A Growing Family Part 1: Baby #2 To-Do List

Getting ready for a second baby is dramatically different than getting ready for a first. You need fewer supplies, but there is a lot more preparation when there is an older sibling involved. The more prepared you are, the easier the transition will be for everyone once the new bundle of joy arrives. I decided to share my baby #2 preparation to-do list with you to kick off my new series about adding another child to your family! This is an overview of the series and what is to come.

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I ended up doing most of these tasks during my third trimester. If you can get an earlier start, that is better. I highly suggest trying to space all these tasks out, although there are some things that have to be done near the end.

Gather Supplies

There aren’t many things that can’t be reused from your first born. Things like highchairs, infant car seats, and baby carriers can be used again. The only things you need to buy are replacements for gear that is still in use or that you need to update. Early on in your pregnancy, you can make a list of what you’ll need and start gathering supplies. Here are a few of the things I had on my list.

• Double stroller: My toddler doesn’t like to be strapped in much, so I got one of the sit to stand strollers that will allow for many different configurations depending on what he is in the mood for and how long we will be out. This Graco stroller has 27 different configurations and has the sit to stand options as well. It is also compatible with the SnugRide 30 infant car seat which is what I already had.

• Extra camera for the monitor: It is much less expensive to buy a second camera than to buy another whole system.
• Any clothes for the season (if kids are born in different seasons): My second is due in September and my first was in February, I need a lot more winter clothes for a smaller baby this time around.
• New pacifiers: It’s not enough to sanitize old, used ones, I highly recommend replacing pacifiers. Teethers can be sanitized.

Prepare Older Sibling

Explain that a new baby is coming, you don’t want it to be a surprise! It’s important to make sure that your first born doesn’t feel replaced or ignored. The more you talk about it, the more they will understand what is happening.

Get a gift for your older kids that will be given by the new baby. You don’t want them to feel forgotten in the excitement. Giving them a gift from their new sibling (a gift that is good to have in the hospital and something they will love) is a great way to make them feel included and start the sibling bonding process. My son is really into Toy Story right now which is why I picked out a Woody doll and a Buzz Lightyear toy for him.

Plan a Family Weekend

Similar to a babymoon vacation before your first child is born, a family vacation is a great way to celebrate what you have a prepare for change. This is another way to make your firstborn feel special and have one last fun weekend as a family of three. Create a lasting memory by doing something different and special together. I decided to do this in my third trimester. It was a great way to break up the final trimester and provide some fun for my son during a time when I couldn’t do much with him anymore.

Prepare Pets

It is a big change for pets too, you want them to get used to the idea that another new baby is coming into the house. Pets can sense that something is happening and they might even remember the last time, but they still need some extra love and preparation during this time.

Clean your House

This probably won’t be high on your priority list for a while once baby #2 arrives. The more you can clean beforehand, the better. Cleaning is one task that is best done closer to your due date since if you do it too early, the house is bound to just get dirty again, especially if you have a dirty toddler like I do. If you can, try to organize your house as much as possible too. I recommend starting organizing as soon as you can.

One area that is often forgotten is the washing machine. You might remember to wash all of baby’s new clothes, but who says that your washing machine is clean? This is where Carbona comes in handy! This is a great cleaner that will remove any gunk from your washing machine and ensure that all of baby’s clothes are as clean as possible.

Set up the Nursery

Pick a theme, or just some colors and have fun! If you don’t have time to do this it’s fine, you can finish after the baby arrives. As long as you have a bassinet or cradle ready, the new baby will have somewhere to sleep. The more you can get done ahead of time the better though since it will be a lot harder to do anything once baby #2 arrives. You can start this as soon as you find out you are pregnant if you want! Don’t stress if you don’t have anything ready though. It will all come together in the end.

Pick a Baby Name

If you don’t know the sex, then pick two names, one for each. This is a very meaningful, important decision, but make sure to have fun with the process!

Pack your Hospital Bag

I’m a minimalist when it comes to what to bring to the hospital, taking advantage of what they offer you there. They will supply you with a robe. It may just be a thin cotton robe, but it was enough for me with my first and it’ll be enough with the second. The hospital also supplies mesh underwear, pads, a towel, and diapers. If you are picky about these things, then bring your own. However, if you are like me, you’ll use what they supply and these extra items will just sit in your bag.

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Meal Prep for Post-Baby!

The more stock you can get your freezer, the easier life will be once baby #2 arrives. Everyone still needs to eat, but cooking and getting to the grocery store can be more difficult than before. That’s why stocking the freezer with meals that can be either thrown into the crockpot or the oven is so important to take pressure off of everyone. I started stocking up in my third trimester as most of these meals will last 3-4 months in the freezer.

Here are a few of the recipes that I have prepped in my freezer:

Maple Pulled Pork

Easy Meatloaf

Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta Bake

Make a Birth Plan

I am not one for making a birth plan, so I’ll admit that I’ve skipped this one. I tend to just go with the flow. If you do make a birth plan,  have it packed in your hospital bag. Make sure to also discuss your plan with your doctor and partner.

Discuss Postpartum Plans with your Partner

Talking about everything now helps to avoid frustration and hurt feelings later. Nobody wants to feel like everything is up to them, so the more you talk about things ahead of time, the smoother the transition will be.

• How long will they be out of work?
• How long will you be out of work?
• How many visitors will be allowed every day?
  • Both in the hospital and once you are home
• How will you divide the many daily tasks?
• Who will be watching your older children while you are in the hospital?

There are a million things to do when getting ready for a new baby. I hope this list will help you focus on what you need to do to get ready for baby #2.

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