Baby clothes were the hardest for me to let go of. I went through years of Secondary Infertility, and I just couldn't bring myself to let go of them. I had so much sentimental attachment, memories, and longing for more children, that I had to almost go through a grieving process in order to let go of them. BUT, I decided to give away a lot of them to a family in need. It was painful, and yet rewarding. And, wouldn't you know, within about a years time I became pregnant and God blessed us with another baby...of the opposite gender!! 😂😂 So, I didn't even need those clothes anymore! All that to say, I'm thankful that I chose to be a blessing to someone else even in my pain. Those clothes got to be worn again, and did not go to waste sitting in a box!
I am going through secondary infertility now for 5 years and I haven’t not been able to let hardly anything go. But it’s taking up so much space I know I need to get rid of it. Thank you for sharing your story. Goes me the courage to let it go.
heatbar312 , it's okay if you are not ready. It took time and a grieving process for me to get to that place of finally letting go. But, when you are ready, I know your generousity will be such a blessing. 💓 I am so sorry that you are on such a hard journey of secondary infertility. Know that you are not alone, and I'm wishing you all the best! ((Hugs))
Got married later in life and grateful to have two healthy kiddos. Was offered SO many baby hand-me-downs from friends whose kids were 8-12 years old, and they were kind of out of date. My toddler did not mind wearing Paris Hilton circa 2006 hot pink velour track suits, but it did look a little silly in 2017. It motivated me to pass on baby things right away before they go out of style.
My son is now 43 - i have kept a pair of his brown leather school sandals that he wore when he was seven! I can’t bear to throw them away, and they were too worn to pass on. But they make me feel happy whenever I get them out to look at, as he was such a delightful little boy, and they bring back happy memories. He has grown into a lovely, kind and good man. I am so proud of him. Gage is so cute (as are all your children) - it does seem a world away that one day he will be a mature grown man too! But the time goes by so quickly.
Love how you think of every topic to go through this minimalist lifestyle. Great suggestions! Congrats again on the pregnancy, Diana! You look beautiful!
As a grandparent, it was so much easier to replace than to store. Storage was such a pain that I have no regrets selling or donating when it’s no longer needed. With marketplace when I needed a new pack and play, high chair, bouncer I could get practically new stuff for cheap so I had no desire to even think about storing for the next one that may or may not happen.
You only had 4 bins! Good starting point to declutter. Dawn, the young pictures of your kids are so enjoyable. Thank you for sharing those with us! Most surprising "must have" item was a travel bottle warmer that plugs into the car outlet. So helpful, so simple.
I purged ALL baby items in once swoop once we decided we were going to adopt only moving forward. It felt so liberating and I agree, I had no idea what is was! I feel a little teeny tiny ping of regret sometimes but I realize it wasn't regret missing those items it was just missing when my babies were actual babies! To get myself over that feeling of loss, I look at BABY pictures and remind myself I LOVE all the space we gained from pursing!
We kept a fair bit between kids until our family was complete because I was not a minimalist then. In so many instances the clothing that was put away visibly spotless was stained when I pulled it out again or the elastic was shot, even though it was in tubs in climate controlled storage. I would acquire and keep so much less if I could do it again. We found we were doing laundry every day anyway so less is so much easier.
I have had 5 kids over a 15 year time period and I can say I’ve had such a variety of personalities. 4 loved the swing and the fun jump play saucer but baby #5 only wants to be with mama so baby wearing is our focus. So you really just never know truly what baby’s preference is so borrowing is def a great idea! I didn’t have an opportunity to borrow for this baby and have def over purchased since we had gotten rid of all our things after baby #4. I’m also learning that having about 7 sleepers during the winter and 1-2 nice outfits is the perfect wardrobe for a baby. I finally learned to stop over buying the cute clothes :)
I put much thought into the stuff I wanted because our first came when we were in a tiny one-bedroom apartment 27 years ago. I requested money for my baby shower as I didn't want that much stuff and was saving for a high-quality stroller/bassinet combo (Emma Junga). At my shower, there was a banner made of baby sox and each sock had a gift of money inside. So adorable and thoughtful! I had an infant sponge instead of a tub, a stroller that doubled as a bassinet, and a glider rocker and car seat. The rocker and car seat were gifts from family. Always used a chest of drawers for a changing spot. A swing was a lifesaver, which was free because it was loaned. My mom made receiving blankets. So that was my minimalist start with baby stuff. I have been decluttering lots of stuff (thank you so much Dawn!!!) and came across blankets from my daughters that had their names embroidered on them. I made the mental note to not gift other expectant mama's monogrammed baby items because you can't reuse or resell it.
I'm a grandmother and have only kept a few sentimental clothing items... christening outfit or sweater set. But I make up for that with all my stuff that I'm working on letting go. Dawn it was so sweet to see pics of your children when they were younger.
My brother and sister in law and my husband and I had our kids in a staggered fashion that enabled us to perfectly trade the big baby things back and forth. We're both all done now so I donated it all last fall! Felt Great! Lol
Ohhhhhh how I needed this!!!! We recently moved in North Idaho and our stuff is still in storage back in Washington while we continue to search for our forever home… I can’t count how many boxes of items we have and I even decluttered before we left.🤦♀️ thank you for this! This is a good reminder of what we need and don’t need and trust me I have a lot! It’s so ridiculous! Thank you for giving me the “OK“ to get rid of things and realize that things do go out of season and how easily they are replaced.💗
Muslins muslins muslins, especially with breast feeding they were such a must have. Now mine are bigger and they are my cleaning clothes. Must have also is a sling/carrier. We used resuable nappies too and they did both kids then we sold the set so it was good for the environment and our pockets. Easier now as they have poppers than the old style ones.
My 2nd was a good surprise, but I had gotten rid of everything. I was gifted so much I hardly bought anything. People are so happy to see their baby stuff used again!
These are such good tips! Absolutely true that baby stuff is the easiest to replace. I’ve bought so much baby gear (swings, jumperoos, etc), second hand, used it for a baby or two, then sold it for the same price I bought it for! Win win 😊
Thanks for sharing! I recently went through this process. Last year we decided that Hannah (3) was our last baby, so I sold all the furniture and other large items and gave away smaller items. If we ever become grandparents (hopefully in more than 10 years), we can easily buy things again. I saved the first set of clothes, shoes and teats for every child. I literally don't have any baby stuff anymore and I don't miss it either. If we have foster children in the future, they will be age 3+. Oh, and I bought a new carrier with my last baby, a Mei Tai. Loved, loved, loved it (so much more than the previous ones). Hannah lived in that thing.
Love seeing the pictures of your babies! For both of our children we knew only days before bringing them home (adopting), we realized how little we needed and people passed several things along to us too. It was such a blessing, when I know someone is bringing home baby it is the best feeling to pass things on to them.
I made my own Moby wrap (2 for like $22 in fabric). Hands down my favorite baby product ever!! I sleep trained my kids in that thing & it’s SO comfy when popping them in and out of it without all the straps & buckles of other carriers that me & my babies hated. Easy to wear (once you learn to tie) & easy to wash. I had them for 2 of my 6 kids but wish I’d had it for all of them. There’s a reason it’s so popular worldwide. My babies hated all those chairs, swings, seats too. They just want to be held close to mama. 💗 Only downside for me is that they’re really hot in the summer. Other than that, a crib & a car seat are all you really need for gear. My youngest is now 3 & it feels SO good to phase out all the baby stuff. Loving it!!
Oh my gosh. I literally have a room in my house that is unusable right now because of all the kids clothes... We're not planning on any more kids but I've been hanging on to them anyway for my in-laws who might have kids but not even in their foreseeable future yet... What am I doing?! After watching this video I feel like I can let it go and release that stress.
I had 2 boys (now 8&6) and about 2 years ago I decided I was done having babies and NEEDED to declutter and stop hanging on to stuff. Managed to only save about a diaper box full of favorite baby toys and outfits. One thing I just couldn’t let go outside of the box of things, was a baby carrier that I just loved! Well.. Last year, we realized we weren’t done 😂 and I’m currently 25 weeks prego with a girl and plan to have at least one more! I do not regret getting rid of nearly everything because looking back now, it would be so outdated and I honestly had too much of it all to begin with, most never used. I’m happy to have a fresh start with a simpler mindset. I’ve already been given so many hand-me-downs and plan to be as simple as possible in the first year. Baby must haves: a long fabric wrap like Moby and a more sturdy wrap like the one you mentioned in the video, XL muslin clothes and a bassinet on wheels!
Just had baby #3 and I know we are done! Still found this super helpful because we might adopt in the future but we are not sure. I got rid of so much after baby #2 yet I still have so much, definitely need to declutter now. Thanks ladies! 😊❤️
I really loved the tripp trapp chair (not sure if you have them in the US, I am from Germany). You can use it from age 0 to age 6, the kids can climb on it easily themselves - I just loved it. Love your channel, best wishes from Germany!
I have six kids (ages 1-7, including a set of twins). Because I have so much stuff, the thought of selling baby clothes online was overwhelming, so I just decided to donate instead. My mom tried to make me feel guilty for not trying to make a few extra bucks, but I don't regret my decision because getting it out of my house quickly made me feel so much lighter! With every baby that comes along, I find I need fewer items. The best investment I ever made was a Bumbleride Indie Twin double stroller - I could talk all day about why I love mine... Dawn, if you're reading this, I am so happy that I came across your channel when I did. You've inspired me to finally commit to some much needed decluttering, and it is already affecting so many aspects of my life. Thank you!
I needed your post. I'm the second of ten siblings. My mom hung onto ALL the clothes and there are several things we all wore. She gave me lots when I had my first and I found I didn't use many because they were threadbare or the style was very outdated. But growing up hanging on to everything "just in case" has influenced me and I have 7 tubs of clothes I saved from my son (4 yrs). Our next baby was a little girl, completely different season, and different size so all those clothes I held onto for 4 years are still just sitting, and yes, I'm finding weird stains even though I washed all of them before putting them away! Anyway, it's been an emotional event going through them to find what to donate and I keep feeling guilty for not trying to sell it, but every time I've tried it's been such a big deal and then people contact you and back out, then I look through them again and decide to keep them, and I just need that push that it's okay to donate if I'm not going to use them.
@@rcbpiccolo I know exactly what you mean about the stains showing up! I still have a couple bins of clothes left, but I've given my oldest daughter permission to cut up whatever she wants to use for her sewing projects - the cute patterns that I love will be made into something instead of just being stored in a container. Anyway, I'm glad that my comment was helpful for you. Don't feel guilty about getting rid of stuff - you're making room for good things to come into your life!
I cannot tell you how much I needed this video today! I’m going through baby clothes and feeling so overwhelmed. Thank you, you’re a constant source of inspiration 😊
Mum of 3 girls - aged 5, 3 and 9 mths in Australia - my must have’s are Bonds suits (with the double zip), Love to Dream swaddles (again with a double zip), and a play mat with the toys hanging down 💕 Great video!
Awww i see the baby bump!! How sweet!!! We are actually done making babies but hope to foster soon. ☝️waiting on the perfect timing.❤ have a great rest of your week ladies!🌹🌹🌹
My first two were born in the 70s and then in 96 I had my last, he was born the end of May so it was super easy, good time of year for little clothing !! And I sew .
I love your nursery! A great color and so fitting for either a boy or girl. Great video. I had three girls but then two boys before our 6th a girl. She gets everything new at this point but I have a friend with three girls so I pass it all down to them. Every Sunday these three girls are wearing pieces we have given them and it makes me so happy.
We were blessed to have a lot of hand me downs from friends along with gifts so when I went through each size, I kept a capsule wardrobe of comfy clothes for each size. I also kept my carriers, bassinet, swing, activity centre and most toys (these were considered thoughtfully too so we don't have much). My son will be 2 later this month and we're expecting again in mid-May so the seasons should be close enough I hope.
So glad I found this video! This is my current stage of minimalising. Boy, girl, boy and not sure if we are done. I have found white short sleeved vests (in the UK they are called body suits) have been used the most for all three kiddies.
I'm 20 weeks/5 months pregnant after almost 5 years of unexplained infertility. He will be the first grandchild on my side of the family, so he's been spoilt with so many registry items for his nursery and wardrobe. Enjoying the baby videos to help me prepare.
We have had 3 in 3.5 years and are done. My last is 11months now and we are able to pass on all the furniture slowly. I’ve kept a box of my fav outfits I’ve used for all of them and will make a quilt for myself. Other than that, everything goes. I did keep clothes between kids and my baby daughter had finally got into the right season and size to use her oldest sisters clothing. We have basically been gifted all clothing so far.
I spent 6 hours today going through 5 years worth of my sons clothing, parting with about a third of it...and then before heading to bed saw your latest video! Haha! I know I should just part with it all, but we have been trying for 3 years for another baby, and I haven’t been able to ditch the baby clothes. We did part with all our old gear last summer, so besides the crib, a nursing pillow and some carriers the clothes were all I had left. I’m going to hang on to what I’ve got left (I mean that was a lot of work today) mostly because if I give it all up I would feel like I was giving up hope. Thank you so much for all your videos, Dawn! And Diana too! You are so inspirational, and my life is being bettered because of you both. 🥰
First I kept lots, even snippets of shower paper and I do not scrapbook. Minimized and then saved a couple sleepers, and church dedication outfit. So many step up and share when another baby comes along, just as I did with mine!
I would say my biggest baby necessity is my play pen. I have one that has an insert which is nice for when they’re younger. My play pen has been a lifesaver. I trained all four of my kids from when they were newborns to go in the play pen and it helps so much as they get older. As a homeschooling mom, it’s great to be able to let my baby play safely while I need to help my older kids with their learning. Also, I never wore a carrier. I tried one without good support and had a terrible back ache. I never tried again. Thankfully, my kids were pretty content. 🙏🏼🙌🏼 I know that is not always the case. I feel that holding them less when they’re newborns can help them not feel that they need to be held. Not always easy with family and friends, but I found that taking my infant car seat with me and just letting them sleep in that was a discouragement to those who might want to hold my babies all the time.
I started buying all of my kids black snow pants and it’s something I hold on to. My husband laughed this year because we had so many sizes, but we had everyone covered! 👍☺️
You’re so right about being able to find baby kit and clothes easily. Most people are very pleased to get rid of their stuff and pass it on to you! Funnily enough, the carrier is one thing that I haven’t used with either baby. I kept way too much and ended up having a nearly five year gap between babies, but I went through in the interim and got rid of things very much as you suggest here. Something I’m now struggling with is toys. As there is such a large age gap, my two aren’t going to be playing with the same toys for a while, if ever. But I don’t want to hang onto all the toys either. Need some help with that decision-making progress!
I love the idea of passing along baby clothes before they go out of style. We passed along all of our baby clothes after our 2nd girl in hopes that someone could use it. Way better than storing it away for another decade, just for it to end up in the landfill! And if we ever had a 3rd, I would love to curate a new wardrobe of only things I love, hopefully mostly second hand or small shop and ethical!
I know it's not very "minimalist," but my absolute #1 must-have baby item was a Baby Brezza formula maker. I have 18 month-old twins, and I did not breastfeed. Every time I meet someone expecting twins I tell them they absolutely need this modern miracle! Obviously if it works out for you to nurse then this wouldn't apply, but even with a singleton if you're going to be using formula I would recommend a Brezza. And they really hold their value. I bought one second-hand on FB Marketplace and sold it a year later for the same price I paid. My #2 must-have baby item is the Nose Frida. Seriously, you need this. I gift a Nose Frida at every baby shower I go to. We also used the Medi Frida a lot because my kids had several medications at the beginning, but I would say that one isn't a necessity for most people. #3 must-have baby items are a white noise machine and black-out curtains.
Covered good nursing cover and Happy baby wrap were MUST HAVES. Nursing cover became my daughters blanket and she still loves it at age 4! (She hasn't carried it around anymore since she was about 2.5 but it is still adorable) ❤❤❤
Hoping to be done. But being apart of a church family I would just pass the stuff on to the next expecting momma and when my next one was on the way some of it came back. 😜
Best thing we ever bought or were gifted....I don't remember... The boppy pillow. It's THE BEST even if you're not a nursing mom. I used to lay our newborns in it. So comfy, safe, and perfect to rest baby on while feeding.
Loved this! Thank you! Dawn, I loved seeing pictures of your family when your kiddos were little! So sweet! ❤ With our first we kept everything. Now with our second (who is 6 months) as she's outgrowing things, I'm really trying to be aware of what we are keeping. Especially because I think we are done. It's still a challenge but I'm trying REALLY hard not to keep to much. Also we have a few relatives they may have more babies so I feel the need to keep some for them.
The Ingenuity Baby Base was a must have for me. It's similar to the Bumbo and has a tray that stores inside as well as straps to attach it to a chair so you can use it at the table or in restaurants. It also becomes a booster when the child is older. More versatile than Bumbo and cheaper! Also, Halo Sleepsacks were a favorite for me once we were done swaddling. The baby is safe and can't kick the covers off in winter. Can't wait to see what other people loved for their little ones. Thanks for the video! I know I kept too much for the next baby because of that "what if I need it" mentality.
The Minimal Mom thank you! Your videos have changed my life! I’ve been following you and minimizing for a year and my tiny 700sq foot home is decluttered 🙌
I’ve been working to sell or donate all the baby items once our 4th finishes using them. It has been hard because I wanted more children, but medically it isn’t a good idea anymore for us. So I give myself time and space to pair down gradually. It also helps to use the money from selling the baby items to buy something we want or need for the kids or to donate them to a mom at church. It seems like a fun trade instead of a sad loss.
We are right in baby season so I love seeing this kind of content! Our must haves definitely include a wrap style carrier (like the Moby wrap but I have the Sleepy wrap and the Happy Wrap) and a pack of cloth diaper prefold (We use them a ton - burp cloths, emergency diaper, makeshift blanket). For breastfeeding mamas the Haaka is amazing! I use it to catch milk during middle of the night feeds and now we have a freezer stash without me having to do all the work of pumping!
Oh yeah, have two moby wraps (to wash them after accidents) and we love them. Still use them with our big one at 17 month (my husband of course, because am pregnant again) and will use them with the next, too. I borrowed a electronic pump for the first two month, afterwards I did not need it anymore. Is there a possibility to borrow them in the US? Here in Germany you get them without paying with a prescription.
It is so much easier to sell and buy used now that keeping everything is just not necessary. This past time I tried to keep all of the things that could fold flat and be stored easily (sit me up seat, rock and play, and walker). Our crib turns into a toddler bed which makes it more useful. I tried to only keep the gear that I really liked to have because I’ve noticed that with most of my babies there is always some new type of seat or toy. I agree with Diana that my baby carriers are must haves.
Had a “surprise” blessing baby after I got rid of everything! Here are my must haves...zip up sleepers ONLY! Old Navy has great ones! Buy pink or blue only! No frills! 1-2 outfits per size/season. Baby swing that goes side to side or back and forth. I loved our rock and play for sleeping and naps for up to 3 months! I loved the angle for sleeping! As the baby sits up...sitting chair (Amazon about $40)...better than Bumbo in my opinion! A good quality...crib, rocker, car seat/stroller duo! That’s it! 🥰 Oh... and 3 super soft baby blankets!! And some muslin blankets! Don’t buy all the wipes, lotions, creams, etc! Water wipes are the best! Use a washcloth and pure soap for washing! No frills!! 🙌🏻
I kept several of the cutest little baby outfits from when my only child, a daughter was born. By the time my daughter had a daughter 20+ years later, they were still cute, but unusable because elastic had deteriorated, and as you mentioned, the seasons were opposite: my daughter was born in April and hers was born in November. Luckily, I had only kept several favorites, and back then donated a huge bag of the clothes that were practically brand new for new moms in difficult situations to enjoy.
Great video! I think even essentials are going to vary from one family to the next. I am well past baby phase and not quite to grandmother phase so my recall on what we actually used is fuzzy but it wasn't much.
I went through and kept only thing things I was excited to put on another little person. I have a defined space for the baby stuff, so it has to fit. After about size 2 I only kept the REALLY fave things. My daughters are 6 years apart so at this point the only hand-me-downs that are staying are those I know will suit the younger one.
One of my favorite items to have for a baby was a pack of white Gerber cloth diapers. Yiu can get a huge pack at Walmart for cheap. I used these for burp cloths as they absorb a lot & are easy to bleach if you need to. After my child was past the stage of needing them I used them for cleaning rags & to set my dogs water bowl on (he drips water everywhere). There are multiple uses for these other than for cloth diapering (I never used as a diaper).
I love your picture. I can only assume you have done like most people do and post their best picture as their youtube picture. If that was in the 60's/70's, awesome! (sorry I'm not trying to date you, and im not that up on late fashion) You look very beautiful! That style was so gorgeous.
My parents in law have the same problem... But now they enjoy having more space! And they see the baby stuff at our apartment or on our little boy. That helps letting go, although we did not take everything (to old, to stained, not safe anymore...).
@@rebeccastephens6087 you are very sweet thank you! this is not my picture however, I fell in love with it when I saw it under "Old Photo Booth" pictures on Pinterest. I was born in 1964 - so I am 55 years young! Whoever this lady is was very pretty. you have a blessed day!!
You're so right about not needing as much as you thought you did the first time! But I laugh when you say baby stuff is the easiest to replace because you forget what's in there, because I get so sentimental about baby stuff and remember a lot (too much)! My strategy is, keep just what I can't bear to donate because I remember them in that cute stuff. Then next time I go through it, I donate more to pare it down to my or their absolute favorites, as it's easier the farther I get from those baby memories. I have to keep in mind that I won't be using these things and my children probably won't want more than a few keepsakes, if any. First baby I was blessed to have too much given to me. The things that made it through the friend circles and back to my second baby, I still had too much 😂 By the 4th child, I felt like I gathered practically nothing and had plenty 🥰
So I totally needed this video! We are going to be fostering soon. We are also trying to minimize our home for all the good benefits!! We got to the clothing from our only and thought “what do we do with all this? How much do we keep?” Thinking about it as inventory truly cleared my mind, gave me the numbers of what to keep of each age, and was exactly what I needed!! Thank you! I’m gonna go get the baby clothing stuff done now! I’m so excited! Thank you 💜💜💜
I dont keep clothing even much between my 3 girls because I hate clutter. I keep the "keepsake" items and a few favorites. I always pass things on between kids...plus its so fun to shop!
The one thing my daughter used a lot of were sleep sacks. They are safer than putting blankets in the crib/bassinet. And a boppy pillow. My daughter wanted minimal and used a pack and play for her second one rather than buy a new crib. And a good stroller. We bought the Combo lightweight so she could take it on the plane easily.
The other thing that I found was that things that look good on one baby didn’t necessarily look good on the next one of the same sex. My first girl look good in reds and yellows where as the 2nd looked good in orange pink, navy and greens. My first boy looked good in navy, red, Browns an greens where as boy no. 2 looks good in light blue, white, grey and some navy. So baby things easy to let go of and others super hard because of the special memories. It’s amazing how little people can effect you so much. I kept a few for their special boxes and then tried to give other special clothes to friend or my sister’s so that I felt they were going to a special family but also that I would see them being used again. 🥰 I also made sure with my last two kids if there was an outfit they wore a lot that was kind of special I made sure I took pictures of them in it so I had those to enjoy too!
Thank you so much!! We are expecting too! My husband and I both want to be very minimal with this child. I would just love all the tips and tricks I can get. 😊
My mom kept huge bins of baby clothes for us. Most of it was not in good condition anymore when my sisters and I got pregnant. It was my aha moment. It could have been such a blessing for some other moms when donated 25 years ago. So I donated almost all of my baby stuff! I only have 2 outfits left for sentimental box.
Thank you for this video! I have a 3 year old and we haven’t been able to have another. I’m 41 so it’s not as likely to happen and it’s been hard to know if I should keep all the baby stuff for “just in case”. After I watched this I started giving away and selling items. I love your videos!
For my 3 must haves is swing, carrier, I used my changing table for years but kept it in my dining/living room bc we weren’t upstairs much we were in the living spaces, door way jumper, bumboo
I wasn't minimalist when I had my babies, but I did hate all the stuff cluttering up the place! The big baby gear I'd recommend is a rocking chair that is tall enough to lay your head back on, a crib, a moses basket bassinet, a carseat, a stroller, and a high chair. And, if your baby is like my first, a carrier. But my second and third babies did not like them. And because we live in the country and I don't take the bus or public transport, I just used a stroller unless we were visiting the city. (and the double-wide stroller for older baby plus older kid is WONDERFUL for forest walks and the park) No swing or bumbo or jumparoo or whatnot. I found that the babies wanted to roll around on the floor (thick blanket) and wiggle their fingers. If we were somewhere for a day and I wasn't sure about the baby-proofing or cleanliness of the floor, I had the Moses basket bassinet anyway to keep the sleep environment similar, so I could stick the baby in there to play. My super-organized sister in law showed me how to mark boxes with the age and throw the good clothes back in the correct box and go up a size. I called the basement "the store", as in "I'm going shopping for new baby clothes! See you in a minute!" Then as the baby grows into the next size, I'd rummage through, take the ones that were good for that baby, and leave the rest in the box. I tried to stay somewhat gender-neutral for clothes, and also I don't mind a boy in pink or a girl in orange, so it wasn't a problem for me. My kids were all different widths and lengths and temperments, so I'm glad I kept the assortment without trying to pare down. I didn't put it all in their drawers, the extra just went back to the basement, so it really didn't bother me. Like you say, why try to go through things and declutter if it wasn't stressing me out because it was already organized. It was fun to donate the boxes as my youngest grew out of them and watch the basement grow in size, though! (but now I have my "shoe store", labelled by size and on a stack of shelves in the basement... it's only for now, and seeing them all out makes sure that I can buy ahead when I see a good one at the thrift store, and helps not get duplicates)
Hey dawn and Diana thanks for who u are. Love watching ur videos. It would be neat to see a video with u two and ur mom. Sharing what items she kept for the grad kids and ideas for what she does with the grand kids. Thanks
Congratulations Diana ! 🥳 I’m expecting my first, also for mid-april, and look very much forward to your baby essentials video ! Going in baby shops is very overwhelming with all the choices, and I don’t know what to get so that I can function with a new baby while still keeping my sanity and minimal mindset in a small appartement 😱 Thanks to both of you, it’s always a pleasure finding a new video when I wake up on the other side of the Atlantic 😄
I love the way your sister looks at you. I am probably done. 1 boy and 1 girl, less than 2 years apart. I hope they love each other as much as you and your sister do. I know twin relationships are different, but I can hope! lol
I have five kids and the first three are all about four years apart, then 5 and then 6 years. I got rid of most of my things except a few favorites between each. I was living on the coast where I didn’t have storage space and there were so many years between kids. In the beginning I tried to keep more and quickly realized that it wasn’t worth it. Stains appear (somehow), elastic wears out, styles change and seasons are different, like you mentioned. Now my oldest is 23 (my youngest is 4) and I think I’m done but now I’m thinking about possible grandchildren in the next several years. I have a couple boxes of baby things but I may go through them and give away all but my few favorites. I recently learned about a Syrian refugee family in my area that needs baby items so that would be a good place for me to donate.
I didn't like tom at the beggining when I subscribed I thought he was kind of negative ... but I understand his sense of humor now and I love you all! haha u ur sister you guys are so great and he is such a good husband that makes all ur projects and he is really good. My husband actually watches some of ur videos since I introduced him to tom he speaks his language thank you for inspiring us in a realistic way for families ❤❤❤❤
I got all the big things from a friend who had had two kids already (swing, bouncy seat, bumbo, high chair, exercauser) then we sent it back when we were done and she had a third. Then I got it all back for my second and we have sent it on to another friend and it's currently with a 4th different friend! I bought car seats new and we got gifted a stroller (all in from siblings) and a playpen from grandparents (both of which I have sent on to new babies). Carriers are a must especially with a second. I think a comfy chair in the nursery, a carrier and muslin swaddle blankets are a must also a wet/dry bag. Has a spot for wet clothes or clothes with a zip on the front for a clean set of clothes and a cloth is a little clutch to stuff in the diaper bag or even your bag. I still have one in the car for my 4 year old.
Oh also a travel change mat that you can put in your diaper bag. Not everywhere has a clean place to put your baby down (or even a change table). This was a flannel on one side and a wipeable water proof on the other, when it gets messy just toss it in the wash.
Aww! My last 2 baby girls both wor that exact pink heart sleeper you keep showing. 😍😍 I had a boy and then 3 girls... I went through my saved boy totes and there was SOO much I hadn't used in 4 years!! Some of the elastic bands had been sitting so long in storage they dried up and broke. 😥 Someone could have gotten use out of that, instead of getting ruined. 😭
I’ve kept these boutique bibs I got as a present at my first shower. They’ve held up super well and were special and cute and super thick. I’ve kept bankets because they were special, maybe ten outfits, muslins of course, and any of my favorite bottles or sippys that don’t leak or sun hats or reusable swim diapers. Gear, I kept this bath seat the never really used, that’s meant to sit them up so they don’t drown. And an entire Winnie the Pooh crib set with stuffed Winnie the Pooh’s cuz I just think it’s so unisex and adorable!! It’s hard to part with!!!
This is so good! I can declutter just about anything but I’ve always had a hard time letting go of baby things and have them labeled just as you said. Lol. Fortunately I have been able to reuse a bunch with my next three and since we were gender surprised with the first we were able to reuse for the opposite gender which came second. Styles definitely change and most of my oldest was second hand to begin with so now that we have gotten to our fourth we reuse some but were also gifted or passed down more current things. The extra special items I’ve set them aside into their special memory box.
I feel like you made this video for me 😂. I literally have all of my baby gear in the living room trying to go through it and declutter when this popped up to watch. Thanks for the help!
I've had 7 babies in 8 years. I usually pair down here and there, but keeping enough for both super cold and hot(we live in North Dakota, so pretty extreme seasons) has saved us so much money. I don't mind keeping more than I think I'll need because everyone of my babies has been different (even as toddlers, different body types wear things my others didn't and use gear I didn't think I'd ever use). So for us, keeping a lot more than I'd like has really been beneficial. But it won't be forever either
I guess this is one thing that I really am minimalist about: seasonal baby clothes... For me, it won't matter too much what season a kid is born in, because I mostly put them in short sleeve stuff that doesn't declare the nearest holiday. Then it's only 1 or 2 outfits that are strictly seasonal because of the words and then you've got coats and winter pjs, but mostly we bundle babies in blankets and stuff when it's cold outside so it does not matter! We also got lots of gender neutral clothes for the first three months because we don't find out gender ahead of time, so plenty of clothes are available to the incoming child no matter what gender they are! I wish I could agree that if you didn't use the first time you won't with the second... but different things worked with different kids, no matter how hard we tried! I was glad we didn't toss or pass on all the pacifier stuff or certain toys that the first didn't get into, because the second NEEDED pacifiers and wasn't into the first one's favorite toys at the same age and liked the ones she rejected. We are now in a stage where we got rid of a bunch of baby stuff (not everything) because we WERE done, but changed our mind and are expecting again! We have so many toys for the first two kids and then the few baby things we kept... and needing to replace somethings... trying to figure out what to replace, what to still get rid of, and what we can simply do without... :-/
Currently preg with baby #5 (and not "done") I keep bare minimum requirements every time, and cull everything I don't love. So eg 4 swaddles, 6 sleep suits, 6 undershirts, etc. I've kept our same swing from baby #1, and we have a bassinet which is not something I ever wanted, but I appreciate it because we rent and never know when we night have to move/what space will be like in the master bedroom. Most of our big ticket items have been out on loan at different points of this journey, so storing them hasn't been an issue. The biggest storage issue is the kids clothes, as we have now two boys and two girls, and my style is very classic/timeless so I don't discard things because the trends will change by the time we have the next bub. What I want to know is; how do you overcome the shame of being a borrower??? I always put a call out to friends before making a big purchase and some act like that's such a shameful/embarassing thing (Should say, no one has explicitly said anything, or I wouldn't count them a friend, it's just in the tone of responses)
I had a surprise baby after getting rid of a bunch of baby stuff. I'm all about the Konmari method, but I do wish I had kept more. It just would have been nice not to worry about it and not to have the extra expenses. In small towns there aren't as many second-hand options. However, I could have saved a lot less 0-6 month clothing and been fine. I've found that people love to gift tiny baby clothes, but the bigger size clothing is worth keeping in storage awhile.
I definitely need a video on what all to keep on hand when you become a foster family! Any foster moms out there have any advice? How many outfits per size do I need/do I keep baby toys, blankets, bottles/etc.? We just finished our last home study this week and I would like to be as prepared as possible. :)
I have a nine-year gap in my kids because at one point we thought we were done! I had to gather everything again! 0-6 month Essentials: Swaddles (muslin and/or Copper Pearl) Diapers Hand held pump (Medela/haakaa) Zipping sleepers Hat (Copper Pearl) A place for baby to sleep Baby Tylenol Baby gas drops/simethicone Mild cleanser Bag to transport diapers/wipes in Nail clippers 6-12 months: Chair to eat in (Fisher Price that clips to regular chair) Dishes they can’t throw (ezpz mats) Cup they can drink from O-ball toy and crinkly book (easy to grasp, instant gratification) Books for reading Blocks Teething toy A ball to chase Comfy clothes
Baby clothes were the hardest for me to let go of. I went through years of Secondary Infertility, and I just couldn't bring myself to let go of them. I had so much sentimental attachment, memories, and longing for more children, that I had to almost go through a grieving process in order to let go of them. BUT, I decided to give away a lot of them to a family in need. It was painful, and yet rewarding. And, wouldn't you know, within about a years time I became pregnant and God blessed us with another baby...of the opposite gender!! 😂😂 So, I didn't even need those clothes anymore!
All that to say, I'm thankful that I chose to be a blessing to someone else even in my pain. Those clothes got to be worn again, and did not go to waste sitting in a box!
I am going through secondary infertility now for 5 years and I haven’t not been able to let hardly anything go. But it’s taking up so much space I know I need to get rid of it. Thank you for sharing your story. Goes me the courage to let it go.
heatbar312 , it's okay if you are not ready. It took time and a grieving process for me to get to that place of finally letting go. But, when you are ready, I know your generousity will be such a blessing. 💓 I am so sorry that you are on such a hard journey of secondary infertility. Know that you are not alone, and I'm wishing you all the best! ((Hugs))
Got married later in life and grateful to have two healthy kiddos. Was offered SO many baby hand-me-downs from friends whose kids were 8-12 years old, and they were kind of out of date. My toddler did not mind wearing Paris Hilton circa 2006 hot pink velour track suits, but it did look a little silly in 2017. It motivated me to pass on baby things right away before they go out of style.
Yes, amen!
My son is now 43 - i have kept a pair of his brown leather school sandals that he wore when he was seven! I can’t bear to throw them away, and they were too worn to pass on. But they make me feel happy whenever I get them out to look at, as he was such a delightful little boy, and they bring back happy memories. He has grown into a lovely, kind and good man. I am so proud of him. Gage is so cute (as are all your children) - it does seem a world away that one day he will be a mature grown man too! But the time goes by so quickly.
Diana mid-week? Hooray!
Love how you think of every topic to go through this minimalist lifestyle. Great suggestions! Congrats again on the pregnancy, Diana! You look beautiful!
L Rhudy I was about to comment this, she thinks of everything!!
As a grandparent, it was so much easier to replace than to store. Storage was such a pain that I have no regrets selling or donating when it’s no longer needed. With marketplace when I needed a new pack and play, high chair, bouncer I could get practically new stuff for cheap so I had no desire to even think about storing for the next one that may or may not happen.
You only had 4 bins! Good starting point to declutter. Dawn, the young pictures of your kids are so enjoyable. Thank you for sharing those with us! Most surprising "must have" item was a travel bottle warmer that plugs into the car outlet. So helpful, so simple.
I purged ALL baby items in once swoop once we decided we were going to adopt only moving forward. It felt so liberating and I agree, I had no idea what is was! I feel a little teeny tiny ping of regret sometimes but I realize it wasn't regret missing those items it was just missing when my babies were actual babies! To get myself over that feeling of loss, I look at BABY pictures and remind myself I LOVE all the space we gained from pursing!
We kept a fair bit between kids until our family was complete because I was not a minimalist then. In so many instances the clothing that was put away visibly spotless was stained when I pulled it out again or the elastic was shot, even though it was in tubs in climate controlled storage. I would acquire and keep so much less if I could do it again. We found we were doing laundry every day anyway so less is so much easier.
I have had 5 kids over a 15 year time period and I can say I’ve had such a variety of personalities. 4 loved the swing and the fun jump play saucer but baby #5 only wants to be with mama so baby wearing is our focus. So you really just never know truly what baby’s preference is so borrowing is def a great idea! I didn’t have an opportunity to borrow for this baby and have def over purchased since we had gotten rid of all our things after baby #4. I’m also learning that having about 7 sleepers during the winter and 1-2 nice outfits is the perfect wardrobe for a baby. I finally learned to stop over buying the cute clothes :)
I put much thought into the stuff I wanted because our first came when we were in a tiny one-bedroom apartment 27 years ago. I requested money for my baby shower as I didn't want that much stuff and was saving for a high-quality stroller/bassinet combo (Emma Junga). At my shower, there was a banner made of baby sox and each sock had a gift of money inside. So adorable and thoughtful! I had an infant sponge instead of a tub, a stroller that doubled as a bassinet, and a glider rocker and car seat. The rocker and car seat were gifts from family. Always used a chest of drawers for a changing spot. A swing was a lifesaver, which was free because it was loaned. My mom made receiving blankets. So that was my minimalist start with baby stuff. I have been decluttering lots of stuff (thank you so much Dawn!!!) and came across blankets from my daughters that had their names embroidered on them. I made the mental note to not gift other expectant mama's monogrammed baby items because you can't reuse or resell it.
You are so right about the fact that most baby gear only lasts 3 months! I loved my regular bouncy seat for all five babies!
I'm a grandmother and have only kept a few sentimental clothing items... christening outfit or sweater set. But I make up for that with all my stuff that I'm working on letting go. Dawn it was so sweet to see pics of your children when they were younger.
My brother and sister in law and my husband and I had our kids in a staggered fashion that enabled us to perfectly trade the big baby things back and forth. We're both all done now so I donated it all last fall! Felt Great! Lol
Ohhhhhh how I needed this!!!! We recently moved in North Idaho and our stuff is still in storage back in Washington while we continue to search for our forever home… I can’t count how many boxes of items we have and I even decluttered before we left.🤦♀️ thank you for this! This is a good reminder of what we need and don’t need and trust me I have a lot! It’s so ridiculous! Thank you for giving me the “OK“ to get rid of things and realize that things do go out of season and how easily they are replaced.💗
Muslins muslins muslins, especially with breast feeding they were such a must have. Now mine are bigger and they are my cleaning clothes.
Must have also is a sling/carrier.
We used resuable nappies too and they did both kids then we sold the set so it was good for the environment and our pockets. Easier now as they have poppers than the old style ones.
My 2nd was a good surprise, but I had gotten rid of everything. I was gifted so much I hardly bought anything. People are so happy to see their baby stuff used again!
These are such good tips! Absolutely true that baby stuff is the easiest to replace. I’ve bought so much baby gear (swings, jumperoos, etc), second hand, used it for a baby or two, then sold it for the same price I bought it for! Win win 😊
Thanks for sharing! I recently went through this process. Last year we decided that Hannah (3) was our last baby, so I sold all the furniture and other large items and gave away smaller items. If we ever become grandparents (hopefully in more than 10 years), we can easily buy things again. I saved the first set of clothes, shoes and teats for every child. I literally don't have any baby stuff anymore and I don't miss it either. If we have foster children in the future, they will be age 3+.
Oh, and I bought a new carrier with my last baby, a Mei Tai. Loved, loved, loved it (so much more than the previous ones). Hannah lived in that thing.
Love seeing the pictures of your babies!
For both of our children we knew only days before bringing them home (adopting), we realized how little we needed and people passed several things along to us too. It was such a blessing, when I know someone is bringing home baby it is the best feeling to pass things on to them.
I made my own Moby wrap (2 for like $22 in fabric). Hands down my favorite baby product ever!! I sleep trained my kids in that thing & it’s SO comfy when popping them in and out of it without all the straps & buckles of other carriers that me & my babies hated. Easy to wear (once you learn to tie) & easy to wash. I had them for 2 of my 6 kids but wish I’d had it for all of them. There’s a reason it’s so popular worldwide. My babies hated all those chairs, swings, seats too. They just want to be held close to mama. 💗 Only downside for me is that they’re really hot in the summer.
Other than that, a crib & a car seat are all you really need for gear.
My youngest is now 3 & it feels SO good to phase out all the baby stuff. Loving it!!
I didn't buy much for my babies but a swaddle blanket, changing pad that I could use all over the house and onesies were a must in their lives.
Oh my gosh. I literally have a room in my house that is unusable right now because of all the kids clothes... We're not planning on any more kids but I've been hanging on to them anyway for my in-laws who might have kids but not even in their foreseeable future yet... What am I doing?!
After watching this video I feel like I can let it go and release that stress.
I had 2 boys (now 8&6) and about 2 years ago I decided I was done having babies and NEEDED to declutter and stop hanging on to stuff. Managed to only save about a diaper box full of favorite baby toys and outfits. One thing I just couldn’t let go outside of the box of things, was a baby carrier that I just loved! Well.. Last year, we realized we weren’t done 😂 and I’m currently 25 weeks prego with a girl and plan to have at least one more! I do not regret getting rid of nearly everything because looking back now, it would be so outdated and I honestly had too much of it all to begin with, most never used. I’m happy to have a fresh start with a simpler mindset. I’ve already been given so many hand-me-downs and plan to be as simple as possible in the first year.
Baby must haves: a long fabric wrap like Moby and a more sturdy wrap like the one you mentioned in the video, XL muslin clothes and a bassinet on wheels!
Yay!! This is so awesome!!! Congratulations!!!! ♥️
#3 was a surprise right after getting rid of everything and I've been so blessed by my mom tribe too. Community is amazing
Just had baby #3 and I know we are done! Still found this super helpful because we might adopt in the future but we are not sure. I got rid of so much after baby #2 yet I still have so much, definitely need to declutter now. Thanks ladies! 😊❤️
I really loved the tripp trapp chair (not sure if you have them in the US, I am from Germany). You can use it from age 0 to age 6, the kids can climb on it easily themselves - I just loved it. Love your channel, best wishes from Germany!
My favorite carrier is the infantino one too! My fave high chair is the cheap ikea one. I also keep a swing and play mat between kiddos.
100 percent. I love that carrier and the ikea chair can't be beat. So simple to clean and use.
I have six kids (ages 1-7, including a set of twins). Because I have so much stuff, the thought of selling baby clothes online was overwhelming, so I just decided to donate instead. My mom tried to make me feel guilty for not trying to make a few extra bucks, but I don't regret my decision because getting it out of my house quickly made me feel so much lighter!
With every baby that comes along, I find I need fewer items. The best investment I ever made was a Bumbleride Indie Twin double stroller - I could talk all day about why I love mine...
Dawn, if you're reading this, I am so happy that I came across your channel when I did. You've inspired me to finally commit to some much needed decluttering, and it is already affecting so many aspects of my life. Thank you!
I needed your post. I'm the second of ten siblings. My mom hung onto ALL the clothes and there are several things we all wore. She gave me lots when I had my first and I found I didn't use many because they were threadbare or the style was very outdated. But growing up hanging on to everything "just in case" has influenced me and I have 7 tubs of clothes I saved from my son (4 yrs). Our next baby was a little girl, completely different season, and different size so all those clothes I held onto for 4 years are still just sitting, and yes, I'm finding weird stains even though I washed all of them before putting them away! Anyway, it's been an emotional event going through them to find what to donate and I keep feeling guilty for not trying to sell it, but every time I've tried it's been such a big deal and then people contact you and back out, then I look through them again and decide to keep them, and I just need that push that it's okay to donate if I'm not going to use them.
@@rcbpiccolo
I know exactly what you mean about the stains showing up!
I still have a couple bins of clothes left, but I've given my oldest daughter permission to cut up whatever she wants to use for her sewing projects - the cute patterns that I love will be made into something instead of just being stored in a container.
Anyway, I'm glad that my comment was helpful for you. Don't feel guilty about getting rid of stuff - you're making room for good things to come into your life!
I cannot tell you how much I needed this video today! I’m going through baby clothes and feeling so overwhelmed. Thank you, you’re a constant source of inspiration 😊
Mum of 3 girls - aged 5, 3 and 9 mths in Australia - my must have’s are Bonds suits (with the double zip), Love to Dream swaddles (again with a double zip), and a play mat with the toys hanging down 💕 Great video!
Awww i see the baby bump!! How sweet!!! We are actually done making babies but hope to foster soon. ☝️waiting on the perfect timing.❤ have a great rest of your week ladies!🌹🌹🌹
Bless you Eva, that's so awesome!!!
My first two were born in the 70s and then in 96 I had my last, he was born the end of May so it was super easy, good time of year for little clothing !! And I sew .
I sold everything after my first. Was surprised with my second, bought a lot off of marketplace and sold often for the same price that I paid. 🤷🏼♀️
I love your nursery! A great color and so fitting for either a boy or girl. Great video. I had three girls but then two boys before our 6th a girl. She gets everything new at this point but I have a friend with three girls so I pass it all down to them. Every Sunday these three girls are wearing pieces we have given them and it makes me so happy.
We were blessed to have a lot of hand me downs from friends along with gifts so when I went through each size, I kept a capsule wardrobe of comfy clothes for each size. I also kept my carriers, bassinet, swing, activity centre and most toys (these were considered thoughtfully too so we don't have much). My son will be 2 later this month and we're expecting again in mid-May so the seasons should be close enough I hope.
So glad I found this video! This is my current stage of minimalising. Boy, girl, boy and not sure if we are done. I have found white short sleeved vests (in the UK they are called body suits) have been used the most for all three kiddies.
I'm 20 weeks/5 months pregnant after almost 5 years of unexplained infertility. He will be the first grandchild on my side of the family, so he's been spoilt with so many registry items for his nursery and wardrobe. Enjoying the baby videos to help me prepare.
We have had 3 in 3.5 years and are done. My last is 11months now and we are able to pass on all the furniture slowly. I’ve kept a box of my fav outfits I’ve used for all of them and will make a quilt for myself. Other than that, everything goes. I did keep clothes between kids and my baby daughter had finally got into the right season and size to use her oldest sisters clothing. We have basically been gifted all clothing so far.
I spent 6 hours today going through 5 years worth of my sons clothing, parting with about a third of it...and then before heading to bed saw your latest video! Haha! I know I should just part with it all, but we have been trying for 3 years for another baby, and I haven’t been able to ditch the baby clothes. We did part with all our old gear last summer, so besides the crib, a nursing pillow and some carriers the clothes were all I had left. I’m going to hang on to what I’ve got left (I mean that was a lot of work today) mostly because if I give it all up I would feel like I was giving up hope.
Thank you so much for all your videos, Dawn! And Diana too! You are so inspirational, and my life is being bettered because of you both. 🥰
First I kept lots, even snippets of shower paper and I do not scrapbook. Minimized and then saved a couple sleepers, and church dedication outfit. So many step up and share when another baby comes along, just as I did with mine!
I would say my biggest baby necessity is my play pen. I have one that has an insert which is nice for when they’re younger. My play pen has been a lifesaver. I trained all four of my kids from when they were newborns to go in the play pen and it helps so much as they get older. As a homeschooling mom, it’s great to be able to let my baby play safely while I need to help my older kids with their learning. Also, I never wore a carrier. I tried one without good support and had a terrible back ache. I never tried again. Thankfully, my kids were pretty content. 🙏🏼🙌🏼 I know that is not always the case. I feel that holding them less when they’re newborns can help them not feel that they need to be held. Not always easy with family and friends, but I found that taking my infant car seat with me and just letting them sleep in that was a discouragement to those who might want to hold my babies all the time.
I started buying all of my kids black snow pants and it’s something I hold on to. My husband laughed this year because we had so many sizes, but we had everyone covered! 👍☺️
You’re so right about being able to find baby kit and clothes easily. Most people are very pleased to get rid of their stuff and pass it on to you! Funnily enough, the carrier is one thing that I haven’t used with either baby.
I kept way too much and ended up having a nearly five year gap between babies, but I went through in the interim and got rid of things very much as you suggest here.
Something I’m now struggling with is toys. As there is such a large age gap, my two aren’t going to be playing with the same toys for a while, if ever. But I don’t want to hang onto all the toys either. Need some help with that decision-making progress!
I love the idea of passing along baby clothes before they go out of style. We passed along all of our baby clothes after our 2nd girl in hopes that someone could use it. Way better than storing it away for another decade, just for it to end up in the landfill! And if we ever had a 3rd, I would love to curate a new wardrobe of only things I love, hopefully mostly second hand or small shop and ethical!
I know it's not very "minimalist," but my absolute #1 must-have baby item was a Baby Brezza formula maker. I have 18 month-old twins, and I did not breastfeed. Every time I meet someone expecting twins I tell them they absolutely need this modern miracle! Obviously if it works out for you to nurse then this wouldn't apply, but even with a singleton if you're going to be using formula I would recommend a Brezza. And they really hold their value. I bought one second-hand on FB Marketplace and sold it a year later for the same price I paid.
My #2 must-have baby item is the Nose Frida. Seriously, you need this. I gift a Nose Frida at every baby shower I go to. We also used the Medi Frida a lot because my kids had several medications at the beginning, but I would say that one isn't a necessity for most people.
#3 must-have baby items are a white noise machine and black-out curtains.
Baby bouncer seat was a must have for me. And also has been for my daughter now as she has had her first baby.
Covered good nursing cover and Happy baby wrap were MUST HAVES. Nursing cover became my daughters blanket and she still loves it at age 4! (She hasn't carried it around anymore since she was about 2.5 but it is still adorable) ❤❤❤
Hoping to be done. But being apart of a church family I would just pass the stuff on to the next expecting momma and when my next one was on the way some of it came back. 😜
Best thing we ever bought or were gifted....I don't remember... The boppy pillow. It's THE BEST even if you're not a nursing mom. I used to lay our newborns in it. So comfy, safe, and perfect to rest baby on while feeding.
Loved this! Thank you! Dawn, I loved seeing pictures of your family when your kiddos were little! So sweet! ❤ With our first we kept everything. Now with our second (who is 6 months) as she's outgrowing things, I'm really trying to be aware of what we are keeping. Especially because I think we are done. It's still a challenge but I'm trying REALLY hard not to keep to much. Also we have a few relatives they may have more babies so I feel the need to keep some for them.
Diana you are just glowing!! Beautiful! I don’t have a little baby but this video can pertain to any age so it was great!
The Ingenuity Baby Base was a must have for me. It's similar to the Bumbo and has a tray that stores inside as well as straps to attach it to a chair so you can use it at the table or in restaurants. It also becomes a booster when the child is older. More versatile than Bumbo and cheaper! Also, Halo Sleepsacks were a favorite for me once we were done swaddling. The baby is safe and can't kick the covers off in winter. Can't wait to see what other people loved for their little ones. Thanks for the video! I know I kept too much for the next baby because of that "what if I need it" mentality.
SO GLAD you posted a baby video! I’m due with baby #3 soon and I was searching your channel for baby things and finally saw this pop up! So helpful.
Congratulations!!
The Minimal Mom thank you! Your videos have changed my life! I’ve been following you and minimizing for a year and my tiny 700sq foot home is decluttered 🙌
I find it so interesting that Diana has such a strong Minnesotan accent and Dawn doesn’t have one at all!
Another great video. 🙂
I gave the baby clothes to friends at church, it was so fun to see the cute clothes on other kiddos!
I’ve been working to sell or donate all the baby items once our 4th finishes using them. It has been hard because I wanted more children, but medically it isn’t a good idea anymore for us. So I give myself time and space to pair down gradually. It also helps to use the money from selling the baby items to buy something we want or need for the kids or to donate them to a mom at church. It seems like a fun trade instead of a sad loss.
We are right in baby season so I love seeing this kind of content! Our must haves definitely include a wrap style carrier (like the Moby wrap but I have the Sleepy wrap and the Happy Wrap) and a pack of cloth diaper prefold (We use them a ton - burp cloths, emergency diaper, makeshift blanket). For breastfeeding mamas the Haaka is amazing! I use it to catch milk during middle of the night feeds and now we have a freezer stash without me having to do all the work of pumping!
Oh yeah, have two moby wraps (to wash them after accidents) and we love them. Still use them with our big one at 17 month (my husband of course, because am pregnant again) and will use them with the next, too. I borrowed a electronic pump for the first two month, afterwards I did not need it anymore. Is there a possibility to borrow them in the US? Here in Germany you get them without paying with a prescription.
It is so much easier to sell and buy used now that keeping everything is just not necessary. This past time I tried to keep all of the things that could fold flat and be stored easily (sit me up seat, rock and play, and walker). Our crib turns into a toddler bed which makes it more useful. I tried to only keep the gear that I really liked to have because I’ve noticed that with most of my babies there is always some new type of seat or toy. I agree with Diana that my baby carriers are must haves.
Had a “surprise” blessing baby after I got rid of everything! Here are my must haves...zip up sleepers ONLY! Old Navy has great ones! Buy pink or blue only! No frills! 1-2 outfits per size/season. Baby swing that goes side to side or back and forth. I loved our rock and play for sleeping and naps for up to 3 months! I loved the angle for sleeping! As the baby sits up...sitting chair (Amazon about $40)...better than Bumbo in my opinion!
A good quality...crib, rocker, car seat/stroller duo! That’s it! 🥰 Oh... and 3 super soft baby blankets!! And some muslin blankets!
Don’t buy all the wipes, lotions, creams, etc! Water wipes are the best! Use a washcloth and pure soap for washing! No frills!!
🙌🏻
I kept several of the cutest little baby outfits from when my only child, a daughter was born. By the time my daughter had a daughter 20+ years later, they were still cute, but unusable because elastic had deteriorated, and as you mentioned, the seasons were opposite: my daughter was born in April and hers was born in November. Luckily, I had only kept several favorites, and back then donated a huge bag of the clothes that were practically brand new for new moms in difficult situations to enjoy.
Great video! I think even essentials are going to vary from one family to the next. I am well past baby phase and not quite to grandmother phase so my recall on what we actually used is fuzzy but it wasn't much.
I went through and kept only thing things I was excited to put on another little person. I have a defined space for the baby stuff, so it has to fit. After about size 2 I only kept the REALLY fave things. My daughters are 6 years apart so at this point the only hand-me-downs that are staying are those I know will suit the younger one.
One of my favorite items to have for a baby was a pack of white Gerber cloth diapers. Yiu can get a huge pack at Walmart for cheap. I used these for burp cloths as they absorb a lot & are easy to bleach if you need to. After my child was past the stage of needing them I used them for cleaning rags & to set my dogs water bowl on (he drips water everywhere). There are multiple uses for these other than for cloth diapering (I never used as a diaper).
Thanks for these tips, I am a new Grandmother and have been parting with my kids stuff who are 30,32,and 34. it;s still hard to let go!
I love your picture. I can only assume you have done like most people do and post their best picture as their youtube picture. If that was in the 60's/70's, awesome! (sorry I'm not trying to date you, and im not that up on late fashion) You look very beautiful! That style was so gorgeous.
My parents in law have the same problem... But now they enjoy having more space! And they see the baby stuff at our apartment or on our little boy. That helps letting go, although we did not take everything (to old, to stained, not safe anymore...).
@@rebeccastephens6087 you are very sweet thank you! this is not my picture however, I fell in love with it when I saw it under "Old Photo Booth" pictures on Pinterest. I was born in 1964 - so I am 55 years young! Whoever this lady is was very pretty. you have a blessed day!!
You're so right about not needing as much as you thought you did the first time!
But I laugh when you say baby stuff is the easiest to replace because you forget what's in there, because I get so sentimental about baby stuff and remember a lot (too much)! My strategy is, keep just what I can't bear to donate because I remember them in that cute stuff. Then next time I go through it, I donate more to pare it down to my or their absolute favorites, as it's easier the farther I get from those baby memories. I have to keep in mind that I won't be using these things and my children probably won't want more than a few keepsakes, if any. First baby I was blessed to have too much given to me. The things that made it through the friend circles and back to my second baby, I still had too much 😂 By the 4th child, I felt like I gathered practically nothing and had plenty 🥰
So I totally needed this video! We are going to be fostering soon. We are also trying to minimize our home for all the good benefits!! We got to the clothing from our only and thought “what do we do with all this? How much do we keep?” Thinking about it as inventory truly cleared my mind, gave me the numbers of what to keep of each age, and was exactly what I needed!! Thank you! I’m gonna go get the baby clothing stuff done now! I’m so excited! Thank you 💜💜💜
I dont keep clothing even much between my 3 girls because I hate clutter. I keep the "keepsake" items and a few favorites. I always pass things on between kids...plus its so fun to shop!
The one thing my daughter used a lot of were sleep sacks. They are safer than putting blankets in the crib/bassinet. And a boppy pillow. My daughter wanted minimal and used a pack and play for her second one rather than buy a new crib. And a good stroller. We bought the Combo lightweight so she could take it on the plane easily.
This is just what I needed!! I’m pregnant with our third and I’m struggling with decluttering items that I’m worried I’ll miss and need back
The other thing that I found was that things that look good on one baby didn’t necessarily look good on the next one of the same sex. My first girl look good in reds and yellows where as the 2nd looked good in orange pink, navy and greens. My first boy looked good in navy, red, Browns an greens where as boy no. 2 looks good in light blue, white, grey and some navy. So baby things easy to let go of and others super hard because of the special memories. It’s amazing how little people can effect you so much. I kept a few for their special boxes and then tried to give other special clothes to friend or my sister’s so that I felt they were going to a special family but also that I would see them being used again. 🥰 I also made sure with my last two kids if there was an outfit they wore a lot that was kind of special I made sure I took pictures of them in it so I had those to enjoy too!
Jill Parker Thanks for reminding us about taking pictures!
Thank you so much!! We are expecting too! My husband and I both want to be very minimal with this child. I would just love all the tips and tricks I can get. 😊
My mom kept huge bins of baby clothes for us. Most of it was not in good condition anymore when my sisters and I got pregnant. It was my aha moment. It could have been such a blessing for some other moms when donated 25 years ago. So I donated almost all of my baby stuff! I only have 2 outfits left for sentimental box.
both of you looks like a twin 💖💖💖💕
Diana you look so great!!
Thank you for this video! I have a 3 year old and we haven’t been able to have another. I’m 41 so it’s not as likely to happen and it’s been hard to know if I should keep all the baby stuff for “just in case”. After I watched this I started giving away and selling items.
I love your videos!
I add two babies and I only add a bouncy seat, the simple kind, and two baby carriers, no swing, no gear and we where just fine!
For my 3 must haves is swing, carrier, I used my changing table for years but kept it in my dining/living room bc we weren’t upstairs much we were in the living spaces, door way jumper, bumboo
Yes! We always had the changing table close to the area, much handier!
I wasn't minimalist when I had my babies, but I did hate all the stuff cluttering up the place! The big baby gear I'd recommend is a rocking chair that is tall enough to lay your head back on, a crib, a moses basket bassinet, a carseat, a stroller, and a high chair. And, if your baby is like my first, a carrier. But my second and third babies did not like them. And because we live in the country and I don't take the bus or public transport, I just used a stroller unless we were visiting the city. (and the double-wide stroller for older baby plus older kid is WONDERFUL for forest walks and the park)
No swing or bumbo or jumparoo or whatnot. I found that the babies wanted to roll around on the floor (thick blanket) and wiggle their fingers. If we were somewhere for a day and I wasn't sure about the baby-proofing or cleanliness of the floor, I had the Moses basket bassinet anyway to keep the sleep environment similar, so I could stick the baby in there to play.
My super-organized sister in law showed me how to mark boxes with the age and throw the good clothes back in the correct box and go up a size. I called the basement "the store", as in "I'm going shopping for new baby clothes! See you in a minute!" Then as the baby grows into the next size, I'd rummage through, take the ones that were good for that baby, and leave the rest in the box. I tried to stay somewhat gender-neutral for clothes, and also I don't mind a boy in pink or a girl in orange, so it wasn't a problem for me. My kids were all different widths and lengths and temperments, so I'm glad I kept the assortment without trying to pare down. I didn't put it all in their drawers, the extra just went back to the basement, so it really didn't bother me. Like you say, why try to go through things and declutter if it wasn't stressing me out because it was already organized.
It was fun to donate the boxes as my youngest grew out of them and watch the basement grow in size, though! (but now I have my "shoe store", labelled by size and on a stack of shelves in the basement... it's only for now, and seeing them all out makes sure that I can buy ahead when I see a good one at the thrift store, and helps not get duplicates)
That $20 baby carrier was my favorite too!
Hey dawn and Diana thanks for who u are. Love watching ur videos. It would be neat to see a video with u two and ur mom. Sharing what items she kept for the grad kids and ideas for what she does with the grand kids. Thanks
Love your outfit Diana, you look amazing! ❤️
Thank you Erin 🥰
Love to see the old family pictures!! Still having a hard time getting rid of babystuff though.. All the cute dresses of my daughter.. 🥰
Congratulations Diana ! 🥳 I’m expecting my first, also for mid-april, and look very much forward to your baby essentials video ! Going in baby shops is very overwhelming with all the choices, and I don’t know what to get so that I can function with a new baby while still keeping my sanity and minimal mindset in a small appartement 😱
Thanks to both of you, it’s always a pleasure finding a new video when I wake up on the other side of the Atlantic 😄
I love the way your sister looks at you. I am probably done. 1 boy and 1 girl, less than 2 years apart. I hope they love each other as much as you and your sister do. I know twin relationships are different, but I can hope! lol
I have five kids and the first three are all about four years apart, then 5 and then 6 years. I got rid of most of my things except a few favorites between each. I was living on the coast where I didn’t have storage space and there were so many years between kids. In the beginning I tried to keep more and quickly realized that it wasn’t worth it. Stains appear (somehow), elastic wears out, styles change and seasons are different, like you mentioned. Now my oldest is 23 (my youngest is 4) and I think I’m done but now I’m thinking about possible grandchildren in the next several years. I have a couple boxes of baby things but I may go through them and give away all but my few favorites. I recently learned about a Syrian refugee family in my area that needs baby items so that would be a good place for me to donate.
I didn't like tom at the beggining when I subscribed I thought he was kind of negative ... but I understand his sense of humor now and I love you all! haha u ur sister you guys are so great and he is such a good husband that makes all ur projects and he is really good.
My husband actually watches some of ur videos since I introduced him to tom he speaks his language thank you for inspiring us in a realistic way for families ❤❤❤❤
I got all the big things from a friend who had had two kids already (swing, bouncy seat, bumbo, high chair, exercauser) then we sent it back when we were done and she had a third. Then I got it all back for my second and we have sent it on to another friend and it's currently with a 4th different friend! I bought car seats new and we got gifted a stroller (all in from siblings) and a playpen from grandparents (both of which I have sent on to new babies). Carriers are a must especially with a second. I think a comfy chair in the nursery, a carrier and muslin swaddle blankets are a must also a wet/dry bag. Has a spot for wet clothes or clothes with a zip on the front for a clean set of clothes and a cloth is a little clutch to stuff in the diaper bag or even your bag. I still have one in the car for my 4 year old.
Oh also a travel change mat that you can put in your diaper bag. Not everywhere has a clean place to put your baby down (or even a change table). This was a flannel on one side and a wipeable water proof on the other, when it gets messy just toss it in the wash.
Aww! My last 2 baby girls both wor that exact pink heart sleeper you keep showing. 😍😍 I had a boy and then 3 girls... I went through my saved boy totes and there was SOO much I hadn't used in 4 years!! Some of the elastic bands had been sitting so long in storage they dried up and broke. 😥 Someone could have gotten use out of that, instead of getting ruined. 😭
I’ve kept these boutique bibs I got as a present at my first shower. They’ve held up super well and were special and cute and super thick.
I’ve kept bankets because they were special, maybe ten outfits, muslins of course, and any of my favorite bottles or sippys that don’t leak or sun hats or reusable swim diapers.
Gear, I kept this bath seat the never really used, that’s meant to sit them up so they don’t drown. And an entire Winnie the Pooh crib set with stuffed Winnie the Pooh’s cuz I just think it’s so unisex and adorable!! It’s hard to part with!!!
This is so good! I can declutter just about anything but I’ve always had a hard time letting go of baby things and have them labeled just as you said. Lol. Fortunately I have been able to reuse a bunch with my next three and since we were gender surprised with the first we were able to reuse for the opposite gender which came second. Styles definitely change and most of my oldest was second hand to begin with so now that we have gotten to our fourth we reuse some but were also gifted or passed down more current things. The extra special items I’ve set them aside into their special memory box.
I feel like you made this video for me 😂. I literally have all of my baby gear in the living room trying to go through it and declutter when this popped up to watch. Thanks for the help!
I've had 7 babies in 8 years. I usually pair down here and there, but keeping enough for both super cold and hot(we live in North Dakota, so pretty extreme seasons) has saved us so much money. I don't mind keeping more than I think I'll need because everyone of my babies has been different (even as toddlers, different body types wear things my others didn't and use gear I didn't think I'd ever use). So for us, keeping a lot more than I'd like has really been beneficial. But it won't be forever either
I kept my nursing pillow, carrier, some newborn outfits, and cloth diapers.
I guess this is one thing that I really am minimalist about: seasonal baby clothes... For me, it won't matter too much what season a kid is born in, because I mostly put them in short sleeve stuff that doesn't declare the nearest holiday. Then it's only 1 or 2 outfits that are strictly seasonal because of the words and then you've got coats and winter pjs, but mostly we bundle babies in blankets and stuff when it's cold outside so it does not matter! We also got lots of gender neutral clothes for the first three months because we don't find out gender ahead of time, so plenty of clothes are available to the incoming child no matter what gender they are!
I wish I could agree that if you didn't use the first time you won't with the second... but different things worked with different kids, no matter how hard we tried! I was glad we didn't toss or pass on all the pacifier stuff or certain toys that the first didn't get into, because the second NEEDED pacifiers and wasn't into the first one's favorite toys at the same age and liked the ones she rejected.
We are now in a stage where we got rid of a bunch of baby stuff (not everything) because we WERE done, but changed our mind and are expecting again! We have so many toys for the first two kids and then the few baby things we kept... and needing to replace somethings... trying to figure out what to replace, what to still get rid of, and what we can simply do without... :-/
Just found out I'm going to be a grandma! YAAAAY! This vids for me! I make blankets just like the one on the crib for babies in my life!
Currently preg with baby #5 (and not "done") I keep bare minimum requirements every time, and cull everything I don't love. So eg 4 swaddles, 6 sleep suits, 6 undershirts, etc. I've kept our same swing from baby #1, and we have a bassinet which is not something I ever wanted, but I appreciate it because we rent and never know when we night have to move/what space will be like in the master bedroom. Most of our big ticket items have been out on loan at different points of this journey, so storing them hasn't been an issue. The biggest storage issue is the kids clothes, as we have now two boys and two girls, and my style is very classic/timeless so I don't discard things because the trends will change by the time we have the next bub.
What I want to know is; how do you overcome the shame of being a borrower??? I always put a call out to friends before making a big purchase and some act like that's such a shameful/embarassing thing (Should say, no one has explicitly said anything, or I wouldn't count them a friend, it's just in the tone of responses)
I had a surprise baby after getting rid of a bunch of baby stuff. I'm all about the Konmari method, but I do wish I had kept more. It just would have been nice not to worry about it and not to have the extra expenses. In small towns there aren't as many second-hand options. However, I could have saved a lot less 0-6 month clothing and been fine. I've found that people love to gift tiny baby clothes, but the bigger size clothing is worth keeping in storage awhile.
I definitely need a video on what all to keep on hand when you become a foster family! Any foster moms out there have any advice? How many outfits per size do I need/do I keep baby toys, blankets, bottles/etc.? We just finished our last home study this week and I would like to be as prepared as possible. :)
I have a nine-year gap in my kids because at one point we thought we were done! I had to gather everything again!
0-6 month Essentials:
Swaddles (muslin and/or Copper Pearl)
Diapers
Hand held pump (Medela/haakaa)
Zipping sleepers
Hat (Copper Pearl)
A place for baby to sleep
Baby Tylenol
Baby gas drops/simethicone
Mild cleanser
Bag to transport diapers/wipes in
Nail clippers
6-12 months:
Chair to eat in (Fisher Price that clips to regular chair)
Dishes they can’t throw (ezpz mats)
Cup they can drink from
O-ball toy and crinkly book (easy to grasp, instant gratification)
Books for reading
Blocks
Teething toy
A ball to chase
Comfy clothes
Yes, my Medela manual pump was perfect - portable, eady to clean, and effective.