Adding another baby to the family is such an amazing blessing, truly a gift. But, there's also no denying that it's a crazy time...lots of adjustment and juggling that goes on! (Check out my previous post with tips for preparing for #2). My older son Jack was nine days shy of two when our little Calvin joined our clan; we certainly had our fair share of craziness but it's with out a doubt worth every hectic moment. :-) I am definitely NO expert but as a mom of 2 (both under 2 for a few days) here are some products I found helpful:
A comfortable and easy to use carrier! - I'm a huge fan of babywearing; it's a great way to connect with baby, but also such a life saver with two (or more). For the early days, a light weight wrap (like a Happy Baby Wrap, Wrapsody Stretch Hybrid, Boba Wrap) or a ring sling are great options. My Sakura Bloom linen ring sling and my Beco Gemini are among my favorites.
Double Stroller - When I had my second son it was spring time and we did a lot of walking! Seriously it was amazing for everyone, my littlest one slept, my toddler liked the adventure, I loved the exercise, and we all got fresh air! There are so many fantastic double strollers out there- finding the right one depends on your lifestyle and where/how you plan to use the stroller- For us the Baby Jogger Summit X3, with the Compact Pram attachment was a great fit! I know many of you ask if a bassinet attachment is worth it.. unfortunately the answer truly depends on your lifestyle and your baby, and we all know every baby is different. But, with my second son, our pram/bassinet attachments were worth every penny!
Glider Board- For stores, traveling, tight spaces, and activities, and especially as my big guy gets older, I'm a huge fan of a glider board. I have one for both my UPPAbaby and Baby Jogger strollers.
Seat and/or swing- Our bouncy seats and swings were such a lifesaver! There were times when I needed a little bit of quality time with my toddler, simply needed to make dinner or take a shower, and having a cozy safe place for baby is essential. We loved our MamaRoo from 4Moms- it has so many motion options like a natural swaying option that my son loved and unlike the swing, my toddler couldn't send it flying :-)
The right bottle- Getting my little guy comfortable taking a bottle was really helpful. It allowed me to be able to spend one on one time with my toddler and have dates with my husband :-) We tried many brands and Dr. Brown's bottles worked well for us (yes there are a lot of pieces but worth it for us). I've also heard great things about the Joovy Boob bottle, but every baby is different!! I wouldn't stock up on bottles before baby is born.. we had the Dr. Brown's on hand from my first guy and lucky for us they worked great. But if you're trying brands out I would never buy more than one at a time.. you just never know if you're little one will like it.
Nursing Scarf- When you are trying to nurse your wee one with a toddler (or toddlers) running around, there is no time to dig through your bag for a cover.. that's why I love nursing scarves so much! I love the handmade infinity nursing scarf from Go Babe!
Video Monitor with Second Camera- Having a video monitor that took multiple cameras and a monitor that scanned between our two was so helpful. We have the Summer Infant Slim & Secure Monitor, and it's worked well for us (note that we purchased it 2 1/2 years ago).
Earth Mama Angel Baby Postpartum Recovery Kit- As a new mom of two, there isn't a whole lot of time to focus on yourself and your own healing and recovery... I was picking up my toddler from school 3 days after delivery ..it's just life and its how we roll :-) I'm a huge fan of Earth Mama Angel Baby products, and I particularly love this bundle as it gives you products to help comfort, heal (faster) and remind you to take 5 (even if its a quick cup of tea).
A Big Diaper Bag- there were several months when I was often carrying around two sizes of diapers and changes of clothes, along with my usual staples; having a large easy access diaper bag was key. It doesn't necessarily have to be a diaper/baby bag, but something with lots of room, storage, organization, and easy to access... One of my favorites that I used a ton in the early days is my Baby Bag from Sea Bags.
Not listed, and not gear, but also helpful: a sense of humor, a roll with the punches attitude, grandparents, and Daniel Tiger :-)
Congratulations and good luck!!! Thanks as always for stopping by!
Rebecca
A comfortable and easy to use carrier! - I'm a huge fan of babywearing; it's a great way to connect with baby, but also such a life saver with two (or more). For the early days, a light weight wrap (like a Happy Baby Wrap, Wrapsody Stretch Hybrid, Boba Wrap) or a ring sling are great options. My Sakura Bloom linen ring sling and my Beco Gemini are among my favorites.
Double Stroller - When I had my second son it was spring time and we did a lot of walking! Seriously it was amazing for everyone, my littlest one slept, my toddler liked the adventure, I loved the exercise, and we all got fresh air! There are so many fantastic double strollers out there- finding the right one depends on your lifestyle and where/how you plan to use the stroller- For us the Baby Jogger Summit X3, with the Compact Pram attachment was a great fit! I know many of you ask if a bassinet attachment is worth it.. unfortunately the answer truly depends on your lifestyle and your baby, and we all know every baby is different. But, with my second son, our pram/bassinet attachments were worth every penny!
Glider Board- For stores, traveling, tight spaces, and activities, and especially as my big guy gets older, I'm a huge fan of a glider board. I have one for both my UPPAbaby and Baby Jogger strollers.
Seat and/or swing- Our bouncy seats and swings were such a lifesaver! There were times when I needed a little bit of quality time with my toddler, simply needed to make dinner or take a shower, and having a cozy safe place for baby is essential. We loved our MamaRoo from 4Moms- it has so many motion options like a natural swaying option that my son loved and unlike the swing, my toddler couldn't send it flying :-)
The right bottle- Getting my little guy comfortable taking a bottle was really helpful. It allowed me to be able to spend one on one time with my toddler and have dates with my husband :-) We tried many brands and Dr. Brown's bottles worked well for us (yes there are a lot of pieces but worth it for us). I've also heard great things about the Joovy Boob bottle, but every baby is different!! I wouldn't stock up on bottles before baby is born.. we had the Dr. Brown's on hand from my first guy and lucky for us they worked great. But if you're trying brands out I would never buy more than one at a time.. you just never know if you're little one will like it.
Nursing Scarf- When you are trying to nurse your wee one with a toddler (or toddlers) running around, there is no time to dig through your bag for a cover.. that's why I love nursing scarves so much! I love the handmade infinity nursing scarf from Go Babe!
Video Monitor with Second Camera- Having a video monitor that took multiple cameras and a monitor that scanned between our two was so helpful. We have the Summer Infant Slim & Secure Monitor, and it's worked well for us (note that we purchased it 2 1/2 years ago).
Earth Mama Angel Baby Postpartum Recovery Kit- As a new mom of two, there isn't a whole lot of time to focus on yourself and your own healing and recovery... I was picking up my toddler from school 3 days after delivery ..it's just life and its how we roll :-) I'm a huge fan of Earth Mama Angel Baby products, and I particularly love this bundle as it gives you products to help comfort, heal (faster) and remind you to take 5 (even if its a quick cup of tea).
A Big Diaper Bag- there were several months when I was often carrying around two sizes of diapers and changes of clothes, along with my usual staples; having a large easy access diaper bag was key. It doesn't necessarily have to be a diaper/baby bag, but something with lots of room, storage, organization, and easy to access... One of my favorites that I used a ton in the early days is my Baby Bag from Sea Bags.
Not listed, and not gear, but also helpful: a sense of humor, a roll with the punches attitude, grandparents, and Daniel Tiger :-)
Congratulations and good luck!!! Thanks as always for stopping by!
Rebecca
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