Top Ten Newborn Essentials: Second Baby Edition

When I was pregnant with my first baby, Amelia, in 2018, I bought All. The. Things. I actually used most of them. Amelia was a difficult baby, cried a lot, needed me (and my boobs) all the time. This time around has been easier.  Adeline has been a generally happy, calm baby (who still needs me and my boobs a lot).  She even, dare I say it, sleeps through the night since three weeks old. So I figured I’d list my favorite baby items that I’ve used for two (very different) babies now. 

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Disclaimer: I am not a pediatrician, child/baby safety expert, nor do I claim to have any knowledge of baby raising, feeding, sleeping, development other than your average parent. Please make sure you discuss safe sleep, feeding, and development with a qualified professional (might I recommend your pediatrician).

#1: Huggies Little Snugglers Diapers

These diapers have the wetness indicator strip and BOTH of my girls would scream their cute little faces off if they were even slightly wet. We tried other brands of diapers with cute flowers and various prints on them, but no wetness indicator, and I never could figure out if a very slightly damp diaper was the reason for my screaming babies.  I tossed the pretty printed diapers, grabbed me a big box of these, and never looked back.  Amelia will be two in September and is still in the Huggies Little Movers, baby Adeline started in the newborn diapers straight away, and that “blue line” has saved me from a crying baby many times over the last nearly two years of parenting babies.

#2: Dock A Tot

Please understand I know Dock A Tot is not safe-sleep recommended by the AAP and babies should sleep alone, on their backs, without blankets or pillows or any other item in their cribs. Talk to your pediatrician about what is best for YOU and YOUR BABY.

That said, I love our Dock A Tot. It slightly elevates their head, like less than an inch, and makes them feel so cozy.  Both of my babies instantly slept better when I put them in it.  And it was easy to phase out later on when I was worried about them rolling. I won’t go on and on about the Dock A Tot because again, safe sleep is important and you should do your own research and talk to your pediatrician. But I LOVE ours.

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#3: Arm’s Reach Bedside Co-Sleeper

Having the babies right next to me while safely in their own sleep space was invaluable. Not having to get out of bed to feed them and change them, but instead just reaching over and pulling them into bed with me allowed me hours of extra sleep per night in those early days. Amelia slept in it until she was four months old (and then we started waking her up accidentally so she moved into her room in a crib), and Adeline still happily sleeps in hers. 

#4: Zip-up style sleep-and-play pajamas

I don’t often recommend any clothing items to anyone having a baby because you will get tons of them as gifts. Not only do you want zipper pajamas (because who can do 12 snaps at 3 in the morning), but you want the kind that ingeniously zips UP from the feet for diaper changes, so you don’t have to completely unzip your baby and risk waking them fully at night.  I like the Cloud Island brand 3-packs from Target because these pajamas are so thin and lightweight that my hot-blooded babies never got sweaty, even when swaddled and they have fold-over sleeves to keep sharp baby claws from scratching their soft baby faces. 

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#5: Spectra breast pump

I had a Medela Pump In Style for my first baby and never loved it.  Never got much milk.  Returned to work at four months postpartum and my milk supply slowly tanked until I stopped breastfeeding between nine and ten months.  I decided to give the Spectra a whirl and immediately noticed a more comfortable fit, better suction without pain, and excellent output.  I haven’t returned to work yet but I can pump a full 4-8 ounces in the morning after baby has fed twice already. My freezer stash is in the 100s of ounces! I used the S2, and my only regret is I wish I had gotten the S1 so I don’t need to be plugged in to an outlet to pump.

For more breastfeeding/pumping tips and products, check out my post on the subject here.

#6: Love To Dream Swaddle Up

In all honesty, Adeline (our current newborn) actually hates this thing. So I’ll start by saying I guess it’s not for every baby, and invest in one of each of a few types of swaddles/sleep sacks for your new baby.  The reason it’s on here is Amelia. That child refused to be swaddled as a newborn. She freaked out! The first night we put her in her “squirrel suit” as we called this sleep sack, her sleep changed forever. We used some variety of this until she was probably 6-7 months old, and then switched to a traditional arms out sleep sack such as Halo.

#7: Marpac DOHM sound machine

Put one in your room if your newborn rooms with you. Put one in the nursery when they move in there.  Keep it with them until they’re 25. Get one for travel. Put the volume on high. Trust me.

#8: Itzy Ritzy Boss Backpack diaper bag

The price tag on this item was intimidating. I waited for a sale. But I LOVE this diaper bag.  It’s so nice-looking and has TONS of space inside with big pockets. I can fit diapers for both babies, outfit changes for both babies, a swaddle blanket, my Baby K’Tan wrap, bottles, snacks, toys… Love it!

#9: Pack N’ Play

We used ours as a downstairs crib and changing table when the babies were brand new, and as a playpen when Amelia was in that awkward pre-toddler, danger-to-herself, needs-to-be-contained, phase.  We traveled with it — they’ve slept in hotels, my mom’s house, sister’s house, etc. all pretty well in this thing. 

#10: Angelcare Baby Bath

I liked this because I used it both in the bathtub and kitchen sink comfortably and was able to use for brand new tiny newborns until Amelia could sit safely in the tub. The water flows through the little holes, it dries easily so no mold, and is super easy to scrub every once in a while to keep nice and clean. I was originally worried it might not be comfortable, but neither of my babies ever complained!

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Bonus information: My thoughts on the Owlet monitor

I received an Owlet monitor as a gift when I was pregnant with Amelia after putting it on my registry.  I was a very nervous first-time momma and I am so thankful for the piece of mind this one little item provided me during her first year. Amelia wore it the first night we were home from the hospital, and every night after until she was 13 months old. We had three “false alarms” during that time that sent me flying to her side and probably scaring the baby poop out of her, but knowing that something would alert me if her oxygen or heart rate dropped below an acceptable level while I slept is probably half the reason I got ANY sleep during her earlier months.  I haven’t started using it yet with Adeline.  Maybe I’m more confident, or maybe it’s because Adeline is the noisiest sleeper so I always hear her all night long anyway.  I will probably use it when she moves into her own room, or when she starts rolling.  I didn’t list this as a “must have” though, for a few reasons.  Could we have survived without it? Absolutely. Is it super expensive? Yup. Is it recommended by the AAP? Nope.  There are concerns for false alarms, parent anxiety, false sense of security, and even a few reports of baby foot injuries is my understanding.  The take home: Please do your own research and discuss with your pediatrician regarding your baby and your family’s specific needs.

I hope this information helps someone!  Come back with an eye out for baby must-haves, the one-year-old edition at a later date!

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