Stuff for 2nd baby?

[rhian]

We're expecting our second in a few months. Our kids will be a little less than 2.5 years apart, so we have most baby related items, but we're trying to figure out what additional things we need to get, whether they are unique to having two kids or that our son is still using so we need a second. Here's our list so far:
- double stroller
- dresser (we are moving our son to a bed so no need for another crib)
- baby monitor (undecided if we will get just a second camera for our current unit or just a whole second system)
- sound machine (son still uses his, so we can't pass it down)
- car seat (we only ever had one infant seat/base for my son, but now want 2 car seats in each car)

The list feels so short compared to everything we needed the first time around that I feel like we're missing something! Those of you with multiple kids, especially close in age, what did you need? Thanks!

[meowmaps]

The second time we were able to reuse a lot of stuff. The things we did get were new bottles and “luxury” items we didn’t get the first time like a proper bottle warmer and wipes warmer. The wipes warmer really came in handy since DD2 was a lot more sensitive to the feel of a cold wipe than DD1. We did get a few new clothes too so she wouldn’t only be wearing hand-me-downs.

[al dente]

I got new pacifiers and bottle nipples. But ya there really wasn't much I kept feeling like I must be missing stuff but was fine.

Also, things that were my absolute must haves for my first I barely touched or my second downright hated so I did end up getting some new things but they ended up being so kid dependent. And now I have no true "everyone needs this" gift besides the bare bone basics lol.

[nicolewi]

It’s been a while now, but my kids are all about two years apart. Just a note… We actually never used a regular double stroller. One of my friends gave us an old sit and stand, and we used that thing for years. It worked out perfectly for us for things like trips to the zoo, the mall, whatever, because it was nice for the older kid to be able to climb on and off and have a little more freedom. It was also pretty easy to maneuver. So you may want to think about that because I think it has more longevity than a typical double stroller.

Other than that, I don’t think we got too much new other than consumables like bottles, Pacis, some bibs, because others were worn out.

One thing we did really use at our house, but is definitely optional, and I don’t know that everyone would use it, was the Joovy room 2 play yard. It’s a really big playpen. We used that a lot. I just left it set up in a corner near the kitchen, and my bigger kids would go in there and help entertain the baby while I made dinner. My husband was usually not home over at dinner time so that was a big help for me . This was more once the baby was able to sit up, and crawl around a little.

[Susie]

My kids were 3.5 years apart, so a little more than yours.  Things I bought included:
- double stroller that I ended up selling NIB a year later.  I expected to need it, but never did.  I had a pretty independent first born who wanted out of the stroller on the earlier side.
- 2nd camera for our Infant Optics monitor system and replacement battery for the monitor unit
- new breast pump for me; I preferred the Spectra I had with #2 vs. the Medela I had for #1
- new pacis and bottle nipples
- microwave steam clean bags for pump parts, breast milk storage bags
- our diaper changing pad was looking a little worse for the wear, so I replaced and upgraded to a Keekaroo peanut the 2nd time around
- new diaper bag
- New crib bedding and some new clothes since we were having the opposite sex the 2nd time
- restocked on my favorite diaper rash creams, baby shampoos, wipes, diapers, etc.
- Haaka pump which I didn't have the first time
- reusable nursing pads
- thank you notes to have on hand for little gifts

We handed down the entire nursery furniture set, the infant car seat, all the strollers, etc. etc. from #1 to #2.  

[quesyrah]

My kids are 3.5 years apart.

We had to buy a new crib and infant seat. Other than that we all we bought was new pacifiers. And a ton of clothes because baby #2 was a girl and more fun to shop for lol

Oh, I did buy the fisher price rock n play but I don’t think those are on the market anymore.

[cricketwife]

My kids are the same age difference. I’d wait on the double stroller to see if you actually need it. We got one and used it once. It was such a waste.

I also agree with PP— things I loved with my first I didn’t use with my second. Things i didn’t use with first, I used with my second. I honestly wouldn’t buy much m, if anything, and see who this baby is first.

[mccallister84]

My kids were 19 months apart.

I did much more baby wearing basically from day 5 with my second. With my first I used a Moby Wrap but with my second I didn’t have time for something fussy - I needed something I could get the baby in ASAP, so we used the ergo with infant insert.

[melmaria]

My kids are pretty much exactly 2.5 years apart and we never used or needed a double stroller. During outings, I would either make DD1 walk and push DD2 in the stroller, or wear DD2 in a carrier and let DD1 take a break and ride. By the time DD1 was 3 and DD2 was 6 months, DD1 never wanted to sit in a stroller anyway. So maybe wait and see how it goes before you decide to buy one (or try to find a good one used) - I know so many people who say they barely used theirs.

As for other things, I got a second breast pump (because insurance paid, and it was nice to leave one at the office and one at home); a second camera for our infant optics monitor; a second convertible car seat (we used our original infant/bucket seat for the first few months). We did not need a second crib; we used the Snoo for the first 5 months and then moved DD1 to a big girl bed and DD2 to the crib.

[rhian]

Thank you all! The reinforcement that we probably aren't missing anything, and we just don't need much is helpful. I hadn't thought about pacifiers or bottle nipples - my son rejected them both so honestly the ones we have didn't get very heavy use. But I should take a closer look at them and see if they need to be replaced.

I think we are pretty set on a double stroller, but I appreciate the suggestions to think a little more about it. We use our stroller almost daily for walks and to get to playgrounds that are too far for our toddler to walk to, and he's typically pretty happy to get in the stroller at those times, so I think we'd get use out of a double. Per suggestions after I made a post about it here, I've been looking for a used City Mini GT on FB marketplace. It's helpful to know that it will probably be okay if we don't find one before the baby is here.

[meanie]

Our kids are 2 years apart and there wasn't much needed outside of clothing and diapers and what you have listed. We got a bunch of activity stuff for the older kiddo to help keep them busy - loved the Melissa and Doug Water Wow pads because there was no mess.

The double stoller we got had a bunch of different orientations, you could do 2 front facing seats or have the kids face each other, and the car seat could attach up top. It was a bit heavy compared to other brands but we used it a lot. Ours was the Chicco Cortina Together Double Stroller  but you might want to go with something that works with your car seat.

[dreamcrisp1]

Mar 4, 2024 12:12:15 GMT -5 rhian said:

Thank you all! The reinforcement that we probably aren't missing anything, and we just don't need much is helpful. I hadn't thought about pacifiers or bottle nipples - my son rejected them both so honestly the ones we have didn't get very heavy use. But I should take a closer look at them and see if they need to be replaced.

I think we are pretty set on a double stroller, but I appreciate the suggestions to think a little more about it. We use our stroller almost daily for walks and to get to playgrounds that are too far for our toddler to walk to, and he's typically pretty happy to get in the stroller at those times, so I think we'd get use out of a double. Per suggestions after I made a post about it here, I've been looking for a used City Mini GT on FB marketplace. It's helpful to know that it will probably be okay if we don't find one before the baby is here.

My first 2 are 21 months apart and my second and third are 26 months apart. We got a double stroller with my 2nd and I’ve used it nearly every single day since then. We walk a lot and my 2.5 yr old still loves to sit in the stroller. Heck, even my 4 yr old does. I use it for all 3 kids sometimes.

Your list sounds pretty similar to what we had to get. Can’t really think of much else - we needed a new high chair because we use the Tripp trapp and my oldest was using his still. So got that and the newborn insert.

[rhian]

Mar 5, 2024 11:00:29 GMT -5 dreamcrisp1 said:

Mar 4, 2024 12:12:15 GMT -5 rhian said:

Thank you all! The reinforcement that we probably aren't missing anything, and we just don't need much is helpful. I hadn't thought about pacifiers or bottle nipples - my son rejected them both so honestly the ones we have didn't get very heavy use. But I should take a closer look at them and see if they need to be replaced.

I think we are pretty set on a double stroller, but I appreciate the suggestions to think a little more about it. We use our stroller almost daily for walks and to get to playgrounds that are too far for our toddler to walk to, and he's typically pretty happy to get in the stroller at those times, so I think we'd get use out of a double. Per suggestions after I made a post about it here, I've been looking for a used City Mini GT on FB marketplace. It's helpful to know that it will probably be okay if we don't find one before the baby is here.

My first 2 are 21 months apart and my second and third are 26 months apart. We got a double stroller with my 2nd and I’ve used it nearly every single day since then. We walk a lot and my 2.5 yr old still loves to sit in the stroller. Heck, even my 4 yr old does. I use it for all 3 kids sometimes.

Your list sounds pretty similar to what we had to get. Can’t really think of much else - we needed a new high chair because we use the Tripp trapp and my oldest was using his still. So got that and the newborn insert.

Thanks! If I'm remembering correctly, you live in a city, right? We are now in a suburb, but just outside the city, so things are still close together and we can walk to some places, so I think we use our stroller more than those who live in farther out suburbs that are totally car dependent. So good to know that some people do use a double stroller often.

I've been thinking about whether we'll need a second high chair! We have an Abiie Beyond (similar style to the Tripp Trapp) and our son is still using it, and theoretically could still use it for several years. But I figure we have about 6 months after the baby is here to figure it out and decide whether to move our son to a booster in a regular chair and hand down the high chair, or buy a second one - we do love it.

[dreamcrisp1]

Mar 5, 2024 11:40:58 GMT -5 rhian said:

Mar 5, 2024 11:00:29 GMT -5 dreamcrisp1 said:

My first 2 are 21 months apart and my second and third are 26 months apart. We got a double stroller with my 2nd and I’ve used it nearly every single day since then. We walk a lot and my 2.5 yr old still loves to sit in the stroller. Heck, even my 4 yr old does. I use it for all 3 kids sometimes.

Your list sounds pretty similar to what we had to get. Can’t really think of much else - we needed a new high chair because we use the Tripp trapp and my oldest was using his still. So got that and the newborn insert.

Thanks! If I'm remembering correctly, you live in a city, right? We are now in a suburb, but just outside the city, so things are still close together and we can walk to some places, so I think we use our stroller more than those who live in farther out suburbs that are totally car dependent. So good to know that some people do use a double stroller often.

I've been thinking about whether we'll need a second high chair! We have an Abiie Beyond (similar style to the Tripp Trapp) and our son is still using it, and theoretically could still use it for several years. But I figure we have about 6 months after the baby is here to figure it out and decide whether to move our son to a booster in a regular chair and hand down the high chair, or buy a second one - we do love it.

Very similar to us! A suburb right outside Amsterdam. So we either walk a lot here or we drive somewhere and walk a lot there.

I finally got my 4.5 yr old to give his Tripp trapp to our new baby. 😅