Things I’d Buy Again as a First-Time Mom (From a Second-Time Mom)
When I was pregnant the first time, I spent so much time researching what we needed — and still ended up with things we didn’t use and missed things that would have made life easier.
Now that we’re on baby #2, there are a handful of items I would absolutely buy again… and a few I wish we had from the start.
If I were building a registry as a first-time mom again, these would all make the list.
Looking for links? I've rounded everything up in a Locker collection here.
Recliner (instead of just a glider)
Originally I thought a recliner felt unnecessary and planned to use a glider with an ottoman. After more nights than I expected sleeping in the nursery, this is one thing I wish we had. I’ve fallen asleep in the chair countless times, and being able to fully recline would have made those long nights a lot easier.
We have one in every room at this point. It’s great for sleep, travel, and keeping routines consistent.
We switched to this humidifier because it’s easy to clean and doesn’t create excess moisture in the room. After reading mixed reviews about mold with other humidifiers, I wanted a lower-maintenance option, and this one has worked really well for us.
We didn’t get the Nanit, but I wish we had. You can use split-screen mode to watch two kids in the same app, which would be so much easier. Right now we have one monitor on an app (Miku) and the other on a handheld monitor, and it’s just not as convenient.
One of those things that doesn’t seem necessary until you use it. Being able to wipe it clean instead of washing covers constantly makes diaper changes much easier.
Still one of my favorite purchases. I love that it uses regular trash bags instead of brand-specific refills, and the steel design really helps keep odors contained.
We used a bouncer a lot with our first and got just as much use out of it with baby #2. It’s one of the most practical things to have around the house, especially when you need somewhere safe to put the baby while you’re doing everything else.
We started Lovevery with our first and have gotten just as much use out of it with baby #2. Some of the toys have been passed down between both kids, and they continue to be some of the most-played-with items in our house. I love that the kits are tailored to each stage and take the guesswork out of finding age-appropriate toys.
If you’re formula feeding, this makes life so much easier. It mixes the perfect ratio and temperature automatically, which is especially helpful in the middle of the night when you don’t want to measure anything.
We didn’t get this with our first and I regret it. When you’re washing bottles multiple times a day, this saves so much time. Especially with two kids, being able to run bottles quickly without loading the full dishwasher is a game changer.
Another small thing that makes everyday life easier. We use this constantly for cold bottles, frozen breastmilk, and even reheating bottles mid-feed.
We made life so much harder the first time by heating bottles in random cups of hot water and guessing the temperature. A travel warmer makes outings much easier and takes the guesswork out.
Wearable Breast Pump and Pumping Bra
I didn’t switch to a hands-free pump and pumping bras until baby #2, and I wish I had done it the first time. It makes feeding so much easier when you’re not stuck holding everything in place.
Tripp Trapp High Chair with Newborn Set
I love that this can be used starting at birth with the newborn attachment and then grows with your child. Looking back, this is something I wish we had from day one instead of waiting until baby #2 to get one.
Joie Mint Latch Baseless Infant Car Seat
No base required, with a built-in latch system. This makes it really easy to move between cars and is especially helpful if you travel during the first few months.
Works with the Joie Mint Latch Car Seat, which makes it perfect for quick outings. The biggest benefit is being able to move baby without waking them up.
I’ve tried a lot of carriers (Artipoppe, BabyBjorn, Solly Wrap), and this one is the easiest to put on by yourself. It’s also simple to switch between inward and outward facing, which makes it my most used carrier with the second baby.
Looking back, some of these are products I'd buy again in a heartbeat, while others are things I wish we'd had from the start.
If you're building a registry, hopefully this helps you skip a little of the trial and error.
Want to browse everything in one place? You can find all of these products in my Locker collection.