A second child can mean the influx of more stuff. In the age of minimalism and decluttering, it can seem counter productive to have a list of things to add to your home, but I think that having an idea of useful items that will get used regularly is great. I’m not going to delve into diapers or clothing or how going from one to two children actually made the laundry pile grow 8-fold (seriously, how?!?). Here are some of my current newborn favorites.
Booties
Have you seen those fleece booties for babies? There are several high-end brands that sell them. I found ours on a discount website and they’re an unknown brand. But they totally work! No more missing socks, and we have warm feet for the winter! I will absolutely be buying the next size when my newborn son outgrows his current pair.
Carriers
Using a carrier is a newer experience for me. I didn’t use them much with my first, but having two kids, I knew I’d need a hands-free option around the house or when I’m out and about. (It’s so irritating that car seats and shopping carts don’t fit well or safely together!)
I was able to test drive a ring sling. It worked well for me, and I found a super cute one on Etsy. Again, there are tons of brands to choose from, but I’m a sucker for small businesses and good deals. I also did some Black Friday shopping for a buckle carrier for better back support and workouts. It’s also convertible to be big enough for my husband and can be used til the kids are 30-40 lbs. As if I could still carry that weight!
High End Items
Two more luxury-based items that I love are my Snuggle Me Organic baby lounger and my Double BOB stroller. I also got Black Friday deals on them, but they are wonderful items worth their prices. My son loves the coziness of the Snuggle Me (made by a Minnesota company!). My BOB stroller was important to me as a runner and regular workout attender. It’s easy to move and has great space for the two kids. Could I live without these items? Yes. But I’m grateful I have them, and I use them all the time.
Bibs!
My fav homemade or inexpensive store-bought items are bandana bibs and terry cloth burp rags. If you have a kid who is super spitty, like mine, these are critical! My mom and I both made some (basic sewing machine skills needed) and I use them everyday. There’s tons of websites that you can buy from too. They make perfect gifts for baby showers too!
