This is the first post in a new section called Rabbit Hill, where we’ll share some notes about babies, parenthood, and education.

We often get asked for baby item suggestions. Now that we have three babes I think we have a useful retrospect on what’s been worthwhile. Let’s start with the longest list, things it turns out you don’t need.

Things we never bought, or found out we didn’t need:

• Changing table - I always just laid baby down on a cloth nappy or a towel on the floor for a change.

• Moses basket - Very cute but you will use it only once or twice, to take a picture in. Mostly a baby is in your arms, and if you need to lay her down it will likely be more convenient to lay heron a blanket on the floor, couch, or bed.

• Newborn bath - Newborns don’t need baths, get them clean with a warm washcloth if there’s been a blowout, or use a gentle oil like MCT to clean behind the ears, in the neck, etc).

• Baby monitor - Most people would consider this an essential, but it simply wasn’t necessary with the way our house is laid out, and we never got one.

• White noise machine - If you have an air purifier or fan you could just turn it on if you want to try background noise.

• Diaper pail - Put nappies in your trash bin. You can use plastic grocery bags to seal them after baby begins solids, before that they are benign.

• Diaper bag - When you go out, all you really need is a couple nappies, a pack of wipes, a plastic grocery bag (to wrap up the nappy if need be), and a cloth nappy to lay baby down on -- just keep these things in a tote bag in the car.

• Baby “products” like shampoo, body wash, lotion etc - Just unnecessary! Babies don’t need anything on their delicate skin. Use MCT oil as needed. (I keep mentioning MCT because it’s pure, suitable for sensitive skin, and slightly antifungal.)

• Special baby towels/wash cloths

• Nursing pillow - Use a regular pillow

• Baby nail clippers - Regular small clippers work perfectly well

• Literally any infant toys/gyms/play mats/activity center. Around 12-18 months you can get a pikler triangle and start thinking about toys. Babies are happy to improvise.

• Baby books - seriously, you can read your baby Boethius if you want. They just want to listen to your voice at this stage. For reading, once your babe is really ready to attend, we’ll make a post on our favorite children’s books soon.

• “Learning tower” - we just use a chair. If you have a sturdy Windsor chair you can turn it around.

• Any baby specific utensils/plates/bowls - If you have a good chair like the Tripp Trapp, most food can go on the tray. They are good at using normal metal utensils surprisingly quickly.

• Sippy cup - I found it is no trouble to give the baby little sips of water from a regular drinking glass once they start solids, and then they easily get the hang of holding a glass before long.

Really essential items

• Baby carrier - this is a tough one because everyone has a different style they prefer, and I tried many before I found the one that worked comfortably for me - the Sakura Bloom Scout. Totally worth the price tag, I used it every day with my second two until they were too big for it.

• Crib - we have the IKEA Sniglar and it has been great. (Sleep recommendations, and how we used the crib along with co sleeping in another post!)

• Sleep suit - Indispensable, especially in winter. Castleware & Woolino are great brands.

• Pack of large cloth pre-fold nappies - Like the ones from Green Mountain Diaper. These are useful as mini changing blankets, and they’re thick and highly absorbent so great as a nursing cloth and burp cloth in the early days.

• Set of muslins/burp cloths for much the same reason. Sometimes you want a thick cloth like the cloth nappies I just mentioned, sometimes you want a thin drapey one. You’ll see.

• Baskets or designated drawer for “stations” with wipes, nappies, and cloths - one upstairs, one down.

• Basket for clothes - (you don’t need a dresser for baby, one side of a drawer or a basket will do). I like woven baskets because they can easily be moved and don’t look out of place in any room.

• Nose Frida with the saline spray - Buy this before the baby arrives, you do not want to be without it when baby has his first stuffy nose. The saline spray is essential to the suction working!

• MCT oil - For cleaning behind ears, neck folds etc. Natural and mildly anti-fungal. One of the best things to have around. We decant into little bottles like these.

• Plastic scrapers - Like a pack of 3 from the hardware store. Get these when you introduce solids to make cleaning easier.

• Silicon bib - any brand.

Very nice to have but non essential

• Baby Bjorn bouncer - eventually you’re going to need somewhere to put your baby down. A blanket is fine at first, but it’s nice for baby to be supported where they can see you, and mine enjoyed the gentle self propelled bouncing.

• Stroller - For the first few months the carrier feels much more natural and convenient, but if you do want to use a stroller with a newborn, consider one your car seat can attach to. In my opinion the stroller brands with the most thoughtful and ergonomic design are Nuna and Bugaboo.

• Stokke Tripp Trapp - just a really nicely designed high chair that transitions from the baby stage through toddlerhood. The removable tray is easy to clean, and removing the tray lets you push it right up against a table. When they’re a little older, the harness is removable so they can sit at the table properly.

Mainly I want you to see that the long lists the Internet will feed you of things you need are really just things brands want you to buy, and what you really need is determined by your own situation. This is what my own experience determined, and hopefully it can help you sort out your own needs.

Love,

Simi