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Things We’ll Keep And Change For Baby #2

This being our second trip to the baby rodeo hopefully means that we’re a bit wiser going in. We can cherry-pick from what worked well with Clara while trying to improve on some newborn and baby items, products, and methods that might need fine tuning. Of course every kid is different and what worked for baby #1 may not apply for #2 – so we’re just waiting for those curve balls to come flying towards us – but since you guys have been asking, here are five things we’re planning to redo (as in do again or use again) and five things that we’ll do new. And because they pair up nicely, we’ll look at ’em side-by-side. Note: None of the links in this post are affiliate links.

BabyTwo Graphic

AGAIN – Angel Care Monitor: This was one of 5 newborn “lifesavers” that we shared after Clara was born – just for the peace of mind that it gave us (no getting out of bed to watch the baby breathe). It’s not for everyone, but we found it really comforting, and it soothed a lot of our new-parent anxiety. It’s basically a sound monitor with a motion-sensitive pad that slides under the crib mattress to detect when baby’s breathing (and sound an alarm if it stops). We ordered an attachment (by calling Angel Care directly) with two pads to minimize false alarms once Clara got a bit wigglier (she’d roll out of the single pad’s detection area) and were really happy with it, so we’ll be reusing it while the baby boy snoozes. We’ve also gotten the free cord cover kit that fixes the recent recall issue.

NEW – Video Monitor: We never used a video monitor with Clara, but now that we’ll often be on a separate floor during nap times (along with occasionally having two kids sleeping at the same time, so an audio monitor might be confusing in that “which one is crying?” way) we decided to add a video monitor to the mix. We got the Levana Lila (bought with a trial membership to Amazon Mom) and we found an awesome spot in the nursery where it can peek out from behind the curtain, making the monitor and its cord nearly invisible in the room (there’s an outlet right beneath it that also hides behind the curtain).

DoNew Monitor2

AGAIN – Crib Sleeping: You already know that we’re using Clara’s crib again, but we also plan to reuse our technique to start crib sleeping from the very beginning. Our first house didn’t have much room for a bedroom bassinet and Clara’s nursery was just steps away, so she slept in her room from the moment she came home. We have a more spacious bedroom here, but baby boy will just be on the other side of the wall (about ten steps away) – and crib sleeping from the start worked so well with Clara that we’re gonna try it again. We liked that it spared us an extra transition from bassinet to crib down the road, and she was a pretty epic sleeper so we don’t want to change much up in that arena.

NEW – Sound Machine: We used a sound machine with Clara and we will most definitely use one again. But since we can’t steal Clara’s (she still wants “the ocean on” every night) we had to get something new. For her nursery, we had chosen an iPod dock with Sherry’s old iPod loaded with a CD called “Natural White Noise for Babies” on a loop (we thought the iPod would be nice so we could use it to play music down the road too). But rather than splurge on a new iPod and dock, we decided this simple $20 standalone sound machine would work well for the bun (we can always get him a music player down the line if he misses that perk).

BabyTwo Wearing

AGAIN – Ergo Carrier: Baby-wearing was our preferred method of Clara transport in the early months. Sherry had a sling, but since Clara often took that as her cue to nurse, I mostly wore her in our Ergo Carrier. It held up great and we just recently broke it out and gave it a wash so it’s ready to go again.

NEW – Double Stroller: Clara rarely uses a stroller anymore (day-to-day she either walks or shopping carts it) so we debated whether we’d even need a double stroller at all. But we still like to take long family walks/hikes using our jogging stroller (longer than Clara can last on her own) and she also likes to hop in beside her younger cousins in their double strollers when they’re around, so we took the plunge. Well, Sherry’s mom plunged for us as a new baby gift. We jumped right to a jogging stroller (the double-version of the single InStep Safari we got when Clara was 1) instead of getting a lighter-duty model since that works well for longer hikes without smooth paths as well as long neighborhood walks. I don’t anticipate jogging with both of them often, but it’s nice to know it can do that too. And for the day-to-day stuff we’ll probably just use the Ergo with Clara walking (or in her single stroller if there’s a ton of walking to be done).

BabyTwo Stroller

AGAIN – Cloth Diapers: The BumGenius cloth diapers that we bought for Clara have held up really well, so for now we plan to use the dozen that we have, and might add six more to our stash as we need them. Like Clara, we won’t transition to cloth until he grows into them (it took Clara a few months but then she could use the same one-size-fits-all diapers for 2+ years). Also like Clara, he won’t be exclusively cloth diapered. We found with her that mixing in the occasional disposable (mostly for extended periods away from home or overnight towards the end of her diapering time) was what worked for us, so we’re going to try that again.

NEW – Honest Diapers: We’re gonna give Honest Co. diapers a try this time before the bun fits into our one-size-fits-all cloth ones, instead of sticking to Seventh Generation ones like we did with Clara. We’ve heard lots of good things about them from a few friends and I’m liking the idea of signing up for a bundle that arrives without having to think about it (we’ll take all the help we can get in those bleary newborn days). Plus, I can’t deny that the designs on Honest diapers are pretty sweet (dude, they have bikes).

ReDo Diapers

AGAIN – Car Seat: Baby Barnacle will also be using Clara’s infant car seat, since Clara’s Chicco KeyFit 30 is in great shape, still meets all current safety standards, hasn’t been dropped or in an accident (you definitely want to replace a used seat that has), is a neutral gray & green color scheme, and shouldn’t expire until the bun outgrows it (it’s good for 6 years from the manufacture date). Is it wrong that I’m kinda looking forward to the days of snap-and-go seat again?

NEW – Car: He won’t be riding in a hand-me-down car though. Yup, we got a new ride. It hit us that our family of five would have a hard time taking road trips in our Nissan Altima (and I very intentionally include Burger in that number, because his crate takes up a whole seat  – let alone all the pack & play/baby gear we’ll be toting along). So we traded it in for a 2014 Toyota Highlander because, after some research and test driving, it felt like the best mix of family hauling & DIY hauling for us (it has a collapsible third row). It was a bit of a splurge for us, but having saved by only buying used vehicles before (we drove our first Nissan past 170,000 miles and our second one over 100,000) it still fit into our budget and got us some features that we lacked before: back-up camera, Bluetooth, and (Sherry’s favorite) heated seats. Plus, Clara’s digging the little book caddy I rigged up for her.

DoNew Car

I’m sure every family has different scenarios and needs, so I’d be interested to hear what you guys reused or redid vs. what you changed or upgraded when baby #2 came along. Did anyone else feel a huge relief in that their “to do/buy” list was a lot shorter with their second child? It’s nice to have a lot of the basics covered already.

Psst – For more baby/kid related posts, there’s newborn paraphernalia we liked, keeping baby stuff simple, cloth diapering, battling kid clutter, saving money on baby stuff, baby led weaning, 14 months of breastfeeding, being a stay at home dad, baby toiletries, and kid clothes.

Comments

  2. Mary K says

    I have the Highlander too! Love love love! Like Clara, our daughter has slept GREAT since day one (we woke her to eat as well!) I highly recommend the Fisher Price Rock n Play to any parent with a little one on the way. It’s not for play despite the name. It’s more of a compact Pack n Play/ bassinet. It’s incredible for naps, overnight sleep, and travel! Its also great for acid reflux but luckily we did not have that issue with our little one. You can easily fold it and bring it up and down stairs. It’s perfect for road trips! We brought it to Philly, NYC, Saugatuck, AZ and Chicago during our daughter’s first six months. I know what you are thinking, another unnecessary baby thing?! It was a lifesaver at our house!

    Reply

  3. Katie says

    Just a tip on crib sleeping with a newborn. Cribs can seem overwhelmingly large to a newborn and give them a sense of falling (according to our ped). So after hearing our firstborn scream every time we put her in it, and learning that tidbit, we took the top off her bassinet and then placed that in the crib. Made the transition when she was older to just the crib easy peasy. Did it with #2 and worked like a charm. Good luck! Sleep deprivation is such a killer, I would have done anything to avoid it.

    Reply

  4. Jennifer says

    We have the same sound machine and love it! Bought it when our son was a few weeks old and it instantly improved his sleep. He’s 17 months, and loves to turn it on himself before bedtime. For a cheapie sound machine, it’s been fantastic!!

    Reply

  5. Meredith says

    I’m so excited for you guys! We too are expecting baby #2, in June. Just curious if you’re doing anything to your cloth diapers to prep them? We cloth diapered for a few months but couldn’t kick a yeast infection until our daughter was in disposeables. I’m hoping cloth works out better for us this time. I’d love your input on getting yours ready for your baby boy :)

    Reply

  6. ashlea says

    There is a lot of info on the benefits of babies sleeping right next to you at night–like in co-sleeper. Breathing actuallly syncs with baby reducing SIDS. And you are more aware of the baby’s patterns being so close. Dr. Sears has some great info on that–after 3 children I wouldn’t trade that co-sleeper for the world. So easy to just sleep next to baby and so easy for nursing in the night.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I’d love to try cloth wipes since we’re washing dipes anyway! Will have to get my act together this time, since I meant to do that with Clara and just never made the move.

      xo
      s

    • Sally G says

      Cloth wipes are wonderful. Way more convenient than tossing one thing and washing the other. I am a huge fan! I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Additionally, they are way more effective at getting messy bottoms clean.

  8. Lindsay says

    Sweet! We have a 2013 Highlander. It is my very first NEW car! Do the 2014 Highlanders have the iCar platform?

    Reply

  9. Michelle says

    Being that my kids are 26, 16 and 7, I know that what is on the market sure has changed, even over the last 7 yrs. I started over three times. LOL I too never did the bassinet thing. They came home from the hospital and went right into using the crib. I have always had good sleepers, even better when they hit their teens and want to sleep til noon. ha! :) Seriously though, even as babies they were good. But then, I didn’t tip toe when they were sleeping either. I vacuumed and all that stuff that is easier to get done when they are sleeping. You two have a good handle on things. You will figure out what works and what doesn’t. Before you know it, he will be here!! :) So excited and happy for you both. :)

    Reply

  10. Emily says

    Thanks for sharing the list!

    We were able to reuse most of our baby gear when our second came along. We also got a double stroller, and it was awesome! I loved being able to strap both kids in and head outside. And when our older kid wanted to walk, we just through all our stuff in his seat in the stroller.

    We ditched our cloth diapers with baby #2, though. We made it about 18 months with her and then I had just had enough!!

    Reply

  11. Sara Wutzke says

    It’s crazy how much changes from kid to kid in what’s available! I love my bum genius diapers and sound machine, too. My big boys share a room and the baby has his own as well; sounds like a rainstorm every night ;) we’ve never consistently used a monitor, but if our house was bigger we likely would. I love, love your nursery! Can’t wait until we get to see photos of the two kiddos interacting.

    Reply

  12. Lydia says

    I am expecting #2 in August and was drooling over the 2014 Highlander too! We also have a small dog, but I can’t bear the thought of him having nowhere to sit on long car trips (he is about 30 pounds, so the mini space between the two car seats is too small). We’re going to wait until the 2015s come out this fall and try to get a good deal on the 2014, because my last car isn’t quite paid off yet.

    My mom words of warning — my daughter refused the Ergo because she HAD TO BE facing out. We got a carrier that would accommodate both so hopefully #2 Baby is cool w/ that. We love our noise machine — we have the Marpac Dohm. It’s expensive, but oh so reliable and will last a lifetime!

    Good luck with baby #2!

    Reply

  13. Pam says

    I have 8, yes eight, years between each of my three children so everything changed each time ;), how does a carseat expire? Btw, youngest is now thirteen, they grow fast!
    Love this post and will be sending it to a sweet friend who is a soon to be new mom, you both are so good at research and evaluation, thank you! Does the camera record? Because i am sure it will catch sweet and silly moments of John and Clara with baby barnacle!
    I am praying for a swift smooth delivery and transition for your sweet family.

    Reply

  14. Katie says

    Just gotta say…I’ve got 2 amazing sleepers at home. My first slept through the night since about 10 weeks and my second is even better (if you can believe that!). We cluster feed as well and that seems to work so well. I feel very blessed to say the least. So, don’t worry your bebe #2 may be a good sleeper too!

    And this may be TMI, but I’m a breastfeeding mama that works full-time and as it turns out, my morning “pump” is usually when your post comes out. It’s the highlight of my day to read your blog while I pump!! :) Keep it up…I LOVE everything you guys do!

    Reply

  15. Emily says

    If your new car doesn’t have a remote start, have one added! I had a basic cavalier forever. My windows were crank, I had no cruise control, nothing fancy about that car. I added a remote start and it was amazing! I upgraded to an Impala and the first thing that I did was take it to get a remote start. Now, that I have a house with a garage, I keep a garage door opener in the house, start the car and ten minutes later, go out to a nice, warm car!

    When I had my cavalier, we had street parking so starting the car on those icy mornings was great! No chipping away at the ice for me!

    Reply

  16. Meredith says

    ABSOLUTELY LOVE the video monitor. We actually bought and tried to use the Angel Care unit as well with our little Ella and I found it made me a nervous wreck. I could hear her, but couldn’t see what she was doing. So I was constantly on edge and wearing a path in the flooring down the hall everytime she would make a peep! With the video monitor you can see what she is doing and can judge whether you need to go or not. Sometimes she is just having sweet baby dreams and puts herself back to sleep and we don’t need to do a thing! Call it laziness or just a breastfeeding, working mom trying to get every second of sweet sleep she can! Seriously WORTH every penny! So excited for your new addition!

    Reply

  17. Courtney says

    So were you able to buy the car outright?
    Car payments are no fun!! We don’t have any and putting off getting a new car until we absolutely need one…

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yes, we’ve both always bought our cars in cash, so we savesavesave and then negotiate as much as we can. It also helped to trade in our Altima this time since the dealership gave us over BlueBook value for it (and of course just having one car at a time is easier on the ol’ wallet).

      xo
      s

  18. Eleanor says

    In regards to the ‘upgrade suggestions’ for baby #2 on the Angel Care Monitor. I am right there with you guys! With our first daughter in 2008, I used the same bed monitor. Such peace of mind! We had our second daughter in 2012 & the upgrade that I was so thankful for was the Snuza Sleep Monitor:
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002WLGV08/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002WLGV08&linkCode=as2&tag=saouwa-20

    It clips on their diapers!! It is amazing and was so easy to travel with vs the bed monitor. Their customer service is excellent too! Best wishes for you guys as you go from a family of three to four!

    Reply

  19. Keeley says

    I’m really excited about all of this, but I’ll admit that I’m most excited about that 2014 Highlander! Fantastic choice. I’ve wanted one since they came out 10+ years ago and I’ve wanted one even more since I saw that adorable Muppet commercial.

    I was wondering when you guys were going to move up to a vehicle with more utility. I drive a smaller SUV, but I have leather seats and all that and it’s definitely worth the splurge. Enjoy!

    Reply

  20. AlisonG says

    What about supporting your country and buying an American car? No, I am not trying to stir trouble, just wish more people would buy Made in America, as much as possible anyway. I am sure an American car has foreign parts.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We buy tons of American-made items (even local stuff from small shops, vendors, and farmer’s markets) and we also buy things from other countries as well (wool rugs made in India, a foreign car, etc). It’s definitely one of those personal things though!

      xo
      s

    • Bridge13 says

      Some foreign cars are actually manufactured in America. I’m in the Midwest and we have a Honda plant a few miles away producing Honda Accords. Conversely, many “American” made cars use overseas labor and parts. Just an FYI.

    • Shellie says

      Yep, just basing the country of origin on the manufacturers name is very misleading. I was proud of myself when I bought a 2011 Ford Fusion only to see on the sticker in the driver door ‘made and assembled in Mexico’

  21. Summer says

    So glad you posted about the angel care recall fix! I didn’t receive any info on this (nor did my brother who has uses it), and it’s currently being used on my second child’s crib. The fix kit is now ordered!

    I also read about this monitor on your blog initially, right before my first was born. I would have been so much more worried without it. Thanks for the recommendation!

    Reply

  22. Rotem says

    Is it weird that I am so excited waiting for the barnacle to arrive?
    Loved this post, but wanted to point out this new warning that came out earlier this week about baby sound machines – they apparently can cause significant damage to babies’ hearing. Here is a review (although if you google it you’ll find that every major news station had a story about it this week):
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/03/sound-machines-safety_n_4876112.html

    Bottom line is not that they should be avoided at all cost, but used with care:
    “Parents, on the other hand, should place sound machines as far from their babies’ cribs as possible, and never place them in a crib. Machines should be played at low volumes and kept on for short stretches only, Papsin said, adding that theoretically, complex sounds would be best (think Mozart) while the least complex (white noise) would be the worst.”

    I really trust the researchers who did the study, and thought I should share this with you :)

    Reply

  23. Julie B. says

    I’m due (I think even the same week as you) with Baby #3; even though my older 2 are late elementary age already. I picked the same double stroller you did with them. One thing I might warn you about -because it induced quite a lot of cussing from me in stores- is those side-by-side double strollers do NOT fit well through store doors and aisles sometimes. I upgraded a little later to a Phil & Ted’s with a doubles kit and LOVE!! it. I’ll still use it -as a single stroller- with this baby. It has an adapter for the Chicco Key Fit that you can buy and the double capability on it is GREAT. You can go to Phil & Ted’s website to see how it works – no side-by-side and it folds really flat. Just warning you on the side-by-side double stroller… it definitely had it’s annoying moments when trying to get through a door to a store!

    And congrats on the new ride! You can still look at almost anything you want in a new car –with number 3 almost here, we’ve just upgraded to a Suburban. Because what else has a 3rd seat and still a trunk!? And I will NOT drive a minivan!! ha!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Thanks so much! We couldn’t even get our single jogging stroller into most stores (it’s just so much bigger than our Joovy Kooper) so it’s really just for hikes/trail walks, etc.

      xo
      s

  24. Darcy says

    Congrats on the new car –Enjoy those heated seats Sherry — your next cold morning, your bum will be thanking you!
    Just be careful in the summer time, I have “accidently” turned mine on…and I am driving, and I am heating up and I’m thinking, I know I’m 40, but am really getting hot flashes already?!?! And then I look down, and I see the red light glowing — Oh, thank goodness!!! LOL!!!! Just a little FYI for you!

    Reply

    • Darcy says

      NO WAAY — I love YOU!!

      Hey BTW — Did you read the other day that Theresa and Joe from RHONJ plead guilty to all there crazy charges?!? The articles keep saying that Joe can be deported, but I can’t imagine that they would plead guilty to anything without that all being worked out in the plea deal!! Thoughts?!?

  25. Cora says

    Congrats on the new wheels!!! I love that you always include Burger in your count. I am a mother of two (beagle and poodle) so I understand the love! Can’t wait for Barnacle to be here!!!

    Reply

  26. Haley says

    Just a heads up, I read an article about people being able to tap into video monitors. To make sure that doesn’t happen, you just have to make sure that the connection is secure.

    Reply

  27. Sara says

    While it’s nice to not have to buy so much stuff for baby #2, it’s also SOOOO hard not to want to slurge on some of the fancy new gear that has come out since my first! I really want to get a rockaRoo by 4 moms, but with a $180 price tag, I haven’t been able to drop the ball and do it, especially since it’s used for such a short time. Ugh…must.resist.the.urge!

    Reply

  28. Andrea says

    There are definitely things we did again and didn’t do again. With baby 1 he was homegrown, and baby 2 was adopted at 15 months so it was like night and day with learning what worked! With #2 I used an Ergo (and loved it, I still have it even though my youngest is 7 and there are no more babies to follow!), and we cloth diapered as well. We had good luck with FuzziBunz. I also went with a nicer stroller for #2 using a Maclaren Quest for travel and a Peg Perego P3 for longer journeys (we lived in Europe when #2 came along and the P3 handled the cobblestones like it was glass, It layed completely flat for naptime, plus there was a little step for our 5 yr old to catch a ride when needed). I would definitely skip the infant seat if I had to do it over again cause our first chunky monkey outgrew it by 6 months…hehe. And number two could have stayed in one till she was 2 since she’s teeny-tiny. My favorite item was the Fisher Price bouncy seat that had a toy bar, played music when the baby would kick, and also vibrated; which was a lifesaver when mommy wanted to be able to eat dinner or just go to the bathroom without a kid attached. I am also a huge fan of Baby Einstein dvd’s. My kids loved them well beyond the ages listed on the case. We were also crib parents. I can’t sleep with any sort of noise and listening to the baby snoring all night just wasn’t an option for us.

    Reply

  29. Kat says

    Our kids are 2 years apart. What we added for #2:
    Joovy Caboose Sit/Stand Stroller (replaced travel system), Philips Avent bottles instead of Playtex Drop-ins (still used Drop-ins to freeze milk, but Avent for daily use), Moby Wrap (replaced my Ergo), JJ Cole car seat cover (bought used and SO glad I did with how cold it’s been), another convertible crib (#1 is still using hers), another Diaper Genie (these things only last for one kid), and a double jogger (only because it’s a hand-me down).

    We never used baby monitors, even with a huge house and multiple floors. We never used sound machines, either – we use humidifiers in each bedroom in addition to the whole house humidifier. Oh, and both kids have their own very special blankets. We don’t share blankets in our house. Whatever works.

    Reply

  30. Allyson says

    I am currently 25 weeks pregnant with my second child, so the baby posts are well timed. :)

    Unfortunately because of multiple moves, a lot of my 5 year olds baby things where long ago “lended out” (aka Never saw most of it again) or gotten rid of.
    Apart from a few outfits, our hightchair, and the baby bassinet, we have had to rebuy everything.

    I had planned on replacing our crib and car seat anyway as both would have been outdated/in bad shape by baby number 2.

    We are doing almost everything different with this baby.
    We are cloth diapering and baby wearing this time.
    Also, we are doing a video monitor this time to as we have a larger house, and even in our small house it is something I thought would be nice to have.

    Our new Keyfit30 came yesterday! Its funny because I didn’t even realize you all used that car seat too! I have been stressing over which car seat to pick for months, as I HATED my daughter’s garco.

    I am thrilled with the keyfit though!

    Do y’all have a post reviewing it? I should go check it out if you do!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Aw thanks Allyson! I don’t think we do, we just read the reviews on sites like amazon and some baby-related sites and it seemed like a good one. Worked out well with Clara (my only sadness was that she outgrew the length limit fast, so it wasn’t something she was in until 30 lbs like I expected) but I think all infant seats have that limit. Other commenters seemed to have liked it too if that helps!

      xo
      s

  31. Sarah says

    My list for baby #2 is pretty similar to yours, but I am borrowing a rock ‘n’ play from my sister in law to try this time because my first born was NOT a crib sleeper at first (and believe me, not because I didn’t try!) Apparently the rock/play keep them snuggled with their head elevated a bit, so a kid who wakes when laid flat feels more snuggled and secure as if being carried. Also the rock/play seems to be a smaller footprint than a bassinet– just wanted to share in case your second ends up being more like my first! Fingers crossed we all get happy sleeper babies!

    Reply

  32. Lauren says

    Sherry, what kind of sling is that? Sorry if this has been asked, I couldn’t see an answer (could also be the dreaded baby brain). I am looking at the moby as a wrap to snuggle and nurse our first but love the look of that one! Could you go hands free?

    Last question (promise!) did you use a cover with Clara when you were out? I hear some babies do not allow that if they are fussy.

    Thanks!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I only used Aden and Anais blankets as a nursing cover. They were light and so easy and they were multipurpose. As for the sling, oh man I forget the brand and it’s in the washer right now (can you tell I’m nesting?) but it was from Buy Buy Baby if that helps. Maybe it was called Hotsling? Is that right?

      xo
      s

    • Ashley says

      Lauren, if you’re looking at going hands free for nursing I HIGHLY recommend a ring sling! I have two and used them religiously for both my babies. They’re also the easiest to adjust to just get into a “nursing position” compared to a soft structured carrier.

  33. Michelle Kersey says

    Woo hoo for the new ride!!! That definitely will help you out with DIY stuff!!! AND kids stuff. I wish I had a vehicle with third row… definitely something I’ve been looking into myself. I have two kids (and there shall be no more) BUT, I can’t my family of 4 in the car and pick up my sister from the airport or pick up my niece for play dates. I’d love to know your experiences with the new ride. I’ve had a Toyota Rav4 for 7yrs, so the Highlander is a step bigger. :)

    As for what I’ve redone… with my second I added another video baby monitor. Of the same kind, then I had them on different channels so I could spy on either. I got into baby wearing with #2 and I tried with #1, but it didn’t go well, so with my second I did a lot more research and got a couple different things. I wrapped her as a baby, and used a Mei Tai, then an ergo

    Reply

  34. erin says

    I don’t think you’ll regret the video monitor. My second is now 10 months (first is 3.5) and I can’t tell you the amount of laughs I have gotten out of watching various activities on the monitor. I even videotape some of them.

    Be warned, dust looks like paranormal activity which freaked me the hell out ;)

    Reply

  35. Sara says

    Baby no. 2 is a couple years away for us. My son will be 10 months next week and he still sleeps in our room. I thought we’d do his crib from day one but once we got home from the hospital, I was too terrified to put him in his crib and wanted him near me (made it easier for nursing too). Anyway, it works for us. The thing I love about parenting is how you live, learn and move on and how every parent does things differently and it’s all OK! :-) I told my husband we are SO getting a used minivan with a second child. We have two large dogs and our two smaller cars are not going to cut it!

    Reply

  36. Meredith says

    When you started Clara sleeping in her crib right away did you swaddle? If so, when did she stop the swaddle? Do you plan to do the same for that this time around?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yes, we swaddled from day one (the nurses in the hospital gave awesome tutorials) and then I think we stopped at 3 months? There’s some magic time when it’s not supposed to keep going on, so we just followed that recommendation.

      xo
      s

  37. Cassie says

    I don’t have kids yet but the two things my sisters swear by are The Honest Co diapers and a video monitor! Plus they get the best shots of my niece in the craziest sleeping position or will even record on their phone the things she does when she wakes up. And you’re going to LOVE your highlander! So excited for you guys with the new baby!!

    Reply

  38. Tracey Hall says

    Please look into the recent research on noise machines – our grandson has one and we were concerned about how loud it was. Then some recent studies have been released with recommendations – these were also reported on the major networks. Our son said there is an app that will tell you what the decibel level is for sound/noise. Question: my daughter is looking for laundry soap and baby soap to use – what do you use and do you like it (for her first child – a boy coming April 30th). Thanks for your lovely blog, I enjoy following your family!!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Thanks Tracey! We keep ours low and across the room. As for the laundry soap we use Seventh Generation or just vinegar to clean things. To actually wash the baby Dr Bronner’s is mild and plant based.

      xo
      s

  39. Amber | Bluebonnets & Brownies says

    No second baby on the horizon just yet for us, our first is only 4 months old, but two things I know I’ll definitely be using again: The Baby Merlin Magic Sleepsuit (He’s been sleeping through the night since 9 weeks old) and Honest diapers. I *adore* the Honest diapers. We were on vacation and he grew out of a size, so we bought some Seventh Generation. They don’t compare even remotely. Honest diapers are way more robust, but also softer.

    Reply

  40. Meghan says

    I didn’t read all the comments, so somebody might’ve already said this, but if you decide to get more cloth diapers, the elemental has changed design and many people don’t like it as much. I would recommend just getting one to try before spending the money for 6. There are some others out there with similar design to the old elementals (Moraki and Smart Bottoms are a couple). :)

    Reply

  41. Kristina says

    I used the natural noise album on my iphone for an emergency white noise need. It worked great for that but I would say I wouldn’t use it as an all-the-time white noise machine. There is a second break between each song and then it takes a few seconds to start over. My guy needed the constant noise, and the little breaks interrupted his sleep after a while.

    Reply

  42. Kristin F says

    Y’all have gotten so sneaky about throwing surprises at us! But in a good way, really. I was most shocked that you got a new car, is that weird? I know how much you guys rocked that Altima but wholeheartedly agree you need a car that can handle two car seats and all the baby/kid gear. Added perk, you can take those seats out, fold down the rows and bring your Home Depot/Lowe’s hauls without renting trucks as often now!

    Reply

  44. KDot says

    Regarding the sound machine – we tried a sound machine, Ipod and have found that a humidifier works best for us. A lot of water noises set off the Angelcare sound detection.

    I LOVE my Angelcare. It’s so soothing to look at the monitor and see the little pendulum go. We just added a video monitor too and it’s super addictive watching baby sleep. My husband has is somehow hooked up to our computer so it records baby’s movement. We have been able to save videos of him doing some pretty cute stuff in his sleep, including his first roll over!

    I, too, love the click and go car seat. My boy is six months and looooong so we are switching to a big boy car seat this weekend. :-(

    Good luck with your last weeks before baby!

    Reply

  46. lisa says

    So glad you got a bigger car. We had a tiny Geo Prism (10 years ago, I know, I’m old) when our second baby girl came along. It was a tight squeeze and probably not as safe as it could have been. Fortunately, we have upgraded since then and it’s nice to have room for all the stuff on road trips, store trips. Plus, in a couple of years when Clara is in school, you’ll be able to haul all her friends to practices, parties, etc. Sound investment….

    Reply

  47. Kylie says

    We have 4 1/2 year old and 9 month old boys. We did some things the same and some differently.

    A big purchase for us was that we bought a video monitor. We did have a monitor with the movement pad, but i ended up selling it and getting the video. It has been so wonderful. I don’t know how we went without it the first time around!

    Good luck with your new little bundle. I have to say, boys are great!

    Reply

  48. betty says

    would you mind sharing which Toyota dealership you chose in the area? My lexus suv is 12 years old with 215,000 miles on it. As much as I’d love to keep no car payment forever, I know that it wont last forever. I have LOVED this car but cant afford another lexus, so I thought Toyota was the next best thing. I went to haley Toyota on hull st one day and they treated me SO AWFUL. i’m not sure if it was because I was young, but I knew how much I could afford but the way they treated me, I will never go back to that one.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh man that stinks! That’s where we got ours since they had the model in stock that we wanted, but we had two different experiences with them. The first time the guy there wasn’t as helpful and we left pretty quickly but the next time we came in a different guy helped us and he was so much better and negotiated a great deal (and a great trade-in price) for us. Hope it helps!

      xo
      s

    • Angela says

      I hear you on being treated poorly because you’re young! I’m 29 but often mistaken for much younger (most often as an undergraduate student but sometimes even mistaken to be a high school student). Luckily my spouse actually looks like he’s in his early 30’s and he gets treated WAY better. But power through! My parents owned two Toyotas that lasted 13+ years each (still running when they sold them), and I am on my brand new Toyota myself and am confident it will last over a decade.

    • Jennie says

      Oh man, I know how it is when people think you look young … I went to buy some wallpaper the other day, and the sale lady just looked down her nose at me, and said, “Now honey, what do you need wallpaper for?” She was surprised when I told her it was for … my house! Good heavens … I’m 29 and a long-time homeowner, but I guess I look a lot younger! She explained that she thought I looked like a student. As if it matters :)

  49. Summer says

    I am no where near having kids yet but you guys are so awesome about outlining it and everything – it’s like the ultimate baby blog, haha! I’m curious to know about your breastfeeding experiences with this baby, but I’m not sure if that’s tmi or what!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I think since I felt comfortable sharing a “14 months of breastfeeding” wrap up dealie, I’ll probably do a recap of things with the bun. I’m sure it could be a whole new ball game!

      xo
      s

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