baby #2 favorites: three months in.
I’m finally sharing everything that we’ve been loving since Emilia was born! Pretty much all that I loved with Max still applies. I didn’t get many new things, but I do have thoughts on all of these things the second time around. Also, a ton of you have been asking about her clothes! I truly have not bought her much clothing aside from what’s listed below. We’ve been gifted lots of cute outfits from friends and family. Any clothes I’m buying her at the moment are listed below – or they are Cat and Jack from Target. Ha!
Get ready for a TON of things we’ve been loving the last 12 weeks…
Halo Bassinest. I bought this right before having Max and it is the best thing EVER. I still stand by this being the best necessary (like, they need a safe place to sleep!) thing I have for the baby. A couple reasons: 1. we have a really high bed and this goes all the way up to the top. Essentially I’m almost looking right in Emilia’s face as she is next to me in the bassinest. 2. It swivels and is just SO sleek. It’s not huge and bulky like a pack and play or a crib and 3. I love the mesh siding and the features like the light, vibrate and music – which we rarely use but I love that they are there.
Owelet Baby Monitor. I am so, so, SO glad we have this. My entire life, I have been such a huge worrier. Horrible. I worry about the most awful things. When Max came home, you might remember that I didn’t sleep for six days straight. Not even a blink. Not because he wasn’t sleeping (he was for a little bit at a time obviosuly) but because I was so worried about SIDS and that if I took my eyes off of him, something would happen. I had this same anxiety with Emilia (and still do to an extent) but the Owelet helps so much. I bought this right before she was born and she wears it every single night. We have never had a false alarm – one thing I like about it is that the alarms are different and the colors are different for each alarm. We have had the alarm go off twice as the sock has fallen off (it very rarely fall off but if she is kicking a lot in the swaddle, it can get loose) and it plays a loud song. We also had it go off once when the Owelet server went down, but it was the same song as if she kicked it off. This brings me so much peace of mind, even when I’m doing everything to keep her sleeping safely. If you are someone who worries a lot, this is absolutely worth it.
Hanna Anderson Sleepers (without feet). This probably comes as no surprise since I talk about them with Max all the time. These are by far our favorite PJs because the quality is impeccable, they last FOREVER and they almost stretch and grow (Max can still wear ones from 1.5 years ago). I didn’t discover Hanna Anderson until Max was around 1 – and I probably wouldn’t have grabbed these because they don’t have feet. But why they are so useful now is because when using the Owelet above, you can just strap it on their foot easily without worrying about the footed PJs! And her feet don’t get cold because I have her in the fleece swaddle and can use the booties I mention below. So helpful!
Cloud Island Sleep and Play Onesies. Not only is the Cloud Island stuff from Target SO cute – the zip up (or zip down?) onesies are a game changer because they zip from the bottom!! Meaning it’s super easy for late night changes when the baby is only a few weeks old. Love them for that purpose – but wish they were a little softer.
Halo Wearable Swaddle Blanket. Getting this when Max was three days old was a life saver. I actually took the ones I had for him to the hospital for Emilia and that was the best decision. No worrying about swaddling up a plain blanket (which is basically impossible!) and even at 12 weeks, Emilia still isn’t busting out of this swaddle. It helps her sleep so much.
Bjorn Bouncer. This is something else I had with Max but I use it SO much more right now with Emilia. I have her sit in it all the time – while I’m cooking, showering, while Max and I are playing, just to give her another position other than her back (she rolls over now so even during tummy time, she always flips!) – and it’s great. Occasionally she falls asleep in it too and doesn’t even mind. While I love this (and it’s the only bouncer we have), I have no idea why it is so expensive because it’s really quite simple.
Himalayan Salt Lamp. My sister-in-law bought one of these for her baby that was born in July and swore by it for nighttime nursing. It is the BEST! I wrote about it in my regular favorites because I love it so much, but I can’t even explain how wonderful it is. It gives such a lovely, light glow. It doesn’t wake up Eddie (not sure anything would though – ha!) and I also think it is helpful in Emilia falling back asleep at night if she has to be changed or eats because of the light glow. It’s not bright and certainly doesn’t hurt your eyes.
Fisher Price Rock and Play. For the first few weeks (and still occasionally), this is what I would have Emilia nap in downstairs so I could keep an eye on her while Max and I played. She still naps in it occasionally if I’m cooking or something. It’s another great option for her to lounge in. I also like this as a travel option for sleep at this age too.
Leachco Pod. Another item that I had with Max and that I’ve recommended to SO many of you. This is so much better than the boppy lounger because it is deep. Already at 12 weeks I feel like Emilia could actually roll OUT of the boppy lounger. No way can she roll out of this. She loves it. I can’t imagine not having this at the moment, especially with a toddler around. She loves to hang out in this and I’m fine with her napping in it too as long as I’m right next to her and she’s supervised.
Dock a Tot. I bought this because it didn’t exist when Max was born and there has been so much hype around it. I really do love it. It can fit in her crib and actually even fits snugly in the bassinest. I keep this upstairs and have her lounge in it while I’m cleaning or just doing our morning routine of making beds, getting ready, etc. It’s a bit bulkier than the pod above, so I tend to take the pod with us right now when traveling.
Milk Snob. This is probably in my top three purchases for this second time around. I LOVE THIS SO MUCH! It’s super stretchy and goes over the car seat. It is amazing because it keeps people OUT of sticking their face into her seat when we are out and about. It’s been essential with flu season and also was wonderful during the holidays. I knew we wouldn’t be staying home all the time because we had holiday plans for Max, so this was great. It also blocks the wind really nicely. However, I do NOT like this for nursing. It’s a bit too restrictive and tight when it comes to covering up. I nurse in public all the time but do prefer to at least cover up a bit – and I’d rather use a blanket, scarf, wrap, etc – that let’s us both breathe.
Zutano Booties. OBSESSED with these booties! They stay on her feet (and have from day 1!) and she can’t even kick them off. They are so super soft. I even put them over socks. Also use them a bunch with the Hanna Anderson PJs mentioned above!
Aden and Anais Classic Dream Blanket. This is the softest, thickest, most wonderful blanket. I adore it. I steal it all the time and use it for msyself! I bought one for Max and bought one for Emilia too. Love love love. It’s my favorite blanket ever.
Nuna Pipa Car Seat. This car seat is THE BEST. It is so, so incredibly light (and I don’t have the “lite” version) – and it’s super easy to slide into the base. Could not be happier with this. The only reason I didn’t get the stroller to go with it is because I needed a double strolled, which Nuna didn’t have at the time.
Uppa Baby Vista Stroller. I’ve got so many questions about our stroller! I did a ton of double stroller research and this is what I went with. I originally used the Orbit with Max and bought it specifically to convert to a double, but then they got recalled and went out of business. This Uppbaby is AWESOME. First, it’s very easy to maneuver. I use it often for a single (which is amazing!) and often for a double too. Max loves the double seat. I liked that the double seat wasn’t UNDER the car seat and facing me – Max would never sit in that. We also have the piggyback board which he LOVES and which is not as annoying as I assumed it would be. Second, the bottom cargo basket is HUGE! We fit so much stuff in it. The stroller in general is pretty huge in the back of the car, but from what I understand, at this stage most doubles are. I’d eventually love the get the Uppababy G LINK double umbrella stroller (we have the single and it’s great) which is a lot smaller. And as a note, I think that once Emilia is bigger and has more support on her own, I will get the Baby Jogger City Mini Double. Unfortunately her car seat wasn’t compatible with the Baby Jogger to snap in, so I scrapped the idea. But that will be great in 6 months or so for both.
A few other things that I am using again and really liking this time around, again: the 4moms tub, if only for the temperature gauge alone!, the Honest lavender shampoo + body wash, the Pampers swaddlers because they are the softest for newborns and the color changing line is everything, the Lansinoh nursing pads because I have a crazy over supply and have tried all the others and the 4moms breeze pack and play which I have set up with the bassinet attachment for easy diaper changes.
[This is not sponsored and everything above is something I either purchased or was gifted by friends and family. They are a few affiliate links above. xoxo]
24 Comments on “baby #2 favorites: three months in.”
Hi Jess! I am in the midst of researching strollers and carseats for our first baby and it is overwhelming! I have been looking at both the Nuna and UppaBaby. So the Nuna carseat will work fine with the Uppa Baby stroller then? Do you have to buy an adaptor? I have heard such great things about how light that carseat is.
yes it does work, and yes you need adapters! they work great though, and i’ve had no issue with them. however, if you want the nuna carseat, i’d probably just get the nuna stroller too (my SIL has it and loves it!) – they also have a double option now, which is the only reason i didn’t get the nuna stroller!
I just have to say LOL at all the strollers. I remember when you were pregnant with max and researching strollers and wondering why anyone needed six strollers. I have 5 kids now, and have had three strollers, the first two were pretty cheap, the one I have now is the bumbleride double. If i get pregnant again (sounds crazy I know, but mmm babies are so delicious) I will not be getting another one. I can’t help bit wonder what you have done with the strollers you no longer use. Hopefully not thrown them out, people are so happy to buy used high quality baby gear.
hahahaha i know! i totally get the obsession now. but we don’t have any strollers that we don’t use! well, aside from the original orbit stroller that was recalled. i don’t feel comfortable giving that to anyone since it was recalled and since they went out of business, i couldn’t get the parts to make it into a double stroller. that’s why i got the uppababy vista! i def wanted one that the car seat could snap in to. the only other stroller we have is the uppababy umbrella stroller i mentioned above, which we use constantly for max, but it’s just a single! i only have 2. :)
Just wanted to leave a little note about double strollers. :) I have 18 month old twins and we have a tandem (Baby Jogger City Select) and a side-by-side (Thule Urban Glide Double) and for me I have to say that I think the tandem stroller is so much more convenient for everyday use. The double side-by-side strollers are just so wide that they make going almost anywhere a giant pain. I love our Thule for running or going for walks, but if we are going to the store or the mall or anywhere indoors I always take the City Select. It is almost impossible to navigate a crowded mall or grocery store with a side-by-side stroller. If you are thinking about getting a side-by-side for walking outside I would recommend getting the Thule or the Bob or a stroller that is made for jogging. Even if you are not planning on running, the jogging strollers offer a much smoother ride and are way easier to push with two kids. They are also much better on gravel or rougher terrain. I love my City Select but it is difficult to push on anything except smooth surfaces. Hopefully this information is helpful and not annoying!
thank you!!! so so so helpful. i researched and read a lot about that too. the uppa baby i have now is the a tandem but is so bulky for the long run. i think there is also a graco tandem version i’ve seen that might work once she is bigger?? def will look into the bob for walks and stuff. thanks!
Hi! I just wanted to piggyback off this comment. I have the same exact two strollers that I got for my now 2.5 year old twins. Could not agree more with the feedback was on them! Really love the Thule and did a lot of research comparing to the BOBs and Baby Jogger versions. It’s my absolute favorite, turns and folds very easily and if it wasn’t so big, I would have loved it to be my every day stroller.
Jessica, we also have the Uppababy G Link double umbrella. I got this thinking it would be easier to fold and would eliminate the need to remove seats (over the City Select) … and small enough to fit through aisles and racks of clothing at stores, etc. I almost wish I never invested the money – I find it nearly impossible to turn and maneuver unless going straight. My husband who is 6′ 3″ says it’s uncomfortable to push because the handles are too low and not adjustable. For whatever reason, my kids always look like they are sliding down when they sit in it. However, it IS convenient to fold and store away.
Wish you the best of luck with your gear searches! Love reading your baby posts in helping with recommendations for my own toddlers and 6 mo old! Kudos to you for maintaining this blog and writing books with two little ones. I can barely make a home cooked meal with the three of mine running around these days!
Have you seen the Phil and teds double?! I’m pregnant with #2 and we already have the double kit for our city select (and our car seat clicks into it) so we will use that at first, but I’m seriously considering the Phil and teds for when they are older, the second seat is basically IN the basket so it’s the smallest double I’ve ever seen!
As far as “places to put a newborn” we pretty much have all the same things as you do from the first time around – rock n play, bassinest, bouncer, mamaroo, Leachco pod… but I am still SO tempted to get the docatot. I didn’t know about it with my first or I probably would have, but with so many things already do we really need it? Is it really that amazing?!
Definitely getting the milk snob car seat cover! You must be loving picking out all the cute girly clothes! We found out we are having anothwr boy and I am excited but still a little sad I don’t get to go to town on pink and glitter! :)
i have seen the phil and ted’s, but i know that (at least at this stage) max would just hate riding underneath the seat!! it might be an option later, but he would just refuse to sit under there!
i like the dockatot a lot, but i still think the pod is better. i think it depends what you want to use it on! i think the dockatot is safer for sleeping – it’s not as squishy. but it also doesn’t prop them up to sort of lounge around?
So, we’re casually trying for #2, and your baby favorites last time around SAVED us. And the podster, omg the pod. I now have my sister and THE ENTIRE ROW OF HOUSES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD using it. Even this weekend my almost two year old pulled it out of the closet to bounce around on it.
Question, how necessary is it to have the Doc a Tot and the podster? We have a very small house, so toting the pod around never seemed that big a deal to us.
Also, booties: You have to try June and January. They’re amazing. Actually all of their clothes are amazing, and it’s easy to find fun matching gender-neutral cousin outfits.
Thanks for all the tips!
thanks carrie!!
i don’t think you need both!! if i had to pick, i’d still choose the pod, for sure. the dock a tot might be safer for sleep at night (though we don’t even use it for that), but it’s not as easy to carry around and it also doesn’t prop them up for lounging!
Could I ask what car seat you’re using for Max now? I have a daughter about his age and we are looking for a new one. Thanks for the recs!
hi! we’re using the nuna convertible one! had to get him a new one after the orbit was recalled and we really love this one.
We had boy #2 in September and I got the City Mini GR and so far we love it. I haven’t traveled much with it but it has better suspension than our Bob single and both kids ride comfortably. That being said our first will be 3 in May and he is a munchkin and I get the feeling he won’t fit in it beyond this year. Not sure he will need to but nice to have the option. Also the buckles come apart when unsnapped which can be super annoying while struggling to get two wiggling kids in. Otherwise it is a great purchase and it doesn’t feel super wide or bulky
We LOVE our City Mini GT! My LO is 13 mo and I have a feeling she’ll fit in it for several years yet. I run with it, use it for errands (when I’m not wearing her), walk on the greenways with it… it’s fabulous. And it’s so easy to fold/unfold and store!
Also. LOVE our Milk Snob cover. We use it as a high chair cover, shopping cart cover, and nursing cover (it’s perfect for me, but I’m petite!). When she was teeny and in an infant car seat, we also used it as a car seat cover. So functional and versatile! And it packs down super small!
We have a City Mini GT at my parents house that my mom has always used for walks. etc when she watched Max. It’s amazing and we love it too (once I figured out how to get brake off, haha) – which is why I definitely am considering the double!
Hi Jessica! Fellow worrier here. Do you have a mirror to watch Emilia in her rear-facing carseat? Is it one that attaches to the headrest or the rear windshield? Does your car have adjustable rear headrests? Mine does not, and I’ve had a hard time finding a mirror that doesn’t fall off my windshield every 2-3 hours. Thanks!
Hi Mia! So I had a mirror on the head rest with Max but could RARELY get it to sit so that I could see him properly. It drove me NUTS. With Emilia, I bought another one but I also have a new car, and again – cannot get the mirror to work where I actually can see her. I do have adjustable headrests but can’t get it to work! I haven’t been too worried though (maybe it’s second child, syndrome, haha!) because I haven’t driven far with her in the backseat yet by myself. Every time we’ve gone somewhere 60 minutes away or something, my mom is with me or Eddie is driving and someone can check on her if we are worried. I just make sure that nothing is near her face or anything. I was waaaay more worried about this with Max that first time around than I am with her.
Hey! Love your blog, love uppababy- we have one kid and use the Cruz and love it!
About the doc a tot and baby loungers in general- i do not want to rain on your parade or mommy criticize, but please be careful using it on soft surfaces, especially in the crib or bassinet. the instructions specifically say that they shouldnt be used in those circumstances, it’s essentially like a crib bumper. i am only commenting because my daughter was in the NICU for 4.5 months and we were constantly educated about the ABC’s (alone, back, crib) of safe sleep, to the point where it regularly scares the shit out of me.
loved my owlet, i dont think i would have slept ever if we didnt have that when my daughter came home from the hospital!!!
Hi
I read your blog. Love reading your baby posts in helping with recommendations for my own toddlers and 6 mo old! Kudos to you for maintaining this blog and writing books with two little ones. I can barely make a home cooked meal with the three of mine running around these days. Thanks for the sharing such kind of great post here.
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I’ve been reading these posts since Max, but now that I am pregnant I am going back and stalking them! I’m considering the Vista for longevity (quality product, potential double) and because of the big wheels/storage (we live in an urban area and plan on doing a lot of bumpy sidewalk walking/less car). Is it me, or do you have/intend on getting A LOT of strollers? I am totally ignorant on this topic but I am trying to get a sense of whether or not I’m making efficient choices. I’m hoping if I get the Vista I would be able to use it for a long time, combined with an umbrella stroller or something like the G-Link. I’m also considering the City Mini GT which I think you said you also have. Any advice would help!
Love this!! I was at Nordstrom today looking at double strollers and was trying to decide between the Nuna Demi Grow and Uppa Baby Vista and I think I’m going to go with Uppa Baby because, like Max, there’s no way Olivia would sit facing me and it looked way too cramped. But, did you use your Nuna Pipa car seat in the Uppa Baby Vista or did you buy Uppa Baby’s car seat?
Amazing! I have been waiting for these. I am going to show my relative. Great features! thanks for your unique blog.