Becoming a parent was one of the most meaningful events in my life, but it wasn’t something I had always yearned for. I wasn’t the child who imagined myself as a mom, and I didn’t particularly care for kids when I was younger.
That all shifted when a positive pregnancy test changed everything. My daughter Rose arrived in April 2015, and although adapting to parenthood was challenging, I quickly realized she made my life feel whole.
By 2017, my husband Ben and I decided to try for a second child. This time around we had a better sense of what to expect. We’d kept Rose’s baby gear, so we assumed we wouldn’t need to buy as many basics. Still, that didn’t mean we avoided spending any money on newborn necessities.
Before and after our son Liam was born in August 2018, we picked up a few essentials we knew from experience we’d need — plus some items we hadn’t anticipated. Here’s our checklist for baby number two, along with tips from fellow parents who were having their second, third or fourth children.
Yes, a Double Stroller Is a Smart Buy
Working full time meant I didn’t use my BOB jogging stroller as often with Rose as I might have liked. Still, on the days I did, I enjoyed taking her out for walks and runs, and she loved being outdoors.
I deliberated over buying a double jogging stroller when I was expecting Liam. I wondered how much use it would get now that Rose was more independent and rarely wanted to sit in a stroller.
But several friends with kids closer in age insisted they couldn’t manage without their double strollers. My friend Naomi Sohaba found hers indispensable. “A decent double [stroller made] it easier to get out and about, because that’s easier than staying at home with two littles,” she told me.
Instead of splurging on a brand-new double BOB, Ben and I purchased a used double stroller from friends. It doubles as a bike trailer, so it offers more versatility than the BOB would have. While Rose is reluctant to use a single stroller, she’s perfectly content to ride in the double for bike outings.
You Might Need Different Bottles
I hung onto Rose’s bottles, but as most parents will tell you, there’s no guarantee your next baby will accept the same brand. To be safe, I stocked up on new nipples for the bottles we already had so I’d be ready.
Second-time mom Sara Frank learned how particular infants can be about feedware. “Owen wouldn’t use the same bottles as Amelia, so we had to buy new ones,” she said.
Unfortunately, Liam rejected Rose’s bottles. We tried a different brand and he approved them (no literal thumbs-up, of course).
Upgrade Your Diaper Bag
When shopping for Rose’s diaper bag, my priority was looks. I wanted something Ben wouldn’t mind carrying, so I chose a cross-body Diaper Dude. That style turned out to be awkward and not very comfortable, so we switched to a backpack model.
After Liam arrived and I pulled our old diaper bag from the basement, I discovered mice had been snacking on forgotten treats inside and left droppings behind. I tossed the ruined bag and bought a new backpack-style diaper bag.
Kathryn Dowell, a mom of three, treated herself to a nicer diaper bag with her second child. “I think mostly I upgraded to what I actually wanted [with my second baby],” she said. “[With] the first, I was guessing and going off other people’s experience. After that, I knew my parenting style and was willing to buy nicer versions of what I knew I needed, [like a better] diaper bag.”
Most mothers I spoke with agreed — they either needed larger diaper bags for two little ones close in age, or preferred higher-quality versions of their original bag.
A Baby Carrier Is Essential
I consider a good baby carrier one of the top must-haves. It lets you keep a clingy infant close while freeing your hands to shop, cook or tidy up. With a second child, a carrier becomes even more valuable because you can hold the baby while engaging with your older child.
Many first-time parents don’t realize how many types of carriers exist and often settle for whatever’s available at a big-box store.
For Rose, I registered for a Moby Wrap and thought that was sufficient. Over time I learned more about babywearing and upgraded to a soft-structured carrier, which I used until Rose was about two-and-a-half and too big to be carried.
When Liam arrived, I sold my pink LILLE carrier and bought a black-and-white replacement. I also purchased a quality ring sling to keep in the car for quick errands like grocery trips.
Don’t Assume Hand-Me-Downs Will Cover Everything
If your children are the same sex, you might reuse a lot of clothing — unless your children are born in different seasons.
My friend Halie Best’s daughters are 20 months apart, so she needed to buy winter and spring outfits for the younger child because her older daughter’s clothes were summer-ready. She also purchased an extra set of swaddle blankets.
Although I saved most of Rose’s outfits, many weren’t suitable for Liam. I bought new clothes for him and gratefully accepted gifts and hand-me-downs.
“Fortunately, people gave us boy clothes,” Frank said, who has a three-year-old daughter and a one-year-old son. If friends have children, ask if they’ll pass along or lend items to help you cut costs.
Consider Subscriptions and Memberships
To avoid frequent store runs for baby supplies, Amanda Margraf signed up for Amazon Prime Pantry, which provided discounts on qualifying orders. Amazon sometimes offers a free trial for Prime Pantry to existing Prime members, with a monthly fee after the trial ends.
Margraf’s regular items included sanitizing wipes, Diaper Genie refills, baby wipes and diaper cream. She still uses the service for household staples like toilet paper now that her kids are older.
You can also subscribe to diaper and wipe deliveries through brands like The Honest Company and similar vendors. Subscriptions not only save money but also remove the chore of remembering these essentials, since they arrive at your doorstep.
Ben and I purchased a Costco membership when Rose was an infant, and it quickly paid for itself through formula savings alone. We’ve kept the membership, and fortunately Liam accepts the Kirkland formula, so we continue to save as we did before. If you use disposable diapers, buying in bulk at a warehouse store increases those savings.
Expecting a second, third, fourth or fifth child? You’ll likely add a few items to your baby list even if you’ve kept things from older children. Stick to necessities and you can welcome a new baby without overspending.
Catherine Hayes is a delighted mother of two. She freelances in her spare moments and enjoys running, cooking meals with sneaky vegetables and reading.
