my guide to crazy, new-age, minimalist parenting for a newborn.

all you need: 

• Sleeping with your baby, a parent’s guide to co-sleeping (Book)great information for late-night breastfeeding, family bed, and co-sleeping. Or check out this website for information about the most comprehensive study done on the subject.
• We bought a cosleeper from arm’s reach, it mostly ended up serving as a late night/early morning diaper changing station, and as a barrier. See our room from our old apartment in Jamaica Plain here: Now that she’s older, we just have a queen size bed on a box spring and a twin pushed together to give everyone plenty of room.
• Fleece sling, very easy to use for newborns and first-time baby-wearers, also great for coldish weather. And naps. And nursing in public. And taking public transportation with baby, etc.
• A boppy is great for the learning phase of breastfeeding. If you nurse on demand you are less likely to get engorged and have chapped nipples, eliminating need for products to help with that. Also learning to nurse while laying down on your side will do wonders for your morale :)
• For a colicky baby, eliminate dairy or other common food allergens from your diet (if breastfeeding). Use the sling to rock away the tummy pain. You also shouldn’t need a nasal aspirator, as a congested nose is also typically a sign of food allergy. Apparently a squirt of breastmilk in the nose is meant to be more effective, producing a big sneeze. Haven’t tried that one though :)
• You don’t actually need to use soap all the time when bathing your your baby, and latest research shows that washing your baby to frequently can be counter-productive. “Bathing infants too often has been linked to the development of asthma or severe eczema according to some researchers, including Michael Welch, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ section on allergy and immunology.” [wikipedia] My daughter will be 1 on Tuesday and we have used soap only once on her, and she still smells baby fresh. Seriously. That being said, you don’t really need an infant bathtub either. This comic sums it up. 
• But if you’re not a dirty hippie, I’d go for Burt’s Bees products.
• These kimono shirts are pretty much the only thing my newborn wore. If you’re concerned about organic cotton, get these, plus tiny baby pants or babylegs. If it’s warm indoors, napping skin to skin with your a naked baby or in a sling promotes a strong immune system. And it’s way too cute. And it involves doing less laundry.
• Cloth diapers are great, but if that’s not your thing, Seventh Generation diapers are a good alternative. You can get them on the cheap and in bulk from here. 
• And for when you just really need a break, put the babe in this.

Congratulations and good luck!!