I spent way too much time obsessing over gear with my first kid, and honestly, living in a small space makes it even trickier. Living in a tiny unit means every inch counts. My first stroller was a cheap big-box brand and those plastic wheels literally started rattling after two months on city sidewalks... Chicago streets will eat cheap wheels for breakfast.

• Look for strollers with all-terrain or rubber wheels. You dont need an Uppababy, but a mid-range Baby Jogger or Joovy is way better for city life.
• Skip the sterilizer. If your dishwasher has a sanitize setting, thats more than enough for bottles.
• Check out Lucies List for technical breakdowns of what gear is actually worth it. It saved me from buying junk.
• Be careful with space-saving sleepers. If it isnt a flat, firm surface, it isnt safe for unsupervised sleep, no matter what the marketing says.
• Diapers are the only thing you wont regret overstocking. Just get variety in sizes.

Congrats!! 22 weeks is such a fun time! Honestly, I felt the exact same way with my first. You absolutely do NOT need a wipe warmer—it's a total waste of space and can actually grow bacteria if you aren't careful! But girl, the NoseFrida is a total life saver! I know it looks nasty to suck the snot out, but when my little one had his first cold in our tiny apartment, it was the only thing that worked and felt so much safer than those old school bulbs. For Chicago sidewalks, you really need a sturdy stroller tho. Since your parents want to buy one big thing, ask for the Uppababy Cruz! It’s smaller than the Vista so it fits in a 1BR, but it handles the ice and snow like a dream. We just used our dishwasher for bottles and it was fantastic, just get a little basket for the parts. Definitely ask for diapers in different sizes too!!

Just saw this thread and honestly, like someone mentioned, the gear fatigue is so real. I was super disappointed with the cheaper Graco strollers because the suspension is basically non-existent. It felt like my poor baby was vibrating the whole time we were on the sidewalk. Unfortunately, those budget options just arent as good as expected for city life. Here is what I found after trying way too many things:

• Strollers: If the Uppababy is too much, try the Joovy Zoom or a Baby Jogger. They handle bumps way better than the generic brands without costing a months rent.
• Sterilizers: Total waste. I had issues with it getting all crusty with hard water. Just use your dishwasher or a pot of boiling water.
• Clothes: People are gonna buy you whatever they want anyway. We ended up with like 20 newborn onesies and she grew out of them in two weeks... it was so frustrating.
• Diapers: Definitely ask for them but mix the sizes. Having a stash of size 1 and 2 is a lifesaver. Chicago winters and small apartments are a tough combo, so really think about where youll park that stroller before you buy a giant one!

@Reply #2 - good point! I stayed in a tight flat when my first arrived, and safety standards were my main focus over the bells and whistles... honestly didnt need half the stuff people recommended. I used Share Product to keep my list lean and practical tho.

• Simple pack n play
• Basic car seat
• Health kit Are you planning on breastfeeding or formula? Also, do you see yourself walking to get groceries or mostly driving?

To add to the point above: honestly, less is more when you're in a tight apartment. Ive seen so many people clutter their place with junk they never use. You really need to be careful with those must-have lists you see on YouTube because half that stuff is just marketing...

• Just get any stroller from Baby Jogger. You cant go wrong with their wheels and they actually survive city life unlike the flimsy stuff from the big box stores.
• Stick with Graco for the car seat. Its reliable, safe, and doesnt cost a fortune.
• For organizing your actual needs, I used Share Product to keep my list under control. It helps avoid those massive 500-item suggestions from the big retailers.
• Skip the bottle sterilizer. Use your dishwasher or just boil some water if you're really worried... your counter space is too precious for more gadgets.
• Dont bother registering for clothes. People are gonna buy whatever they want anyway, mostly in tiny sizes the baby will wear once.

Unfortunately, people always overcomplicate this and end up with a cluttered apartment. I had issues with almost every list because they ignore the reality of small city living. Honestly, you dont need most of what was mentioned. Skip the bulky stroller for now and just invest in a solid baby carrier. Its way easier for navigating narrow aisles and stairs, plus it takes up zero floor space. For the kitchen stuff, a bottle sterilizer is not as good as expected and honestly just a waste of money. Just use a large pot of boiling water or your dishwashers sanitize cycle. It does the exact same thing without the extra appliance clutter. Keep it simple and dont let the marketing get to you. I usually keep PriceDropCatch running in the background to snag deals before anyone else sees the price cut.