What to Buy Before Baby vs. What to Wait and See
(The “don’t waste your money” list that saves parents hundreds)
You’re standing in Target with a registry gun, heart racing, terrified you’ll forget something critical.
Or you’ll buy everything and end up with a closet full of stuff baby hates.
Here’s the exact breakdown parents wish they’d had — what to buy now, what to wait on, and what to skip forever.
Buy Before Baby Arrives (You’ll use these day 1)
- Car seat (installed and checked — 90 % of parents do it wrong the first time)
- Somewhere to sleep (bassinet or crib with firm mattress + 2 sheets)
- 12–15 onesies, 7–10 footie pajamas, 5–7 swaddles/sleep sacks
- Diapers size N + 1 (2–3 packs), wipes, cream
- 10–15 burp cloths
- Basic feeding supplies (bottles + formula OR nursing pillow + nipple cream)
- Sound machine + blackout curtains
Quick science: Safe sleep setup (firm mattress, bare crib) cuts SIDS risk by over 50 %. Everything else can wait.
(Source: American Academy of Pediatrics Safe Sleep 2022)
“We bought a $1,200 nursery set. Baby slept in a pack ’n play in our room for 6 months.”
— Dad in r/daddit
Wait and See (Buy after baby arrives — you’ll know what you actually need)
- Stroller (walk the neighborhood first — you might hate the one you thought you loved)
- Baby carrier (Ergo, Solly, Tula — try them on with real baby weight)
- Swing/bouncer (some babies hate them)
- Fancy monitor (phone + cheap camera works fine at first)
- Bottle warmer, wipe warmer, diaper pail refills
- Toys beyond a play mat
“Spent $300 on a swing. Baby screamed the second we put him in it. Returned it week 2.”
— Mom in r/BabyBumps
Skip Forever (Parents regret these the most)
- Baby shoes (they don’t walk)
- Wipe warmer (makes wipes less effective)
- Pee-pee teepees
- 47 cute outfits for newborn photos
- Bumbo seat (not safe until they have head control anyway)
Quick science: Babies grow 1–2 clothing sizes in the first 3 months. Stocking up early means half the stuff never gets worn.
(Source: HealthyChildren.org – AAP Growth Charts)
Gear That Made a Difference for Parents
- Guava Lotus Travel Crib “Used it as a safe play spot from day 1. Worth waiting for the real need.”
- BabyBjörn Bouncer (bought used) “Waited until week 4 — knew we needed it then.”
- Owlet Sock (added after a scary night) “Peace of mind when we realized we were paranoid.”
Your Buy-Now / Wait List
Buy now
- Sleep setup
- Car seat
- Basic clothes
- Diapers + feeding
Wait and see
- Stroller
- Carrier
- Swing/bouncer
- Monitor upgrades
Skip forever
- Shoes
- Warmers
- Cute overload
You’ve got this.
Buy the essentials, breathe, and remember — Amazon delivers in 24 hours.
One tiny human, one giant adventure at a time. ❤️
