Baby things you can skip
By Hamid Ouchlah, founder of DueDuo · Last updated Wed, October 14, 2026
Baby lists are long, and a lot of what's on them is optional. Here are 10 things you can skip or put off, plus what's worth buying second-hand and the short list of what you'll actually use early on. Two of the 10 aren't just unnecessary: they aren't safe for a sleeping baby. It's the same guide DueDuo uses for your shared baby budget.
Eight more you can skip or put off
- Wipe warmer. Babies don't need warm wipes.
- Baby shoes before walking. Socks do the job.
- Special baby laundry detergent. Any fragrance-free, dye-free detergent works.
- A dedicated changing table. A changing pad (changing mat) on a sturdy dresser (chest of drawers) does the same job.
- Lots of newborn-size clothes. Buy a few, then go straight to 0 to 3 months.
- Baby food maker. Solids start months later, and a blender or a fork works.
- Designer diaper bag (nappy bag). Any backpack with pockets will do.
- Matching nursery furniture sets. Your baby needs a safe place to sleep, not a matching set.
What's worth buying second-hand
- Great second-hand: clothes, bouncers, carriers, strollers (pushchairs), books and toys.
- Check any second-hand gear against official recall lists, such as cpsc.gov/Recalls in the US.
- Avoid a second-hand car seat unless you know its full history: never in a crash, not past its expiry date, with all its parts and labels, and not recalled.
What you do need
Before the birth
- Infant car seat (new, or second-hand only with its full history)
- Crib (cot) or bassinet (Moses basket) with a firm, flat mattress
- Fitted sheets x3
- Sleep sacks (baby sleeping bags) or swaddles x3
- Bodysuits (vests) and sleepsuits in 0 to 3 months (second-hand is fine)
- Diapers (nappies) and wipes for the first month
- Feeding basics
- Stroller (pushchair) or carrier (second-hand is fine)
- Thermometer, nail clippers and saline drops
- Postpartum recovery supplies for the birthing parent
Nice to have, after the baby shower or the first few weeks
- Baby monitor
- Bouncer (borrow one if you can)
- Changing pad on a dresser you already have
- Nursing pillow
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