3 Steps to Newborn Stations: A Space-Saving Alternative to the Newborn Cart
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Welcoming a newborn means adapting your home to meet both your baby’s needs and your own—without cluttering every available surface. If the newborn cart trend is too bulky for your style or space, consider setting up newborn stations with strategically placed diaper caddies. This space-saving approach keeps essentials within reach, making diaper changes and feedings more efficient, no matter where you are in your home.
Step 1: Choosing the Right Diaper Caddy
A well-organized diaper caddy is the foundation of your newborn station. When selecting one, consider the following factors:
Space & Compartments – Look for a caddy with multiple openings of varying sizes to store different items neatly. At least three large sections and several smaller pockets will help separate diapers, wipes, and creams.
Material & Portability – Opt for an easy-to-clean material like felt, plastic, or canvas. A lightweight design with handles ensures you can move it effortlessly between rooms.
Size & Storage Capacity – Make sure it’s compact enough to fit in your designated spaces while still holding all essentials.
Here are some suggestions (all are linked):
I personally used this one. It’s lightweight, easy to keep clean, has great compartments that can be customized, and is from a small business.
Looks lightweight and easy to clean. It has removable dividers, nice handles, and available in a range of colors.
This checks all the boxes for user-friendly. Easy to clean, removable dividers, lots of storage spaces, and great handles. Bonus: you can zip it up, making it great for the car and comes with a wet/dry bag.
This is the priciest option, due to the major perk of a built-in nightlight. If you are looking for a middle of the night diaper caddy, this is the one.
Step 2: Stocking the Diaper Caddy
Each newborn station should include all the essentials you might need for quick changes, feedings, and self-care. Here’s what to stock (check the bottom of the page for some of my favorites used with both of my boys):
Diapers – Keep a supply of newborn or size 1 diapers.
Wipes – A pack of fragrance-free, sensitive wipes.
Diaper Cream & Bum Brush – Aquaphor or another barrier cream, plus a bum brush for easy application.
Clean Pajamas/Swaddle – In case of diaper blowouts or spit-ups.
Burp Cloths – For feedings and quick clean-ups.
Pacifier – If your baby takes one, having an extra on hand is helpful.
Haakaa Pump – For catching letdown during feedings.
Nipple Cream – A must-have for breastfeeding moms to prevent soreness.
Mom Snacks – A small, high-protein snack like granola bars or nuts for those long nights.
Hair Tie & Chapstick – Small but essential items to keep you comfortable.
Hand Sanitizer – For quick sanitizing before and after diaper changes.
Step 3: Setting Up Multiple Stations
Instead of running to the nursery for every diaper change, place a stocked diaper caddy in each major area of your home. Consider setting up at least one per floor if you live in a multi-level home. Suggested locations include:
Living Room – Perfect for daytime convenience.
Bedroom/Nightstand – A nighttime lifesaver for middle-of-the-night changes.
Bathroom – Handy for quick clean-ups and diaper changes.
By having a newborn station in key areas, you’ll eliminate the stress of scrambling for supplies and create a smoother, more organized daily routine.
Final Thoughts
Ditching the bulky newborn cart in favor of portable diaper caddies ensures you’re always prepared without taking up valuable space. With a little planning and organization, your newborn stations will keep essentials accessible, making the early months with your baby a little easier and a lot less cluttered. I personally switched to two of these stations (one in the nursery and one in the Master bedroom) at about 6 months postpartum and plan to continue using it past my little one’s first birthday.
Here are some favorites of mine to stock in the diaper caddy:
I thought I was a die hard Pamper’s Sensitive Wipes fan (still a great budget-friendly option). Then a family member gifted me some of these, they are amazing. Good for sensitive baby skin, clean ingredients, and the pattern on the wipes makes them the best for cleaning up poopy diapers.
Muslin burp cloths. Cheap for a pack of six, clean up messes well, and wash well.
In the early days, these were way more soothing than nipple cream. They feel cool on your skin and can be re-used several times.
Both of my boys were Huggies fans. They never irritated their skin, have the blow-out barrier, and Costco always has them in stock.
2 way zipper pjs are the only way to go, don’t do buttons. We also live in Houston, so the bamboo pjs are the best.
This hand sanitizer is so nice as a spray form. Plus, it doesn’t have strong fragrance like some others.
The best multi-purpose cream. Works great for diaper rash, dry patches, older sibling’s boo-boos, and for boy’s post-circumcision.
Both my boys used different pacifiers. If you don’t know what pacifiers to try, get a pack like this to sample some. Tip: if your baby takes a bottle, most brands have pacifiers that match the bottle nipple.
Easy snack with protein, plus a little bit of chocolate for a pick-me-up.
The bum brush or diaper cream spatula is great. No, it’s not about “not getting your hands dirty”, this thing makes the cream actually stay where it is meant to- your baby’s butt and has excellent coverage. My hubby loves to call it “the butt shovel” and uses it all the time.
Looking for some good non-greasy nipple butter, this is it.
If you’re breastfeeding, this is a great tool to capture letdown to add to your freezer supply.