function of this one, and as you can see, it has awesome reviews.

If the price tag is a little too hefty for you, this Baby Delight Alpine Deluxe bouncer is a perfect budget option.

This is the one we personally have, and our baby was very comfortable in it. Sometimes we swapped out the toys on the bar for variation. Plus, it folds down for compact storage so you don’t always have to be looking at a bouncer in your living room. Although, this one is so neutral, I didn’t mind keeping it out.

Buy Baby Bjorn Bouncer here

Buy Baby Delight Bouncer here

#3. Snuggle Me Organic lounge pillow

Okay, this might seem like just an expensive pillow, but trust me, it is not. It is so cozy and beautiful and was a total sleep game changer for us.

Now, full disclaimer, it is not recommended for sleeping. HOWEVER, since I’m not an expert or an authority on the matter, I’m just going to speak to ya mom-to mom: we always used this for sleeping, and it impressively improved the length and quality of our baby’s sleep. I personally felt VERY safe with her sleeping in it. BUT… do it at your own risk.

This baby lounger is a safe place to set your baby down anytime and anywhere. Doing laundry? Lay them in the lounger. Napping? Lounger. Going on a picnic? Lounger. In can also be used in place of a playmat under a play gym, until they grow out of it, and is also great for travelling. It was perfect for camping! See?

I did a lot of research comparing the Snuggle Me Organic and the Doc a Tot and we were very happy we went with the Snuggle Me Organic.

Buy Snuggle Me Organic Here

#4. Baby Monitor

This is another thing that we use everyday, multiple times a day, for naps, bedtime, and travel.

There are so many high-tech, new and improved versions always coming out, so monitors can be hard to shop for. I did a lot of research, and we have been very happy with

I LOVE play gyms, because they give babies freedom of movement, which is way healthier for their development than strapping them in a chair.

Lovevery takes a science-based approach to their toy designs, so their play gym is designed to support your baby’s visual, cognitive, and physical development, and is also designed to grow with them for a whole year.

Play gyms are another thing that can be unnecessarily overstimulating. Babies don’t need buttons and lightshows. They need sensory exploration.

There are lots of cute play gyms out there, but if you are going to buy only one play gym, this one by Lovevery is the all around best choice.

Buy Lovevery Play Gym Here

For a budget option with a minimalist design, this wooden activity center would compliment any room and would be plenty entertaining for your baby. You can even look on Etsy for handmade wooden hanging toys to interchange the ones on the bar. 😉

#6. Stylish Play Mats

As previously mentioned, allowing your baby to be on the floor exploring their surroundings will help them develop strength and cognitive abilities. Fortunately, that doesn’t mean you have to have Sesame Street rugs all over your house (nothin wrong with Sesame Street, but you get my drift.)

Nowadays, they make beautiful play mats that can fit right in with your decor, like these, so you don’t have to sacrifice beauty for function.

#7. Blooming Bath Lotus

Forget the the plastic infant bathtubs. They are bulky and hard to store, and it’s easier to wash your baby in the sink anyways.

To save space, get a Blooming bath lotus instead. It fits right inside your sink and is much easier to store.

Plus when your baby is old enough to sit up in the tub, you can use it as a knee pad. 😉

#8. Stokke High Chair

High chairs— another eye sore. Unless you have one with a sleek AND functional design like this one.

The Stokke Tripp Trapp is a Scandinavian-designed high chair that is ergonomically designed to grow with your child from newborn to adult (you’ll understand how when you take a look at it).

It’s made with solid wood, it’s versatile, and it fits right at your dining table. No more bulky plastic high chairs blocking the walkway to the kitchen!

If you want function and beauty, go with this one. It will last you for years.

Buy Stokke Tripp Trapp High Chair Here

#9. Baby Carrier

At the beginning of this post I mentioned the Boba baby wrap, which is really great for around the house and maybe out and about. However, it’s also good to have a more solid carrier like this one for daily outings, travel, or hiking.

I ended up collecting dozens of different wraps and carriers to try to find the perfect one and I narrowed it down to this carrier: Ergobaby Omni 360. It can be worn 4 different ways, it’s hip healthy for your baby, it’s super easy to put on, and it’s very comfortable. My baby is over two and we still use it for travelling and hiking. It is definitely the best all-around carrier!

Buy the Ergobaby Omni 360 Here

#10. Diaper Bag

This is the diaper bag we have, and it is amazing!!! It is very spacious, it’s nice looking, and is very durable. And I love that it’s a backpack! When you see how much stuff goes in it, you’ll be glad you don’t have a bag with a shoulder strap.

We have taken ours all over the place and it has held up well. It can be used as a diaper bag, a day bag, or a travel bag. 

And as a bonus, Daddy is not embarrassed to wear it. 😉

Buy RUVALINO Diaper Bag Backpack Here

#11. THIS Pack and Play

I labored over which pack and play to get because there are a lot of fancy choices out there. This Graco Pack and Play On the Go was gifted to us, and I am so glad it’s the one we ended up with!!!

When talking to other moms with more elaborate pack and plays, they complained about how heavy they were or hard to break down or how the extra pieces just became clutter when they weren’t in use.

This one is lightweight, easy to break down (which you will want if you travel with it) not overly bulky, a simple design, comes in cute designs, and is very reasonably priced!

Also, this one can be used as a bassinet next to your bed, or a crib.

Don’t get seduced by the fancy pack and plays… this is all you need, and you’ll be happy with how simple it is.

Buy the Graco Pack and Play On the Go Here

#12. Jogger Stroller Travel System

If you want an overall versatile stroller, I would go with a jogger stroller. If you are active or like to travel, they are durable and can maneuver over different types of terrain like grass, trails, and even sand (if it’s not too deep).

To streamline your stuff, I would also highly recommend a travel system like this one. The car seat clicks in and out and it’s easy peezy. I’m not sure they even make the particular jogger stroller we have anymore, but we did get a Graco jogger and upgraded to the Graco Snugride Snuglock 35 Elite car seat and we LOVE it! It’s user friendly and has excellent safety ratings.

Buy the Graco Travel System

Honorable Mentions…

I was told I needed them, but really didn’t.

#1. A Swing

Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against swings. We had a swing and did use it.

HOWEVER… Do you NEED a swing? If you have an activity mat and a bouncer and you’re trying to keep it simple, then no, probably not. Baby swings can be VERY bulky and awkward, and are more of a luxury.

But if you do get a swing, the 4moms mamaRoo swing is a very popular choice for it’s simple design and advanced features.

But buyer beware… this is where baby gear can easily get excessive. You may be told you need bouncers and swings upstairs and downstairs and in every room, but you don’t. They are a nice luxury, but if you are streamlining your gear, bouncers and swings is an area you can cut back.

Bouncers and swings are good if you need to contain the baby for their safety (while you’re in the shower for instance) but it’s not healthy for babies to be strapped down too often, since it limits their motor skill development.

It is best if they can spend most of their time rolling around on a mat and exploring their surroundings. So if you are trying to keep baby clutter to a minimum, cut back on swings and bouncers and opt for play mats.

#2. A crib

This comes down to parenting style, but all I recommend is that you really think about this one.

• If you co sleep, you most likely won’t use a crib.
• If you are a crunchy mom, you may not use a crib.
• If you are trying to incorporate Montessori methods, you most likely won’t use a crib.

You may do what so many moms end up doing after they spend hundreds of dollars on a crib: they sleep with their babies for as long as it makes sense, then they move them to a floor bed.

However, if that doesn’t sound like you, then you might want a crib! This one by Babyletto has a simple and classic design and also converts to a toddler bed. I bought one simply because I wanted the pleasure of designing a nursery, lol, and it looked beautiful! But, I ended up selling it before we ever used it.

Also, if you have the Graco Pack and Play, that can double as your crib. 😉

#3. Baby Changing Basket

If you are going for aesthetics, this is the diaper changing pad for you!

This baby changing basket was at the top of my baby list, and it was a gorgeous replacement for a typical changing pad, but unfortunately, I only used it a handful of times.

In reality, I changed my baby wherever I was, which was typically right on the bed or on the couch with a foldable changing pad. If you’re trying to save space, you really don’t need a fancy diaper-changing table setup.

But…if you really want to have an official diaper changing station that doesn’t look like a sterile operating table, I would totally recommend this Moses basket! It’s beautiful and can be used as decoration once your baby has grown out of it.

Buy Baby Changing Basket Here

#4. Activity Center

Again, nothing wrong with these, but choose your contraptions. Do you really have to have a bouncer, a play gym, a swing, a pack and play, and an activity center? By all means, you can! But if you only chose one or two of them, you’ll be just fine.

And less cluttered.

And don’t waste your space with…

#1. A walker

First of all, I only have the linked image so you can see what I’m talking about; not to recommend it.

Baby walkers are not safe and really shouldn’t even be on the market anymore. They can put your baby at risk of serious injury and stunt the development of the natural walking stride.

This is a piece of baby gear you can, without a doubt, do without.

But here’s the bottom line…

There are so many new and fun things you can purchase for your baby, and you may  buy them just because it’s awesome and you want it. If that’s the case, then do it! But don’t be pressured into thinking you NEED all of it. Your baby really only NEEDS you… and love and diapers. 😉

But buy the extra things if you really want them to create the experience of motherhood that you envision. Heck, I bought a $400 crib just because I wanted the experience of decorating a nursery! Haha…

Babies do come with a lot of stuff, but they don’t have to come with as much stuff as we are made to believe. And if you want your home to be functional with a new baby, without sacrificing it’s sophisticated aesthetic, you absolutely can. 😉