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Second Baby Must-Haves Every Mom Needs (Updated for 2023!)

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Registering for your first baby is nothing like registering for your second.

For the first, it’s an overwhelming flurry of wanting/needing everything under the sun! The baby registry guides are totally overwhelming.

For your second, you’re more like “Do I really need that?” Because depending on how far apart your babies are, you probably have everything already! Or so you think.

I definitely wanted to be a bit more minimalist with my baby registry picks the second time around. Like you probably have, I learned that you really only need a minimum when it comes to a new baby and baby gear.

Because aside from milk and diapers, they don’t need all that much. (PRO TIP: Get your diapers auto-delivered and 20% off with a free Amazon Family trial!)

But that doesn’t mean we can’t want a few things to make newborn life just a little easier.

Here are my second baby must-haves to make transitioning from one to two just a little bit easier.

Second Baby Essentials Every Mama Needs

Uppababy Vista Ride a Long Piggy Board

We knew we wanted to have two children so with our first, we registered for an Uppababy Vista which easily expands for two to three children.

Now that #2 is due any day now, we can expand our stroller with the Uppababy Vista Piggyback Ride a Long Board.

We also have the rumbler seat, which lets our toddler ride on the front seat and we can put the bassinet or infant car seat on top.

I can’t stress enough how important it is to really think about the long-term use of your stroller before you get one!

Uppababy has fantastic customer service and sleek and beautiful strollers, so you really are making an investment to last for years to come.

We’ve been VERY happy with ours and it’s lasted many years. Plus, the resale value on these is pretty decent!

PRO TIP: If you’re looking to save a bit on these, consider timing your purchase when the next model is coming out. You can save some decent money! We found many at BuyBuyBaby that were on sale right before the new releases.

DockaTot

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard moms and bloggers everywhere singing praises about the Dock a Tot.

It’s a must-have baby registry item these days and to be honest, I really didn’t understand what it was at first.


RELATED: How We Use Our DockaTot: An Honest DockaTotReview


Is it a bed? Is it a lounger? Well, it’s actually both! And they even have these new attachments that convert it into a safe play area, too.

DockATot, hottest baby registry item. Is it worth it? Click to read this honest review.

I’ve heard that babies sleep like a dream in the Dock a Tot, which is the No. 1 reason I’ve been eyeing this bad boy.

I was terrified of bed-sharing as a first-time mom (because really, everything is terrifying as a first-time mom), but I’m much more open to the idea this time around.

I love that this provides a portable place for baby to sleep so whenever we travel or go to someone’s house she’ll feel secure and snuggled in her same bed.

They’re exceptionally popular in Europe, all-natural, handmade and tested for breathability.

UPDATE: Now that our baby is 18 months old, we’ve transitioned from the DockaTot to the DockaTot Grand! She sleeps like a HERO and has been sleeping through the night since infancy. Get the DockaTot here, it’s SO worth it!

Hatch Rest Sound Machine

Alright, you don’t need an expensive sound machine, but the Hatch Rest made my list of second baby must-haves for a few reasons: First, I do highly recommend a sound machine. Babies like white noise (they’re used to hearing it while inside you!) and it drowns out background noise.

Plus, if you’re traveling or elsewhere it provides a consistent sound they are used to.


RELATED: How I lost the baby weight with the Bellefit Postpartum Girdle


I love the Hatch Rest in particular because it also turns into a toddler OK to Wake alarm clock! So it’s not just any old sound machine, it’s meant to last through the toddler years, too.

It has a few fancy things, like tons of color and sound options and the ability to control it from your iPhone, but the reason I really love this is it’s compact, cute and will be great when we need it as an OK to Wake alarm clock.

LILLEbaby Baby Carrier

I didn’t baby wear with my first but need to with my second. There’s no way I can pay attention to a toddler, cook dinner, or live life without being a little hands-free!

I am not a babywearing expert but have my eye on the LILLE Complete Baby Carrier.

I regretted not having a newborn wrap with my first and have heard rave reviews about these. (Do you prefer a wrap or a sling? Let me know below!)

When she’s a little older, a soft-structured carrier is ideal.

We used an Ergo 360 with our first whenever we traveled and it was a total lifesaver.

But I’m looking for something more breathable this time around since we are in AZ and hubby would complain it was just too hot.

I really need something that works for the both of us and these also provide lumbar support, which I really need.

Especially when you’re doing activities that require wearing baby a long time.

Diaper Bag Backpack

I got a gorgeous Kate Spade diaper bag with my first, and do still plan on using it. But second-time moms need to be hands-free. There’s no way I can chase after a toddler and wrangle a newborn otherwise!

I’m eyeing a few diaper bag backpacks, like this new diaper bag backpack from Freshly Picked, this one from Fawn Designs or this Honest Co. Backpack.

UPDATE: I ended up getting this Freshly Picked Diaper Bag and LOVE IT!! It’s roomy, we use it for traveling and it’s great quality.

This backpack lets me be totally hands-free! I can fit toddler toys in here, diapers, bottles and all of my essentials, and it’s super stylish, too.

It has great interior pockets and an easy-to-wipe exterior.

It’s been handy for trips to the library, museums and more. It’s definitely great if you’re in the market for one of the best diaper bag backpacks!


RELATED: The Best Diaper Bag Backpacks


Other Must-Haves for Second-Time Moms

There are a few things I didn’t include on this list because we already had them, but if you don’t these are some essentials you shouldn’t forget!

A breast pump you love: I had a Medela breast pump and purchased new tubing and accessories.

Something else I didn’t discover until the second time around was these Lacti-Cups, which collect milk when you’re nursing on the other side–these are a game-changer!!!


RELATED: The Easiest Way to Save Breastmilk: Lacti-Cups Review


Because my second baby was a different gender, I purchased new baby clothes and swaddles.

You’ll also want to ensure you have plenty of bathtime goodies. Not sure what to get? Check out this list of baby bath essentials.

What Items Can You Reuse with Your Second Baby?

If you’re wondering what items to reuse with your second baby, thing things like baby gear including the infant car seat (if it’s in good condition), your stroller and the high chair, are generally reusable.

If your baby is the same gender, then hopefully you have plenty of clothes, too!

Can you reuse bottles with your second baby? We had glass bottles that we were able to reuse but you DO have to replace the nipples. The plastic can break down over time so definitely replace nipples between babies.

Do you have a baby registry for a second baby? I say, yes! Even if you choose not to have a second baby shower or baby sprinkle, you can still create a registry so you can take advantage of the completion coupon you’ll get and stock up on things like diapers, wipes, etc. I highly recommend starting your baby registry on Amazon.


What are your second baby must-haves? Anything newborn baby essentials you recommend I add to this list?? Let me know in the comments below!

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