Buying guide
What to reuse for a second child
Most of what you had for the first child works again. What to check first – the car seat, the mattress –, what to buy new and what you need extra for two children.
In short
- Clothes, pushchair, cot, baby bath, high chair and toys are almost always reused.
- The car seat is checked – date of manufacture, accidents, parts. The mattress is bought new if it is misshapen.
- Teats, dummies and breast pump parts are bought new.
- For two children close in age, think about how they sleep, how you get around and what the older one still uses.
With a second child you already have a wardrobe full of things, an opinion on each of them and a short list of what you never used. That is the good news: most of it works again. A few things need careful checking, and a few must be bought new, however good they look.
What you almost always reuse
| What | What you check |
|---|---|
| Clothes, sleeping bags | Elastics, poppers, zips; the bag in your child’s size |
| Pushchair | Brakes, wheels, fold, fabrics; see whether the carrycot is still in good condition |
| Cot | All the screws, stability, the base; it must not have been modified |
| Baby bath, changing table | Cracks, stability |
| High chair | Harness, buckles, locking |
| Baby carrier | Stitching, buckles, rings |
| Toys, books | Loose parts, batteries, paint |
| Monitor | It works, and Wi-Fi cameras have updates |
What you check carefully
The car seat. It can be reused if:
- it has not been in any accident, however small;
- it has all its parts and the instructions;
- it has not exceeded the period of use stated by the manufacturer; look for the date of manufacture on the label or on the shell;
- the model has not been recalled – check the manufacturer’s website or Safety Gate;
- it still fits the car you have now.
If you have doubts about any point, buy a new one. See how to choose a car seat.
The mattress. It works again if it is firm, with no dents, and was protected and kept dry. If it is misshapen, stained or has been in the cellar, buy a new one.
What you buy new
- Teats, dummies, teething rings.
- The breast pump parts that touch the milk, even if the pump is the same.
- Cloth nappies with loosened elastics or a damaged waterproof layer.
- Anything that has been recalled in the meantime.
More in what to buy second-hand – the same rules apply to your own things.
What you need extra for two
It all depends on the age gap.
Under two years between them:
- A second sleeping space. The older one needs a cot or moves to a bed, at least a few weeks before the little one arrives, so they do not feel it has been taken from them.
- Getting around. A double pushchair or a board attached to the single pushchair. See pushchair for twins or close siblings.
- A second car seat, and check whether two fit on the back seat.
- A baby carrier for the little one, so you have your hands free for the older one.
More than two or three years between them:
- one pushchair is usually enough, perhaps with a board;
- the older one already has a bed and a car seat suited to their age.
For the older one
It is not a purchase, but it matters: a few things that are only theirs, a place where small toys stay away from the baby and time with just you. The older child’s toys with small parts are one of the most often forgotten risks when the second child arrives. See safety at home.
Our recommendation
Take everything out of the wardrobe in the second trimester and check it piece by piece. Reuse everything that passes the check, buy new teats, dummies and breast pump parts, and reuse the car seat only if you know its whole history and it is within its period of use. Then buy only what you need extra for two children, according to the age gap between them.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the same car seat for my second child?
Yes, if it has not been in any accident, has all its parts and instructions, has not exceeded the period of use stated by the manufacturer (usually a few years from manufacture) and its standard is still accepted. Check the date of manufacture on the label or on the seat’s shell, and look up whether the model has been recalled.
Do I have to buy a new cot mattress for a second child?
Not necessarily. If the mattress is firm, has no dents, was protected with a waterproof cover and was kept clean and dry, it can be used again. If it is misshapen, stained or has been kept in damp, buy a new one.
What do I need extra if I have two small children?
It depends on the age gap. A second sleeping space, a pushchair board or a double pushchair, a second car seat and a baby carrier are often useful, so you have your hands free for the older one. Buy them as you see what is missing.
Think it could help someone else?
Send the guide to your partner or to a friend who is expecting a baby.