One year into motherhood, here’s what we bought, borrowed, bought second-hand, loved and actually used.

I have to start by saying that I’m quite proud of how we managed our baby purchases. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of buying a million things because everyone is recommending them as must-haves or simply because you think you will need more things than you actually do. Let’s not even mention the cuteness factor because it’s hard to resist cute baby items, I know. We were busy with life and work and we did not buy almost anything until I was 35 weeks pregnant – except for the stroller – then started to low-key panic and put together a minimal but thoughtful list of must-haves and hoped that would be enough.

And you know what? It was enough. I really think we nailed our baby essentials list for the first year. It stayed somewhat minimal and if a new need came up after the baby arrived, we just bought it afterwards. Simple, right?

I’m not a minimalist, but I knew I wanted to be thoughtful with the amount of items we buy. We bought some things new, borrowed quite a few from friends, bought a lot second-hand and splurged on a few things that mattered to us. Now, more than a year in, I finally feel like I can give a solid opinion on what was actually worth buying and what we could have happily lived without.

You really don’t need everything before the baby arrives

There are so many baby essentials shopping lists that make it feel like you need to have your entire life reorganised before your baby is born. You really don’t. We deliberately waited on quite a few things to see whether we would actually need them. Borrowing from friends was particularly useful because we could try things without committing to something that might end up sitting unused. There is also a big difference between a baby essential and something that is simply nice to have. We definitely had some of the latter, but you don’t need a house full of baby products to have a baby. If we needed something later, we could always buy it later with pretty much just a few clicks. That approach worked really well for us.

Let’s start with the heavy duty category, baby gear and nursery essentials. Also, arguably the most expensive one.

Baby Gear & Nursery Essentials

Stroller

Our choice: Bugaboo Fox 5 Noir Limited Edition. The stroller was one of our bigger purchases and definitely a splurge. We wanted something that would work from newborn onwards and the Fox 5 has been a great choice for us. I love how easy it is to push, particularly on Berlin’s cobblestone streets. The covered storage basket is a small detail I appreciate more than expected as itkeeps things neat. And, of course, I can’t pretend that the fact that it looks very chic didn’t play a role. I am very happy with the slick all black look. Although it seems bulky, it folds quite nicely to put in the car boot. While it’s not a lightweight stroller, it’s practical for the city.

I have to say we also travelled with it while the baby was small. We neatly packed it into its travel bag (purchased separately) and checked it in, which worked really well. An important reminder for new parents: you can always check in a stroller for free when flying with a baby. That means a full sized one too. You just can’t take it in the cabin with you unless it’s travel size.

Verdict: Worth the splurge for us.

Car Seat + Isofix Base

Our choice: Thule Maple Infant Car Seat with base. My husband did most of the research here and chose the Thule based on the safety features. The Isofix base has probably been the most useful part day-to-day because it makes getting the car seat in and out incredibly easy. We also got adapters for the Bugaboo, which meant we could transfer a sleeping baby from car to stroller without waking him. Again, we also travelled with the car seat and the isofix base (we bought a travel bag separately) and while bulky of course, it makes car rentals abroad easier.

Verdict: Not exciting, but very convenient.

Travel Stroller

Our choice: Bugaboo Butterfly 2. We didn’t get this until around nine months. Before that, we simply travelled with the Fox 5 and bassinet which I actually preferred while the baby was small. Once he was sitting and we started travelling more, the Butterfly 2 made life considerably easier. It folds with one hand, it’s small enough to fit in the cabin and can stay with us during layovers. It’s also much easier to manoeuvre around European cities and their tiny old elevators and narrow streets. It’s also become our car stroller because we permanently keep it in the car boot when we don’t travel. No need to take the full sized one when we go on errands with the car anymore. Game changer.

Verdict: Not a newborn essential, but an absolute must-have once you travel more.

Ergonomic Bouncer

Our choice: BabyBjörn Bouncer. We borrowed this from friends rather than buying it upfront, and I am very glad we did. It quickly became one of those things I couldn’t imagine not having. Being able to put the baby down while I showered, went to the bathroom, made coffee or simply needed both hands was incredibly useful. We also tried an electric swing thanks to other friends who borrowed it to us, but I preferred the BabyBjörn because it was simpler and easier to move around the house. If you skip the bouncer, you might want to get the newborn seat adapter with a high chair, because it’s nice to have a safe place to put the baby down to shower, cook something, or just use the bathroom.

Verdict: Borrow one first, but for us, absolutely worth having.

Baby Carrier

Our choice: Artipoppe Cashmere Carrier. We skipped using a soft/wrap style carrier because we simply did not to use a carrier at all for the first two months. Both my husband and I were on parental leave so the baby spent most of this time in our arms. Eventually, we started to need one so we went straight for a structured carrier. This was probably our biggest splurge and one of our best purchases. I used it for pretty much every nap for over a year, and counting because we still use it regularly. It has travelled with us and saved us countless times when the baby needed to sleep, including on planes. It’s very easy to put on and adjust, which mattered to me. Both my husband and I can use it despite our height difference, and there was practically no learning curve.

I genuinely thought I might regret spending that much money on a baby carrier. I don’t. It sits at the very top of my baby essentials list for the first year. After over a year of heavy use, I would happily buy it again. That said, there are plenty of options out there at different price points. Make sure what you choose is safe and works well for both your baby and you. Research features, ideally try it in person and pick something comfortable and that you will enjoy wearing because trust me, you will use it a lot.

Verdict: Our most-used baby purchase and absolutely worth it for us.

A Baby Carrier still on my Wishlist

On my wishlist: Flybaby Berlin Carrier. This was the other carrier I considered. I didn’t get it because one expensive carrier was enough, but I had looked at it quite a bit before deciding. It has great reviews, looks beautiful and comfortable, and I think it would be a particularly nice option for warmer weather.

Baby Monitor/Camera

Our choice: Eufy Indoor Camera E30. Baby monitors are quite pricy, so we simply went for an indoor camera with great price to functionality ratio. We can connect it to our Apple HomeKit so it’ easy to use on the iPad or our iPhones, which become the monitors once the baby goes to sleep and is rather convenient. We also will reuse the cameras for indoors monitoring/security afterwards so it doesn’t feel “wasted”. I have to say that there is definitely also value in dedicated baby monitors, especially when travelling to places that do not have a reliable wifi connection. We definitely lacked on that front so ended up buying a travel wifi router for a few travels which was ok, but if you travel a lot to places like these, you might consider a baby monitor that does not require wifi.

Verdict: A must-have item, but do your research on the features you actually need.

Nursery Essentials

Crib

Our crib was a hand-me-down from friends and worked perfectly. It’s a bedside wooden crib that works into toddlerhood, attaches to the bed and has one side that goes down, to make night time easier. (similar to this one) We used it for naps and even a few hours at night initially, but then moved to full co-sleeping in our bed around two months, and we haven’t used it since. Post-birth tiredness and then newborn days were exhausting with feeding around the clock, and getting up constantly to pick him up from his crib at night was too much. Side lying feeding and co-sleeping saved my sanity.

Verdict: An essential, but absolutely no need to spend a fortune on it.

Changing Table

Our changing table was also second-hand (somewhat similar to this one). It has an extension that allows the baby to lie straight rather than sideways, which I particularly liked for a bit of extra safety once he started rolling. I like that the extension can come off completely once it’s not needed anymore so it can then function as a normal sideboard. A changing table isn’t glamorous, but when you’re constantly changing diapers, having a setup that works makes a difference. You can always use an existing sideboard you might have at home or check the secondary market for a dedicated one and save some money. We like having a dedicated one because we also use it as the dresser for the little one’s clothes and items.

Verdict: Necessary for both storage and diaper changes and don’t forget to check the pre-loved market.

Changing Mat

Our choice. Nattou Changing Mat. Simple, wipeable and still looking almost brand new after a year of heavy use. To me it’s a must-have item because keeps things easy after all the diaper change time “accidents” that happen all the time. Wipe, disinfect and done.

Verdict: A must. Exactly what I wanted from a changing mat.

Baby Clothing

Baby essentials for the first year are not complete without clothing of course. And clothes are probably one of the hardest categories to keep under control. There is just something about newborn clothes that you can’t resist. But it’s good to remember that your baby will probably wear them for approximately five minutes before outgrowing them. Becasue that’s the thing, they grow so fast. That, and the fact that you don’t need that much, especially if you have a washing and drying machine combo at home to do laundry as often as needed. You will also learn your baby and adjust on the go. If they leak often or have reflux and the clothes get dirty fast, then you can order another batch rather quickly. I am so happy we kept things fairly minimal and had roughly the following.

Clothing items

• 3–5 wool/silk bodies
• 3-5 cotton onesies
• 2–3 body + pants sets
• 1–2 hats, including a wool hat or balaclava for cold days
• 3–5 pairs of socks and mittens
• 2–3 knit cardigan + pants sets
• 2-3 wool body + pants sets for the cold season (I love Dilling for that)
• 1 Woolwalk suit for the cold season (I love the Hessnatur one and we bought it big enough to last from autumn through winter and until spring)

That was plenty for us. We basically bought the same things (give or take) for the next size once he outgrew the current one. We relied on H&M for most cotton pieces or DM (our local drugstore that has a good selection of baby items and clothes). Some things as well we bought bigger on purpose – like a few of his Dilling wool/silk body and pants sets and his outer layer, the Hessnatur Woolwalk overall suit – so they would last us for the whole cold season, from autumn through winter and then spring.

Baby clothing care

One key recommendations is using natural fibers as much as possible such as cotton, wool, cashmere or silk. Especially for the first layer of clothing it’s great to use thermoregulating fibers. We loved using merino wool & silk blend bodies for the newborn days. They’re extremely soft, a bit stretchy and just nice to use for both parents and babies. If you can get a few and then hand wash them in cold water or use the wool setting on your washing machine (very important), I promise you will love them.

We’ve also started using a dedicated laundry detergent and softener that are free from fragrance and dyes and are better for sensitive skins. We use the Ecover Zero line for both the detergent and the softener. And the wool version for our wool items which i mostly hand wash.

Verdict: Buy less than you think you need and figure out what you like and need more of on the go.

Bath Time & Baby Care

We kept bath time very simple. The bathtub and insert were both hand-me-downs from friends, and we still use the small tub now at 1+ year. We also had a Philips Avent thermometer for the bath and room, a couple of BIBS bath towels and a muslin towel that gets plenty of use.

For skincare, we kept things equally simple. I am not a fan of using creams, shower gels and so on. A few drops of almond oil in the bath or for massage was pretty much it. We avoided using any washing gel until he turned one and even now we limit it.

We also kept a small collection of basics at home: an ear thermometer, rectal thermometer, Frida baby manual nasal aspirator, baby nail file and clipper, diaper rash cream (Weleda and Hallo Hebame usually have good ingredients ) and a little hair brush. You can buy so many little things, but in reality you don’t need much. If anything new is needed just buy it on the go and as needed once the baby is here.

Muslin cloths, muslin blankets and also bibs

We also used plenty of muslin cloths, muslin blankets and also bibs once the drooling started, which we still use. Don’t go crazy on the muslin cloths, a pack of 10 or so should be enough for the start and try various sizes. A pack of smaller ones for spit ups and a handful of bigger ones which you can use as blankets or towels. We love BIBS in our household, which we use for a surprisingly large portion of our baby accessories, including the muslin cloths. We have their medium and big sized muslin cloths, bath towel, muslin blankets, pacifiers, bibs, teethers, pacifier cases and clips and probably more. I can’t even say I planned that, but we loved all their products because they are both well made and pretty.

Other Things We Actually Used

A breastfeeding pillow was very useful in the early months. I casually got the Ikea one because I didn’t think much of it. It’s a simple, inexpensive one and the pillow itself is light buy quite hard. Since I had a C-section, the stiffness of it was always a bit uncomfortable to use for me but at the same time it had enough structure for the baby not to slide around. So I would not recommend mine necessarily, but a good breastfeeding pillow is definitely a must for the first few months.

Swaddles. We used a swaddle for sleep time for the first few months and it worked really well for us since he would sleep 4, 5 even 6 hour stretches at times. A pack of three of the easy wrap swaddle from aden + anais was enough and helped the little one sleep very well and very tight.

Weaning & Meal Time

You don’t need these weaning items from the beginning, but they are still useful in the first year so I included them in my list of baby essentials. We bought these around 6 months, once we actually started introducing solids, so we took our time with picking them.

High Chair

Our choice: Bugaboo Giraffe High Chair. We really bought into the Bugaboo universe so we went with theirs when choosing our high chair too. Although I also loved the look of the Stokke which I know is very popular, I am very happy we went with the Bugaboo Giraffe. It’s safe, practical and adjustable as it works through toddlerhood and beyond too, and very importantly, the dark wood version also looks very stylish in the house.

Verdict: Worth the splurge for us, especially for the elevated interior design vibes.

Bibs, trays & mats

A lot of the weaning process is protecting the floor, the surfaces around and yourself when it comes to cleaning. Weaning is messy, so we got a few things to help with that. We have an Amazon attachable bib tray that we use sometimes, a Mushie wipable mat for under the high chair, as well as waterproof bibs from our local store (similar to these). They’re all big helpers and keep the mess to a manageable level.

We also got silicone forks and spoons as well as plates that we don’t need to worry about when the little one bites on them or when they get thrown around. They work perfectly fine, and we also use regular plates and teaspoons a lot, but to be honest I am also planning to transition to stainless steel versions as I think they are more durable and also safer for food in general. Perhaps something like this would strike the right balance.

Freezer meals portion containers

These were a game changer for weaning for us, because it allowed us to meal prep nutritious foods for the little one. We used the freezer silicone portion containers to always have portioned homemade purees on hand. I got various sizes and I still use them to this day so I always have something easy to grab for mealtime.

A Few Nice-to-Haves

Baby Nest

Our choice: Musselin Kuschelnest NIDO. We got this as a gift and used it quite a bit during the first few months as a supervised place to put the baby down while keeping him close. There are plenty of versions and the snuggle me nest is also very pretty and honestly there are plenty of options to choose from. If you want to save the money here, you probably can also use your pregnancy pillow for making a similar nest.

Nappy Bin

Our choice: Chicco nappy pail. We found this one convenient for nighttime changes during the first seven or eight months. Once solids started, however, the smell made us rethink that decision. We eventually went back to a regular bin and emptied it daily.

Verdict: Neither is necessary but they are nice to have.

Things We Didn’t Buy

This list is probably just as important. We didn’t buy a breast pump, baby bottles, a white noise machine, a dedicated tummy-time gym, a wipes warmer or endless toys and gadgets. I deliberately waited to see how breastfeeding would go before buying a pump. In the end, I exclusively breastfed and never felt that I needed one. We also didn’t feel the need for a house full of toys. Babies really don’t need that much entertainment in the beginning. There was always something around for him to look at, grab or eventually try to put into his mouth.

The biggest lesson for me was simply this: you don’t need to anticipate every possible need before the baby arrives. If you realise three months in that you need something, you can buy it then.

One Year Later

Looking back, I am so happy with how we approached baby shopping and how we picked our baby essentials for the first year. We bought some things new, borrowed from friends, bought second-hand and splurged on a few things that mattered to us. Could we have both less? Probably. Could we have bought more? Absolutely. But I’m glad we didn’t.

And interestingly, the things I would recommend most strongly aren’t necessarily the most expensive. The hand-me-down crib was great. The second-hand changing table was an amazing find. The borrowed bouncer was a game changer. At the same time, I am very happy we splurged on a few things. The stroller, travel stroller and especially the baby carrier have been used so much that, for us, they were worth every cent.

I think that is ultimately what worked for us: buy less, but buy well where it matters to you. Borrow when you can, buy second-hand when it makes sense and don’t be afraid to wait.

And if you do end up buying something you didn’t need? Welcome to parenthood. I’m sure we all have at least one baby purchase that seemed like a brilliant idea at 35 weeks pregnant.

What would you add to this list of baby essentials? And if you’re already a parent, what was the one baby product you genuinely couldn’t have lived without?