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Original poster

What to buy for second baby?

51 replies

manymanyquestions · 05/08/2017 15:37

So, baby number 2 is on the way and we already have almost all the essentials from DC1: pram, cot, playmat, clothes etc. I can't figure out if I'm being stingy though and feel slightly bad that DC2 will get hand-me-downs of everything, except a new cot mattress (and a changing bag for me Smile). Did you buy anything new for your second (or third/fourth etc) DC? I'd like to get one or two things that are just his or hers, or useful things I've forgotten about so am looking for ideas!

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TestingTestingWonTooFree · 06/08/2017 18:30

I was going to buy teats but ended up with bottles instead as it was cheaper. I bought a new steriliser as the old one had died. I needn't have bothered as I went on to but MAM bottles which can be self sterilised in the microwave. I bought a perfect prep as I planned to mix feed. I bought some summer stuff as baby born in a different season to first.

If I was pregnant now I'd buy the baby cushion thing for £20 coming up in Aldi soon. I am borrowing a sleepyhead from a friend so don't need it.

No need for a double buggy but I bought a buggy board which has not been useful.

Oscillationss · 06/08/2017 19:03

My second baby was only 17 months younger than my first so everything was reused. All I bought for the third was a stretchy baby wrap and a cot that attaches to the bed. Lots of hand me downs but while he's young enough not to mind I'm going to make the most of it! It's also quite nice seeing the bits and pieces DS1 and DS2 wore again as they're not little for very long.

andbabymakesthree · 06/08/2017 20:17

Hardly anything for DC3. Sling!

Pip84 · 06/08/2017 20:53

I'm on baby number 3 and honestly I am reusing the same pram Moses basket cot crib etc I had for baby number 1.

Only thing I had to buy for baby 2 was bottles and for baby 3 it is a new baby bath and bottles.

I was lucky number 1& 2 where boys so didn't need to get much clothes either cos most people bought for us.

Don't know what baby 3 is yet so just need to wait and see only 11 days till ECS but if it is a girl will just be clothes however got enough whites and creams to do me till I can get out and about. Have a large family aswell which I'm sure my dad will need to build me a new wardrobe if it is a girl cos we don't have any girls yet on my family. Between me and my 3 sisters we have 6 boys so a girl will be spoiled!

Ikabod · 06/08/2017 21:45

I've bought a few new babygros. And we needed a new crib. Everything else is hand-me down from DD1. Even the box of breast pads that I had left, gave to a friend (who didn't need them in the end) has come back to me! I'm going to make DD2 a blanket because I made one for DD1.

Saracen · 07/08/2017 00:13

I got a sling for my second child, which I hadn't used for the first. I figured I would need to be on the move more than I had been with my first child! Also may make things easier with bus etc as you have your hands free for your older child.

There were also some items I'd bought for my first child which I later discovered didn't do the job very well. You learn through your mistakes! Comparing with friends' high chairs, car seats and so on gave me ideas for improvements. E.g. I vowed never again to own a high chair which was difficult to clean or to get the child out of, so I got rid of my previous high chair and replaced it with one I liked better.

Scaredycat3000 · 07/08/2017 02:59

YY a sling much easier a toddler and baby attached to you. Stretchy wraps are suitable from birth. I used a sling for baby and toddler in the buggy to start. By the time baby was of any noticeable weight toddler was old enough to walk further.

BendydickCuminsnatch · 07/08/2017 07:43

DS2 due in Nov. I've bought/am buying:

Sleepyhead,
Morrck baby wrap,
new change mat
new backpack change bag
car seat rain cover
buggy board
and am renting Bednest

that's about it really! DS1 is a May baby so although they're the same sex, they're opposite seasons, so at least there are a few things to buy!

It's great but going shopping is frustrating because I want to buy all the stuff but it's too frivolous! I've bought lots of wintry newborn clothes because DS had a lot of summer stuff, and a lot of newborn xmas stuff in the sales!

Another thing is that I have already washed all the newborn clothes, was hard to resist and now I'm not going to have enough to do nearer the time! I like the exciting busy run up.

BendydickCuminsnatch · 07/08/2017 07:45

Also bought a few 'fancy' babygros - Bond's Australia etc, £20 a pop, DS1 never would have had such luxury but there's so much less to buy this time and he's getting so many hand me downs (not that he will have one single solitary clue).

Madonna9 · 07/08/2017 08:03

I have the same dilemma! I bought some new things so far: a baby monitor, some clothes and I might also buy a double pram.
But who knows where the next few months might lead me Grin.

tootsieglitterballs · 07/08/2017 08:59

Yes - backpack changing bag this time, and looking for a buggy board!

Oh, and a steam cleaner 🙈! Purely to clean the pram , car seat etc!

MagicMoneyTree · 07/08/2017 13:03

Our 2nd will be taking over 2YO bedroom as he's moving into another bedroom, so our PFB will be getting all the new stuff yet again! Doesn't bother me- not like they will notice. I might invest in some new teething toys as it does feel a bit mean to give second hand ones when they don't cost much. Not even buying new coming home clothes because I love the idea of them both coming home from hospital in the same outfits!

kel1234 · 07/08/2017 13:10

We will buy: new crib mattress, then new cot mattress. New bottles. New toys, playmat, bouncy chair, swing, highchair (we are keeping the booster seat ds is currently using). We intended to keep the big stuff mentioned, but I or we didn't like some of it for various reasons, so we decided to get rid of it). We may or may not get a new Pram, it depends what this one is like condition wise when we've finished with it this time.
And all new clothes, as I wouldn't use second hand clothes. I want my new baby to be in brand new babygrows and things. Plus we didn't know the sex last time, and won't find out next time. So even if we kept all the clothes they may have been no good to us.

kel1234 · 07/08/2017 13:10

Oh and new bath and bits like that. Again we didn't keep it as it may be no good next time.

tootsieglitterballs · 07/08/2017 17:07

@MagicMoneyTree same here - DS1 is getting a new bedroom, new furniture etc! Poor DS2!!

To be fair, DS1 grew so quickly, and had SO many clothes that some have only been worn once. We've only kept the things in good condition though - things with stains on etc have gone already. He has of course got lots of new clothes too, but like you, I love the idea of them wearing the same! And besides, babies neither know nor care!

We did debate getting a new pram, but decided there was no point. I may get a new colour pack, but honestly the reason we bought the pram in the first place was because we loved it and still do.

Original poster
manymanyquestions · 07/08/2017 18:38

So relieved reading all the replies! Seems like a silly question now, but it just felt strange not going out and buying all those baby things, it was such a big part of getting ready last time.

We will get a couple of nice babygrows, a teddy and a nice book though. We're going to set up a nursery over the next month or so too. I know we won't use for months and months, but it feels nice to prepare!

OP posts:
blackcherries · 07/08/2017 20:30

Going to buy a couple of outfits, new mattress for the bedside crib, new sleeping bag as struggled with only one or two for some reason, plus maybe a sleepyhead!
Will probably try out more slings as well as struggled with stretchy sling but it's probably more essential with a toddler to manage as well.
Oh and a carrycot as just had a cocoon thing with the pram first time round.

ChocolateTorte · 08/08/2017 10:42

Can I ask what the rationale is for buying new mattresses for everything? That's what lots of posters seem to be planning and I'm wondering if it's a safety thing I'm not aware of?

RatRolyPoly · 08/08/2017 10:53

It is a safety ting Chocolate - the Lullaby Trust advises a new mattress for each child, but gives advice on what to look for with reused mattresses if that's not possible. There is some evidence (although not proven) that reusing mattresses increases the risk of SIDS - slightly less so if the mattress is reused between siblings, but still potentially increased. It's believed that milk or bodily fluids from a baby may get onto a mattress and potentially harmful bacteria breed over time, hence the Lullaby Trust stipulating that a mattress should have had a protective waterproof layer on it when used for a previous child, which should be well cleaned if you intend to use the mattress again. Although a new mattress is preferred.

Here's a link to the Lullaby Trust for you.

ChocolateTorte · 08/08/2017 12:12

Thanks RatRolyPoly.

AtlanticWaves · 15/09/2017 10:53

I bought a new sling (my first 2 weren't comfortable)

I bought a fair few nice newborn things (soft babygrows, litle cardigans) because DS1's stuff was in a right state - he had severe reflux and all his clothes were washed and worn dozens of times.

I also learned from mistakes so bought some lovely soft joggers rather than re-using dungarees.

New bibs and muslins as again ours were horrendous (although I kept the old ones for rags)

Now they're a bit older I buy a fair few clothes for DS2 because either DS1 has got holes in them (especially trousers) or they're the wrong season or even that they just don't suit DS2 very well! plus as a 2nd child myself I don't think it's fair to always get handmedowns

As for toys, as a baby DS2 got more toys than DS1 because he was actually interested in them whereas DS1 didn't want to know for months. But of course we didn't know that until after he arrived.

Now they both get fewer toys than if they were onlies but that's because they share all of their toys so both get the benefit.

KittyKK · 15/09/2017 13:19

Thanks for sharing. Helpful to see...

Why do you need to buy a new cot mattress? Is it official guidance? My original one is only 2 years old and in great condition.

CoffeeAndCupcakes85 · 15/09/2017 14:00

Thank you RatRolyPoly, I always wondered why the advice was to get a new mattress.

If things go to plan, DS will be 16 months when DD is born. I think we will get:

  • a few new clothes (mostly because they'll be born in different seasons, not because they're different sexes). We won't be getting much at all, as most of DS's clothes were hardly worn and a baby won't care that they're second hand!;
  • a new mattress;
  • a pram (I think we'll have to get some form of double pram. Such a shame as our current, single pram is in good condition);
  • some new bottles;
  • if I'm able to BF again, I may treat myself to a double breast pump as I spent so many hours pumping so it would be great to cut the time down Grin;
  • a new bath foam thing as the other one got trashed!; and
  • a nice cuddly toy that's just theirs!
emilyjayne1990 · 15/09/2017 19:35

We're planning on buying a new pram/car seat because the first one is looking a bit worse for wear!
New bottles, most probably dr browns this time,
complete new clothes even if it's another boy, just because Charlie has new clothes so I think it's right the new baby should too.
and a few new teddies because I don't expect my little boy to share his when they've always been his from the start!

2bluestars · 15/09/2017 21:12

So i have quite a big gap between kids 1 and 2 and the impending no. 3. I've just realised that the car seat we've kept for all this time has an expiry date! I had no idea this was even a thing, just happened to see the label on the bottom as i was getting it out to clean. So amongst other things i will be buying a new car seat...