When we found out we were pregnant with our second baby, I was sure we had everything we needed. We weren’t having a baby shower for our second child, so we knew we’d purchase any of the extras we ended up needing. These are the best gifts for second babies any expecting mom or dad would love to receive!
Best Gifts for Second Baby
My first son was 17 months old when our second son was born.
Believe me when I tell you that practical gifts are the things that ended up saving my sanity during that crazy time. Having a toddler and a newborn is no joke!
Diapers
Listen. When you have a toddler in diapers and bring a new baby home, you go through a TON of diapers.
Any parent expecting their second baby will love you for just buying them diapers and wipes.
Be the most awesome gift giver and give an Amazon Family membership. You can try a 30 day trial for free HERE. My favorite perk is 20% off diapers – so it basically pays for itself.
Backpack Diaper Bag
This is one of the main things that saved my sanity and let me get out of the house.
These are my absolute favorite backpack diaper bags. I have it in a gray Moroccan print.
The new mom or dad can throw in the diapers and wipes you bought them, grab a spare outfit and some snacks, hold the toddler’s hand, wear or push the baby, and still have complete mobility.
Trust me, these things are a game-changer.
Baby Carrier for Second Baby
This also helped me tremendously and I would buy a baby carrier for any of my friends expecting a second baby.
All of our babies have loved going for walks in a baby carrier and have easily taken naps in them.
These are my favorites:
Baby Swing for Second Baby
A second baby hurt my ability to cook and clean even more than having just a toddler at home.
This swing saved my life. It’s expensive, but it was worth it’s weight in gold when I just wanted to eat a sandwich without holding a newborn.
Here are some budget-friendly options:
Related: How Your Second Labor Will be Different Than the First
Related: How Your Second Pregnancy Will be Different Than the First
Gifts for Second Baby Same Gender
We had two boys, back to back. One was born in January and one was born in June.
This basically just means that hand-me-downs weren’t an option. None of our summer gear was appropriate with a newborn and all of our winter gear from our first son went unused with our second baby.
Just because someone is expecting a second baby the same gender as their first, doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll need less baby gear.
Don’t assume that your friend having a second boy or second girl has everything they need. When in doubt – ASK!
They will be so happy you did!
Big Brother Gift Ideas
You can do the big brother gift one of two ways.
Either bring it to the hospital or birth center with you if you plan to introduce the new baby to his or her big sibling there.
Otherwise, simply keep it hidden at home to give when the baby gets there.
If you’re looking for a more personalized gift, check out this superhero gift set.
This gift is perfect if you’re going to be introducing the siblings at the hospital or birth center.
We bought our son this cube activity gift from his little brother and gave it to him when the baby came home.
I delivered our second baby at a birth center, so we were home less than 12 hours after I delivered – that part was absolutely magical. You can read about my birth center birth here.
Big Sister Gift Ideas
Our youngest is about to be a big sister! I can’t wait to read this book with her and watch her transition from the youngest to a big sister!
We’re going to choose a few independent play items for her now that she’s getting older. These are some of my favorites:
Luckily for us, our little girl is learning from her big brothers how to play on her own and use toys above her age-range.
Still, learning to share our attention with one more sibling will be a transition and hopefully a cute gift will help ease some of the discomfort.
Second Baby Gift Ideas
When we had our second baby, we let our toddler pick out a gift for his new little brother.
We didn’t find out the gender, so we just helped him pick out a little teether toy.
These infant toys are awesome and can dangle from your baby’s carseat or playmat.
Trust me when I tell you not to skip this step. Your oldest child will beam with pride every time the baby plays with the toy they “bought” them.
Big Brother Gift from Parents
We had been eyeing up this adorable sports toy for a while and decided to get it for our son as a big brother gift.
We thought it would be perfect because we could play this with him during his one-on-one time.
My advice for parents expecting their second child is to stock up on some independent play items as well.
These can be simple, cheap, and even second hand.
If you have a toddler, check on Facebook marketplace for local listings for simple puzzles or blocks if you don’t already have them.
We also swear by Magnatiles. If I had to recommend one toy to parents expecting a younger sibling, it would be these magnatiles. Check on Amazon for the knockoff brand.
They work just as well and keep our toddlers entertained for HOURS. We’re going to add a second set to the tiles we have already.
Second Baby Checklist
- Gift for older sibling from baby. This is what we bought our toddler.
- Gift for baby for the older sibling to give them when they meet. This is the gift our son got our second baby.
- Size 1 or 2 diapers. Most babies either skip newborn diapers or outgrow them quickly!
- A baby carrier for the second baby
- A handy backpack diaper bag
- A nice gift for the new (again!) mom
Gifts for Second Time Moms
I’m currently pregnant with our 4th baby and I can tell you with confidence that going from one baby to two was the hardest transition yet. Maybe even harder than going from no babies to a newborn.
Food for New Mom
If you’re looking for a gift for someone close to you, consider making double batches of your favorite meals for the rest of her pregnancy. Freeze the extra batch and gift her a few freezer meals (or a whole freezer full of meals!) when the little one arrives.
These disposable freezer pans are great for this!
Self Care for New Moms
My sweet friend Dee bought me a bunch of spa supplies for my first baby shower. I thought it was the sweetest thing that someone would think of me when we were showering the baby.
These are my favorite at-home spa gifts for new moms.
House Cleaning Gift
Did you know Care.com sells gift cards??
I can’t tell you how badly I needed this after each of my babies were born!
If you think the new mama would be uncomfortable with a professional cleaning their space, consider picking up cleaning supplies that will make the new parents’ lives easier. These are my favorites:
Second Baby Shower Gift Ideas
If you’ll be mailing your gift instead of giving it in person, it might make more sense to purchase a gift set for the new little one.
This unisex gift set is a perfect option – even if the parents do know the gender.
This handprint set is such a unique gift that any new mom would love!
I know some moms are requesting books in lieu of cards, but kids books are expensive! I definitely think they are better suited as the actual gift! This Dr. Seuss set is adorable.
Are you shopping for someone who is expecting their second baby? What gift are you thinking of getting? If you already have a second child, what gift do you wish someone would have purchased for you? Let me know in the comments!
