Bananas Mode On

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I’m the kind of practical mom who hates clutter. Seriously – the idea of piles of baby stuff you barely use before outgrowing it drives me insane. Kids grow so fast in that first year, and half the newborn-size things you buy never even make it out of the drawer after you leave the hospital.

As a mom of two, I put together this no-nonsense list of what you actually need for baby’s first year – based on our life in forever-summer Florida and our full-time road trip through colder states. I broke it down into categories so it’s easy to save and actually use. Trust me, bookmark this before you hit “add to cart.”

Clothing (start with 0-3 months – skip newborn size completely)

• 5–7 short-sleeve bodysuits
• 5–7 long-sleeve bodysuits (only if you’re in a colder state)
• 3–4 lightweight pants (colder states)
• 5–6 pairs of socks (colder states)
• 2–4 thin footed sleepers (colder states)
• Large cotton swaddles you can actually wrap a baby in (hospital ones are the gold standard – I never found better)
• Sleep sacks (size up so they last longer)
• 2–3 cotton hats (cooler weather only)
• Burp cloths (my first never spit up, my second lived on them – you never know)

Never buying:

• Long-sleeve cardigans or sweaters – they ride up and leave baby’s belly exposed
• Separate T-shirts – same problem

My older son basically lived in short-sleeve bodysuits his entire first year in Miami. We never once put on pants or socks. Convenient, right? 😅

Shoes

• Zero shoes until baby is pulling to stand or cruising with support. Feet need to feel the floor for proper development – putting them in shoes too early is a hard no (more on the physiology in another post).

Once they’re walking: soft, flexible slippers that actually support the foot (we loved ours – wish they made adult sizes).

Feeding Gear (starting solids around 6 months)

• Non-slip suction bowl
• Simple small spoon (no airplanes or animal heads – keeps eating about the food, not the distraction)
• Silicone bib with pocket (easy clean = mom win)
• Straw sippy cup (test ones baby can actually drink from independently – usually 9–10 months)
• High chair (so baby learns to sit and self-feed properly)

Never buying:

• Mesh fruit feeders – they skip real food textures, which is crucial during solids intro
• Airplane/spoon toys – again, distracts from actual eating
• Squeeze pouch spoons – baby doesn’t practice self-feeding
• Hard-to-suck sippy cups – frustrating and delays independence

Sleep, Play & Getting Around

• Car seat
• Co-sleeper (0–9 months)
• Crib (after 6 months – some use from birth)
• Mobile (with clear, full images baby can actually see from below – otherwise it’s just for your aesthetic)
• Soft crib bumpers (if using a crib)
• Lounger (great for supervised naps up to ~9 months)
• All-in-one stroller (bassinet converts to seat – game changer for travel)
• Tummy time mat (simple, not overstimulating – its job is soft and warm, not a light show)
• Play mat for floor time (from 3–4 months when rolling starts)
• Bouncer (only first months – ditch once baby rolls)
• High chair
• Changing table
• Baby bathtub
• Breast pump (if breastfeeding)
• Bottles (3 were enough for me while breastfeeding; more if formula)
• Pacifier + clip (if using)
• Teethers
• Sensory balls
• Bottle brush
• Baby gates (once crawling)
• Reusable waterproof pads (saves sheets when diapers leak)
• Diaper bag
• Baby Camera

Totally useless in my experience:

• Wipe warmer
• Bottle warmer
• Playpen (restricts movement and exploration – floor time with gated safe zones is better)

Hard no – actually harmful:

• Pillows, blankets, stuffed animals in the crib (SIDS risk)
• Walkers
• Jumpers
• Bumbo-style seats

(I’ll dive deep into the physiology why in a separate post.)

Consumables

• Vitamin D drops
• Diapers (size up as needed)
• Wipes
• Baby-safe ear swabs
• Diaper cream (for rash emergencies)
• Gentle baby wash/shampoo
• Dish soap for bottles

For Mom in Postpartum

• Heavy-flow pads
• Cooling spray/pads (natural birth must-have)
• Seamless comfy underwear
• Nursing nightgown (if breastfeeding)
• Lanolin cream (breastfeeding lifesaver)
• Pump lubricant spray (made pumping painless – my holy grail discovery)
• Postpartum vitamins (take care of YOU)

Download this checklist so you don’t forget anything, and let me know in the comments if it saved you from buying junk!

Moms – what would you add? What was the most useless thing you bought for your baby? Spill it below – I read every single one.

P.S. For expecting mamas – my hospital bag checklist is coming next!