You want the best for your baby and you can get it without spending a bundle. One way to save money--besides milking your baby registry--is to buy less.

There are thousands of baby products available, but you’ll be surprised by how well you can get by with a minimalist mentality. What do you really need and what can you live without? Here’s our budget-friendly master checklist of only the most essential baby gear to have on hand before your baby arrives.

Tooling around
___ Car seat
___ Stroller

Nursery essentials
___ Crib
___ Crib mattress
___ Two to three fitted crib sheets
___ Four or more waffle-weave cotton or muslin receiving blankets for swaddling your baby
___ Two waterproof mattress pads
___ Baby monitor
___ Four-sided changing table

Diaper duty
___ Diapers. Disposables: One 40-count package of newborn (birth weight under 8 pounds) or size 1 (birth weight over 8 pounds), then buy in volume after you find the brand you like best. Cloth: If you choose unfolded, prefolded, or fitted cloth diapers, you will need two to three dozen to begin with, plus six to ten waterproof covers. If you go the all-in-one or pocket diaper route, having 12 to 16 should be adequate in the beginning.
___ Diaper pail (with refills or bags as needed)
___ Diaper bag

Dressing your baby
___ Four sleep sacks or one-piece sleepers with attached feet
___ Six side-snap T-shirts
___ Four to six one-piece undershirts that snap around the crotch.
___ A small baby cap (although the hospital will probably give you one)
___ Six pairs of socks/booties
___ Two to three soft, comfortable daytime outfits. Get only a few items in newborn size. Then, go for clothing in the 3- or 6-month size—your baby will grow into it quickly. But don’t buy baby sleepwear that’s too big—it’s a safety hazard
___ Cotton sweater or light jacket

Summer babies:
___ Brimmed hat

Winter babies:
___ Snowsuit with attached mittens or fold-over cuffs, or heavy bunting
___ Heavy stroller blanket
___ Warm knit hat

Feeding time
If you’re planning to breast-feed:
___ Three to five nursing bras. Plan to buy a sleep/loungewear bra for the early days of nursing when you’ll want to wear your nursing bra and pads 24/7 for leakage control
___ A box of washable or disposable breast pads
___ Breast pump if you expect to use one (manual or electric); go with a double electric breast pump if you’ll be returning to work
___ If you’re supplementing breast-feeding with an occasional bottle, you may need only one or two bottles. In general, six 4- to 5-ounce bottles will get you off to a good start.
___ If you’re planning to bottle-feed, six 4- to 5-ounce bottles, plus nipples and rings
___ Bottle-drying tree
___ Bottle cleaning brush
___ Insulated bottle holder for diaper bag (the hospital may give you one)
___ Three packs of cloth diapers or burp cloths

Bathing/grooming
___ Plastic infant bathtub
___ Three soft hooded towels
___ Two packs of baby washcloths
___ Unscented baby body wash that doubles as shampoo
___ Pair of blunt-tip scissors or baby-sized nail clippers
___ Zinc-oxide-based diaper rash ointment
___ Soft brush and comb
___ Mild laundry detergent such as Dreft

Medicine chest essentials
___ A pain-and-fever reducer recommended by your baby’s doctor, such as Infants’ Tylenol
___ Cotton pads/swabs
___ Nasal aspirator
___ Digital rectal thermometer
___ Rubbing alcohol
___ Petroleum jelly

Keeping baby happy
___ Pacifiers