There’s nothing quite as rewarding as the experience of having a second baby on the way. It’s an amazing time for parents and one that they will always remember fondly. If you’re one of these parents, congratulations! You must feel delighted but also anxious about what’s to come.
That makes perfect sense! After all, you’ve had a taste of parenting life with your first child, and you know it wasn’t easy. But, in the end, you were able to replace the difficulties with happy memories. So now you’ll be making memories with a new family member!
There will be tough times, but preparation always goes a long way! This involves knowing what to buy and preparing for the baby’s arrival. Not sure where to start? Worry not! This article provides a checklist of 2nd baby must-haves and some parenting tips to make this transition go smoothly.
Why Preparation is Essential When Expecting a Second Baby
You may wonder why thorough planning is required when this is not your first time having a baby. You should have mastered the ropes by now, right? But that’s not how it works. Depending on the circumstances, you may have to start from scratch or add more stuff you could not provide during the first.
Here are some scenarios that will require the utmost preparation for a second baby.
- Your second child is either of a different gender or is more than one. Consequently, they will have different needs.
- You got rid of old baby gear, but having a second child means you’ll need them again.
- It’s been quite some time since you gave birth to your firstborn. This gap can make you feel like a first-time parent all over again.
- Another child means more parenting responsibilities and multiple kids, which can be tough!
If these scenarios sound familiar, preparation for your new baby’s arrival is a must. Take this as an opportunity to do even better and welcome a healthy and happy new member to the family!
Baby Essentials Checklist: What to Buy for a Second Baby?
First, let’s create a quick checklist of things to buy for your second baby. It can be tough to determine which are must-haves and which aren’t in a pool of options. You may also discover that each parent’s list differs from one another. Like them, you may personalize your list in the future. But, for now, let’s start with the basic supplies you will need.
Baby Toiletries and Grooming Essentials
Your kit should include cleaning, grooming, and bathing supplies. Keeping your baby clean and comfortable is important, significantly contributing to their overall health. Moreover, there will be some unexpected, urgent occasions when you must clean your child’s messes. In cases like this, you should have toiletries ready.
Examples of toiletries and grooming essentials for babies are:
- Shampoo and body baby wash
- Diapers
- Towels
- Wipes
- Diaper cream
- Hairbrush and comb
- Body lotion
- Sunscreen
- Bath toys
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Nail clippers
Feeding Supplies
Feeding a baby can be challenging. You have to ensure they’re getting the right food and nutrition. Moreover, you have to think about how to feed them, as they won’t always be willing to eat. And if they mess up the food, you will have to clean it.
So, store these useful feeding supplies for convenient, clean, and healthy mealtimes.
- Breast pumps for extracting, storing, and maintaining breastfeeding milk
- Bottle station for organizing baby bottles and making a convenient milk supply system
- Pacifiers
- Formula for breast milk substitutes
- Food feeders for controlling solid food consumption and avoiding choking hazards
- Burp cloth or bibs
- High chair
Carrying and Travel Equipment
It’s exciting to think of showing the world’s wonders to your new baby. But before you get to the exciting part, you must first ensure they have a safe space in and out of the car. Here are some travel necessities to consider for your new baby.
- Infant car seat
- Sit-and-stand or double stroller to carry your infant and toddler around
- Baby carrier for hands-free portability
- Diaper bag
- Nursing bra
- Portable changing pad
- Portable high chair
- Silicone bibs
- Sippy cups to prevent spills
- Spare baby clothes
Baby Clothing
Naturally, you’ll need a new set of clothes for your second baby girl or boy to keep them warm and pretty. Get them some nice knee socks, hats, onesies, sweatshirts, mittens, and other accessories to keep them stylish and comfortable. Consider getting clothes for every season and special occasion as well.
Bedding
Lastly, you need to provide a place for your baby to sleep warmly and comfortably. Unsafe sleeping environments can trigger major accidents, such as choking, strangulation, and suffocation. So be sure to have the appropriate bedding materials for your second baby.
Here’s a quick list of baby bedding essentials.
- Crib mattress and sheet
- Blankets for extra warmth, especially during the cold season
- Infant or flat-head pillows for proper head support
- Waterproof and odorless mattress protector to keep your baby’s bedtime space clean
- Noise machine to block ambient noise and give your baby a peaceful sleep
- Baby monitor to check on your baby from another room
6 Second-Time Parenting Best Practices
Bringing a new family member to the world is exciting and, at the same time, overwhelming. But don’t worry; you’re not alone because all parents feel the same way! It takes some best practices to master the art of second-time parenting. Here are six tips to ensure you can provide a good life for your second child.
Learn the Basics Once Again
Just because you have your firstborn doesn’t mean you know everything about parenting. In fact, many second-time parents find themselves feeling less confident about having a new child. This shows how important it is to refresh your memory on parenting basics.
So don’t forget to check your expenses, the baby’s specific needs, and babyproofing necessities. You’ll be surprised how different things can be compared to the first time!
Reuse Your Older Child’s Supplies
Worried about the expenses of baby supplies? Relax. You don’t have to buy all things new for your second child. Instead, you can take the cost-effective and eco-friendly route by reusing your firstborn’s old equipment. You can sterilize bottles, for example, and just change the nipples for your new baby.
Reuse supplies, but not all of them. As much as possible, buy a new baby item related to their hygiene, feeding, and oral health. You should also get a new car seat (if the old one’s no longer stable) or a set of clothes (if the old one doesn’t fit).
Get Your Firstborn Excited About the Pregnancy News
Your first child’s life will drastically change once they discover they’re having a sibling. As a new mom or dad, you want that change to be positive, so revealing the news is critical. It’s up to you to determine when and how to inform them. However, it is preferable if you can get them excited about it!
Your older kid might feel competitive with their younger sibling. They might believe they’re no longer important, which is something you don’t want to happen. So always try to tend to their needs and tell them they will be an awesome big brother or sister. It will also help if you teach them how to properly care for their sibling, especially during the delicate stages.
Focus on One Child at a Time
Juggling time between attending to your older child’s needs and caring for your newborn is challenging. You’ll often feel overwhelmed and exhausted, which is understandable. But don’t let this get to you! There’s a way to manage your time and find some room to breathe, and that’s focusing on one child at a time.
Think of it like this. Your newborn crying isn’t always an urgent matter. Of course, you should still need to see to their needs, but maybe it can wait a few minutes while you look after your big kid. Doing this will make your first child feel like their needs are equally important.
Seek Help from Child Care
You can’t be with your children all the time, and that’s fine. Consider childcare if you need to go back to work or have some free time. Leave your little ones to your partner, trusted relatives, daycare centers, or in-home childcare services. Rest assured, your children will be safe while you’re away.
Don’t Be Too Self-Critical
Parenting is hard enough. Don’t make it any harder by being too critical of everything you do. Made a mistake? Learn from it and keep going. Have faith in your parenting skills, especially since it’s not your first time going through this.
Most importantly, look at the positive things in the situation.
You’re bringing a bundle of joy home, and your first child will get a sibling that stays with them through thick and thin! There’s nothing more reassuring than that.
Parenting the Second Time Around Feels Like the First
Again, congratulations on the new baby on the way! When you’re a parent for the second time, it might seem like starting from scratch, even if you’ve been through it before. And that’s totally normal! After all, many factors make having a second baby a different experience, like having a different gender, buying more supplies, and adding responsibilities.
It might seem nothing like you’ve gone through before, but it’s nothing you cannot overcome! With a complete list of supplies and parenting best practices, you can make it as special as (or even better than) the first. At the same time, don’t neglect your firstborn’s needs and give yourself room to breathe. We hope our guide can be of great help!
Ashtonbee’s 2nd Baby Essentials
Complete your second baby essentials or baby registry checklist with Ashtonbee’s products. We have nearly everything you’re looking for to prepare for your newborn. For example, you can purchase a portable changing pad for future trips or a baby fruit feeder for safer mealtimes.
Want to discover more about our other babyproofing products? Check out our awesome collection today!
