Important Items You Need On Your Second Baby Registry
Preparing for a second baby can seem overwhelming at times! You might still have quite a few items left over from your first baby, so you might not know what you should put on your second baby registry.
The good news is that your second baby registry will likely be smaller than your first one. You won’t need nearly as many things if you saved items from your first baby, so creating your second baby registry should go smoothly!
In this article, you’ll find the complete list of baby items to put on your second baby registry. These items are separated by category, so verifying what you need will be a breeze!
Let’s get started!
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Should I create a baby registry for a second baby?
Many expecting moms wonder if they should make a baby registry the second time around. But the quick answer is yes! You certainly should create a second baby registry!
Many moms wonder about etiquette and if it’s tacky to have a second baby registry, but it’s not for many reasons.
One big reason is that you get a completion coupon as your due date approaches!
That means that a month or so before your due date, the place where you have your baby registry (like Target or Amazon) will give you a coupon to use on your total order.
These coupons are usually somewhere between 10-15% off! This coupon allows you to purchase anything you need for your baby at a discount.
Another reason to have a second baby registry is that many friends and family will still want to get you and your baby gifts, even if you don’t plan on having another baby shower. Creating a registry will allow them to get the baby items you need!
Click here to start an Amazon baby registry today!
Filling out your baby registry? Check out these related articles:
- How Many Diapers Do You Need for the First Year?
- How Many Baby Clothes Will You Need in Each Size?
- How Many Cribs Sheets Will Your Baby Really Use?
- How Many Bibs Do I Need? The Ultimate Guide
- How Many Burp Cloths Will My Baby Need?
Second Baby Registry: Things To Consider
Creating a second baby registry is quite different from creating your first one. Because you’re likely not starting from scratch, there are some key points to consider:
What will the age gap be between children?
If your children will be at least two years apart, there are many things that you can reuse from your first child. Whereas, if you’re having two under two, you might have to get some duplicate items.
Is my second baby a different gender?
If your second child is the opposite gender from your first, you might want to get new items like clothes or decor.
What things from my first baby might be outdated/expired?
When making your second baby registry, you’ll want to consider what baby items might be outdated. The obvious items to check are ones like diaper rash cream, medicines, and even your first child’s car seat.
Car seats generally have an expiration date of six to ten years. If you are still determining how old your car seat is, you can typically find the date stamped into the bottom plastic piece.
Will my second baby be born in a different season?
If you saved all of your first baby’s things but your second baby is born in a different season, you might need some new items.
For example, if your first baby was born in the summer and your second baby is due in the winter, you’ll want to register for more winter clothing essentials.
What items from my first baby can I certainly reuse?
As you go through your leftover baby items, you’ll want to list things you can certainly reuse. Some baby items that you can surely reuse are baby bathtubs, furniture in good condition, strollers, and high chairs.
Second Baby Registry Checklist:
Now that we’ve covered some key points to consider, it’s time to get to the second baby registry checklist! Remember that if your children will share a room, you can skip some of the duplicate items.
Items for the Nursery:
1. Sound Machine
A sound machine is one of our favorite nursery items regarding our kiddos’ sleep. And when it comes to choosing a sound machine, we absolutely love this one.
Not only does this sound machine help block outside noises from waking your child, but it also comes with many sounds and songs to choose from. Plus, you can also use this sound machine as a night light and choose from numerous light colors!
You can also control everything about this sound machine from your smartphone. It can be so convenient!
2. Baby Monitor
If your children have separate rooms and your first child still needs their baby monitor, you’ll want to get a second baby monitor. Call me old-fashioned, but I have always preferred audio baby monitors over video.
We use VTech audio baby monitors, and they work very well. We’ve never had trouble hearing our child in their room, and the charge lasts long!
3. Crib and Mattress
Depending on the age of your first child, you might need to invest in another crib and crib mattress. But, if your child is around three years old, they might be ready to transition to a toddler bed, and you can reuse your crib for the new baby.
4. Crib Sheets
Whether you need to purchase another crib or want fresh sheets for the new baby, you’ll want to add at least two pairs of crib sheets to your second baby registry.
When it comes to choosing crib sheets, I have always preferred to use 100% cotton sheets. Not only are cotton sheets soft, but they are more breathable than polyester sheets. These cotton crib sheets are highly rated, fit standard crib mattresses, and come in many cute prints!
5. Dresser
With a new baby comes double the clothes to store, especially if your second baby is the opposite gender of your first.
Investing in another dresser will give you plenty of room for not only storing clothes, but you can store other things like diaper changing supplies and blankets, too!
6. Bookshelf
My first child accumulated so many books and toys in his first few years I knew I would need a place to store things for our second baby. I love being able to keep everything all in one place, which is why I prefer cube organizers over regular bookshelves.
We have a cube organizer in each of our children’s rooms, and we split them in half; half of it stores books, and the other contains toys. We use fabric bins like these to keep the toys, which surprisingly hold quite a bit!
7. Humidifier
Having a humidifier in each bedroom is beneficial, especially if you live in a dry climate. When choosing a humidifier for a child’s room, it’s essential to choose a cool mist humidifier. Cool mist humidifiers are safer around kids because they don’t produce a hot mist that can burn.
This humidifier is a fantastic option because it has a long-lasting operation time, an auto shut-off, and a built-in night light! Plus, it’s extremely highly rated on Amazon.
8. Blackout Curtains
When creating an optimal sleep environment for your baby, you’ll definitely want blackout curtains. Blackout curtains help to block the majority of outside light to make your baby’s room darker and less stimulating.
9. Clothes
Even if you saved clothes from your first baby, there are some reasons to put some new clothes on your second baby registry.
Two of the biggest reasons would be that your second baby is the opposite gender from your first or your second baby is due in a different season from your first.
If you saved baby clothes that you can use again, it’s helpful to look through them and see if there are any clothing staples you’re missing. Also, look for stains or holes you may have missed when putting the clothes in storage.
Also, check out this article on the best tips for saving money on baby clothes!
10. Swaddles
Another great thing to add to your second baby registry is swaddles. Over time, swaddles can stretch out and become loose, so investing in some nice, new ones can be beneficial.
We like to use the SwaddleMe brand as they have velcro wings that help to secure things a little better. Plus, you get two or three in a pack (depending on the size you choose); they come in cute prints and colors and are very highly rated!
11. Baby Book
One thing I loved doing with my first baby was keeping track of his first year in a baby book. Recording those precious moments and memories is something I didn’t want to forget doing with my second!
We used this baby book for my son, and it had everything I wanted. It had some pages to record fun pregnancy tidbits, some to write down family tree info, and many pages to document their first year and all of the wonderful milestones.
12. Growth Chart
Another thing I have loved doing with my son is documenting his growth on a growth chart. Growing up, we always marked our height on a door jamb in the home, but I wanted an option that wasn’t so permanent.
I found a wall-hanging growth chart, and it’s not only cute but so fun to mark my son’s growth whenever we think he’s had a growth spurt. I look forward to doing this with our second baby, too!
13. Nursery Decor
When preparing a nursery room for your second baby, you’ll want to add some nursery decor items to your registry!
Related Articles:
- The Best Tips For Organizing Your Nursery
- When To Start Buying Baby Stuff: The Ultimate Guide
- How To Have a Baby On a Budget
- Nursery Must-Haves You’ll Regret Not Having!
- The Best Things To Stock Up On Before Baby
Items for the Baby Care:
14. Diapers
Diapers are something every new parent wants to receive, significantly as the current price of diapers is rising! And since this isn’t your first time around, you’ll already have a good idea of the brands you prefer to use.
Just remember to register for multiple sizes so you don’t receive too many newborn or size one diapers.
15. Wipes
Similar to diapers, you’ll also want to add baby wipes to your second baby registry. And, like diapers, you likely already know what brands to register for!
16. Toiletries
Depending on the kinds of toiletries, like soap and shampoo, that your older child uses, you might need to register for gentle soaps for your newborn.
In addition to soap and shampoo, you’ll also want to add items like diaper rash cream, any baby medications you like to keep on hand, and a brush or comb.
17. Nasal Aspirator
While you might still have a nasal aspirator from your first child, it might give you peace of mind to get a new one for your second baby.
Having a brand-new nasal aspirator will ensure it’s as clean as can be. We love this aspirator because you don’t have to worry about inserting it into your baby’s nose. Plus, you can take it apart and clean everything so easily!
18. Towels and Washcloths
Putting new towels and washcloths on your second baby registry might depend on how often you do laundry. You might already have enough towels for two children if you do laundry daily.
But having two children means double the laundry, so if you prefer to do laundry once a week, you’ll likely need double the towels you currently use.
We love these towels from Burt’s Bees Baby because they are 100% organic cotton, making them soft and super absorbent. And they have matching washcloths!
19. Diaper Genie Refills
If you enjoyed using a Diaper Genie with your first baby, you’d want to ensure you remember to add bag refills to your registry!
With our son, we got this year’s supply of bag refills which makes the price much more reasonable. Especially when Amazon periodically has coupons on them!
20. Laundry Detergent
As I mentioned about the towels, a second baby means double the laundry. Add some laundry detergent to your registry to have a little backstock once your baby arrives.
When my son was born, we used Dreft laundry detergent for his clothes and blankets. But after a while, we switched to All Free Clear detergent for all our clothes, and I like it more. It’s free of perfumes and dyes and lifts stains much better than Dreft!
Items for On the Go:
21. Car Seat
A car seat is essential for bringing your new baby home; you can’t bring your baby home without one! And while you might still have your infant car seat from your first baby, you’ll still need to verify that it’s safe to use.
One thing that some parents don’t realize is that car seats have an expiration date. Typically, they last 6-10 years before you need to replace them.
If you need clarification on your current car seat, check the bottom for an expiration date stamped into the plastic.
Another thing to think about is that a car seat has to be replaced if they are ever in a car accident.
If you need a new infant car seat, we use this one from Graco, and we love it! It is easy to get in and out of the car, it’s not too heavy, and it has plenty of room for your baby to grow. Plus, it can connect easily to the stroller securely.
22. Diaper Bag
Leaving the house with two children instead of one can seem daunting. That’s why it’s so important to have a perfect diaper bag to have everything you’ll need while out of the house.
If you still have your first diaper bag, check to ensure it’s still in good condition. If it’s got any rips, tears in the fabric, or busted zippers, consider adding a new one to your registry.
Also, while checking your old diaper bag, make sure it’s big enough to fit everything you carry for your first child and everything you’ll need for your newborn.
I got this diaper bag when I had my first baby, and it’s still in excellent condition to use with our second baby. It has so many pockets and so much space to stay organized.
23. Baby Carrier
If you didn’t wear your first baby in a carrier, you might change your mind with the second baby!
Wearing your second baby in a baby carrier can allow you to easily keep up with your first child while keeping your newborn with you. Plus, a baby carrier lets you have your hands free!
If you have a baby carrier left over from your firstborn, check it to ensure it’s not stretched out, torn, or damaged. You’ll want a baby carrier that you won’t have to worry about!
I used this wrap carrier with my first baby, and I liked how secure it was. Plus, my baby fit in the carrier snugly, supporting his head well.
24. Double Stroller
If your children are going to be less than three years apart in age, you’ll want to think about adding a double stroller to your second baby registry. Having a double stroller will ensure you have a place to let your older child rest when out and about.
When you think about a double stroller, you might think of side-by-side strollers and be discouraged by how huge they are. That’s why I prefer this double stroller that folds up like a single stroller!
This stroller not only has a front seat and a rear seat, but it also has a bench seat and a standing platform! It gives you four different ways to use the stroller with your two children.
25. Ride Along Stroller Step
If you already have a stroller to reuse in good condition but want the convenience of a double stroller, think about getting a stroller step!
A stroller step attaches to the back of the stroller, giving your older child a place to sit or stand, depending on your chosen stroller step.
You can get a stroller step basically at whatever price point you want, but what I like about this stroller step is that it’s relatively inexpensive and can attach to so many strollers. This brand even has a website to check if your current stroller is compatible!
Related Articles:
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- The Best Gifts for Labor and Delivery Nurses
- How To Get Things Done With a Baby
- The Best Big Sibling Gifts From the New Baby
- How To Pack a Diaper Bag for a Baby and Toddler
Items for Feeding:
26. Bottle Nipples and Pacifiers
One baby item that you can reuse if in good condition is baby bottles. But, if you choose to reuse your bottles, you’ll want to replace the nipples with brand-new ones.
Replacing the nipples will ensure that they are as clean as can be and that there aren’t any hidden cracks that would affect the flow.
Similarly, if you want to have your baby try using pacifiers, you’ll want to make sure any pacifier you use is brand-new.
27. Breastfeeding Pump Parts
If you plan on pumping breast milk, you’ll also want to replace the pump parts to your breast pump.
Replacing the pump parts will give you peace of mind that everything is clean and everything will be working correctly when the time comes.
Before adding pump parts to your baby registry, one thing to consider is if your insurance will cover the cost of new parts. Many insurances will reimburse you the cost of new breast pump supplies, so it’s worth the call to find out!
28. Milk Storage Bags
Another thing you’ll want to add to your registry if you plan on pumping is milk storage bags. If you have some leftovers from your first baby, that’s great! You’ll want to ensure you have plenty of bags to get you through the first couple of months.
29. Bibs
Because bibs are solely used to prevent your baby’s clothes from getting stained, they can get pretty gross. It can be nice to get some fresh, new ones for your new baby!
My son always preferred using these bibs over silicone feeding bibs. They are soft, have a waterproof lining, and are easy to put on and take off. Plus, they come in so many cute prints and patterns!
30. Burp Cloths
Like bibs, it’s nice to replace old, possibly stained burp cloths with brand-new ones.
I always liked using wide burp cloths rather than skinny ones. These ones are wonderful because they are oversized, have a fleece lining for absorbency, and are so soft!
Items for Play:
31. Teethers
Like bottle nipples and pacifiers, you’ll want to add some fresh, new teethers to your second baby registry. Grabbing some new teethers will ensure that they are in excellent condition with no cracks to breaks in them.
Cold teethers can bring a lot of relief to your baby. That’s why these teethers from Frida Baby are fantastic! They come with two textured teethers that you can pop in the fridge (not the freezer!) to cool down and a handle to put the teethers in so your baby’s hands stay warm.
32. Bouncy Chair
If you didn’t have a bouncy chair for your first baby, you’ll want one for your second! Bouncy chairs can be lifesavers when you need 15 minutes to entertain your older child, shower, or do a quick room cleanup.
My son used this bouncy chair, and he loved it! It has a removable toy bar with hanging toys, a vibrating setting to help calm, and cute melodies!
33. Non-Chewed Books
If your first child was like mine, then I’m sure you have your fair share of chewed-on board books. Choose some of your favorite, well-loved board books to add to your second baby registry so you can have some nice new replacements.
Our Sandra Boynton board books were our most chewed-on books, which is why I’m planning on replacing them with this lovely box set!
And there you have it; everything you should put on your second baby registry! I hope this checklist helped you get organized and put everything you need in one place. Finishing your baby registry will be a fun task to check off your seemingly never-ending to-do list.
Before you go, check out these related articles:
- What NOT To Put On Your Baby Registry
- Postpartum Essentials Every New Mom Needs!
- Newborn Essentials You’ll Regret Not Having
- How To Clean Baby Toys (the Right Way)
- The Best Tummy Time Activities By Age
What are some of the top items you had to put on your second baby registry? I would love to know in the comments below!
