Must Haves for 2Nd Baby

Updated on August 16, 2011
S.L. asks from Chestertown, MD
13 answers

I'm thinking pretty far ahead right now, but we just found out that I'm pregnant with our second child and I'm eager to do something. I was trying to decide what things we would need to buy. My son will be 3 when the baby is born and we still have everything from when he was a baby. Obviously if it's a girl I'll need to get some things, but other than gender specific items what things did you find really helpful with your second child? Opinions on double strollers? Another infant carrier since I'll be chasing a toddler with this one? Are there any must have baby products that have come out in the last 2 years? Right now I can't think of a whole lot that I'll need. Did you do a registry for your second child? Thanks!

Just an update on the carrier-we have an Ergo and I love it, but I didn't get it until my son no longer needed the infant insert. Did people use the infant insert with their ergo or does another carrier work better for the first 4 months?

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C.D.

answers from Columbia on

This might sound silly, but I would get a really easy to update baby book or baby calendar. So often when the second baby comes along a mama is too busy to keep up with all of the big firsts they do with the first one.
Congratulations!

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K.J.

answers from Chicago on

Double strollers come in handy if you are an on-the-go type of person, especially if your hubby is not around often. I use mine just about every day.

I have a tandem stroller that I use when shopping in the mall, because my double side/side jogging stroller won't fit thru narrow aisles.

I definitely recommend an infant carrier (the best brand I have used is the ERGO).

That's pretty much all I can think that you'd need for 2 vs 1 kid.

Do you still use a baby monitor for your 3 yr old?

I woudn't register for baby #2.

ETA: Oh yeah, and CONGRATULATIONS!!!

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J.D.

answers from Phoenix on

I got new nipples for the baby bottles, but ended up breastfeeding and not using them.

Got another baby book so I could start filling it out.

Got a brand new coming home from the hospital outfit.
I got new pacifiers, but the baby ended up sucking his thumb. LOL

Bought a mirror for the car so we could see him. With the first I would just sit back there all the time.

I got a breathable crib bumper, something I wanted with the first, but it was a little late-they've been very useful and wonderful!

We got some new toys for around the crib. Now that he's over one, he has his own separate bedtime friends from his brother.
We got a couple of new crib sheets cause they were ripped.

Most of the stuff we bought for our second son was stuff AFTER the fact that he needed. Like he had sleep issues and so we got a Cloud B sleep sheep.

We did buy a stroller too. I LOVE the one we got. I researched a ton and tried em out and settled on the City Mini Double. Highly recommend if you will go on a lot of walks where your older one will want to ride. (Mine were 20 months apart). Since your kids are quite far apart, you will probably not need a double, or at least won't use it much.

Eventually we got another convertilbe car seat.

Yes, I did do a registry, but only so at the end I could get 15 percent off the stuff I registered for (like breast pads and the stroller, etc). At babies R Us if you register in the store, you get a coupon for 15% off the week before your due date. So, I just fudged my due date to be a couple of months before I was due and was able to do the shopping before baby.

Congrats and good luck. It was super hard for me!!

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R.K.

answers from Chicago on

The nap nanny is fantastic and before I loved the Moby wrap for my newborn. A great double stroller is Britax B-Ready. I Love Mine! I did not do a registry for my second. My MIL took me shopping and between us we got everything I needed.

Congrats and Good Luck!

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N.T.

answers from Chicago on

I have only one so far. so can't exactly say what you might will need. but one thing for sure I would say , buy something special for first baby.. He shouldn't feel left out when new baby born. Give importance to him especially first month of newborn.
Congratulations.

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C.W.

answers from Washington DC on

I did a registry. I didn't like some of the things I got the first time around. I got pushed into a double stroller and I hated it. I would go with a sit and stand stroller that your 3 yo can stand or sit on. An ergo carrier would be nice.

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S.R.

answers from El Paso on

The thing that I realized is the most helpful for me is something that I *had* with my first, but didn't use very often. I have a Snugli front carrier. This has really come in handy when we go shopping. With my first, I could just put the infant carrier in the seat of the shopping cart, but now my toddler usually wants to sit there or in the big part of the cart (and I'll use the seat for storage at those times). So, there's just not enough room to put the carrier in the cart. Yay for the Snugli! After my first shopping trip with both of them (thank goodness my husband was with us) I realized it was NOT going to work. Then I remembered that my mom had said she had used her Snugli when shopping. One kid walking, one in the cart, & the baby in the Snugli. Sure enough, it has saved me a ton of space at the grocery store! :)

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S.R.

answers from Kansas City on

ERGO ERGO ERGO.

We are pregnant with number 3 and I can't wait to use ours again. Our youngest is almost 26 months and hates being carried, but she still fits in it just fine. It is really worth the investment.

The Joovy Ergo Caboose is a sit and stand that is not a stroller and a half (most sit and stands are only a stroller and a half) which is why they are so compact. This one allows you to put the infant seat on the back or front. With the other brands (even the Joovy Ultralight) it has to go on the front and then the bench seat is not able to be used for sitting- just standing. USA Baby has them in store to test out. I have never seen one in any other store.

We did a registry with our second child (won't with the third) only because our first was a boy and the second was a girl. And we both have family in other states, it was just easier that way.

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D.C.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Moby wrap and a ring sling, so I could hold the baby close, hands-free, while playing with my older child.

Otherwise, if anything, I scaled down on stuff with baby #2, because I realized how much of the baby stuff I really didn't need!

Congratulations!

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M.L.

answers from Erie on

my son was 3 when my second was born. the baby practically lived in my maya wrap. he loved it and i loved him being in it because he was close (he loved to be weared too) and i had to chase around my 3 year old.

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A.S.

answers from Clarksville on

I would say a double stroller, it makes it easier to go to doctors office/ places without shopping carts. I would also say that if it is another boy he will need his own special blankets. My older son grew attached to his blankets and wouldn't share. Then the baby grew attached to the new blankets.

Updated

I would say a double stroller, it makes it easier to go to doctors office/ places without shopping carts. I would also say that if it is another boy he will need his own special blankets. My older son grew attached to his blankets and wouldn't share. Then the baby grew attached to the new blankets.

1 mom found this helpful
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R.Y.

answers from New York on

The double stroller thing depends on your older kid. My kids are also 3 years apart. I had a sit and stand stroller and it was a pain (bulky and heavy). My older one likes his freedom and I didn't use it too much after the first 6 months or a year. I trained him to stay with me when I was pregnant (he got the toddler leash if he ran off). My friend has kids with the same age difference and she really likes having the double stroller.

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A.T.

answers from Miami on

OMG Im glad i could reccomend this to someone; on friday we went to the buy buy baby store..not sure if you know one its new in florida, but its better than the common ones. Thats where I had my baby shower registry. Anyway if you dont you could order online. theres this new thing call mamaRoo its $240 but trust me its worth it. Im a staying a home mom for now and you ladies know how hard its to keep up with the house, cooking husband and baby. This thing moves the baby in 5 different motions, you could set up the scream and a sound for every movement. and its adaptable to ipod/iphone/ipad (my baby loves classical music) so its amazing for me. I could really quick to stuff around and rest for a little bit. you could google it if you want. and the website for the store its www.buybuybaby.com. its useful from newborn up to 25 pounds. i hope i helped :) and congrats on the new baby!!!!

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