The Ultimate Gear for Baby #2
Unlike with our first son, the nursery is not painted and decorated months ahead of his due date. I haven’t smelled every piece of newborn clothing before folding it and placing it lovingly in the dresser. Who has time for that?! The Ultimate Gear for Baby #2
But a month out, I am finally getting excited to meet our new little man. The impending change from one to two children had us hunting for the ultimate baby gear to help us with feeding, traveling and general day-to-day living as a family of four. Through research, recommendations and good ol’ experience, we have landed on these fabulous products to help us make the transition from one little boy to two.
Bridge The Bump
It is getting cold and my winter jacket no longer zips up over my ever-expanding baby bump. I need a way to protect myself and soon, a little boy in baby carrier, when we embark on Winter Wonderland explorations with his big brother. Cue Bridge the Bump, the ultimate winter coat extension for pregnancy and beyond that zips right into my current jacket. With a quick and easy online zipper quiz and a number of styles available, BTB has made it easy for mamas to get outfitted for the winter. Water –repellent, windproof, stylish and lined with quilted microfiber, these coat extensions are perfect for pre and post-natal outdoor adventures. Both baby and I will be kept warm and dry this winter while we play with my toddler in the snow. The Ultimate Gear for Baby #2
Basic Baby Co.
Baby number two doesn’t get a baby shower and the likelihood is that they will spend their babyhood (and childhood) in hand-me-downs. But don’t they deserve some stuff of their own?! Don’t you deserve some new baby stuff?! This is why, basic baby co is the perfect solution for getting those items that you know you need, perhaps want, but not things you don’t. basic baby co. has simplified the baby prep process by curating a collection of the best, tried-and-true products on the market for both parents and baby. Here you can find practical products parents need and will actually use – the best swaddle, coziest stroller blanket, toys that they’ll play with, top board books, nursing gear, postpartum accessories and more.
The mother-daughter duo behind basic baby co. has done the research, selected top-quality brands, sourced local suppliers and developed themed bundles to meet a number of needs (including sleep, play, post-partum, nursing etc.) that are delivered right to the front door, saving precious time. You can also put together your own bundle based on what you know you will need and want for baby #2 , without the items that you didn’t want the first time and don’t want again.
They offer competitive pricing and free shipping across Canada. The Ultimate Gear for Baby #2
Bugaboo Donkey2
I’ve been a Bugaboo fan since I got the Cameleon when my oldest son was born. Since then, I’ve gotten the Bee5 stroller for travel (adore) and we have just gotten our hands on Donkey 2, the ultimate multi-purpose stroller with lots of space and that modern Bugaboo style. With the Donkey 2, we can bring more with us on our adventures… including more children. True to the Bugaboo brand, this stroller is fashionable, innovative, solid and easy to maneuver. Engineers and designers have literally thought of every detail possible to ensure that a Bugaboo is beyond user friendly. Even grandparents can figure it out! 
Currently we are using the single rumble seat and side basket for our jaunts around town but soon we will be making the few easy clicks to turn it into a double stroller with car seat adapter or bassinet. As both a mono and a double stroller, this is a piece of versatile, luxurious baby gear that as a mom, I am thankful for, and very proud of.
Poppy & Peonies – The Bump Bag!
I love Poppy & Peonies’ line up of handbags, jewelry, clutches, carry-ons and more. The founder of Poppy & Peonies is a fabulous Canadian designer and working mom who has created an inventory built around her own need to find practical, trendy and affordable fashion. The Bump Bag! diaper bag checks all the boxes.
Beautiful on the outside, smart and roomy on the inside, this softly structured baby bag boasts an abundance of bright features including a built-in insulated cooler compartment for bottles and snacks, and multiple pockets for easy organization. A wipeable and easy to clean interior with top zip closure will keep all of my essentials secured and safe from my toddler, while mesh storage pockets, secure zipper and bottle pockets will keep my must-haves organized while I am on-the-go.
Thankfully, this bag also includes a cushioned, wipeable change pad and removable stroller and cross body strap so I can wear it lots of different ways.
Diono – Radian3 RXT Car Seat
It’s time to rejig the backseat: the toddler needs to move into a car seat that will take him from here through to booster- rear facing for as long as possible. We’ve fallen in love with the Diono Radian3 rXT, a good-looking, all-in-one convertible seat that is engineered to over-protect. This car seat is a mama bear’s dream, made from a steel alloy frame, aluminum reinforced sidewalls, energy absorbing EPS foam and memory foam. It is sleek, stylish and versatile, taking up minimal room across the back seat which means we can easily accommodate baby’s bucket seat, another passenger and of course, the dog. Perhaps equally as important, the cover is soft, comfortable and machine-washable! We are excited to ready or ride for our family of four.
Having this baby + toddler gear makes me feel much more confident about being a WFH mother of two…and surviving. I can finally say that our second baby is on the brink of arrival and we are ready….almost.