So you are expanding your family, congratulations! Yes, adding a new baby to the mix will come with its own set of challenges but I found it was easier transitioning to a family of four (with two under two!) than I thought it would be. Below are the must-have items for your second baby. Some are obvious (like diapers) and others you might not have thought of (such as new entertainment for your first child). I hope you find this list of products for your second baby registry helpful.
Even if you know you are having a baby the same gender as your first you might need more baby clothes. But why?
My two girls were born in completely opposite seasons. The winter bunting, swimsuits, and fleece footie pajamas were all going to be the wrong size (poor planning on our part!).
Eventually, as growth slows clothes will be easily passed down from sister to sister, but for our second baby, we did need to buy a number of clothing items because of the seasonal differences.
Similarly to clothing, there may be seasonal items for your new baby you didn’t need for your first. Here are two examples of what we had to purchase for baby #2;
This sun tent was an absolute life-saver for me when breastfeeding our second baby at the beach. No way is a toddler going to leave the beach so her baby sister can nurse somewhere more private. The tent offered privacy for breastfeeding as well as a great shaded spot for napping.
You may need a winter car seat cover if your first baby was born in a completely different season.
For additional considerations please read: Seasonal Baby Items.
You probably already have your breast pump and bottles all set to go from your first child but the following items you may need to replenish;
If you are planning to try and breastfeed your new baby please read: Great Breastfeeding and Pumping Tips.
Also, you may need an extra high chair or booster seat depending on the age of your first child. Obviously, this baby item doesn’t need to be purchased before the baby arrives. But it does make a great gift if friends and family are asking you for ideas!
Now that Rock ‘n Plays and all inclined sleepers have been deemed unsafe (insert crying face) you may need a new place to nap the baby.
I knew having two kids under the age of two would require me to have a double stroller. After a lot of research, I knew I didn’t want a side-by-side because it would take up the entire sidewalk. I didn’t want to make it difficult for people walking in the opposite direction and I needed space for our dog on the sidewalk.
I chose to go with a double stroller that worked with our infant car seat and can be configured so a seat can be removed and the oldest child can stand.
With our first, I never had an umbrella stroller because I just used our regular stroller for all outings and it worked just fine.
But when adding a second child I needed a super light and easy stroller to keep in the car at all times to whip out in public as needed (especially when we started potty-training the first child). Taking two kids under two to the doctor’s office required a small stroller I could squeeze into the room.
When baby #2 arrived I immediately switched to a backpack diaper bag.
With an extremely active toddler, you will always be on the go. Carrying your baby on the front of your body with a backpack full of snacks, bottles, diapers, etc on your back makes the most sense.
Not to mention, if your older kid is a runner the backpack diaper is the best when quick action is needed from a parent.
A convertible car seat does not need to be purchased right away if you still have your infant car seat from your first baby. Eventually, you will need a convertible car seat for all your children. Make sure to check the expiration date on your infant car seat when deciding what your new baby will be using.
Our first daughter had colic. Baby carriers and wraps saved our lives because we carried her constantly (motion helped the never-ending crying).
If you didn’t use (or have) baby carriers and wraps with your first child you are going to want to get some now – trust me! Everywhere we went, our second daughter was in a front carrier. This is also how I was able to get dinner on the table and keep up with laundry.
We love our video baby monitor because it can support up to four different cameras. When we found out we were expecting baby #2 our family gifted us an add-on camera.
Now during naps and at night, I am able to use the scan feature to switch back and forth between the cameras every 30 seconds automatically.
The fact that there is also a talking feature is super helpful. In the morning when my two-year-old gets up crazy early I press the microphone button on the monitor and tell her to go back to bed – she hears my voice through the camera in her room.
You never realize how loud doors are when they close until you have a baby. As you tiptoe out of a sleeping child’s room the worst thing that can occur is the sound of the door closing wakes up the kid.
The solution is simple – buy a door cushion for each of the children’s rooms. When your oldest slams the door to his/her room and it doesn’t make a sound you will be very grateful.
Now is the time to decide if you are moving your older child into a big-kid bed or purchasing a second crib.
So many friends advised us to keep our oldest in a crib as long as possible and I’m very glad we took that advice. Getting a second crib was one of the best decisions we made.
Don’t forget to buy more crib sheets if you choose to get an additional crib too!
If you sign up below you can check out the largest baby registry list ever to see if there is anything you missed having the first time around!
I would recommend throwing out all pacifiers from your first child if you haven’t already. Buy new ones for your baby-to-be.
I don’t know about you but I had to break out the thermometer a lot with my first daughter. Once the second daughter arrived we realized we didn’t want to be swapping germs between the two (especially if you ever have to use it rectally – gross!) so these disposable thermometer covers are great to have on hand.
Kids are always getting sick, at least our girls are. Having a humidifier in both the baby’s and toddler’s rooms will be necessary.
Don’t forget to replenish your baby medicines (infant Tylenol, Motrin, etc) before number two arrives. Plus, check expiration dates!
Stock up now on diapers, wipes, and diaper pail liners before your due date.
If you have ever considered cloth diapering (especially if you will be having multiple children in diapers at the same time) please read: Everything to Know About Cloth Diapers.
I would highly recommend purchasing new toys and entertainment for your oldest. You are not going to be able to give your undivided attention to your little one anymore. New toys will help provide the distraction he/she needs.
Don’t feel guilty about a little screen time when you are trying to survive the first months with a baby and a toddler. We don’t have one yet but everyone has told me this device saved their sanity.
For fantastic ideas to keep toddlers entertained please read: Quiet Gifts for Toddlers.
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