My due date is today. I am SO OVER being pregnant. So, as I bounce on a yoga ball, I typed up a list of the contents of our nursery, which is actually the closet in our larger bedroom.
First time parent here. I took the approach that I had no idea what my kid would need or want, so why not wait until I meet him/her and see what works. It's not like Craigslist and Amazon disappear post-partum!
Dresser/ changing table - purchased used off craigslist
1)
Cloth diapers - purchased used. Prefolds and covers, variety of sizes. A small stack of pocket diapers I call the "granny diapers" since the grandmothers are going to insist on "helping" and have no idea what to do with a prefold.
2)
Cloth wipes - made out of old flannel pillowcases.
3)
Changing pad - gift, wouldn't have purchased myself.
4)
Clothes - variety of sizes and styles Not too much, like ~2 small dresser drawers. Either purchased used, hand-me-downs, or gifts. The thrift stores around here are total gold mines of used baby clothes.
5)
Idiot-proof swaddles, large swaddle blankets, receiving blankets - a few of each, either gifted or purchased used. The idiot-proof swaddles with the velcro are for the grannies and probably Mr. Sunflower; I prefer to swaddle with a large square of muslin so I can adjust to baby better. You don't really need to dress a newborn for a while, just keep 'em wrapped up in a receiving blanket, makes diaper changes easier too.
6)
Diaper pail with liner - our old trash can plus a used liner purchased off craigslist.
Bookshelf - from another room. Just for holding random stuff. Mostly empty now.
1)
Books - never, ever skimp on the books.
2)
Lillebaby carrier - gifted. This is a structured carrier that I plan to use when baby is a little larger.
3)
DIY Moby wrap carrier - made out of a heavy-weight jersey sheet from thrift store.
4)
Framed photo - something with sentimental value
5)
Mobile - I made a mobile for the baby on a theme that is meaningful to my husband and I. This is totally a happy thing for mother and father, and I don't care if the kid likes it or not.
Upper shelf - there's an upper shelf in the closet for more storage
1)
Huge pile of birth supplies - I'm starting my labor at home, and if all goes well, will deliver at home. Obviously may not be relevant for you.
2)
Breastfeeding supplies - some DIY nipple butter; a breast pump, paid for by insurance; a "boppy" style pillow (purchased used)
Bathroom - Not much
1)
Baby thermometer2)
Nasal aspirator3)
Supplies for post-partum mother - herbs, sitz bath, disposable pads
Also:
- Baby containers - 3 of them total: a pack n' play as a "crib" for the "nursery;" a hand-me-down side-car co-sleeper for the first few months; a rocker thing to have a safe place to put baby while downstairs.
- Car seat- we purchased a used infant bucket seat from someone we trusted. We'll figure out the next step up once the kid is bigger.
- Diaper bag - an old Timbuk2 messenger-style bag we had laying around. Big enough for a stack of cloth diapers and some baby clothes.
- Stroller - a jogging stroller (Thule Urban Glide) gifted to us from one of the grandfathers. Would have purchased used off CL otherwise.
- Baby hiking backpack - a Kelty Kids model, I forget which one, gifted by one of the grannies. Likewise, would have purchased used off CL otherwise.
- Maternity clothes - I didn't gain too much, so I was able to get away with a few pairs of maternity pants and a few maternity shirts from the thrift store. Now I just wear my husband's clothes.
P.S.
Grand total cost for baby stuff was $640, thanks to the generosity of grandparents who purchased the stroller and hiking backpack, friends who passed along hand-me-downs, and to lots and lots of thrift store trips and Craigslist trolling. This doesn't include medical costs or other lifestyle changes (we spent more on groceries while I was pregnant - first due to my morning sickness, then due to needing more meat (pregnancy-induced anemia)).
P.P.S.
Rebelspy, I bet you'd be fine just adding another backpack for baby's stuff to your travel kit. Husband and I have both lived out of backpacks for extended periods of time, and though I haven't done the parent thing yet, I imagine if I can do a small <20-lb carry-on for weeks and weeks on end, adding more clothes and some cloth diapers can't be too bad.
One thought based on my BIL's hobo experience with babies, though - dirty cloth diapers are heavy and a PITA to lug around, 'specially when kid gets bigger. If you're moving around a lot, getting and keeping them clean might be a logistical challenge. Might want to consider doing disposables for the days that you're on the move and keeping your cloth clean and dry inside baby's pack until you get to the next destination and figure out the washing situation.
P.P.P.S.
BABY COME OUT ALREADY.TL;DR: Don't sweat it. People have raised children with FAR less "stuff" than we have.