I can’t say that we went too crazy for baby #1 with all the purchases, but there were definitely a handful of items that I know made the first 3 months much simpler for us and they are at the top of my list for baby #2. There are also a couple of items that we didn’t get last time and I’d like to think that I’m the kind of person who learns from her mistakes. So here’s our “must have” list for baby #2.
1. Halo sleepsack swaddle. We bought and borrowed a few different kinds of swaddle sleepsacks for Peanut when she was born. I think there were at least 5 different kinds that we tried and without a doubt the Halo swaddlers are our favorites. This time around we’re buying a couple of them at our local consignment shop and sticking to just those.
2. Arm’s Reach mini co-sleeper. Peanut spent the first 2-3 months of her life sleeping in the co-sleeper by our bed and I’m hopeful that baby #2 won’t mind it either. It was also our travel crib until P was able to stand up in the crib.
3. Bouncer. Peanut absolutely loved the bouncer when she was a baby. It was a savior when I wanted to take a shower, cook dinner, or switch out the laundry in the basement. Easy to carry and set just about anywhere, it quickly became our favorite modern-day convenience. It was also the only thing that would calm her down during her weeks of colic. We borrowed my bff’s last time around and are doing the same this time unless a nice, cheap one jumps out at us at a tag sale.
4. Sleep sheep. Or a white noise machine, although we loved the sheep. Honestly, I think we loved it more as much as the baby did.
5. Ergo baby carrier. I love being able to do things around the house, like vacuum or wash dishes while the baby happily hangs out or sleeps in the carrier. We are also not planning on purchasing a double stroller (we live in the suburbs and rarely take the stroller out as it is) so I’ll be carrier baby #2 in a carrier when we go out for walks. The first time around we had a Baby Bjorn but it gave me such back-aches and was incredibly hard to manage putting the baby in on your own, so this time I am looking for an Ergo carrier. I have heard amazing things about it and how well it balances the weight of the baby. I’ve been stalking my local consignment shop for the perfect one.
6. A good nursing bra. I plan to nurse baby #2 just as I did with Peanut and I cannot begin to explain to you what a difference a good nursing bra can make. I purchased one last time with P and would like to get just one more this time instead of the cheapies I used.
7. A car seat. Obviously. Especially if you live in the suburbs like we do and take your car everywhere. We have the Graco SnugRide from baby #1 and plan to use it again. If you’re a family that has 2+ cars, I would recommend buying a second base – it was so much easier to plug the car seat into a different car when my husband and I switched pick-up/drop-off duties at daycare.
8. Mamaroo swing. The first time around we borrowed a swing from my bff and although we are borrowing it again this time, we bought a mamaroo! Our local consignment shop (read: where apparently I live these days) called me last week to tell me that they got a Mamaroo in and we got it at less than half of the price! We’re so excited to try it out and hope that baby #2 loves it. So far Peanut seems to be rather fond of it – and since she’s still under the weight limit she even tested out its motion.
9. Medela Freestyle Pump. Again, this is for those of us/you who plan to nurse/pump. I am a working mom so a good pump is an absolute must for me and I love love love love love my Medela Freestyle pump. Not only does it get the job done efficiently, it has rechargeable batteries that last for weeks! I recommend this pump to any mom that plans to pump.
10. Summer video monitor. The first time around we purchased a Summer monitor and loved it. We’ve talked to friends who have gone with other versions and many of them seemed to break within a year or so, while ours lasted over 2. This time I am looking to upgrade to this 2-camera monitor. Ours is on its last leg (the battery doesn’t last, the image is starting to freeze, etc) and I’m hopeful that going with another Summer monitor will bring as much luck to us as the first one.
{Some of these links are affiliate links, but I promise not to recommend anything I wouldn’t buy (or have bought) myself}
This is so helpful, thanks Kat! I love that you do everything just a few months ahead of me (my baby #1 is almost 2 & baby #2 due end of August.) I learn SO MUCH from your blog posts!!
~ Jess
I completely agree on everything! Except for us the best sleep swaddler was the woombie. Next time around I plan on buying at least half a dozen of those things! I can’t wait to hear what you think of the Ergo. I’m definitely investing in one for baby number 2 some day. I’ve heard nothing but great things, too!
We never really had a great experience with the WOombie but I think it might be because we introduced it late. I might get one for the newborn stage this time to see how we like it.
We had so many of those same items on our favorites list. We too loved the sleep sheep I think more than Aubrey when she was a newborn. That thing would knock us out! To this day, Aubrey still uses it at night and nap. She asks us to turn it on.
keep your eye on babysteals! every now and then they have ergo carriers for half price.
wow! that swing looks really cool! we never had one for joshua because we didn’t have room, so i’m excited to shop around for one this time… i’ve never seen one like that!
Themamaroo swing is SO much smaller than the other swings I’ve seen
We loved the mamaroo and the freestyle….pumping in the car on a roadtrip was totally possible with it
We were big swaddlers too, DD was never sleep trained but was ALWAYS a wonderful sleeper! I really think it was the swaddling but who knows, we might just have been lucky lol
My necessities are the pump, swaddling blankets and swaddlers, carseat, definitely a carrier if it’s #2 but not nec for #1, and TONS of cheapie bottles for pumping. I’d definitely encourage new moms to splurge on anything nursing related like nipple creams, bras and tanks and pumping accessories…makes life SO easy!
I don’t have kids but my SIL is due this summer and we found a great Ergo alternative. Read the Amazon reviews and decide if maybe a “knock off” is okay you. My SIL purchased one, but baby isn’t here yet to test it out. But the price is definitely right! (http://www.amazon.com/Cotton-Carrier-Infant-Comfort-Backpack/dp/B0089XXJU8/ref=sr_1_20?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1363922280&sr=1-20)
Congrats on your upcoming arrival! I have 2 girls (and now a baby boy)…having 2 girls is SO much fun! I agree with all your picks. I am also a working mom (I am a teacher) and the Medela Pump in Style has been a LIFESAVER!
The ergo was BY FAR the best baby purchase I bought. period. In fact, I used it again this week when Gemma was sick and wanting to be held all day. She HAAAAATED the stroller as a baby, so I would wear her in that thing for hours at a time and my back never hurt! I hope you like it! While you’re watching your consignment shop, also watch baby steals.com because they have it on there for 50% off rather frequently
This is a GREAT list of totally practical items!
I love those sleep sack swaddles!
We have the cloudB sleep giraffe. Definitely a must-have!
AMEN on the PUMP. I have that same one and dont leave home without it. Like best purchase ever.
I know you posted this FOREVER ago but I kept it starred because I wanted to comment and but with work and pregnancy and toddlerhood, ad nauseum, basically I’m a slacker. Anyhoo we never thought we NEEDED a video monitor and I assumed it would be a distraction (because I couldn’t resist looking at her every 2 seconds). There was nothing wrong with our sound monitor but I’ve realized that there is value in being able to see her without going in her room. So even though we aren’t getting a ton of new stuff for baby girl #2, we decided to go with a video monitor the second time around.
But we had no idea how to pick a monitor. iPad/iPhone compatible? Which brand? What features? Then I found a Target for 20% off the exact monitor in your list! But it was super expensive ($270?!?), it’s relatively new (few reviews) and only sold at Target. It had limited reviews (all good) but since that’s usually what I base new purchases on I was nervous. We took the leap and used the coupon and other discounts to buy it and nervously set it up, hoping it wouldn’t be an expensive mistake. Well, WE. LOVE. IT. I have no point of comparison but the video quality is great, I love that it comes with TWO cameras (one for Katie and one for Paige!), that you can split the screen and see both of them at the same time, you can zoom, etc, etc, ETC. Love this monitor. Since I’m such a believer in real-life reviews for a product, Just wanted to tell you our experience. Thought it might be helpful!