Hello there friends and welcome back. I am Stephanie Safarian and this is episode 130 of the Sustainable Minimalists podcast.

On today's episode we are outlining the must-haves, as well as the don't needs for new parents.

Now I remember back when I was pregnant with my first daughter. I went to one of those big nationwide baby chain stores to make a registry in advance of her arrival and in advance of our baby shower, the helpful sales associate understood that I had no idea what to register for.

So she gave me this laundry list of no joke, hundreds of items to register for presumably that new

parents needed in order to not just parent but parent well. I was directed to scan my heart out with the little handheld scanner as I walked around the store and that's exactly what I did.

Fast forward six or so months my daughter had safely arrived and all the items that I registered for and received by my loving family and friends just sat in my house. They were unused. It was a real sobering

moment to realize that almost all the items I thought I needed, all completely unnecessary. This episode is for

listeners who may become parents someday,

perhaps even in the near future,

and are having trouble distinguishing true needs

from all the hype.

This episode is also for listeners who are in the habit of giving a gift to a new baby or new parents and want to give something that is both eco-friendly and actually useful.

So today's episode is split into two distinct parts.

In part one, Act 1, I am giving you my five best gift ideas for new mothers and new babies as actually determined by mothers.

So to help me make this top five list, I enlisted the help of members in this

podcast private Facebook group, which of course is aptly named Sustainable Minimalists.

I asked them what was the most helpful or most thoughtful

gift they received as a new parent. I tallied their responses and they helped me to create this list.

Now in part two of today's episode I am bringing you a conversation with Lauren Greger.

Lauren is an eco-conscious mother who knew there had to be a more

sustainable and a more affordable way to clothe a baby than buying dozens upon

dozens of outfits.

...