What do I need new for DC2

[Oceandriver]

I’m expecting a second baby in December. My first is only 18 months so we still have most things.

Im wondering what you recommend buying new and what can be reused? I’m thinking I’ll need new bottles but what else? Can I reuse steriliser etc? Presumably car seat is still fine.

Yes both of those would be fine.

I even reused the next2me mattress. Some places say get a new mattress for each child, others say it’s ok if it’s a sibling. My baby is 4.5 months old now and toddler is exactly 2yrs older than the baby. I plan to reuse the cot mattress too.

I got a Moses basket from a free site for our village. I did buy the mattress and the liner for the basket new though. Plus new sheets and mattress protector. With DS we used the carrycot for the pushchair for the livingroom, but having a toddler it made it more practical to have something smaller.

I reused most of the clothes. I bought a swaddle, DS didn’t like them but with DD I got a bit desperate after 2 weeks of no sleep. It was very useful for weeks 2-4 until she got too big for it.

The Moses basket mattress and a swaddle. Everything else we have managed to reuse. I suppose our two are born in the same month so the clothes are the right season, if the seasons are different you might want to source extra clothes.

We bought new mam bottles, then after a month changed to lansinoh bottles. It turns out this baby has a high pallet, so she struggled with mam bottles but the lansinoh worked better. Whereas the toddler got on well with mam bottles. I did also buy a new pump but it’s just a hand pump, I never kept the electric pump last time after stopping.

I've reused pretty much everything. Car seat, next to me crib, toys, blankets, baby bath etc etc. Neither of mine took dummies or bottles so can't comment on that.

My babies also have similar birthdays and are the same gender so clothes are the right season and can be reused.

I did buy a couple of new clothes/ toys so youngest would have some of his own and not all hand me downs but only a couple of sentimental pieces.

Was there anything you disliked first time around? Also do you need a double buggy or a rocker chair to safely hold the baby while you manage toddler?

Oh the pp just reminded me, I have just bought a buggy board to try. We were undecided about a double pushchair, our toddler mostly likes to walk now so we are hoping the buggy board helps on those odd occasions he gets tired. It’s that or so far he gets into the pushchair once tired and I end up carrying the 4 month old.

My second was born in a different season to my eldest so we needed a few new seasonal clothes in the right size for the season and also sleeping bags. We had a range of togs and sizes but not the right tog in the right size at the right time for second if that makes sense.

Otherwise reused everything!

I reused pretty much everything except the next to me mattress, I also got a new sling but that was mainly because didn't get on with the one I had for my older one.

My kids are 3 1/2 years apart and girl/boy but it's surprising how many clothes I was able to reuse 😆

Why on earth would you buy new bottles? They get sterilised between uses so are among the cleanest things to go anywhere near your baby.
Unless your car seat has been in an accident or your babies are born in different seasons, I can see no reason to replace anything!

I only replaced mattresses, bottles, bibs and socks.

The bottles might have been fine but I used a cold water steriliser and it turned them cloudy, plus it was 3 years later. For something they would be eating out of I didn't want to take chances!

I re-used everything, also an 18mo age gap. As long as things have been stored safely (no mould exposure) it's totally fine. I think I got a new mattress topper for the next2me. And new bottles as DC2 used different ones anyway.

As pp said some of them are discoloured, and the marks have rubbed off so a bit tricky to see the measurements! They’ve been extremely well used for DC1 so I don’t feel guilty or wasteful about buying new.