What to buy for second baby?

[manymanyquestions]

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 ). 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!

[BentleyBelly]

Our first was a girl and we are having a boy this time so I have got new clothes...and new car seat as our old one was very battered. Apart from that and possibly new mattresses for cot and moses basket we will be reusing everything...can't afford to change and baby will never know the difference.

[TheLegendOfBeans]

I've posed this question to my chums ascee are due DC2 in Oct...

Most of my chums (as well as me) will just get the essentials; but I had to get a new double buggy. DD will be 20months when DC2 is here.

If like me your DC1 wasn't dressed in much "girly" stuff say, then if DC2 is a boy you'll not really need to buy clothes. If they are of the same sex - doddle.

All we are buying new is:
Bottles and teats
MAYBE a breast pump (thoughts people?)
Moses basket
New cot and mattress (in time)
One or two new toys

What we will be doing though is making sure everyone knows when DC2 is coming (& sex of DC2) so the "nice" stuff comes from grannies/aunties etc.

I hope this helps

[Foggymist]

It's not being stingy to not buy new things, surely the point of expensive things like buggies, cots, etc is that most people will get more than one use out of them. Our dc2 will get hand me downs of everything, and our buggy is already second hand from someone else, what must you think of us in stingy terms

[RatRolyPoly]

The only thing I've bought in addition to your list is a new mattress for the carrycot bit of the pushchair. Dc1 slept in there loads - all daytime naps for the first few months - so at the last minute I thought I'd better get a new one.

[manymanyquestions]

Oh no don't worry Foggymist I don't think re-using a buggy and cot is stingy at all - I would definitely want them to be used more than once given their cost!!! I meant more the little things, like clothes / a blanket etc. we bought unisex for DC1 as gender was a surprise so they'll be good for DC2 as well, but I was the youngest child and remember that clothes and toys were always hand me downs. I know they won't remember, but I just feel guilty somehow! I was thinking of buying one or two new outfits and maybe a new teddybear and a book, just so there's something that's 'theirs' if that makes sense?

Thelegendofbeans on the breast pump question, it's a tricky one...I was given one by my DSIS last time. I had to pump for the first couple of weeks due to various issues, but borrowed a hospital grade for that period. After that I got very little use out of my DSIS" pump as my DC who had refused to breastfeed for the first couple of weeks then refused the bottle...you just can't please some babies!!

[OuchBollocks]

The only things I bought new for DS were some boy clothes, some dummies, a playmat, and a highchair (except that wasn't even new-new)

Do you have a bouncer/baby swing to put the baby in a bit out of that the way of the older child?

[Girlsworld92]

I felt the same and still do sometimes as I have 2 girls but my youngest is nearly 3 now and likes things like paw patrol, bob the builder and fireman Sam so I can get her bits that she prefers. Don't worry. Save your money. Kids are expensive enough and no 2 is sure to have their own tastes soon enough. The only thing i did get was a tommee tippee machine

[Lizibet]

We did have to buy quite a lot new for our 4 as they were close together and the middle 2 were twins.
With clothes though we just kept the bits that we particularly liked or that had been given as present and got the rest new.
I would get few new toys as well - just little things like teddies.

[ragdoll700]

I bought new a mattress, bottles and teats, dummies a few new bits of clothes and vests and a few new toys and a new blanket. My two are girls so the second one gets all the hand me down clothes but I do buy new bits for occasions and christmas easter etc.

My second daughter is much more girly than my first so the new bits she gets tend to be the dresses my first wouldn't wear :)

[K1092902]

Don't worry about it OP. Baby won't know any better. Just replace anything that has to be for hygiene/safety reasons and maybe the odd new cute babygrow you see and it will be fine.

Maybe open a savings account when they are born and put the money you have saved into that instead?

[Callamia]

I love that my new son wears his older brother's things. It makes him feel like a proper member of the family. My eldest was almost never sick, so his clothes, up to weaning at least, are in really good condition.
I have bought a couple of nice clothes for youngest, because I've got all the basics, and there's just some super cute things available.

[ChickenBhuna]

Not stingy at all OP. Your baby won't care is it's things are brand new until it's much , much older.

Also , presumably , in spending less on baby paraphernalia you and your DP will be less likely to pick up over time and you'll be less likely to rush going back to work etc , meaning more time spent as a family.

[GreenGoblin0]

defo not stingy. I bought a new mattress for the carrycot we use for overnight sleeping and will buy a new mattress for cot when DD2 is big enough to move into it. other than that I got one back of baby gros and body suits in newborn size so she had something new to wear on hospital

[Oysterbabe]

We need a double buggy and clothes as different sex this time but that's about it.

[Emma2803]

I have bought new dummies and teats for the bottles (using the same bottles as I had 8 so were fairly well rotated and only used til 11 months. A second hand carrycot for the pram but a new mattress. Going to buy a second hand Jumperoo for when dc2 is older. Won't need a double as ds will be 2.9. Keeping same mattress in cot but getting new mattress protector. Don't know gender so may have to get clothes if baby is a girl.

[wendz86]

Only things I bought new second time were a bouncer as I had a swing before and wasn't massively keen. I also bought some new outfits/sleepsuits. Apart from that I re-used pretty much everything.

[LorelaiVictoriaGilmore]

Not stingy at all. I'll be getting a new cot, mattress and chest of drawers but I'm hoping that's about it.

[Shufflebumnessie]

DD arrived in March and we're pretty much just recycling everything from DS (yes, even clothes - I'm not a 'pink' person so I prefer a lot of DS baby clothes!!). New items that be bought were:
Cot mattress
Carry cot mattress
Bath support (as the fabric on DS had fallen apart)
www.mothercare.com/supports-and-mats/mothercare-fabric-bath-support/651707.html
The best new item that I bought was a Morrck baby hoodie - I love it & as it was cold when DD was born it saved having to try and wrestle a newborn into a coat / snowsuit when heading out especially on the school run. Plus, you don't have to worry about them getting too hot when going from outside to inside e.g. shopping, as you just open the blanket (don't have to take off coat etc). I'll be buying the next size up ready for winter.
www.morrck.co.uk/shop/all-season-baby-hoodie-size-1.html

[Topsyloulou]

I have a DS & having a DD this time so I'm buying a few clothes, think we'll get lots as presents so not going too mad. Other than that I've bought new bottles, dummies, more muslins. Still need to get a new steriliser as the last one died & another monitor for DS. It's very handy to still be able to see what he's doing when he's crashing around in his room without having to go up to him, not ready to give that up yet. I'm also going to get DS to choose a cuddly toy for her when she's born.

[inappropriateraspberry]

Don't forget, you'll probably be given some new things from friends and family when the baby is born. They'll get clothes and toys galore! That's the new stuff sorted. If you really want to, why not buy one special teddy or toy that is their's only. Maybe spend a little more on it as a keepsake, rather than an everyday toy.

[CocoLoco87]

I bought a new set of bottles for when BF finishes, a new play mat (old one didn't have those overhead bits with toys on), a new baby bag and then another new one , and I actually did buy quite a few new clothes as, silly as it sounds, some of his brothers clothes have very distinct memories attached to them, so I wanted him to have some new bits just for him. And also new blankets...this sounds a bit unnecessarily frivolous now I write it out!

[Iwannasnack]

I bought a couple of cute new sleepsuits to be the 1st outfit and come home in. New bottles as DC1s were well used. Think that's about it. People will buy presents so you'll still get new outfits and toys.

[Caterina99]

Only thing we really need is a double buggy, new teats for the bottles, new dummies and some new clothes. And a second camera for the video monitor (same as pp, not ready to give that up for 2 yr old DS yet!).

I know my mum has gone crazy and bought a load of girl clothes (first girl in family) and we'll probably get more clothes and toys as gifts. I need new bibs as DS ones were mostly disgusting by the end and prob some new muslins and changing pad cover etc. Plan to reuse what neutral and boy clothes I can, although the seasons are out unfortunately. Oh and I've bought myself a new changing bag too

[tootsieglitterballs]

I've bought a new blanket, some new clothes, sleeping bags (as we got rid of the ones we had for DS), and a few toys.

Other than that, I'm on the lookout for a next 2 me crib (second hand) as DS1 grew out of his Moses basket by 9 weeks and had to go in his own room! I'll also buy some new sheets for the pram.

That's all I think - oh, apart from a new baby monitor - ours has about given up, so we want a new one anyway.

We kept most DS clothes, and I've gone through them and pulled out any bits I'm not fussed for / stained to get rid of.

[user1498911589]

Nappies. A pram or a sling/baby carrier.

That's it.