The very first (and free) baby items
Recently, I visited my stepmother-in-law, a wonderful Danish woman in her 80s. She is also a practitioner of sustainable living, though she practises it in a somewhat different way to the way I do. She is not an extreme minimalist. She keeps items for a long time, takes good care of them, repairs them, avoids anything fast. She is incredibly generous. Her home is a space where family reunites.
She prepared two bags of baby items for me. All of these things have been in the family for generations, some since the 60s. There were two woollen baby blankets, a throw, a few brightly coloured cloths for various purposes, and many cloth diapers. She understands my minimalist approach to pregnancy and then taking care of my newborn baby, so she tried to provide only the essentials that can be used in many different ways. She raised three boys, has two stepchildren and many grandchildren. She always creates a safe space to discuss a more minimalist approach to pregnancy and raising a child. She suggested that the bright cloths from the 60s can be used as toys and as something interesting for the baby to look at.
I was not going to invite anything pregnancy and baby related until much later, much closer to the due date. But I accepted these items with appreciation and gratitude.
Her husband (my father-in-law), she and I were talking about navigating minimalism, pregnancy and raising a child. None of us remembers most of the items we had as young children. From my childhood, I remember a jumper my mother knitted for me. I remember it because it took her a while to finish it, and I was observing the whole process. It was magical, and I loved that jumper. She later re-used the yarn for something else. I remember the clothes I had as a young child as a colourful pile. My mother would often ask me to fold or hang the clothes, something I didn't enjoy doing because there were so many items. I don't think all of them were necessary. There were clothes for special occasions, to wear at home and many other activities. Oftentimes, I felt like a doll that adults were trying to dress up. Now in my 30s I wear the same outfit for all occasions. My father-in-law, who is in his 70s, said he doesn't remember any of the clothes he had, apart from one outfit. The outfit was one for special occasions, and he was not allowed to play when he wore it.
He was smiling when I said I planned to babywear at all times. He practises sustainability too, but thinks that a pram is a necessity. I said that I would invite items into my and my baby's life only if I feel that they are genuinely necessary, but will not buy (or otherwise acquire) anything that I don't consider an essential in advance.