What to Include In a second baby registry
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If you’re thinking about making a baby registry for your second baby, you’re in the right place! What I didn’t realize until I was expecting my second baby is that there are quite a few baby items you will need for #2, even though you’ve already gone through the baby phase before.
Whether you are going to have a “sprinkle”—aka a smaller baby shower for a second baby—or simply want to have a concise list of needs to send to close family or friends who want to help out with items needed for baby #2, a second baby registry is increasingly common and is definitely part of welcoming another baby into many families these days.
Many families make a baby registry for their second baby.
While some of the items you purchased or received with your first baby don’t need to be purchased again, there are definitely items you will need for your second baby. A lot of what you need for your second baby is highly dependent upon your individual situation. Let’s walk through some of those considerations so that you know exactly what to include on your baby registry for your second baby. I will then provide a list of items most families will need for their second baby to give you a great starting point.
Also - Amazon is my very favorite baby registry due to the incredible variety of brands, items, and styles that includes literally everything you would need. Plus, the completion discount is pretty awesome too!! Click here to quickly and easily set up your Amazon baby registry. If you’ve already done that, you’re ahead of the game. Keep reading!
COnsiderations for second baby registry
Age Difference Between Your First and Second: age difference plays a HUGE role in what is needed on a second baby registry. In general, if babies are very close together in age, you may need to purchase a second of a lot of things. My first and second are exactly 15 months apart, so I had to purchase a second set of almost all of the big items including a crib, changing table topper, car seats, pack n play, glider, etc. This also drove my purchase decisions on things such as strollers because I suddenly needed a double stroller to cart around both kids safely.
Age difference is an especially important consideration if your kids are close in age; if they are further apart, you may be able to reuse some of the larger items rather than have to purchase a second set. If your children are farther apart in age (5+ years), you may have donated or gotten rid of many of your original baby items.
Gender Of Your Babies: if your first and second babies are the same gender, you may be able to reuse a lot of clothes and accessories. While I had my first two kids very close together in age and had to buy a second set of most things, I was able to pass down almost all of my oldest’s clothes to my second daughter. If you chose a lot of gender neutral items on your first baby registry, you can reuse pretty much anything.
Different Seasons For Clothing: this is another important consideration for your second baby registry! Even if you saved all of the clothing from your first baby and have the same gender for babies #1 and #2, depending on when in the year they are born, the clothing might not be the right size for that season. For example, if baby #1 is born in the summer, all of their 6-9 month clothes are likely long sleeves and made for winter. Baby #2 born in winter will need short-sleeves and summer clothes for their size 6-9 months clothing.
Recalls / Expiration of Any Items From Baby #1: some baby gear, most notably car seats, have expiration dates. Others may be subject to recall at some point after the initial purchase. Be sure to check expiration dates of car seats and to check whether there have been any recalls on other baby gear (loungers, swings, bouncers are common culprits).
New Technology or Items You Didn’t Know You Wanted The First Time: There may be a handful of items that you didn’t know about the first time around but later learned about and want to add to your second registry. One example of this for me is wearable breast pumps; these weren’t available when I was making my first baby registry almost 8 years ago, but I definitely purchased the Elvie and use frequently now with my fourth baby—and it’s make a huge difference in terms of convenience and allowing me to breast pump for longer than I otherwise might have.
What to put on your second baby registry
Again, each second baby registry will look a little bit different depending on the considerations listed above, but most parents will need these items for their second baby.
on the go
A car seat - you will definitely need a car seat for your new baby. If you’re wanting to re-use your infant car seat from your first baby (which I did!), please be sure you check the expiration date first before using it a second time. Here is my favorite infant car seat.
A double stroller - for me, this was an absolute necessity with my family’s on-the-go lifestyle. There are a lot of double stroller options, but I will include a few key considerations as you chose what to put on your second baby registry:
Double umbrella-style stroller - this is what I use for shorter distances, indoor use, or for travel on airplanes.
Double side-by-side jogging stroller - this was on my second baby registry, and for me, the Bob Duallie is my “ride or die” choice when it comes to double joggers. This stroller enabled me me to stay healthy and active despite having two young kids.
A tandem / sideboard stroller that allows an older child to jump on or off is another option, again depending on the age difference between your kids. Here is my very favorite.
Here is my full stroller review showing all of the different stroller configurations that are possible that may be helpful for selecting the best double stroller for your family as you prepare to welcome baby #2.
A baby carrier - if you never got a baby carrier with your first baby, you will definitely want to add one to your baby registry for your second baby! There are many different styles, including wrap-style carriers and soft shell carriers. If you want to learn more about wrap-style baby carriers including the Boba wrap baby carrier (or, similarly, the Moby wrap), check out my full article here. I also did a full review of the top 5 best-selling baby carriers, so be sure to check it out to choose the best one for you.
A baby registry for your second baby can help you plan for welcoming baby #2 into your family.
baby’s nursery
A second baby monitor - many second-time moms will need a second baby monitor because they will still want to keep an eye on their firstborn little one. Depending on what you have for your first baby, you may be able to upgrade your existing baby monitor to add a camera rather than purchase a second. As an example, this HelloBaby monitor allows you to add up to 4 cameras.
A second sound machine - unless your two littles will be sharing the same room, you’ll probably need a second sound machine. If you want to read more about how sound machines help promote better newborn sleep, check it out here. My favorite sound machine that also functions as a night light and more, the Hatch Rest, is linked here.
A second set of nursery furniture - again, this may depend on whether your firstborn is still using their nursery furniture.
Crib - I’m a big fan of convertible cribs that can turn into toddler beds and then into a double bed. We’re still using the two original convertible cribs for my kids now! (one as a double bed for #2 and one as a crib for #4).
Glider / Recliner - Some of my absolute favorite moments as a mom are reading to my kids, so we definitely purchased a second glider/recliner for baby #2. With the two kids on different sleep schedules, we wanted to have a glider in each room.
Changing Table w/ Removable Topper - I would recommend a changing table with a removable topper. Once baby is out of diapers, it converts into a normal dresser. Another approach would be to purchase a topper like this that converts any dresser into a changing table. Multi-functional furniture is key, especially when you have multiple kids!
Diaper Pail - With babies just 15 months apart, I needed convenience, and that meant a second diaper pail so I didn’t have to share between their rooms. No one wants to walk more than a few steps with a dirty diaper in their hands.
Feeding baby
New bottle nipples - while I would highly recommend reusing your existing baby bottles for your second baby to save a little extra cost, replacing the bottle nipples is a great idea.
Breast milk storage bags - if you’re a working mom like me or if you want to build a freezer stash for date nights, be sure to stock up on more breast milk storage bags for your second baby so that you can get to work on storing that liquid gold!
Replacement Breast Pump Parts - it’s a great idea to get a new set of replacement pump parts with each new baby. This ensures your breast pump functions effectively and that you are starting out with clean, sanitary parts.
Baby hygiene
Rectal thermometer - be sure to pick up a new rectal thermometer for your second baby—this is definitely one item you do not want to reuse between children!
Infant Tylenol - I personally stock up on this before each new baby so that I have it when I need it. This is a great item to add to your second baby registry.
Baby Diapering
Diapers in sizes 1, 2, and 3 - every second-time mom loves a box of diapers! Be sure to add these to your baby registry for your second baby.
Baby wipes - same as above…a practical necessity that you will definitely use
Diaper cream, Aquaphor, etc - these are great to stock up on for your second baby. With my first two babies just 15 months apart, I had two sets of all of these items so that I could have one in each of their rooms.
Hand sanitizer with a pump dispenser - I keep on of these next right on all my baby changing tables and use right after I finish the diaper change, before I’m able to make it to a sink for a full hand wash. This convenience is even more helpful when you have more than one child. The pump dispenser is important because it can be used easier with one hand as you keep the other on your baby.
Many second time moms-to-be can benefit from a baby registry for their second baby
More & Better Sleep For you and baby
One item that nearly every second time mom truly wants is more sleep than they had with their first baby! If it’s been awhile since you had your first, or if you’ve tried to block out those memories of long-sleepless nights, it’s worth noting that newborn sleep is a challenge. As a second time mom, you may be wondering if there is anything you can do to help you and baby get more sleep during that newborn phase and early infancy.
Through my training as a pediatric sleep consultant and my personal experience as a mom of four, I wrote “The Ultimate Guide To Better Baby Sleep”. This ebook helps new moms become better educated in what they can be doing, starting from day 1 home from the hospital, to gently create positive sleep patterns and habits for their babies that result in more sleep for the whole family. You can add this to your second baby registry to ensure you and baby get better sleep. This is truly the work of my heart and has helped many new moms succeed in the tricky newborn phase. If you want to be
conclusion
My sincere hope for you is that all goes well with the remainder of your second pregnancy and your preparation for baby, including building your second baby registry.
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