DC2 on the way, forgotten what I need?!

[feelinglikeanewparent]

Not sure if I'm posting this in the right place.

I had my first DC 9 years ago, DC2 is due this summer.

I've completely forgotten what we bought the first time around and Googling it is so overwhelming! So I thought I'd turn here for some support / advice.

Eg. I'm looking at sleep options for baby's naps, and saw a baby beanbag pop up. A quick google suggests these aren't safe?

We're limited by budget so looking for middle-of-the-road items.

Atm I can think of:

Pram / pushchair - is it worth getting one with a car seat and carry cot? Could baby sleep in the carry cot for naps?

Nighttime sleep options - the first time we had a Moses basket which worked well but what are some good alternatives? Is sidecarring with a cot (with a side down) a good idea to save money on the basket? I'll be having a c-section so the easier the better.

Baby gym - I'm not keen on bouncers or swings but can always buy these later on if needed. Is a gym needed straightaway?

Formula & Bottles - I used Aptamil and Dr Browns first time round, are these still good?

I feel like there is alot I'm missing. This pregnancy hasn't been the easiest and brain fog has hit hard.

Also, we're having a girl this time around. Is there anything I need to know that I may not know from first DC?

I feel so stupid

Any advice is appreciated. TIA x

You’re being very hard on yourself OP! Just because it’s your 2nd DC doesn’t mean you should know everything.

My DS isn’t even 2 and I can barely remember the newborn phase. Apparently your brain doesn’t store memories properly when you’re sleep deprived.

We had a snuzpod next to our bed for night time sleep which was good - the side is detachable.

Definitely wouldn’t get a dodgy beanbag. A lot of people have the dock a tot for daytime but they’re so expensive I wouldn’t bother personally - would be cheaper to have a travel cot downstairs.

I highly recommend a Totter + Tumble rug. They’re wipeable and waterproof but soft and padded. Great for putting the baby down on the floor/tummy time, and later when she starts crawling.

I liked my Moses basket for the first couple of months as it was easy to move around the house (ended up buying a second stand and moving it between bedr

Posted too soon. Moving it between bedroom and living room so baby was always with us. She grew out of it quickly though. The Pram carrycot was also useful for daytime naps and could have been used for night time too if we had travelled (ours was approved for this). Never felt the need to attach our car seat to the pram and sleeping flat in a Bastia much safer than the car seat for a newborn.

Hi op, just like you - my DS2 is 7 weeks old and DS1 is 9! It felt like starting all over again I didn’t have a clue. I also had a c section this time round.

Pram - we got the oyster 3 travel system. Not cheap but got it in Black Friday sales and absolutely love it. I can’t see myself buying another pram (unless we need something light and cheap for holiday for example.)

Nighttime sleep - we have a next to me crib but baby hates it. I was breastfeeding for the first month so we started co sleeping and are still co sleeping. I am planning to co sleep until he is old enough to go in his cot in his own room in a few months. Perhaps see if you can get one second hand? I also was really annoyed because I had a section, getting in and out of bed with the next to me in the way was hard.

Baby gym - we have a bouncer (second hand from a friend) which is invaluable really, I can pop him in there eg in the morning and the 9yo watches him while I make breakfast/sort the dog out. We also have a play mat from Aldi which we are just starting to use more now in his awake times between naps and feeds.

I have found a fabric wrap sling really useful - it took me a few tries to get it right but now if he’s fussing I can pop him in there and get in with stuff around the house, he falls straight to sleep!

Loads of Muslins around the house for wiping up sick etc.

Aldi mamia nappies are the best I’ve tried. I bought loads of pampers when pg and MIL bought us hundreds of Mamia and they are much better imo.

Congratulations and good luck 😊

We also had a Next-to-me once the Moses basket was outgrown but I never used the side down feature in the end so I would have just brought a simpler one if I had known this. If formula feeding you have to get out of bed to make a bottle anyway so I found it easier to be able to feed DD sitting on the side of the bed directly next to the crib and putting her straight down after the feed as she was usually sleepy enough. Easier to get out of bed when the crib is not attached as well.

I like Mam bottles as they can be sterilised in the microwave without a separate steriliser. They do have quite a few bits though.

The toys on a baby gym are not used straight away but it can be nice to have a soft place to put baby down on the floor to kick around fairly early on, maybe not for the first month or so. I found the Baby bjorn bouncer quite a good buy and used it lots even from the beginning.