*Question for mommies with more than one LO?*

[carolina~mom2be]

What baby items do I need now that baby number two is on the way...what have you used and not used.... thanks in advance!
Lee Ann

[DiannaK]

crib .... totally non essential in my house!! We used a Pack N Play ...

Boppy .. loved it, and wanted a smaller one to be able to carry out and about with us when DD#2 was small

Gerber cloth diapers ... we used these for burp cloths

did not use a monitor, since DD was with us almost always

my Dutalier rocker and footstool ....

DH ... my ultimate support system!!

[Nan'sMom]

We have never (or rarely) used:
- Cribs
- Pack n plays
- Bibs (my children never seem to like them)
- Burp cloths (one too many things to juggle for me!)
- Bumbo chairs (seems unnatural)
- Walkers (seems dangerous)
- Pacifiers

We have used:
- Ring slings
- Mei tais
- Big mattress on the floor for co-sleeping
- Lots of wipes
- Diapers
- Soft shirts with big necks and no buttons or decorations
- Boppy pillow
- Nursing footstool (SO helpful in the early days of nursing)
- Portable water bottle to be next to me at all times, day and night
- Portable snacks for hunger during nursing
- Scale for weighing baby (really only if you're concerned about weight gain due to nursing issues or other factors)

[100%mom]

With my first I used the bouncer seat but not the swing, then with the second i used the swing some and not the bouncer. I'm thinking of getting rid of my swing and I'm pg with my third. My pack n play I have used the most of anything!!! Burb clothes are a must for spit up. I'm nursed both mine and haven't ever had a nursing pillow or boppy. I've just used a pillow from the couch. I never use a baby monitor since I'm always with the kids. My first used a pacifier for the first couple months and then I didn't even try with the second and I'm not planning on it with my third. I had a peanut shell sling with my second and used it some but my shoulder got so sore I couldn't wear it for long. My strollers have been life savers too.

[bvnms]

We have never (or rarely) used:
- Cribs
- Pack n plays
- Bibs (my children never seem to like them)
- Burp cloths (one too many things to juggle for me!)
- Bumbo chairs (seems unnatural)
- Walkers (seems dangerous)
- Pacifiers

We have used:
- Ring slings
- Mei tais
- Big mattress on the floor for co-sleeping
- Lots of wipes
- Diapers
- Soft shirts with big necks and no buttons or decorations
- Boppy pillow
- Nursing footstool (SO helpful in the early days of nursing)
- Portable water bottle to be next to me at all times, day and night
- Portable snacks for hunger during nursing
- Scale for weighing baby (really only if you're concerned about weight gain due to nursing issues or other factors)

What is a Bumbo Chair?

I loved my Boppy pillow and my sling.

[wombatclay]

A really really comfortable, completely hands free, totally secure baby carrier that will last! I had dozens of carriers with dd1 but when dd2 arrived I thanked the universe for my ergo! DD2 and I have basically lived in that thing for the past year!

Oh, and a bouncy/rocker chair for the bathroom... it was wonderful to be able to put dd2 down for a few moments while using the toilet and know that dd1 wasn't going to be right on top of her.

(bumbo chair... a shaped, firm-ish "foam" chair that holds a small child in a seated position, often allowing them to "sit" on their own before they are physically capable of sitting unsupported. Originally intended for children with special needs but marketed all over now)

[iowaorganic]

My duoglider was and still is a life saver. It makes getting out of the house possible. I also love love love my Ergo for around the house and farm and park and whatnot- but mostly we take the duoglider. Coloring books and crayons and suprise stickers and little toys and treats for your oldest to occupy them while you are taking care of the baby- 2 year olds are not really great help with changing diapers or bfing and we use a little distraction. Both times I had to have 2 boppys-- one for sitting on and one for the baby. Totally essential in my book. We also love the swing for when the oldest needs your undivided attention.

[Jenivere]

Never used and or owned:
crib
walkers
pack n play
any of those activity centers but I don't have a problem with them

Used some:
one of those open topped portable swings for short naps or distractions during baths, cooking etc with rechargeable batteries.
monitor for nap times once my babe was a bit older and would sleep without me. (this is my fourth kid, it is a necessity for me)
pacifier for car trips when we couldn't pull over right away or only needed a couple minutes to get where we were going.

Used frequently:
sling
mei tai once they are a bit older
tshirts for nursing
burp rags
water bottle or tall mug of water
good novel to read while nursing
a nice firm pillow for nursing

would like:
an infant scale
a rocker/recliner would be much more comfy for long sleepless nights then my glider
a nursing stool

[Julia R]

You probably have a better idea of which things are necessary for your parenting lifestyle now after #1, but keep in mind that all babies are different. #1 slept in the swing when colicky many nigts. #2 wouldn't co-sleep. After nursing, she needed to be put in her own secluded place in order to sleep. We ended up with a crib by the bed then, and hardly used the swing. #3 was worn virtually all day, but I did need a safe place to put her down when I needed to.

By the time #3 came along, I had a big aversion to unnecessary baby gear. Too many noisy things with blinking lights. But, I did find some things necessary with other childen in the house that weren't necessary with an only child. For instance, as others have said, you will find that you need a place to set baby down when you have to use the bathroom/shower/change near you where baby is safe from an older "helpful" child.

Check the expiration on your carseat, you may need to replace it if it wasn't bran new with #1. I think it's 6 years after manufacture date.

I found my double (jog) stroller especially helpful for longer trips with two children still having short walking legs, yet weighing more than I actually wanted to pack for miles and miles. Some people don't find a need for strollersf you wear your baby until it's too heavy to comfortably do so, your toddler may be 2.5 or 3 by the time your baby needs to ride. If you don't plan many all day or long mileage trips your toddler may not need to ride.

A diaper bag that keeps hands free, like a backpack, so you have one hand available for each child (especially walking through parking lots.)

Things #1 may have worn out or that you found yourself wanting more of, like diaper covers. Things that each child may need their own of, like for instance medicine spoons (because once you have one sick child...) or perhaps towells, eating utensils, etc... Most of that you buy as you need it later on.

Mostly what you find you need with more children are things that help keep life sane and simple. As you develop new routines for doing everything with two children, you'll figure out what helps. If you're trying to keep clutter limited, don't buy things until you realize that you would benefit them.

[Julia R]

Duplicate post

[kohlby]

There were several things we had for number one that we never used for number one, so I figured I wouldn't need them for number 2.

One essential was a sling/carrier. This was essential with number one since he had to be attached to me 24/7. It was essential for number two since I needed both hands free for spirited #1. Another essential was a backpack diaper bag. (Hands free!)

I do have a double jogger that I love. My kids don't do strollers at zoos and other outings. But they do the jogger for when I jog or walks to the park.

I didn't use a crib with my first. My second didn't sleep in a crib either. However, I found the crib worked great as a changing table. So, if you have one, I wouldn't toss it yet. It gives you a nice large area for changing baby. I had c-sections so it made it much easier. I did sell my pack 'n play in our last yard sale since I didn't use it with either child.

My first never used a high chair. My second did, though it was only for a few months.

[sdm1024]

To be honest....the only thing that I found necessary for a baby is clothing (onesies, blankets etc), diapers, washcloths, a car seat, moses basket, a sling/mei tai.

[hempmama]

Our equipment needs were mostly the same except for three things:

The second time we used bouncy/baby papasan/whatever chairs more. We needed a place to easily set the baby so we could care for #1, and somewhere to set him so she wasn't as likely to step on him.

I used the stroller more, both as containment for #1 while I nursed #2, and as an out-and-about place to set #2 when I chased #1.

#2 was a fussy sleeper for a while, so liked the swing. #1 hated it, so never was in it.

People always said, when I mentioned the bouncy chairs and stroller, that I should just sling him more(because, you know, oooooo bouncy seats bad. Strollers bad.), but don't buy into that, as a requirement(though, yes, of course, have a sling!). I'd feel guilty sometimes and try it more, but it killed my back! With two LO's, you do a lot more picking up and carrying during the course of a day than with just one. It's really, really easy to damage your back trying to be the perfect tribal woman to two kiddos.

[kayleesmom]

great thread