Checklist and Shopping Guide for Second Baby
First off, congratulations on your second baby! We’re about to re-enter the crazy world of labor and delivery, and then having a newborn. But this time around we also have a 2-year-old toddler in the mix, which definitely makes things a bit more complicated.
By the time your second baby arrives you’re already in full-blown parent mode. Fortunately we already know how some of the journey ahead will go, but learning to balance our attention to two children is a new experience.
Having the right gear can definitely make the transition easier for both the parents and the children. You may also want to refresh your baby gear with new and upgraded products. Some items can be re-used from your first baby, and others may have to replaced.
This guide includes my most used registry items from my first baby, and then also the recommended shopping list for welcoming a second baby.
My Most Used Items From My First Baby Registry
Infant Car Seat & Stroller
When we were preparing for the arrival of our first baby, we sprung for the Maxi-Cosi Zelia 5-in-1 Modular Travel System. It’s one of the most lightweight car seat and stroller combos on the market, and the car seat conveniently pops into the stroller. And now we use the Zelia for our 2-year-old because it converts into a toddler stroller. We also get a lot of compliments from other parents because of the sleek modern style!
Honest Company Diapers + Wipes Subscription
Life with new babies gets hectic and having diapers and wipes delivered to your doorstep is really convenient. I like to use Honest Company diapers because they’re both organic and eco-friendly, plus the designs and prints are so cute!
Backpack Diaper Bag
I highly suggest getting a diaper bag in a backpack style because it’s extremely helpful to be handsfree when you’re carrying a baby and carseat. We’ve had a Freshly Picked backpack diaper bag and it’s held up very well for over 2 years. It comes with a changing pad inside and compartments for bottles.
Crib, Mattress & Fitted Sheets
Having a safe place for baby to sleep is very important. On our baby registry we got our crib from Target along with the mattress and a couple packs of fitted crib sheets. If you know you’re going to have more than one child, investing in a crib you love is worth it.
Baby Monitor
Having a reliable baby monitor helps to give parents more flexibility to be productive during nap time and sleeping at night. With a baby monitor you can leave the room and feel confident that your baby is safe and sleeping.
Parents have all kinds of baby monitor technology available nowadays - video, audio, movement monitors and wifi monitors. With these high tech monitors you can see baby’s activity on your phone, monitor their vital signs and hear any crying or distress.
DockATot Co-Sleeper
You may be wondering why you would need both a crib and co-sleeper. The reality of parenting is that sometimes you need a flexible sleeping arrangement and you need to be assured that baby is safe.
Co-sleepers are ideal for traveling, nap time during daytime outings or in between times when transitioning to the crib. Dock A Tot co-sleepers are great because you can remove the cover and wash them in the washing machine. They also have really cute cover prints!
Sound Machine & Shusher Sleep Soother
When we were struggling to get our baby daughter on a sleep schedule, we discovered how effective the Shusher Sleep Soother was to putting her down to bed. The sound literally sounds like someone is making a smooth “shushing” noise, which is a bit strange at first. But it’s actually very similar to a white noise machine and babies really find it comforting.
There’s also other sound machines available with lullabies, classical music, rain and ocean sounds, and heartbeat rhythms.
Breast Pump
If you plan on nursing, pumping is an essential part of the breastfeeding routine. Even if you’re a full-time stay at home mom, you’ll still need to occasionally pump. It also helps to have pre-pumped frozen breast milk on hand so others can feed your baby in the event that you aren’t available to breastfeed.
Baby Feeding Essentials
For our second baby we plan on replacing all the feeding essentials with new ones. Mostly because after a year of use, our bottles and accessories have really taken a beating. The second time around we are going to use glass baby bottles instead of plastic for healthier feedings.
The feeding items we use the most are:
Baby Frida Snot Sucker
The Frida Snot Sucker is small gadget that’s extremely helpful when your baby has mucus built up in their nasal cavity. The design is simple, it’s easy to use and it’s effective! It can be a lifesaver on those miserable sick days.
Baby Thermometer
Fevers in babies can start very suddenly and escalate quickly, which is why you always need to have a baby thermometer handy. When you call your doctor or advice nurse, the first thing they will always ask for is baby’s exact temperature.
Wipes Warmer for Winter Babies
On chilly winter days, having cold and wet wipes makes diaper changes more miserable than they need to be. Having a universal wipes warmer that will fit most wipes packages is really helpful in keeping baby warm and comfortable.
Changing Table, Travel Changing Pads & Diaper Genie
Having a fully equipped diaper changing station can keep you organized and reduce baby clutter around the house. Your diaper genie is also essential to keep your home from smelling like poop diapers. And don’t forget to register for extra bags refills that fit your model!
We also have several portable changing pads that we keep in the car, in the diaper bag and on the second level of our house for quick changes.
Baby Swaddles & Pacifiers
For the first 4 months of the newborn stage, swaddling can really help with soothing fussy babies. I suggest having at least 3 swaddles on hand because you’ll be continuously washing them in the laundry.
Our daughter Scout started using a pacifier very early on because it really helped her soothe for fussiness and sleeping. One thing we learned is that there’s different nipple shapes with pacifiers and babies tend to stick to one style. So if you don’t have success the first time, try a different brand of pacifier that has a different shape.
For babies that use pacifiers, you’ll also really need clip straps so that the binkies aren’t always falling on the floor. Otherwise you’re constantly sanitizing them!
Baby Gates
Once baby is more mobile and crawling around, baby gates are essential to keep them in a safe spot. We also use baby gates to block the staircase in our house and to separate the dog when needed.
Baby Bath Time Essentials
When Scout was a newborn we used the Blooming Baby bath flower in the sink for her bath time. I liked that it was machine washable and very portable for any sink in the house. Once she was able to sit up in the bathtub, we switched to the Munchkin Safety Swan and Duckie inflatable baths. Both these options are great for traveling because they’re lightweight and packable.
Car Seat Mirror
The car seat mirror is one of those items that new parents often don’t think about until they actually need one. Because car seats are backwards facing, when you’re driving in the car you can’t see your baby’s face without a mirror. The mirror conveniently clips to the seat headrest and you don’t have to move it until your toddler graduates to a front facing car seat.
First Stage Baby Activity Toys
Around the 3-month-old mark babies have much more control over the movement of their hands and they can start playing with activity toys. Babies particularly like toys that dangle, have bold contrasting colors, and make noise with rattles. Toys that have a clip are convenient for clipping to the crib, car seat handle and activity floor mats.
Essentials You Need with the Second Baby
When we knew we were expecting a second baby, I reached out to my friends who have multiple children and asked what they recommend parents purchase for the transition into a family of four. They said that any gear to help you be hands-free with the new baby is very helpful, especially if your older child is still a toddler.
I was also surprised to find out that many of the things they suggested were actually to help your toddler transition as well. The older child will need to learn to be more independent and self-entertain so that parents can attend to the baby.
Double Stroller
My daily routine with the kids includes long walks in the park. It’s the best way to lose the baby weight and stay active, plus it’s great to get the little ones out of the house. The best place to shop for double strollers is buybuyBaby, they have the most options available and a variety of price points. They even have triple strollers for families with twins!
Hands Free Baby Carrier
I didn’t use a baby carrier very much with my first baby, but I definitely will this second time because I have both a toddler and a baby to care for. Carriers are the easiest way to be hands free so can safely get things done with two kids.
Carriers come in a variety of styles including:
Toddler Car Seat
With the arrival of our second baby, the timing was perfect to graduate Scout to a toddler front facing car seat. Now we have the backwards facing baby car seat available for the second baby.
Gifts for Older Sibling from Baby
Because so much attention goes to the newborn baby, having special gifts for your toddler can help with jealously issues. My suggestion is to have gifts wrapped up and ready to give them when baby comes home from the hospital. Make sure to tell your toddler that the gift is from their new little sibling.
Toddler Bed
Since your crib is probably going to the new baby, it might be time to get your older child a new big kid bed. There’s all kinds of fun styles and characters for toddler beds, so they’ll probably be able to pick out their favorite.
pack n play
Your baby gear will need to be portable because you most likely will be following your toddler around the house as they play. Having an easy to move pack n play can make your day more smooth, giving you a safe place to put your baby down in any room of the house.
Portable Play Activity Mat
Another great portable option are infant activity mats. They fold up quickly and can be set up on any clean floor surface in your house. You can easily play on the carpet or hard wood floors with your toddler with your baby safely next to you.
Toys & Activities for Toddler Independent Playtime
A big part of the transition to two children is teaching your older child to be more independent. Solo playtime is an important skill for them to learn, and it’s sone easier when they have new toys and activities.
During my pregnancy I’ve started encouraging Scout to play by herself and letting her learn to use her imagination. We bought her watercolor paint sets, markers, crayons and stencils. We set up an art station with paper and brushes and she can get started on art projects without our help.
Scout also loves reading picture books by herself. Although she can’t read the words, she will sit in her library and narrate stories to herself from what she sees in the illustrations. It’s very educational and so cute!
