Maybe it’s just me, but this second baby thing is going WAY more smoothly than my first. The pregnancy is flying by, and the preparations we’re making for Baby C2’s arrival are extremely minimal. In fact, most of our preparing involves our oldest – not the new addition. Dorothy’s slightly high maintenance.
#secondchildproblems, for real. Sorry, C2.
Since I’m almost to the point where I should start pulling down baby stuff out of our garage storage (simply because I know I’m about to lose all energy to “nest”), I have been thinking more and more about what worked for us the first time. Many of my new mom friends are always asking what to include on their registry, and who can blame them? Have you made an Amazon Baby Registry lately? I have. The options are overwhelming, even for a second time momma!
So, I created a list of my own.
If it passed my baby test the first time, and has been deemed “good enough” to be a hand-me-down, I consider it a staple. If you’re creating a new registry, I suggest starting here and then adding on!
But, don’t stress about forgetting something. Amazon Prime exists for a reason!
Chicco Keyfit Caddy Stroller Frame + Chicco Keyfit 30 Infant Car Seat: If you’re like me, and very much anti the bulky travel system stroller set-up, this is the way to go. The Chicco Keyfit Caddy Stroller Frame is amazing. It’s lightweight, small, inexpensive and fits the Chicco Keyfit 30 (which is equally lightweight) perfectly. The baby is going to be in the bucket-style car seat for at least 6 months anyway, so for my lifestyle it made sense just to use the Stroller Frame and then graduate to a nice umbrella stroller. If you’re pretty much only going to use a stroller indoors or on sidewalks, and don’t need a ton of storage, I highly recommend this option.
JJ Cole Urban BundleMe: Okay so we’re probably not reusing this since Baby C2 will be a summer baby, but if she’s still in her bucket car seat next winter you can bet she’ll be snuggled in this. The JJ Cole Urban BundleMe eliminates the need for a bulky winter coat, and won’t fall off the car seat like a blanket would. Probably one of my best purchases from Baby C1. Check back, summer mommas – I’ll share my plan for a summer car seat cover soon!
Graco DuetSoothe Swing + Rocker: I’m all for duel purpose. Bouncer seat and swing in one? Check.
Graco Pack ‘N Play With Newborn Napper Elite + Dream On Me Playard Mattress: Instead of a bassinet and changing table, we used this pack ‘n play when our daughter was a newborn and slept in our room. Worked like a dream, and grew with her perfectly! As she got older, we purchased a 3″ Dream On Me mattress to keep her comfortable for overnights at her grandparents’ houses.
Cloud b Sound Machine Soother, Sleep Sheep: We would not have survived without Sleep Sheep. Period. Trust me when I say, you will want some sort of soothing sound machine. Baby is used to the noises from your belly! They don’t really like total silence (plus, the white noise covers up any other noises that may accidentally wake them up).
Medela Breastmilk Bottles: I didn’t end up breastfeeding Baby C1 like I had planned, and I probably won’t breastfeed Baby C2 either. But, we still used the Medela Breastmilk Bottles and loved them just as much with formula! They’re super easy to clean which is probably priority No. 1 for me right now (only the bottle, ring and nipple), and we had absolutely no issues with a gassy baby.
Munchkin Formula Dispenser: This $6 contraption is amazing. Buy two if you plan on formula feeding,. Throw one in your diaper bag for on-the-go, and use the other to pre-measure your nighttime bottles. The less measuring you have to do at 3 a.m., the better.
Graco Blossom 4-in-1 High Chair: Our daughter is nearly 2.5 years old, and we’re still using this Graco Blossom high chair. It starts as a typical high chair (with a removable tray liner – bonus), and eventually becomes a booster seat for older kids. Seriously, the only high chair you’ll ever need.
Bright Starts Lots of Links: A friend of mine gave me these when I was pregnant the first time, and I had no idea why. Now, I do. Babies love these rings! I would simply attach a chain of them to everything – car seat, high chair, baby gym – and she would play for hours (or 20 minutes, which is equivalent when you just need a shower). I buy them for everyone now!
Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether: Yes, I endorse the $20 teething toy. It’s magical.
aden & anais Muslin Swaddle Blankets: Our first daughter hated to be swaddled, but these aden & anais blankets were ideal for pretty much everything else. Don’t let the price tag scare you! These are worth every penny. They’re light, large and make a perfect makeshift changing pad or breastfeeding cover… or peek-a-boo prop.
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And, there you have it – our hand-me-down list, and my registry recommendation for first time moms! It seems short but like I said, outside of diapers and wipes you honestly don’t need much. What baby items did you hold on to, baby after baby? Let me know in the comments!
But, even a “veteran” momma has a wish list for baby No. 2. 😉 Stay tuned.
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