The 10 things we bought for our second baby
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no added cost to you, and will always note affiliate links.
What to buy for a second baby? Well shopping the second time around for us was much easier—besides the obvious reason of having most of what we need already from Baby 1 (as Lu used to be referred), we’ve now been able to cut the fat and know exactly what we need and what we don’t for Baby 2. Here's the quick list of the 10 things we’ve bought for baby, and I'll talk about it in more detail below. They’re categorized into things we needed to rebuy because we sold, things we borrowed that we loved and want again, things we got for Lu that baby needs her own, things we hated and want to replace, and things that didn’t exist at the time of our first baby that we’re excited to try
Oh and not included in this list are things like diapers and wipes and lotion snd stuff because... I mean that’s not an actual shopping list that’s more like a grocery list. Hope it helps if you’re building a registry for baby #2 or trying to figure out what you need for the second baby.
1. Doona infant car seat/stroller + extra LATCH base (affiliate link)
2. Boppy Lounger (affiliate link)
3. Infant-to-Toddler Rocker (affiliate link)
4. Hatch light (affiliate link)
5. Lovey (affiliate link)
6. IKEA high chair + Yeah Baby Goods footrest
7. Bökee
8. UV sanitizer (affiliate link)
9. Haakaa ladybug (affiliate link)
Stuff we sold because we wanted new
Travel system: Doona infant car seat/stroller + extra LATCH base
Because we had an amazing model that had a great resale value, hadn’t thought about baby for a bit, and figured I’d want to update the car seat for new baby anyway, we sold our travel system. We kept an umbrella stroller that Lu upgraded to when he started walking so we just need a solution for the infant stage. We also knew that after growing out of the car seat (which happened at around 10 months for Lu) we’d need to upgrade to a big kid car seat—which meant that buying 2 new convertible car seats (one for each car) would happen regardless of what we choose to do with the infant stage.
Okay so long story short we're going to be buying an infant car seat/stroller combo for the baby and get an extra base for the second car. We felt like there was no real need for a big stroller while the baby was small, and we'd just figure out what we need as we go. This is also a great brand that we could sell for over half of its value after being done with it, so it felt worth it still to go this route.
Stuff we had borrowed and loved but had to return/they don’t exist anymore so we have to buy a replacement
Boppy Lounger
My friend had given me her old one and I thought what am I going to do with this, but it's pretty much a cheaper alternative to the luxury Dock-a-Tot and Snuggle Me Organic. Of course we never owned either of those Cadillacs so I can't do a true side-by-side comparison, but we used the lounger for when baby would be on the couch or bed with us, which seems to be the primary use for these loungers. I liked this guy because it’s small, light, and easy to move around so I didn't need to buy one for downstairs and upstairs—which I totally would've wanted to do had I been made of money and got the Dock-a-Tot because that thing is a beast.
Rock 'n Play replacement: Infant to Toddler Rocker from Fisher-Price
This is quite devastating. If you’ve had a baby prior to 2018 you’d have had the pleasure of this Fisher-Price gem which has now been recalled and is no longer sold. I’d have kept mine but we had borrowed it from someone and can’t buy it anymore. It was the perfect “baby parking spot” that was slightly raised so not on the floor, easy to rock, and super light so I can move it from room to room with ease. I used to have one upstairs and one downstairs, and Lu literally lived in this thing (I have the camera roll to prove it).
So this time we’re likely going to be using our Graco Pack 'n Play exclusively while in the living room, supplementing with the boppy pillow from above. We had brought him to the kitchen in the Rock 'n Play, but for baby 2 it's just going to have to stay in the living room which is definitely close enough within reach that it shouldn't be a problem this time around—I’m also thinking that with a toddler running around, I’m realistically gonna be wearing this baby most of the time anyway.
For other rooms in the house like if I want to be in the bedroom or the office, we’re gonna go for this seater/rocker and move it around with me. I wish it was a bit higher like the Rock 'n Play where it's pretty even at my hip level when sitting, but I like that it rocks and it's not as deep as a bassinet so this shall do.
Stuff we got for Lu that baby will get her own one of
Hatch light
I honestly don’t know if these worked for Lu but I like that it’s a light and sound machine, controllable thru the app, and designed to look sleek. We’re gonna use it to train him for wake time eventually too so it’s gotten good use. I like this old version over the upgrade they released because I’m not sure that ill ever use the speaker option or have use for the clock right away.
For the first few months she’ll be in the room with us, so this will be a purchase when she moves into her own bedroom.
Lovey: Douglas Sshlumpie
So Lu never took to his lovey as a baby and plays with it now as a normal toy but I just love these Sshlumpies from Douglas Baby. It’s like a flattened stuffed animal blanket hybrid and super soft. We have the fox and will do a sloth this time because they’re hilarious. They make all these other animals too that are just adorable, look at that elephant! Our tip is to get two—if they take to it, it’s nice to have one cycling in the wash, and even if they just want to play with it, Lu says “two fox!” and has a blast making them play together.
Stuff we hated and wanted to replace
High chair: IKEA Antilop with footrest from Yeah Baby Goods
I. Hate. Our. High chair. In case you missed it, I'll say it again. I HATE IT. You may love it so don't let me deter you completely, but I am so lazy that I hate having to wash a fabric (it doesn't make it comfy for them), I hated all of the nooks and crannies the food gets into (it starts smelling), I hate that it's so big and bulky and heavy and... ok you get the idea.
At 2.5 years old Lu still sits in it so we got good use, but i am excited to just dump this behemoth out.
In come the IKEA cult-favorite $20 high chair. During a phase where Lu hated sitting in his high chair (yes, this is a thing—and it's usually quite lovely where a baby who hates the car seat will also hate the stroller and the high chair so there's that) he LOVED this when a restaurant had it available. While investing in a STOKKE would obviously be a dream, having had a kid who would refuse the high chair here and there makes me weary—so I'll be going on the cheap this time around. I'll also be buying a footrest for it (at $25 hilariously more expensive than the chair itself) to add feet support which is so important for comfy sitting while they explore food.
Stuff that are new (to us)
Bökee
This is cheating because I actually already bought it and have used it with Lu but it’s amazing. It’s a simple little thing that suctions itself onto the counter and acts as your “grip” to open bottles, close bottles, transfer milk from bottle to bottle... all one handed. It is amazing how much you’re gonna have to get done one handed, and this has been super helpful.
UV sterilizer: Coral 3 in 1 UVC Sterilizer and Dryer
Oh the age-old debate of whether to sterilize or not sterilize. Of course with Lu because he was our first we sterilized the shit out of my pump parts and his bottles, and a part of me debated whether to do that with the new baby—especially since the steam sterilizer that we had was so annoying that we had already thrown it away.
Then the pandemic happened.
Soon I was getting ads for phone UV sterilizers, and my sister-in-law (who had a baby too in the middle of corona) recommended this model. What’s nice is that unlike the steam sterilizer which leaves things moist and kind of gross. everything is dry. There’s now also the added bonus of being able to sterilize our phones, keys, and the like for a bit more peace of mind. Hoping that this is an upgrade from the other sterilizer and we could use it for years to come after (because let’s all be honest, this virus ain’t going nowhere).
Haakaa ladybug
The original Haakaa hand pump that I raved about in my post about must-have baby gear was literally the biggest surprise winner of my first pregnancy. I’m hoping that this new product of theirs will be a repeat of that.
This nifty little thing is like a love child between a nursing pad which are super annoying and like, no thanks, and a wearable breast pump which are amazing but super expensive… in the form of a ladybug so like, come on. So while you’re breastfeeding your boob is dumb and both sides open up their faucets together, causing major leakage. Or, if you’re overproducing you may find your bra drenched with milk because you have so much that it just gushes out. Both very glamourous. Having this little guy discreetly in your bra will solve both of those problems—is the idea. What’s more, the milk you catch can safely be stored away and you could possibly build a freezer stash without having to do extra pumping sessions! I am going to try to do that this time around without doing extra pump sessions just to see how that goes in the beginning.
Stuff that's not exciting but we learned from the first go-around
More PJ's, less clothes: Target 3pk Zip-Up Sleep N’ Play
So for the first 3 months it was fun to dress Lu up but on a day to day it would’ve been much easier had he just had more PJs and lived in them. They’re designed to be easy to change diapers, they wash well, and take a beating anyway. Also we end up getting a lot of clothes as gifts (it’s the thing grandparents LOVE giving) so no need for us to get much until they’re walking, really.
These sleepers from Target are my absolute favorite because of the price, the fold-over hand sleeves so you don’t need mittens, footsies so you don’t need socks, and it’s a ZIPPER. Please hear me, DO NOT FUCK WITH BUTTONS AND SNAPS I know they seem cute but when you’re sleepy and you snapped up all the buttons up to the top only to realize you were off by one from the very beginning, you will be throwing away all your snap-up PJs in the trash like I did.
So there you have it! Just these 10 items were enough to fill in the gaps for baby #2, and we are all set. Cheers to a smarter, more practical, streamlined baby shopping list!
