When you were expecting as a first time mom, you probably got sucked into all that baby hype…
You walk into the store to create your registry and you’re completely enamored with all the teeny tiny baby items and you have to have all the things!
I know I did…I read all kinds of books on what you needed when you’re expecting a baby and now as a second time mom, I know I didn’t need at least half of it!
You also may have lucked out if your kids are close enough together that you still have some of your baby stuff from your first child. This time around you probably want to save money rather than spend it on all those items on a baby registry.
But there are some items that you’ll still need to get for your second little nugget.
(Side note, you could start a baby registry on Amazon and get some awesome benefits! Even if you aren’t planning on having a baby shower for your second baby, you can still get a discount on your registry items once it’s close to your due date and for a little while after too! It’s also great for those who want to give you gifts because they’ll know what you really need).
The Top 10 Items You Need For Your Second Baby
Door jumper– You can stick your toddler in this while you shower or if you need to run out of the room for a few minutes.
You’ll have peace of mind knowing that they can’t get into anything.
I used this when I had my first and it came in handy when I had my second as well. This was the only way I was able to shower.
When my daughter was too young to be left alone I would stick her in the door jumper and then used it again when my son couldn’t be left alone to wander and get into things.
It was a lifesaver too because my daughter never wanted to be away from me so even when she was old enough to be left alone for a few minutes, (in a baby proofed area) I stuck her in the door jumper so she wouldn’t sit at the shower door and keep opening it.
Baby Carrier- I’ve written a lot about baby carriers, but for good reason! I used several different baby carriers from the time my oldest was born all the way to the present with my youngest.
Besides the amazing benefits of babywearing, it’s also the only way I was able to keep my velcro baby soothed because she always wanted to be held.
Once I had two kids I could have my hands free to keep up with my rambunctious toddler and still have my son content snuggled into me.
All of the chores, errands, and cooking were made possible with babywearing.
Related: The 5 Best Baby Carriers For Babies And Toddlers
Double stroller– Now many times for short trips when I would go out I would use a carrier for my son, and my daughter would walk.
But when we would do longer trips (zoo, museums, walks outside, mall, etc.) I would bring my double stroller.
My daughter would still get tired and want to sit down and if I got tired of babywearing or was physically doing something that I couldn’t babywear my son, he could chill on the other side. It was a really nice option to have!
This stroller one is my favorite because I loved that they could both see out.
Plus a huge selling point for me was this double stroller fits through single doors!
Baby bouncer seat– Now sometimes you may not want to use a baby carrier or you’re doing something that you can’t babywear, so getting a good baby seat is another great option to have.
These portable seats come in handy when you have to hop in the shower but you want your baby in the bathroom with you. Or if you’re cooking and you want your baby in the kitchen with you.
Another feature I liked about these, is they’re very low to the ground so even after my kids were mobile, I could still use it because they still liked sitting in it but could get out of the seat if they wanted, (verses the ones where the baby is swinging up in the air).
Baby monitor– I used baby monitors all the time when my kids were little.
As a first time mom I wanted to hear every noise and see my baby without having to go into the room. That was actually something that was still important to me even as a second time mom.
I liked being able to see and hear what was happening in the room when my son was napping so I knew I wouldn’t miss him waking up when I was busy with my daughter or chores.
Even though my kids are toddlers now, I still use a baby monitor to keep an eye on them when they are playing in another room or when my son is napping to know when he gets up.
I love these monitors because they have excellent night vision and a very clear picture for both day and night. You also get the video straight to your phone! (That means no more carrying around an extra monitor).
And if you don’t want the video on, you can set it up to text you alerts if there’s movement or any sounds, (like a baby crying).
There’s also a talk back feature so you can talk to your baby or older kids and they can hear you and respond.
That feature has been super useful when I set my kids up to watch a movie and I do some work in another room. If they call for me, I can respond through the monitor and see what they need without having to run in the room every time.
Bassinet– When I was pregnant with my oldest, one of the things I was most excited about getting was a crib.
I would look at all the beautiful cribs and got sucked into how gorgeous they were with all the blankets set up. It epitomized the way a nursery was supposed to look.
(I initially wanted to get a crib that was over $1,000! Which is just absolutely crazy and thank god I got talked out of that!).
I ended up getting a cheaper one but the crazy part is I never used the crib. It sat there because I ended up co-sleeping with my daughter. It was a huge waste of money.
A couple other friends of mine did the same thing. I told them they may want to hold off on getting a crib, (to save money) and instead just get a bassinet. They were like me though and went and got the crib and it sat there unused!
Every child’s sleep habits and preferences are different.
Even if you think you have the sleep situation planned out, it could very well change.
So here’s my advice, even if you don’t decide to co-sleep, get a bassinet at first and that’ll give you time to figure out if you really need to spend money on a crib.
I ended up getting a bassinet for my son so he could sleep right next to my bed. After he got older, I took one side off of that same crib I had, and pushed it together with my bed so he could sleep there, but still be close to me.
Diaper changing pad– Get a few of these to put around the house.
I never got the changing table with my first baby but even if you do have one, you should have some spare changing pads.
Sometimes your toddler will be busy and you’ll need to change the baby but you won’t be able to make it up to your baby’s room/changing table. So these are super helpful to have!
Playard/pack n play– It’s very handy to have a playpen to contain your baby (or toddler!). But sometimes, (and in my case) your kid may get bored pretty quickly in a regular playpen.
To make things more fun for your toddler you can put plastic balls inside and make them their own ball pit! It’s a total hit, my kids loved it and it kept them occupied for a while so I could shower or leave them in one room to go in another and know they were safe and contained.
(Note, I didn’t put them both in it at the same time, I used it when I just had my daughter and then when I needed to keep my son contained and entertained).
Highchair– You’ll want to have another high chair or a booster seat for mealtimes.
Breastfeeding supplies– If you are planning on breastfeeding this time around, you’ll want to be fully stocked with the supplies you will need.
–Breast pump- These are essential because at some point you are going to have to leave your baby. Whether it be for an appointment, work, or a much needed day/night out. You can pump to have milk for your baby when you aren’t there.
–Nipple cream No one likes sore nips…
–Nursing pads Helps to soak up any milk leakage (to avoid the wet spots on your shirt)
–Nursing bras or nursing tanks
-Bottles
-Bottle brushes
Final Thoughts
The wise, seasoned second time mama knows better than to fall into the hype surrounding baby stuff. Yes it’s cute, but you don’t need most of it. But even the seasoned mama knows there are necessary items to have when you have subsequent babies. These top ten items you need for your second baby will prepare you for your new bundle of joy without overspending on stuff you don’t need!
