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You did it! You got through the newborn phase once, and are ready to do it all again. And the best part is, you may already have many of the “bones” you’ll need for your new addition from your first pregnancy and baby- especially if you happen to give birth during the same time of year, or your babies are the same gender. 

So what do second time parents put on their registry then? You may already have all the gear, clothes, and equipment you need- but you should still create a registry! Many second time parents choose to include items they missed that would have made their lives easier the first time around, fun splurges with extra budget, reorder used or worn down tried & true items, or include things that will make multitasking with another little one easier. 

Some other ideas are investing in higher quality items that you enjoyed the first time around. Being young and not wanting to appear “greedy” with my registry, I opted for cheaper versions of items that really would have been investments. 

The first that comes to mind is a baby carrier. The $21.99 bargain carrier we used throughout my son’s first year of life absolutely killed our backs, and didn’t offer much support for our little one. An ergonomic carrier is a spendy route, but is an excellent option for a contribution gift on Amazon, or a perfect item for a group of friends or a whole family to go in on together. Worst case? It’s something you’ll purchase yourself if you choose to! 

There are many things I learned during my first time creating a registry and prepping for baby, now follow along while I prepare for our second!

Here are some of my favorites, tried & trues, and things I am adding to my second baby registry:

 

Baby Wearing:

Something I wish I had more options for with my first, and a necessity to keep baby close while chasing after a toddler! My favorites include:

Nesting Days Carrier:

I actually got to try this carrier out with my son when he was 3 months old at the Mom 2.0 conference, and LOVED it! There aren’t a million yards of fabric to maneuver, and baby feels snug & secure against you. Plus- it was excellent while breastfeeding!

The Nesting Days Newborn Baby Carrier is designed to be used from day one with newborns and has the sleek and comfortable feel of a baby wrap but uses a patented ‘wing’ design that is much easier to put on. Inspired by today’s yoga wear, activewear, and shapewear, their fabric’s ‘modulus elasticity’ provides strength to the garment that holds the baby snuggly to the mother’s chest while also supporting her postpartum figure.

It is designed to be easy to put on and take off without the need for complicated wrapping instructions, straps, belts, or buckles. At Nesting Days, their mission is to let every new mother know about the benefits of skin-to-skin, and to provide them with an innovative carrier that makes it easier, safer, and more comfortable to bond with their baby.

Beluga Baby Carrier:

Most new parents instinctively know that they want to be close to their baby. But second time parents know they need to keep their hands free at the same time! Having your baby next to your skin, or carried by you somehow, is not only good for the wearer, it’s good for baby, too! That’s where babywearing comes in.

All you need is a Beluga Baby Wrap carrier to keep your little one close. In a Beluga Baby Wrap, your baby will cry 40 percent less. In cases where babies are constantly in the arms of their caregiver, continuous crying is virtually unheard of. Plus, the Beluga Baby Wrap is made with a soft breathable bamboo blend fabric that allows for a unique four-way stretch. 

Ergobaby 360 Carrier:

We actually bought this carrier when my first son was about a year old and we were tired (and sore) of our bargain carrier! Our son weighed more, and didn’t always want to be facing my chest, which is totally understandable and something our current carrier didn’t support. 

The thing I love most about this carrier is the lumbar support- I barely felt anything when we put our son on my back! The weight was evenly distributed on my hips and made walking very easy.

This is a good option for families that will do a lot of walking, hiking, or traveling since you can wear them for longer periods of time when they are older without needing a stroller. 

Clothing & Swaddling:

 

Sleeper Gowns:

Alright, you’re a seasoned parent now. And what do we hate? Buttons or snaps during nighttime diaper changes! These are an absolute lifesaver, and I wish I had bought more with my first son. Just pull up the bottom, and you have instant access for a quick & easy diaper change. 

The only downfall is that they don’t work well with a car seat, but who is going anywhere these days? 😉

Swaddle Designs Swaddles:

The first time around, I tried my best to work with “DIY” swaddles and could never seem to get them tight enough, at the right height, or they were lumpy. I discovered swaddle blankets right before he was able to roll over, and am basically buying stock in them this time around!

These swaddle blankets are EASY, stay tight all night long, and are perfect to transition with an arm out, or when your little one starts rolling over. 

Lynette Damir created SwaddleDesigns in 2002, when there weren’t any swaddle blankets on the market. SwaddleDesigns created a modern esthetic for baby products and has been a major force in driving the swaddling renaissance.

SwaddleDesigns are the ONLY blankets with helpful pictorial swaddle instructions sewn to the edge of the blanket—a huge help for new parents so they can swaddle like a pro! Lynette’s innovative design for the Transitional Swaddle Sack is the most-recent chapter. 

 

Baby Gear:

Jeep Wrangler Stroller Wagon

The Jeep Wrangler Stroller Wagon by Delta Children is ready to tackle any family adventure. Designed with all the conveniences of a double stroller and the rugged durability of a wagon, it’s a super-fun crossover that makes any outing easy—take it to the park, beach or sporting event. With so many ways to ride, it’s ideal for kids of varying ages.

I love that you can attach your current infant car seat with the included adapter for babies or use the two seats with 5-point safety harnesses to securely transport older siblings, twins or friends. The UV blocking canopy protects little ones from the sun while pull-down shades block additional light during naptime. Remove the canopy for open-air cruising. Equipped with more storage than the average stroller, you can keep travel essentials inside the wagon, or use the pockets at the front and back. 

Graco Travel Lite Crib

I absolutely LOVE this smaller scale crib/pack and play! My cousin had it with her at a party this summer, and I just had to snag one! It is a fraction of the size of a traditional pack and play, perfect for bringing to parties & events, using as a bassinet, a way to keep your older children away from the baby, and is super light to tale from room to room. 

With 3 growing stages, the Graco Travel Lite Crib with Stages is specially designed to grow with your baby from newborn to young toddler! Each stage provides a safe, cozy, yet portable spot for baby to sleep by your side. Plus, the Travel Lite Crib folds compactly and includes a carry bag to make travel easy. With the Graco Travel Lite Crib with Stages, you and baby can have sweet dreams longer…and longer!

 

Bumbo Floor Seat

I was able to borrow a Bumbo seat from a friend with my first, and absolutely loved it! It was the perfect chair for when your little one could support their head, but still needed help sitting. It just helped offer more variety to their day besides laying in one place or another, too. 

You can get attachable trays and other accessories making this one of the most useful items to have in your house!

The Bumbo Floor Seat enables your baby to maintain a sitting position on the floor, allowing you to play with, read to, and feed your baby. The Bumbo Floor Seat should not be used until your baby can support his or her head. 

 

Feeding Necessities:

 

Haakaa Manual Breast Pump

I am excited to use the Hakka while breastfeeding this go around! Simply attach it to the breast the baby isn’t feeding on to catch any let-down that would otherwise be lost in a disposable nursing pads, cloths, or (sadly) your clothes. This is especially helpful in those first weeks when your supply is much larger than the baby needs. You will be surprised at how much milk would otherwise be wasted!

The Haakaa Manual Breast Pump is lightweight, portable and the perfect tool for every baby bag. Use it on long distance trips, or anywhere you would like to express silently, discreetly and quickly.

Baby Brezza Formula Dispenser Machine

If we end up going the formula route again or need to supplement, I am purchasing this immediately! If you already know you plan to formula feed, this is a dream device. Those middle of the night feedings will be worlds easier and quicker by using this “Keurig like” formula dispenser. Personally, I didn’t want to feed my little one cold bottles, and it could be so hard to get a bottle to the right temperature by microwaving or boiling the water. 

The patented mixing technology automatically mixes formula and water to perfect consistency*. Works with virtually all formula brands and all bottle brands/sizes. And it’s fully customizable – choose 1 ounce increments between 2-10 ounces, 3 temperature settings and formula/water or water only dispensing!

Toys & Activities

 

Inflatable Tummy Time Water Mat

With my first child, we did a lot of tummy time, but he almost always hated it! I didn’t even think about having different types of toys and activities specifically for tummy time until I saw one of my friends had this mat for her little one. 

It is low to the ground, no moving parts, and nothing is hard or sharp for when they randomly smash their head into the floor (yeah, that happens often, haha!) The littlest of babies can squish the may to make the shapes and fish move around, keeping them mesmerized for good hunks of time. I have already ordered one for our baby, and even my three year old son is excited to play with this with his brother!

 

Bunnies By The Bay

My oldest son is obsessed with all of his stuffed animals and lovies, so we knew it was important to get out new baby his own! Bunnies By The Bay stuffed animals are so soft, sweet, and I love that you can personalize them. We actually are going to let our older son give this to his little brother as a welcome home gift, and he can’t wait! This makes a perfect welcome baby gift, and is a great way to get older siblings involved. 

Sweet Nibble Bunny is sweet, tender and oh-my-gosh unbelievably soft. Hand embroidered face, pink cheeks, and big fluffy tail. Eggnog cream and warm white fur, with velour lined ears perfect for personalizing.  This plush bunny will become your best friend indeed.

Add personalization to Nibble’s ear for an extra special touch. Please note that embroidery will be on the velour lining on the inside of the ear. The back of the embroidery will show through on the fur of the ear. 

 

Exersaucer Activity Center

We absolutely LOVED our exersaucer with our first son for a solid year and a half! I personally preferred an activity center that was not a walker, and that could grow with him. Whether he was playing with the lights & toys, chilling and watching his dad do yardwork, or enjoying a snack, it was the perfect safe place to just “stick him.”

I also learned from my mom, that finding an exersaucer with a floor is gold! During the summer, lower the seat a bit, and fill the bottom with water so your baby has their own little splash pad where they are completely safe. I loved seeing his chunky little feet kick and splash for hours over the summer!

 

Jolly Jumper

Again, with our first we went the cheaper route and got one of the door frame jumpers. Not only was it precariously wobbling on the frame, our little one wasn’t able to jump more than a couple inches and ended up being used as more of a swing. This time around, we will be investing in a better quality jumper like the Jolly Jumper!

Watch as your baby bounces up and down with complete freedom and movement. Baby will have fun while developing coordination, rhythm, strengthening muscles, and improving balance.

This model features a portable frame perfect for homes without door frames. It folds flat for storage. The spring action is ideal for the busy baby who wants more bounce and fun. The saddle seat is designed to firmly support baby’s spine, ensuring correct, upright posture during exercise.