second time mom, needing advice from third time mamas!

Jkp7749 · May 2016

My daughter just turned 10 months old, so she'll be 18 months when baby #2 arrives. I'm wondering what big items i'll need to purchase...
As far as strollers go- I hated lugging around the infant car seat after a C-section, so this time around I'd like the bassinet kind of stroller that can hold an infant without needing to attach the car seat. Will it need to be a double though since my daughter will still be young? A double stroller seems like it'd be a pain for just everyday shopping and outings..

should I just upgrade my daughters car seat to a convertible one and let the knew baby have my daughters old seat?

My daughter co-slept, but I am trying to avoid that this time so I can get better sleep sooner- has anyone used the arms reach cosleeper? I nursed and was able to nurse at night without having to get up, so I'm wanting something with easy access for nursing. We tried the rock'n'play but it hurt so much to bend over at first to get her, that that is how she ended up cosleeping.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Sunflower9939 · May 2016

I got a double stroller (my daughter was 21 months when my son was born), but TBH I don't use it a bunch since if you go to the store there are carts. Usually just use it for walks or if we go to the zoo, so lugging it is not really an issue. I got the sit and stand one.

My my kids move to convertible seats fast because they're very tall so my daughter was in a convertible before a year. I would switch your daughter to the convertible and let the baby have the infant seat.

I I used a pack and play next to the bed for the first few months . It has an option to have a higher level so you don't have to bend down. Plus you can use it for travel.

Jkp7749 · May 2016

this might be a dumb question... but how do you put your newborn in the cart? and where does the older one go? with my daughter I put her infant seat in the cart when she was super little, but i'm trying to avoid lugging that around this time

Sunflower9939 · May 2016

I baby wear the infant

Trmama2016 · May 2016

I love my double stroller and get tons of use - but I also run a lot and we like to go for walks, the zoo, etc. I still use my single a lot too because my older kiddo is 4 and likes to walk.

As for the car seat, at about a year is typically when your baby will outgrow her infant seat so you will likely need to switch her to a convertible anyways.

Jkp7749 · May 2016

@Sunflower9939I think preggo brain has already hit! When I had my daughter, it never occurred to me to wear her, until she was quite a bit older and a friend lent me a moby wrap. What do you use to wear your infant? I've had to return the moby and can either buy another or something else if there is something that works better

Sunflower9939 · May 2016

I like the ergo! I prefer structured carriers. I've heard good things about the Tula also (another structured carrier).

pshaortao · May 2016

Going to be a STM here, but I kept the bucket seat from DD since it doesn't expire for a few more years so the new baby will use it. We switched to a convertible when she was around 8 months since she's on the high end of her growth and seemed much more comfortable after the switch. It's recommended to switch to a convertible by the age of one anyways.

katesmama0706 · May 2016

So I'm a STM but my kids will be 18 months apart as well, and as of now I'm planning on sticking with the single stroller and baby wearing the new baby, that's what I did with DD.
I hate infant seats because I felt like they get in the way more than they help. I wasn't comfortable putting one in the cart or bringing it into the house to let her keep sleeping after all of those babies suffocating in them or falling out of the cart in the seat right around the time I got pregnant so we went straight to a convertible seat and plan to do the same this time around.
We had the baby in the crib right off the bat too, which we plan on doing again because it helped us all sleep better which means we have to purchase a second crib, which ugh.
Of course every baby is different so this baby could hate baby wearing, and sleep like crap. *shrug*

stumptownmama · May 2016

I only have one kid now but I loved wearing her (and still do). It makes things so much easier and I plan to wear baby #2 even more. I started with a stretchy boba wrap and then used an ergo around 4+ months. She's 18 months now and I have converted to a lillebaby carrier. It's so comfy and you can use it once baby hits 8 lbs with no insert needed. This time around I'll be getting a ring sling and probably a few other types.

robin.masciave · May 2016

I don't know if you have heard of Lillebaby, but their carriers are amazing. I have the Airflow complete, so mine is like a padded mesh to make it cooler for baby, I live in the desert in so cal so not all carriers work but there are other designs. But Lillebaby completes are so amazing for the fact you can wear them 7lbg to 45lbs. (they have toddler ones up to 60lbs), no newborn insert needed. There are 2 positions for newborn, and 4 more positions as the child gets older. The lumbar support is the best I've experienced. There's neck support and hood, nice for naps or on the go feedings. You could actually tandem wear, older LO on your back and new Lo on the front. Sorry for rambling on.

stumptownmama · May 2016

Yep what @robin.masciave said. I have the embossed and it is lovely. So soft and cooler for me and my daughter than my ergo.

ToBeMiller1921 · May 2016

The thing about infant car seats they're a huge help when the baby is starting to crawl and stuff. When you have 2, especially close in age, you have to be able to keep ahold of the older one and make sure the little one isn't crawling away. I love the infant seat because they're strapped in. I'm all about containing children.

Josie3=5 · May 2016

Stroller - many moms use a double stroller or a 'sit and stand' stroller. The age spread was greater between my two kids and my daughter never liked the stroller so we just went with the infant carrier and DD walking. When I did need to use the stroller because we were walking long distances, DS was in the infant carrier, DD was in the stroller and it worked like a charm.

Infant carriers - I've had a moby, ergo, Beco and several versions of the Baby Bjorns. My alltime favorite is the Ergo with the infant insert because it really truly allows you to be hand free without having to worry about the infant's neck support. I like the Moby for the newborn days (1-2 months) but it's always a PITA to put on. If I could only buy one carrier, I'd go with the Ergo and the infant insert (especially during the winter - it keeps them warm - during the summer, it's more challenging).

carseats - switch your eldest to a rearfacing convertible carseat (we have the Britax Marathon), which'll free up the infant carseat for the baby.

For sleep, I had both my babies sleeping in the same room as I did (right next to my bed for ease of breastfeeding) in the Fisher Price Rock n Play (https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Newborn-Sleeper-Stone-Fashion/dp/B00NEO5UTU/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1463141628&sr=1-1&keywords=rock+n+play). That things is thebomb.com. If there's ONE piece of equipment I can't live without, it's that. It keeps the babies at an angle and, since all babies have immature esophageal sphincters and some mild degree of natural reflux, it really helps keep them sleeping. My second had severe GI issues and there's no way he could have slept at all if it weren't for the RnP.

HTH!

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