2nd time round...

[jjbuttons]

Hello all!

Im trying to get organised and wondered those 2nd time+ mummys what have you done different in terms of prepping for babys arrival- what things have you brought? stocked up on? hospital bag what would you pack now that you didnt back with the 1st? etc....

Many thanks!



xx

 

[LDC]

To be honest, I've done nothing different to prep - we have everything from dd and so don't really need to buy anything. In fact, I think a lot of it will be going through everything we had and throwing out the crap we didn't use last time!

First time I brought everything and anything that was recommended and half of it wasn't even used, like a nappy bin! I just put the nappies in my wheelie bin!

I think I'll just stock up more on nappies in different sizes as we brought a lot of newborn and dd was a big baby so needed the next size up quite quickly xx

 

[Nibblenic]

I think this time im buying less in advance. So last time I was very worried about going from two full time incomes onto one. So I bought lots of things for the first year thinking we would find it very financially difficult with the drop in income. This time I am a SAHM so our income wont change and we're pretty steady so I know I'll be able to afford a high chair for example when we need one.

Im more open to having things second hand this time, however I am still buying a good bit new.

As above not buying too much in the small sizes, even if they are born small they can jump percentiles in terms of size quickly.

Also not buying much in the way of products, shampoo moisturiser etc as my Lo has very sensitive skin and we ended up throwin a lot of stuff out.

Im in a much more wait and see what kind of personality they have this time round.

 

[tturner]

I am pretty do much everything as I did last time just buying a little less of everything. I am buying more nappies & wipes

I was scared / nervous about it all last time but this time myself and my husband are very excited knowing how rewarding and special having a little one is.

I have spent a little more on my pram this time around

Hospital bag will be the same, hoping to have a good birth as i did with my son xxx

 

[Itsychik]

I'm on my 3rd time around... and there are a few things I've learned since my 2nd as well.

First of all, the single best decision I made with my second (that I didn't do with my first) was to buy a wrap and start baby wearing. This saved my sanity on hundreds of occasions (gave me my hands free to help my DS with things, and DD was super fussy and clingy and I could carry her around while cooking/multitasking). A huge life saver.

With my first, all the doctors, midwives, OBGYN's, etc, swore he was going to be a BIG baby ("at LEAST 10 lbs") so I didn't buy any newborn clothing. Ultimately they were all wrong and he was a perfectly normal 8lbs 2oz and all of the 0 - 3 month sizes swamped him, and DH made a mad dash to the store when DS was a week old to buy some more clothes as the pants/trousers kept falling off of him (and he was in the newborn-sized diapers for the first 3 - 4 weeks). With my second I was better prepared for any size (and she was small, and stayed in the newborn sizes for more than a month).

With my second, I was way better prepared for breastfeeding. I had loads of issues with my first but with my second I had my pump cleaned/sterilized and ready for use (if needed) and brought it to the hospital with me as well.

I also went to the hospital prepared for a multi-day stay. I'd had an EMCS with my first and while I was hoping for a VBAC, I had enough clothing for me and DD in case we had to stay longer (we did).

With my first, I made several homemade meals in advance and froze them in preparation, but found it to be really unnecessary as I had plenty of time to cook once I was back on my feet. So with my second, I didn't bother with this precaution--but afterwards I wished I had! I found life with 2 to be REALLY hard in the beginning, and I really struggled and wished I had thought to prepare some meals in advance. With #3, I will be doing so this time again...

Some people adjust to a second baby with little-to-no problem, but I really struggled (and suffered with PND for 6 months) which I was not at all prepared for. I think if I had mentally prepared myself for the difficulty I might have been able to cope better. I definitely feel better prepared for #3...

And lastly, while I was on maternity leave with #2, I took my DS out of daycare so he could be home with me. In retrospect, I should have kept him there (he 'only' goes 3 days a week) as it would have been easier on the both of us. He's in school now though, but both he and DD will continue to go to our child minder this time around so I can have some quality time with the baby and catch up on sleep when the baby naps, etc. I was a walking zombie for months and months the last time around (as my DS wasn't napping by that time anymore).

 

[Lues]

Great thread. I love reading what lessons people have learned!

 

[jjbuttons]

thanks guys this is so helpful xxx

 

[MummyMana]

Last time I left everything til the last minute as I was so paranoid it would "jinx" my pregnancy, well I ended up having her early and still didn't have everything I needed!

This time I'm getting prepared I also bought a mini electric breast pump as my daughter could t breastfeed and the hospital only had one pump to use there, so I will take the electric pump with me just in case the same happens again!

 

[Tanikins]

Buy more season appropriate clothes. Were due sept and found out the gender in may. We bought loads of short rompers. By the time he fit them it was october and far too cold

 

[AngelofTroy]

I seem to have forgotten everything

One thing I will 100% do differently is get someone to check baby for tongue and lip ties before we even leave the hospital. My son appeared to latch fine but didn't gain weight and was utterly miserable for weeks on end. Health visitors offered no he'll as he wasn't losing weight and seemed to feed OK.. By time his tongue and lip ties were finally diagnosed he was already having formula 'top ups'. I am happy to combi feed again tbh but I knew that he was suffering and nobody believes me for so long. I want to know that my baby is getting what she needs.

 

[babybambi]

I've got an Amazon wish list for some things I want. I don't really need anything this time as we steady have everything we kept it in storage. I did sell the old travel system on eBay and we invested in a new one from mamas n papas. The only other 'big' things I want are a new cot mattress and a hospital grade breast pump, my little electric one last time was rubbish.

 

[karry1412]

With my first I was hoping to breast feed but couldn't so I was glad that I hadn't bought a pump in advance. I have DH instructed to order one ASAP if feeding works out this time! Same with the wrap. I hope to baby wear but I was destroyed after my last pregnancy & my son was born 10lbs 10oz! We were assured he'd be a max of 9lbs 7oz so we did have some clothes that didn't fit him.

My top tip would be to pack lots of snacks. I always seemed to end up hungry in the middle of the night or just between meals so was glad of the cereal bars I had packed.

 

[laila 44]

I'm a third timer so ready as ever! Third girl and have all the clothes! Only thing is the baby's room. We are working with our interior designer to put together a nice nursery etc. I don't baby wear, never had to.