*This is a sponsored post in partnership with Meijer. All thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.
Baby Essentials Second Time Mom: Expecting your second baby? Here are 11 baby essentials all second-time moms need. As a mom of three kids five years and younger, I can tell you exactly what you need plus what gifts second-time moms REALLY want! Best part is that you can pick all of these essentials up at your local Meijer grocery store–no needing to run out to a special baby store.
BABY ESSENTIALS FOR SECOND TIME MOMS
When I had my second baby, we had just moved to Wisconsin–an hour and a half from the family I had relied upon with my first baby. At home with two kids two years and younger, I needed to create better systems for our household. These baby essentials for second-time moms will ease up your hands so you can get the help you need! Now with three kids, five years and younger, I have even more tips and tricks to manage overwhelm and help new moms prepare for their second baby.
The best part, like I said above, is that all of these baby essentials for second time moms are available at your local Meijer. Having spent summers growing up in Michigan, I’d always known Meijer to be the best grocery store with the freshest food, the best service, and basically everything and anything you could want. As a child visiting my grandparents, if you were really good, you’d get a trip to Meijer with Grandma and get to pick out a toy in and even look at the fish!
So when we lived in Chicago and a Meijer moved into the neighborhood we were ecstatic! We made the effort to go the extra 15 minutes out of our way (past the closest grocery store) because Meijer’s produce, food, and shopping experience was so much better!
As soon as we started having kids, I quickly realized that their baby section was superior to all the other grocery chains as well! When Meijer came to our town in Wisconsin, let’s just say we were there opening week! Now, we go several times a week and rarely shop anywhere else, and I am able to get all my baby essentials there too!
ULTIMATE LIST OF GIFTS FOR SECOND TIME MOMS
#1: MORE DIAPERS
When you’re a second-time mom, you realize just how many diapers you go through with two kids! I distinctly remember loading up on diapers when I was 9 months pregnant with my second baby, Jack, and had my oldest daughter, Bowe (age 2) in the cart at Meijer. I probably had four boxes of diapers and was visibly tired loading and unloading her. I was far enough along in my second pregnancy that walking around a store was a chore, so unloading lots of boxes felt like a marathon!
After seeing me waddle down the parking lane, a kind older gentleman who was returning carts helped me unload the four jumbo boxes of diapers into the back of my car. To this day, I remember being so taken aback by his kindness. He certainly had his hands full with all the carts but went out of his way to help me–but that’s how Meijer is!
These days, my husband helps out a ton and will often pick up diapers for the kids at our local Meijer. You can see their amazing Baby selection here! They carry all the natural brands we love like Honest Co, Seventh Generation (their wipes are amazing and thick), Babyganics, and Pampers Pure! During Baby Week, there is a BOGO 40% off a 3-pack or 4 pack of wipes, which means it’s the perfect time to stock up! (And for your older kiddo, save $2 off training pants!)
#2 ROCK n’ PLAY SLEEPER
With our oldest, we had borrowed a swing from some close friends. When we were expecting our second, I knew we needed to invest in a portable swing that I could easily move around the house. This Rock n’ Play Sleeper is the best money you can spend for your second child. We’ve used our’s for both our second and third children and even traveled across the country with it!
When you are preparing dinner, you can put it in the kitchen; when you are playing on the floor and need to calm the baby, put it in the playroom; when you are needed an extra set of hands to “rock” the baby–put the baby in it! We’ve had more expensive ones, and my kids prefer this one–you can pick it up at Meijer!
#3 BABY MONITOR
With two babes sleeping, you are going to need two monitors. Either upgrade your monitor or purchase a second baby monitor so you can rest easy knowing you will be able to hear all your children! Plus, a good baby monitor will allow you to sit on your back porch with your older child playing and still listen for your first child (this is spoken from first-hand experience!)
#4 MEIJER CURBSIDE PICKUP
If you think getting to the store with one baby is challenging, getting to the store with two nearly impossible! With two nap schedules to juggle, and fussy times to avoid, there is a very small window of time that works for grocery shopping which is why I often do one of two options for grocery shopping: curbside pick up or grocery delivery (covered below).
Meijer currently offers Curbside Pickup at many locations in Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois. They will soon have pickup services available at all stores soon. For a nominal amount, you can keep everyone in their car seats and you don’t have to get out of the car! All you need to do is order online, schedule a pickup time, and then call when you pull up in the pickup lanes at the store. We did this while we were in Michigan on vacation for two weeks and it made our lives so much easier! No unloading all the kids just to pick up milk!
Consider giving a new mom of two a gift card to Meijer so she can use Curbside Pickup service with ease! Bundle it with a pre-made dinner and you will have a very thankful mama!
(this is photographic evidence of one of the only times we have driven to the store and no one has fallen asleep!)
#5 MEIJER DELIVERY
If you follow me on Instagram, you know we use this service all the time! With three nap schedules to juggle, it’s even harder to get out the door. Meijer delivers in several areas including our town, and I am so incredibly thankful! Giving the gift of Meijer Delivery is a thoughtful and practical gift for second-time moms who will appreciate the convenience of not having to run out to the store with two (or three kids)!
#6 BABY BOTTLES & FORMULA
Even though I’ve exclusively breastfed all three of my children, I’ve always tried to integrate bottle feeding so I could have a babysitter or family member help with the baby. The best advice I’ve ever heard was to create a routine of bottle feeding (even if you are exclusively breastfeeding,) so you can go to bed a little early and your husband can give the last feeding of the day.
With one baby, it’s easy to say you will nap during the day because you can sleep when the baby sleeps. Conversely, with a second baby, you lose the chance to nap when the baby naps because you need to watch your firstborn. Meijer has a terrific selection of bottles (I speak from firsthand knowledge as that’s where we bought our bottles for our second and third babies!) If you choose to formula feed, they also have an extensive formula selection including Similac Expert Care Neosure Powder, Similac Pro-Advance Value Powder, and Similac Alimentum Powder!
#7 WALKER OR ACTIVITY CENTER, & PLAY YARD
I was vehemently opposed to a walker or activity center with my first baby. When I had my second child, I quickly understood the need! Sometimes, a mom just needs to know their baby is happily occupied and contained! Meijer has a fantastic selection of baby walkers and entertainers in their baby section!
Again, it wasn’t until I had my son that I realized that we needed a play yard–better yet, a play yard that could double as a bassinettee and changing station! By setting up a secondary diaper changing station, I was able to save lots of unnecessary trips up and down the stairs! Plus, when he was older, I would set up the play yard so I could safely keep him in a baby-proof area and I could make dinner, clean, or even exercise!
#8 A NEW OUTFIT
With a second baby, moms are more pragmatic and less likely to purchase new baby clothes. But, treat the mom, and the baby to a nice new set of play clothes! Meijer carries Carter’s which is our favorite brand for play, sleep, and dressing up! During Baby Week there are several discounts on Carter’s baby clothes at Meijer, plus if you spend $50 in the entire baby category, you can save $10 with a Catalina coupon! Pro tip: buy clothes 6 months – 12 months in size so they can use it in the future!
#9 ON THE GO SOUND MACHINE
With one child, you live and die with their nap schedule. When you have a second baby, you realize life is going to be a whole lot more fluid for your second child. Unless you plan on being housebound until your children are no longer napping, one of your children is going to end up napping in the car. Most of the time, Jack would fall asleep on the way to drop my oldest daughter up at preschool, and then at pick-up time as well.
With our third child, this happened even more frequently. What is a mom to do? Embrace it! Try to make the car nap time longer if you are giving up one nap anyway. Do your errands and do curbside pickup at Meijer! Purchase an on-the-go sound machine so you have fewer wake ups when you transfer your baby inside the house. We purchased this with my third child, and I wish I knew about it with our second baby–it would have saved so many naps from being cut short by loud noises!
#10 SHAMPOO & SOAP
New moms of two, know that one surefire way to tire kids out is to bathe them! Oftentimes, I will give my kids a bath at 4 PM in the afternoon to kill some time: All the kids love it, and I check one thing off my to-do list! With a second baby, you will be using twice as much shampoo and soap, so a great new mom gift is some new bath time essentials. We love the Babyganics line available at Meijer–plus you can save 20% off baby toiletries during Baby Week at Meijer!
If you are concerned about having the baby in the bathtub with an older sibling, consider purchasing a separate baby tub like this one. I’ve always bathed all three kids in our huge tub in our master bathroom and put the baby in the small bathtub to make it more manageable.
#11 BOUNCER
The key to accomplishing things as a mom of two is making sure you have a “docking station” in every room of the house. If you like getting ready in the morning, purchase a second bouncer that can reside in the bathroom. If you need somewhere to put your baby down while you cook dinner, use your second bouncer in your kitchen! This second bouncer will provide the safe place to “dock” your baby when you are running your household or helping your other kids!
BONUS TIPS:
If you know the second-time mom loves to take her toddlers and baby out and about, help her stock her diaper bag with toddler snacks and baby food! We practice mostly baby-led weaning at home and limit toddler snacks to outings, so my kids are always really excited when they get to eat a Sprout Pouch or Happy Tot Fiber Protein Bars! We also love Plum Organics packs! Meijer has the most comprehensive baby food assortment–you can find anything you need! And during Baby Week they are selling 9 pouches for $10 which is a great time to stock up that snack stash!
With all of these baby essentials for second-time moms, you will be well set-up! Remember, to save yourself an extra trip to the baby store and pick up all your baby essentials at Meijer! It’s the best service, affordable, and you can get everything you need there! Seriously, it’s the best store for busy moms!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Meijer. The opinions and text are all mine.