When you first find out you’re pregnant, a myriad of emotions come rushing in and sometimes it feels like they never leave. Ask just about any parent out there and I think they’ll agree that raising children is a bit of a rollercoaster. It’s overwhelming in the best possible way and while nothing can quite prepare you for the challenges that surface when you first become a mother, there are some things that can make motherhood and caring for a baby a little easier… and just about every mother out there has a different list of “must have” items depending on what worked well for their little ones.
When I was pregnant with Chase, I remember feeling incredibly overwhelmed by all the stuff I supposedly needed for our little one. When I became a mother again the second time around last summer, I was honestly a little surprised by how much new stuff was out there that didn’t even exist when I had our first child three years earlier. All of the sudden I was hearing all about the DockATot, Bluetooth-compatible sound machines, the Owlet SmartSock and more and I found myself feeling overwhelmed all over again!
I continue to receive a lot of requests for my top baby gear recommendations and wanted to break down the new-to-me stuff I’ve loved using with Ryder over the past 9 months that wasn’t even on my radar when I was a first-time mom. I’m teaming up with buybuy BABY today to share a list of the top 10 baby products I didn’t use with baby #1 that I LOVE with baby #2!
This list includes a bunch of items — some big-ticket finds we love and some inexpensive and incredibly affordable finds — and I hope it helps you either create your own baby registry, find some great gift ideas for an expectant mama in your life or provides you with some ideas for things you might want to have on hand before your little one arrives.
If you’re all about one-stop shopping, you can find everything on this list (and tons more!) at buybuy BABY. To say buybuy BABY has everything you need for your little one is a serious understatement. buybuy BABY makes it incredibly easy to create a baby registry online or in store, plus you get 15% off all remaining items on your registry which is awesome! (For those registering in store, if you download the app, you can easily scan items in the store to add to your registry in a flash!) And if you’re placing orders for yourself or buying a gift for a friend or family member, all orders $39+ ship for free. Woop!
So now let’s get to it! Below you will find my list of the 10 ten baby products I’ve loved using with Ryder that I didn’t know about or didn’t use with Chase. And for any parents of multiples out there, I’d love to hear about something you used with your second (third or fourth or fifth…) child that you absolutely loved that you didn’t use with your first little one!
10 Baby Products I Didn’t Use with Baby #1 that I LOVE with Baby #2
Bless you guys and your fabulous recommendations! I first heard about ChooMee food pouch toppers after I shared an Instagram Story video of the mess Ryder made when he got a hold of a pouch of purple carrots and blueberries and flung it all over our kitchen. It was a mess and a half but afterward a few of you sent me messages about these toppers and I instantly placed an order. After twisting a ChooMee topper on top of a food pouch, the flow-control valve keeps the food in the pouch until your little one is ready to suck it out. Ryder is a very grabby baby so feeding him a pouch these days often results in him grabbing it and it spilling all over the place but with the ChooMee topper on the pouch, he can squeeze it all he wants and the food stays in! He has to suck on it to get the food out and I also love the fact that it gives him some independence and he can hold his own pouches and feed himself sometimes, too!
I owe my sister a huge thanks for introducing me to this magical wipes dispenser. I initially discovered OXO’s Perfect Pull Wipe Dispenser on her baby registry and when I saw the reviews, I ended up ordering one for myself as well since I had recently dropped our original wipes dispenser and the top broke off. Suffice it to say, I ended up ordering a second one because I wanted one of these amazing dispensers upstairs and downstairs because they make selecting a single wipe with only one hand a breeze. I’m tellin’ you, this wipe dispenser puts all other wipe dispensers to shame! You completely unpack your baby’s wipes and put them in the dispenser underneath a weighted plate that allows you to access one wipe at a time. The top pops open with the press of a finger, you can grab a wipe with one hand (a crucial new mom skill!) and this dispenser keeps the wipes moist and like-new.
I have a feeling that if you’re a mom and had a baby 3+ years ago and then had another child more recently you’re in the same boat as me with this one! Where was this magical pillow when Chase was born!? I swear the DockATot gained traction overnight and quickly became a “must have” baby item. The DockATot came on my radar after a few of my friends who had babies about a year before I had Ryder all raved about it. They all assured me it lived up to the hype and that its uses were never-ending from tummy time to lounging and — my favorite — just a soft, secure place to put a newborn baby down that was easy to move from room to room! I carted the DockATot all over our house for the first few months of Ryder’s life! I will never forget my friend Leah telling me, “You can never have enough places to put your baby down” when I was pregnant with Chase and that absolutely rang true for me!
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Double Stroller
Obviously I didn’t use a double stroller when I only had one baby but I couldn’t leave our double strollers off this list because they’re so crucial to our ability to get around and do pretty much anything with two kids in the mix. We have two double strollers which might seem ridiculous until you have kids and realize different strollers are good for different things and having the right stroller for whatever activity you’re looking to do with your little ones makes life a lot easier! Here’s a brief rundown of the two double strollers we have and love:
Chicco Bravo for 2: We use this stroller primarily for running around town and travel. It’s incredibly easy to collapse (seriously just use your thumb on the lever and BAM!) and it also allows the bigger kid to easily hop on and off and switch back and forth from a pop-down seat to a standing platform. Chase LOVES this stroller since it gives him a little more freedom and he thinks standing up on the platform is awesome. It’s not the most agile stroller but it’s great for travel since it’s not wide like the side-by-side double strollers and also allows for a car seat to click in or for baby to be strapped in, making it very versatile.
BOB Revolution PRO Dualie: We are 100 percent obsessed with our double BOB and this stroller glides like a dream. What the Chicco Bravo for 2 lacks in maneuverability the double BOB makes up for in spades. Chase and Ryder sit side-by-side in this stroller so it’s quite wide but perfect for walks around the neighborhood, to the park, etc. It’s great for taking off road if you need to and is both easy to push and easy to turn.
Ryder spent a few days in the NICU with respiratory issues after his birth and I knew I would be a a nervous wreck when we brought him home and he was no longer hooked up to all of the monitors at the hospital. I ended up ordering our Owlet from the hospital and was so, so glad to have it to slip on Ryder’s foot during our first night home. The Owlet Smart Sock tracks your baby’s heart rate and oxygen levels and sends real-time insights to your phone but also includes a base station that glows softly to let you know everything is okay. It’s definitely a “big ticket” baby item but for me it’s been worth its weight in gold for the peace of mind I get when I see the soft green glow from the monitor, telling me all of Ryder’s readings are normal. I am still using our Owlet on Ryder to this day and will likely continue to use it on him until he outgrows it!
I figured Ryder would easily transition out of the Merlin Magic Sleepsuit the same way Chase did — by swaddling his chest and leaving his arms free — but that was a big-time fail. I was at a loss as to how to successfully drop the sleepsuit for Ryder until I heard about the Nested Bean Zen Sleep Sack. It’s a standard super-soft sleep sack but has a lightly weighted area on the chest of the sleep sack that’s supposed to mimic the sensation of your palm on your baby’s chest. When I zipped Ryder into it, I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best and was honestly shocked that after minimal fussing, he went right to sleep! I instantly ordered another one!
I now only use the sleep sack for nighttime sleep and was surprised how easily Ryder adjusted to sleeping without it for naps. It’s a great transition sleep sack if you’re looking for a way to move baby out of the Merlin Magic Sleepsuit but know they aren’t quite ready to sleep without the help of something just yet!
These car seat clips cracked me up when I first saw them on a friend’s son’s car seat. I thought they were little hands telling strangers, “STOP! Don’t touch my baby!” The clips are actually a genius little invention and allow you to hook the straps of your child’s car seat up and out of the way thanks to the use of a powerful magnet so you’re not digging under their bodies and trying to find twisted straps as you’re loading your kiddo into their car seat. Ryder is a pretty happy little guy but he strongly dislikes getting loaded into his car seat so anything that helps make the process a little more seamless is a big-time win in my book!
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Hatch Baby Rest Sound Machine (Sound Machine, Night Light + Okay to Wake Alarm in One!)
I owe my friend Lauren a million thanks for recommending this light to me. Let me break this light down for you: It’s a sound machine, night light and okay-to-wake alarm all in one and — get this — you can control the Hatch Baby Rest from your phone. Using the app, you can turn it on and off, change the volume and brightness remotely, alter the “okay to wake” time and set programs every day for a certain sleep schedule. Is that not amazing!?
I initially bought our Hatch Baby Rest for Chase’s room when he began waking up ridiculously early a few days in a row and I needed a solution but he thankfully went back to his normal ways before the light arrived so I’ve been using it in Ryder’s room in the meantime. It’s not only attractive and sleek but Ryder seems to love it. I think this is such a genius invention because it serves so many different purposes and it’s one of those items I’d tell every new mom to put on their baby registry since it will get years of use.
I had no idea plates and bowls that suction to your little one’s high chair or a counter top/table existed until I saw a mom I follow on Instagram using them with her baby. I’m pretty sure this is a work of genius! I’d venture to say just about every parent out there has experienced their little ones grabbing anything and everything off their high chair try and chucking it across the room and as Ryder gets older and tries more and more new foods (and more and more of our meals), I’ve found myself using our suction bowls and plates all the time. They help keep food contained (especially food that isn’t as pincher-grasp friendly) and they’re great! I see these only becoming all the more handy in the coming months! I also love the way you can easily remove the suction from the bottom making them great for toddlers and big kids as well.
We officially have a good eater on our hands with Ryder and our hungry little man can suck down a baby food pouch in a hot second. I still buy my fair share of pouches because you cannot beat the convenience but I’ve also purchased Baby Brezza reusable pouches to use this time around and have been pleasantly surprised by how well they work! They’re easy to fill thanks to the wide-mouth funnel included in the box and not a huge pain to clean since you fill them up and clean them out by unzipping a leak-proof zipper on the side of the pouch. My friend Danielle recommended these to me and said her little one loves sucking smoothies out of these pouches and I love that idea, too!
Question of the Day
For the parents of multiple kiddos, what are some things you didn’t know about with your first child that you absolutely loved using with your next child(ren)?
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The car seat clips should come off. You are not supposed to add anything to a car seat as it was not crash tested that way and could impact how it protects your child in an accident.
Agreed! As a NICU nurse I was going to say the same thing. Nothing extra in the car seat. How much longer does it really take to grab the straps? Also, the Dock a Tot is not safe! I cannot believe they are still on the market. Only put your baby to sleep on their backs with nothing else. These dock a tots are plush and essentially have bumpers. Convenience should not come before safety. I say these things because I care and have seen what can happen.
Just wanted to point this out, but like bouncers I think dockatots are OK as infant loungers. They are not approved for safe sleep. So the way Julie described using her dock a tot, as a portable place to put down the baby, sounds like the safe, intended use.
Thank you for sharing this, Holly. I absolutely appreciate your insight and thank you for the work you do with babies every day.
Agreed! i just wrote the same thing. Dock-a-Tots will go the way of the rock-n-play, but only after enough babies have died in them. So terrible to even say, but it is true. 30 babies had to die before Fisher Price recalled the rock-n-play. Just awful.
I’m glad someone already noted this but yes definitely no additions to the car seat are allowed period. It’s just not safe.
Thank you for this list! We are expecting baby #2 in June and I can’t believe how many new items are on the market. You are probably past this stage with Ryder but I’d love to hear if anyone has recommendations for a great bassinet since my beloved rock and play has been recalled!
We loved our Chicco Lullago bassinet! It was perfect for the first few months when Ryder slept in our room!
We used the bassinet insert for the guava pack and play and loved it!
Wahoo!! I am currently in the overwhelming process of creating my registry, and added a few of these to my list.
Thank youuuu!
Yay! So glad you found it helpful! Happy to answer any questions you might have as you create your registry — I know it is very overwhelming!!
I just got the Oxo wipes dispenser for baby #2 after reading so many great reviews, but it’s too snug in our diaper caddie to open! Which diaper caddie/organizer did you use with yours?
In Ryder’s room I actually just use a craft cart I bought from Michael’s (got the idea from Pinterest) and it works great & the wipes dispenser fits in it easily! For our downstairs changing station, I use a basket diaper caddy I got as a gift when I was pregnant with Chase (I’m pretty sure the brand is Sarabear) and it also fits just fine!
In case others do not know this, Buy Buy Baby will take Bed, Bath and Beyond coupons. Great way to save since Bed Bath and Beyond always sends coupons.
Hi Julie,
Long time reader here. Just a heads-up – the Dock-a-Tot is an extremely dangerous sleeping place. It is essentially a small bassinet surrounded by pillows. Back in the 90s, with the Back-to-Sleep initiative, recommendations were put into place to have babies sleep on their backs with no pillows, stuffed animals, blankets near them. 3700 babies still die from SIDS every year, and we know that over 20% of them die from rolling over in unsafe sleeping conditions. While it may have its uses – as a booster for tummy time, etc – I implore you and your readers to let let your babies sleep in them. Even turning the head to the side, too close to the cushioned edges, could be a tragedy.
The Rock-n-Play was just recalled for similar reasons – I don’t doubt that the Dock-a-Tot is close behind. \
Thank you for the thorough post, as always.
***not let your babies sleep in them – TYPO!
Thank you for this list! I am currently 20 weeks pregnant with my first little one and I plan on registering soon, so some of these items will definitely by on the list.
Hope you are feeling great!!! Best wishes for a healthy pregnancy and delivery. So glad you found this list helpful!
Julie, we used and LOVED the Dock A Tot with baby #2 as well (and the Rock n Play again!), and I just wanted to tell you to not feel guilty for including it in this list! I think there are certainly dangers with everything these days, and it’s up to the parent to make sure they are using it as intended/designed for and in a safe manner. And we all know you are an excellent mother, and would never willingly put Ryder in danger 🙂 Some other things that we have used and loved with baby #2 was the Ollie swaddle, the Solly baby wrap, salt lamp night light, Copper Pearl swaddle blankets, and our new double stroller too!
Even using these products in their “designed manner,” i.e. using the Rock-n-Play or Dock-a-Tot for sleep is very, very dangerous. I speak from personal experience. Manufacturing and marketing is designed to make you think that not only do you need their products, but that their products are safe so you will purchase them. Look at this entire sponsored blog post. All about the advertising. Just because it’s trendy, spendy or looks cute, doesn’t make it a must-have, or more importantly, safe.
Two strollers?! My 4 year old definitely wants nothing to do with a stroller anymore. Her independence is based on walking/running/riding her bike beside us. Also for other readers, there are much cheaper suction bowls/plates for kids. Do a search on Amazon and you’ll see. And finally, wipes dispensers are not necessary at all. The openings in the packs- even the cheapo ones- allow each wipe to come out just fine. I just think it’s another way to spend more money that you do not need to. And I’d rather save up for my kids’ futures.
Just my two cents for anyone expecting their first. Please don’t feel you need all of these things- a crib, some sort of chair or swing (lot’s of fairly priced options), clothes, diapers, wipes, vaseline or diaper cream- really basic stuff is all you need.
I think she is just sharing things she personally loved and enjoyed using. There will always be cheaper options for everything. No need to shame another mother for including pricier things on her must-have list. I would also certainly not infer that by using these “nicer” items she’s not saving for her kids’ futures. Julie is a very intelligent woman. These types of comments further create mommy wars.
Susan, I agree with Sarah. I only have one child, and I also have 2 strollers, for exactly the reasons Julie listed. Are you a runner? If you are a runner or even exercise outdoors at all with a child, a running stroller is most necessary (alone or in addition to a convenience stroller, since they can be huge and heavy).
I wasted money on a cheap suction bowl and would much prefer to have read this first and only bought ones that work.
I can’t tell you how many times I have been annoyed by bunching wipes in BOTH very expensive and very cheap packages. It would be amazing to have the task of diaper changing made simpler and wasting less, since multiple wipes coming out together is wasteful. I encourage you to live and let live. She was not being pushy, just giving suggestions based on her preferences. Let’s be supportive.
Wow… and that’s why marketing works. I was not mommy shaming. I simply wanted to call out to new moms things that are not necessary. That makes it a lot less overwhelming- more real information like what helped me out when I was expecting #1. And awesome if Julie (or you) has money for all of the things and still saves. Some of us choose not to live that way no matter what we have. I stand by my opinion that diaper wipes dispensers are frivolous.
For the record, I have 2 kids, and have 2 affordable strollers. One fits the car seat for when they are super little and another $20 umbrella stroller for trips. But my running time is “me time”- I work full time outside the home and either run before work or at lunch time, while my kids are with others. I used a jogging stroller maybe 2 times and promptly sold it- but then again I bought an affordable one to begin with. It’s definitely not for me. But that’s not why Julie mentioned using a jogging stroller honestly. On the weekend, my 4 year old will ride her bike beside me while I run. When she gets tired she goes home to dad and I keep going. You could not pay her to ride in a stroller. But all kids are different I know.
I totally agree with you Susan!
Wipes dispensers are useless and frivolous. Save your money!
The haakaa silicon pump was awesome! If I was nursing baby on one side, I would suction it to the other side to collect the letdown milk. I didn’t “pump” my whole maternity leave, but still had enough milk for the first few days of daycare, nights out, etc.
Agree! Love the Haakaa, and so wish I had it with baby #1.
I was surprised Hakka didn’t make the list too! Julie can the ChooMee pouch covers work with any pouch brand?
I have them and hey they can. They are the best!!!
Saaame! Haaka has been a LIFE SAVER this time around. So bummed I didn’t have it with my first.
Julie– first of all, let me just say what an amazing mother you are. Some of these comments on here are unreal. I just wanted to apologize that you have to read some of these. I appreciate you taking the time to tell us what worked for YOU, and things that YOU have liked. I have 2 kiddos (ages 4 and 2) and we have 3 strollers LOL To some that may seem like a lot, but it works for us. Whatever happened to just supporting one another? And if people actually READ what you wrote, then maybe some of these comments could have been left out. Ugh it just makes me sad and mad to read moms bashing other moms. Parenting is hard enough without having additional guilt placed on you by society. So Julie, here’s to you and your awesome momm-ing, and thank you for a great post 🙂
Just ordered some of those pouch toppers! My baby is a month younger than Ryder (exactly I think? July 18!) and we had a similar explosion the first time I handed him a pouch. I didn’t know these existed but will definitely come in handy! Thanks for the recommendation! 🙂
Ryder is SO grabby right now & they save us! I put them on top of practically every pouch these days! Hope you love them as much as we do!
It’s funny how different things can be between two kids (and moms!). I totally agree that some things that seemed so necessary aren’t, but some things I have now I wonder how I lived without. My first loved the Dock a Tot, while baby #2 will have nothing to do with it. And, I pumped so much with baby 1, but now that I have the Haakaa, I don’t need an electric pump at all.
I have the double BOB and can’t wait to use it when my kiddo gets bigger (he is only 2 months now), so I’m glad to hear you love it as it was obviously a huge investment. I am debating getting another double stroller that is less wide (I.e., more practical for shopping, etc), so I was wondering- can you use that Chicco without the car seat? In other words, does it have a seat for baby and a seat for toddler?
Also, is there anything worse than trying to dig out car seat straps from beneath a kicking, squirming toddler?!
I’ve been looking at that wipe dispenser and debating on whether I should get it or not! I guess I’m just going to do it! lol. I also had no clue the car seat clips were a thing! Genius!
I wanted to make you aware of the complaints that were filed with the CSPC about the BOB Revolution strollers. I linked a Washington Post article and CSPC press release; in case this wasn’t something you had heard about.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/after-hundreds-of-crashes-this-britax-jogging-stroller-faced-recall-then-trump-appointees-stepped-in/2019/04/02/faf23c20-4c06-11e9-b79a-961983b7e0cd_story.html?utm_term=.d95cb0c37682
https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2018/cpsc-sues-britax-over-hazardous-jogging-strollers-action-prompted-by-ongoing-harm-to
Thank you so much for sharing!!!
Always love your posts about baby stuff!!!
Find them very helpful!
Please keep sharing!
♡
HI Julie,
I really hope you let your readers know that Dock a Tots are NOT safe for sleep. babies should be placed on their back, alone, and in a crib, bassinet or pack and play. Following the ABC’s of safe sleep help reduced the risk of SIDS by over 99%.
Also, nested bean sleep sacks are also not safe as they put added weight on a babies chest and can be dangerous. Not recommended by AAP.
The Owlet is also NOT recommended by the AAP as it causes burns to the feet. It does not reduce the risk of SIDS and has a lot of false alarms.
I wish you were more upfront with your readers about safety in these posts. Many young mom don’t know what is actaully safe and what is not. There is no parent discretion when it comes to safe sleep.
Also want to add to not place anything into a car seat that didn’t come with the car seat. Those little hand clips have not been crash safety tested and can cause more harm than good. Is it honestly really that hard to take 10 seconds and find the straps? I am not trying to be rude. Just want to make sure you are keeping your babies as safe as can be. Marketing can be very misleading.
Thank you for this! I am TERRIFIED to transition our almost 6 month old out of the Merlin’s sleep suit, so the Nested Bean is a great recommendation. I am going back and forth between that or the Zippity Zip sleep sack. Also reading up on your sleep training experiences with both babies and they are super helpful! Our little girl has just started to like the Wubbanub so we will be putting a million of them in her crib.
Zippity Zip sleep sacks are amazing! Both my girls did so well with them!
As a long time reader, these comments are ridiculous. You are an incredible mom and I AGREE with everything you posted!
I have three strollers for two kids. The wipe dispenser is not needed but damn it is nice to have with those one handed explosion diapers. The dock a tot is bomb and it literally saved me from a mental breakdown because it was the ONLY thing my newborn would sleep in.
I like how a month ago everyone was like “OMG you must have a rock and play!” and now it’s “OMG How dare you the baby gear of the devil himself in your house!”
The war on women BY women is sad. Yes, you are an expert on raising your own children. But you are NOT an expert on mine.
Hey Julie,
What where did you have Ryder sleeping during the night? We’re expecting baby #2 and wondering where I should have him sleep this time around. Contemplating a Halo or Dock a Tot but I’m not sure.
We had him sleep in our Chicco Lullago Bassinet! I highly recommend it! The height was great (not too low) and it was also incredibly easy to pack up and assemble if you want to travel with it!
Thank you so so so much! Is this what he slept best in when you first brought him home? And was it easy to get him in and out for night time nursing? Sorry for so many questions. Just trying to be more prepared this go around! Thank you Julie!
It is! He was in the bassinet from his newborn days until we transferred him to his crib around 5-6 months! It was easy to get him in and out of but it doesn’t swivel like some of the pricier bassinets do that make it REALLY easy but it worked well for us!!
Buying those pouch things now! We love our owlet so much… she’s still using it at 14 months!
Can you share the baby video monitor that you use? I haven’t had to buy one in 7 years and I’m torn on which to get now!
We have the Infant Optics monitor and it’s great! It can accommodate up to 4 cameras & is really easy to use.