When we were expecting our first little bundle of joy, my instinct was to buy as little as possible. Give me all the hand me downs! A bit of context: 1) we live in a very small house and knew it would fill quickly with all things baby, and 2) like most expecting families, we were a bit stressed about how we were actually going to afford everything.

Fast forward five short (but also extremely loooooong) years, my husband and I are now the very tired parents of three humans under five years old and a furry child who thinks he should still have ALL the attention. Oh, and we haven’t moved from our 1600 square foot home. (You’re getting an idea of where the “minimalist” part comes from!) As we are finishing up our last newborn season, I’ve reflected a bit on what the past 5 years have taught me. My initial instinct to buy minimally was well-intentioned, but certainly not realistic. Babies (and toddlers, and big kids!) need STUFF. If you make these purchases intentionally, in a way that supports your family’s unique values and goals, products can enhance your life (and not just empty your wallet).

Today’s mama is so fortunate to have a plethora of information literally at her fingertips. Seriously, how did our parents and grandparents survive without 2 am Google searches?! However, this has proven to be a bit of a double-edged sword. As a parent desperate to raise great humans, the Internet is extremely quick to judge and can be a very harsh place to seek advice. Rather than resist our differences, I am embracing them. Hear me out: when you let go of the idea that there is one perfect way to approach parenting, and instead acknowledge that families are making decisions that support their values and goals, you are able to see the beauty in the diversity of raising children.

What does this soap box have to do with purchasing baby products?! I’ve come to realize that making informed decisions on purchases for your growing family requires more context than scrolling through product reviews. You must understand the specific role the product plays in empowering a mama to enjoy the journey of raising her littles. Modern Minimalist Mama aims to provide in-depth product and lifestyle discussions to add the “who, how, and why” to the “what” of purchasing items for your family. Hopefully, some of your values and goals align with mine and I’m able to provide some helpful insight into life as a parent. I’m glad you’re here!