What To Skip When Space is Limited: Smart Buys for your Newborn
Bringing home a newborn is so exciting, and it is common for new parents to overbuy to prepare. Between all the adorable clothes and accessories to the baby gear you “need” to have, it can become overwhelming.
But here’s the truth: babies don’t need nearly as much stuff as the baby aisle (or Instagram) makes you think.
Especially if you're living in a small space (looking at you, New Jersey and New York), where closets are basically gold and your hallway might be doing double duty as stroller parking, a laundry station, or even your "home office." In city apartments, minimalism isn’t really a trend... it’s just how you survive.
We want your postpartum journey to feel peaceful, stress-free, and joyful (yes, that’s actually possible). Just because the baby comes home doesn’t mean your space should suddenly feel like it belongs to baby gear instead of you. If you're tight on space—or just want to keep things simple—here are a few things you can skip buying, totally guilt-free.
Bottle Sterilizer
Unless your baby has specific health needs or you just really enjoy owning kitchen appliances that only do one thing, you can skip this. A pot of boiling water or the sanitize cycle on your dishwasher gets the job done just fine.
Huge Crib
An oversized crib in a small apartment is like putting a king bed in a walk-in closet. You could… but should you?
Instead, go for a mini crib, which is perfectly cozy for those early months—and often folds up or rolls out of the way.
Bottle Warmer
A bottle warmer takes up counter space and isn't always the most effective option. Most babies will be perfectly fine with room-temperature or gently warmed bottles from a bowl of hot water.
Baby Breeza
The Baby Brezza is a great invention used to mix and warm formula automatically - but it’s large, bulky, and not a must-have. This might only be worth it to you if you are exclusively formula feeding.
Newborn specific clothes
Tiny clothes are so adorable they should be illegal. But truthfully? Newborns grow faster than your laundry pile, and they’ll outgrow those outfits in two weeks flat. Stock up on a few basics, and focus more on 0–3 month sizes.
Why Minimalism Matters (Especially in Small Spaces)
Minimalism is super important when bringing home your newborn, as it creates a calm, safe, and clutter free environment. Plus, fewer bulky items mean fewer corners to bump into (for you and your baby).
And honestly? With less stuff, there's less to clean, fold, sanitize, and trip over at 3 a.m. when you’re half-awake looking for a pacifier.
When you live in a smaller space, like an apartment in NYC or Jersey, minimalism becomes your best friend. It’s not about giving up the good stuff—it’s about choosing only the stuff that makes your life easier.
