This initiative gives guidance for caregivers and anyone who wants to enable kids to flourish on a flourishing planet.
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Together we enabled the next generations to flourish
Smart living
Multifunctional living
By Madeleine Enarsson © 2025
SMART LIVING | MULTI-FUNCTIONALITY
A guiding star when thinking about your child's individual needs
This page gives ideas on how you can live smarter with less, for example by using multifunctional spaces, furniture and toys - or things you may already have - that can significantly reduce the number of items or investments.
This is not to say that the solutions below are ultimate essentials for everyone. Needs vary from individual to individual. The point is neither to avoid things at any cost. If something can make life much easier to e.g. be a parent or contribute to society then that trade-off might be legit. How to know what's legit is however not always easy.
The purpose of this page is therefore to inspire dialogues on what things are truly needed by providing a reference so that caregivers have something to compare with as a starting point when analysing their own needs, and to show concrete examples for inspiration.
Multifunctional living solutions
Below are some ideas for multifunctional solutions to substitute unnecessary "stuff". While needs can vary from individual to individual, the solutions below cover many of the essentials needed during the child's first years to meet its basic needs like sleeping, nappy changes and eating (click on the images for explanations). What do you need?
Multifunctional furnishing and use of what you already may have
Essentials you may not have before expecting a baby
CAPSULE WARDROBE
"One extra - just in case?"
If asking ChatGPT what clothing a baby needs the first three months, it suggets "a typical wardrobe" contains 35-59 different pieces.
Needs may vary, but as a general guide it might be enough to start with a smaller wardrobe and later complement it if actually needed.
Below is a tried and tested example of what a capsule wardrobe might look like containing way fewer pieces than what ChatGPT suggests. Good for the planet - and for the wallet!
EXAMPLE FOR SCANDINAVIAN WINTER
Capsule wardrobe - newborn & pregnancy
Compared to ChatGPT's suggestion above including 35 - 59 pieces for a newborn in winter, the wardrobe below includes 14-26 pieces. Items and amount vary depending on e.g. number of spit ups, laundry frequency, how cold/warm the child is, climate and time of the year. Below is a tried and tested example of how a capsule wardrobe with some essentials could look like the first months for a baby born in winter. Since maternity clothing is often also marketed for expecting mothers, below are some ideas for alternatives for the mother during pregnancy as well. How many items does your child and you need?
Indoors
Outdoors
Avoiding maternity clothing as much as possible
It is totally doable and often nicer to use regular clothes during pregnancy, like dresses or cardigans, than maternity clothes (except perhaps from a good pair of maternity tights). If you do need additional clothes, consider pieces that work after pregnancy as well, like those that are elastic or look good over-sized or loose-fit. Below are a few examples of versatile garments that can be used both during and after pregnancy and that fit for many different occassions.
CAPSULE TOY BOX
What toys does your child actually play with?
During the first year, most essential toys that a baby needs could fit into a small basket.
Instead of buying a lot of stuff an option is also to visit open pre-schools and museums where there are a lot of toys and things to explore, besides spending time outdoors and finding some of the best toys there.
The purpose of keeping the number of toys to a minimum is not just for the sake of reducing material use, it is primarily because many babies simply don't care much about many toys. Instead, they often mostly enjoy the simple stuff, like playing with water, sand and gravel. And of course - playing with you!
Capsule toy box (0-6 months)
Below are a few toys that may serve an important function during the first months. What toys will/does/did your child really care about the first six months?
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Overview
When it comes to real essentials, there is not much "stuff" actually needed for a child. This page tries to boil it down to a few multifunctional essentials for living that can fullfil a child's basic needs and beyond.
What is actually needed?
SMART LIVING
When expecting (or already having) a child, there are numerous long lists on the web on things you "need". From extensive wardrobes and a multitude of "development" toys to single-purpose furniture like specific changing tables - or devoting an entire nursing room for the child. It can be easy to feel pressured to acquire a lot of "stuff", but what of all of those things are truly needed?
Below is a list of all of the 'essentials' that ChatGPT suggests you need when expecting a baby (for clothes, see further down), including some alternative thoughts that question the list. What's your experience or needs?