Let's Talk About the Baby Industrial Complex

What you do (and don't) need on that baby registry

One of the things that has consistently enabled me to show up in my adult life with any semblance of sanity is minimalism. And while minimalism— in the ‘stuff’ sense, not the aesthetic sense— is helpful for people from all walks of life, it’s particularly helpful for families with children. And with three kids under 5, I can particularly attest that it’s helpful for families with young children.

During the precious newborn phase, I can feel my cortisol spike not only from the serious sensory overload— the demands of constant holding, rocking, or feeding, not to mention the bouts of inconsolable screaming (this is, very thankfully, my first kiddo who is fairly easygoing)— but also from the sheer amount of STUFF that clutters my line of sight. So I’ve made it my mission to approach the newborn period with what amounts to as little gear as possible.

Of course, you can start your journey to minimalism at any point, whether you’re 2 or 72. But it’s a whole lot easier to start your kiddos with minimalism from birth than it is to articulate brand new values to a teenager. And the first step towards simplifying? Tackling the baby gear head-on.

The baby gear industry— which I first heard referred to as the “baby industrial complex” by Liz, from the blog Frugalwoods, years ago— is a behemoth worth around $320 billion dollars in 2023. And although the term ‘baby industrial complex’ makes me laugh every time I see it, there’s some serious truth to the phrase: Manufacturers of baby gear absolutely prey on the anxiety and uncertainty of new parents, convincing perfectly intelligent people with plenty of common sense that their child will somehow fall behind in life without the correct brand of wipe warmer.

To be sure, there’s some gear you do need, but it’s a whole lot less than advertisers would lead you to believe.

3 kids later, this is how I’d build your registry

I’ve developed a bit of a hobby of building baby registries for people, because I clearly have nothing better to do during my kiddos’ precious nap time. Sometimes it comes as a text from my husband: “So-and-so-co-worker-you’ve-never-met wants to know what baby brands you recommend?” Other times, I weasel my way in: “Can I give you some suggestions for your baby registry? This is what I wish I’d done before my first!”