11 Second Baby Gift Ideas That Are Real Winners
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When you’re having your first baby, you need everything. However, after that, you might want to be a bit more intentional. These second baby gift ideas are really great to share with those who are wanting to get you something for your new baby.
As a second-time mom, you’ll also know exactly what it is that you really need. Second babies can typically use a lot of hand-me-downs. Second time moms are good at knowing what is a necessity and what’s just “nice to have”.
These gift ideas aren’t just for the new baby though. There are things here that every new mom will enjoy receiving.
11 Amazing Second Baby Gift Ideas
With baby number two you may be more interested in receiving diapers than you will be fancy (and impractical) baby outfits. The truth is that the best gifts are the ones that are wanted or needed by the receiver.
You may not have the option of sharing what you want, but if you do have people that ask, having a list like this is a great way of graciously asking for things you’ll actually use.
If you are putting on a baby sprinkle for someone (or a baby shower) who is in their second pregnancy, be sure to include a list of baby shower gifts for those attending.
#1 A better car organizer can make a world of difference
With one child, you can get often get by with a couple of extra bags, but with 2 children the game has definitely changed. Thankfully, there are all kinds of clever car organizers out there that can help stressed make the most of whatever space they have available.
Some organizers are designed to compartmentalize the trunk, for instance, while others fit between seats. There are even soft flip-trays that allow for holding cups, snacks, and other items.
You’ll have to review a few to find your favorite, but a better car organizer can save mom and dad a whole lot of time and stress!
Older children don’t usually require as many items, but there needs to be room for their things too, and not just the burp cloths.
#2 Babysitting coupons made by you
If there’s one thing that parents that suddenly have a second child need, it’s TIME. If you really want to put a smile on their faces, then all you need to do is to make up some babysitting coupons with a warning to call in advance and with times and dates specified that coincide with your schedule.
It doesn’t have to be a whole month or anything. Even a single weekend or 2 to 3 evenings is going to be appreciated like you won’t believe.
It’s a gift from the heart and it will definitely be appreciated if you’re willing to make the commitment.
Honestly, sometimes the most helpful gift you can give is to offer to watch the kids so groceries can be picked up or mom can get her hair cut.
Or, you could offer to pick up the groceries.
In the early days, mom may not really feel like going anywhere. It’s great to offer to take the baby on a walk in the stroller so that she can take a nap. It’s a special gift that doesn’t take much but can make a really big difference.
Thoughtful gifts often don’t cost anything but time.
#3 ‘Gopher Duty’ gift cards
In the same vein as babysitting cards, if you love the parents dearly but don’t relish the idea of being stuck with a crying child, you still have another ace card up your sleeve. ‘Gopher duty’ is a term often used by interns, who as part of their duties often have to run errands for their bosses.
‘Go for this, go for that’ turned into ‘gopher’, and thus the term!
By creating coupons or cards that offer ‘Gopher duty’ at certain hours of the day when you are free, you will be helping the new parents immensely.
The logistics of getting out to pick things up with 1 baby is hard enough, but with 2 it can really be a trial until the parents get into the swing of things.
So, offer your assistance in picking things up, like formula, grabbing laundry, dinner, or whatever else they need. As far as second baby gift ideas go, this is one that will really be appreciated!
I would also suggest pointedly asking if they need anything picked up. Don’t just leave it up to them. Often new parents feel as though they’re burdening others. Be clear about your willingness to help and specifically ask them what they need at the beginning of the week or day.
#4 Bottle Sterilizer and dryer combos are timesaving wonders
With one baby, the standard method of bottle preparation is the old ‘put the bottle in a pot and boil it’ and while that’s fine, you can automate things with a combination bottle sterilizer and dryer.
This will help to ensure that cleaning the bottles is not a chore and that there is always a fresh, sterilized, and dry one ready. Remember, time is at a premium, so every minute saved is like a gift from the heavens!
I bottle-fed my second baby almost exclusively right from the beginning and it took a minute to get into a routine of cleaning everything. A bottle sterilizer can be worth its weight in gold.
Equally so, a good bottle drying rack was incredibly helpful. However, they may already own one, so be sure to check first before buying it for them.
#5 Double strollers are a godsend
A double stroller helps to make a world of difference when there are 2 kids instead of 1. Moms and dads, stuck at home with the kids, often find that they need items that might be trivial to get with 1 child present but a logistical nightmare with 2.
A double stroller simplifies the equation nicely!
These can be pricey so a great idea is to give a gift card to be used towards the purchase.
Alternatively, you could gift a baby carrier. This is particularly good if they have older kids that don’t need to be in a stroller. Mom can be hands-free to do what she needs to while also keeping the newest addition safe and close.
Baby gear isn’t cheap so helping an expecting mom with this expense is a great sweet gesture.
Related: Stroller vs Pram
#6 Door Dash cards make stressed moms happy
Stress and hormonal depression can make mom a bit of a mess until her body adjusts, and a new child can also get dad stressed, too. This leads to parents forgetting to eat or making do with junk food and it’s definitely not good for their health or stress levels.
To help with morale and to make sure that everyone is getting proper nutrition, why not give the gift of Door Dash cards? After installing the app, they’ll be able to order whatever they want and the morale boost can be exactly what the doctor ordered!
#7 Laundry Service gift cards are worth their weight in gold
Laundry piles up quickly and if the parents have a tiny washing machine, this can definitely be a veritable fountain of frustration. You can take the edge off and make both parents very happy indeed with the gift of a laundry service card.
Check your local laundries and dry cleaners in the area and you can find an excellent rate for a week, 2 weeks, or even a month of laundry, so that they can drop it off and pick it up later, with one less thing to worry about it!
We can guarantee that your thoughtfulness will be very much appreciated!
Alternately, offer to sit and fold washing for them. My mom kept on top of the laundry for the first week after I had my first and second babies. It was absolutely amazing!
It also gave us lots of opportunities to sit and chat as I fed the baby and she folded clothes.
Newborns go through a lot of clothes, and so does the mama in those first couple of weeks. Not having to rummage for clean clothing means one less thing to have to think about.
Related: How to Keep On Top of the Mountain of Laundry
#8 Sound machines can soothe savage newborns
Sound machines that play soothing tones, such as rivers flowing, water trickling, nature sounds, or even rainstorms can soothe even the crankiest child once mom or dad finds a sound that they like.
Sleeping kids is a recipe for relieved parents, so this might just be the perfect second baby gift if they haven’t already purchased one.
We used a sound machine with all of our babies. They did become more and more helpful the more that we had though. By the time my third came along, she could sleep through a truck driving through the house!
Honestly, though, I found the sound machines not just great for keeping babies asleep, but they also helped drown out all the tiny little squeaks and such that newborns make. They’re noisy little creatures and it would keep me up.
Having a sound machine helped mask those so that I would only be woken up when my baby was truly awake and ready for a feed.
#9 Personalized blankets make useful keepsakes
A personalized blanket with the child’s name on it is a wonderful gift and keepsake that the child can also use. Looking back, years later, that tiny, personalized blanket is a reminder of just how much the child has grown, changed, and developed and let’s face it – those little blankets are ADORABLE.
In a similar vein, you can also gift a family quilt, that has the family name and if you want to get creative, you can sew in little designs as part of the quilt that will evoke memories, stories, and other sentimental reminders so that it’s a very personalized keepsake that they will always treasure.
I’ve found that we’ve really used our baby blankets. Now that my kids are older we keep them in the car for road trips. The kids love to snuggle into them. They have me remind them who gave them to them and where they came from.
I have loved crocheting a blanket for each of my nieces and nephews. They have been well loved and used! I enjoyed praying for them as I crocheted and dreamed of the blessing they would be when they arrived.
#10 A surprise stock delivery of baby wipes is ALWAYS welcome
One of the most practical gifts that you can provide is a surprise delivery of baby wipes (and diapers, if you are feeling particularly generous). A lot of people give gifts that are nice, but not as practical as parents with a second addition to the family might like.
Wipes are extremely practical. Parents go through enormous amounts of them and they are an expense that really adds up over time. While it’s not the most exotic or interesting gift, it’s definitely one of the most useful.
So, if you want to make sure that you give a gift that isn’t going to collect dust on the shelves, then why not simply go with wipes? Mom and dad will definitely be grateful!
Add to that one of the biggest baby essentials – diapers. Just be sure to gift the receipt right along with them so that if their baby grows fast they can switch them for a size up.
Honestly, diapers and wipes are always a great option no matter if this is a first child or fifth!
#11 Home-Cooked Meals
Door dash cards are obviously very welcome, but sometimes we just crave the taste of something homemade.
You could even organize a meal train among friends.
Organize dinners to be brought to the new mom for a couple of weeks. You could even suggest that the meals be able to be frozen so they can be stored for later.
In the early days, it is hard, but there are also days a little further along that can be really challenging.
For instance, when my husband had gone back to work it was really challenging getting dinner on the table when I had a crying newborn and a grumpy toddler.
Often great gift ideas are ones that focus on really making someone feel loved and seen. This often looks like helping and being practical.
Related: How to Be a Calm Mom
Practical Gifts vs Cute Baby Items
The perfect gift for a second or even third baby is not necessarily a cute baby outfit. I would always suggest erring on the side of practicality before anything else.
The caveat to this is if you’re gifting something particularly sentimental. Even second-time parents want to have something special for each child.
A kind lady from our church gifted each of my babies a special blanket. We still use those blankets now even though we’re well out of the baby stage.
I think some of the best advice is to ask first. Don’t just assume what a new mom is going to need.
She may be totally happy with diapers and wipes, but she also may want some new baby clothes.
With our second baby, I was happy to receive some clothes. We had had a boy before her and I really wanted some dresses!
However, our third was another girl and more clothes would have just been difficult to find a place for. Homemade meals and practical gifts were absolutely a blessing that time around.
Just remember that a gift is meant to bless the one it is gifted to. Just because it’s something you think is great doesn’t mean it’s going to be great for the one it’s being given to.
The Best Gift of All
For the first three months or so lots of people tend to check up on a family that has just had a baby. Newborns are scrumptious after all. However, I found that around 4-5 months things got really tricky. Babies tend to be awake a lot more and some even begin teething.
By that time everyone else has kind of gotten on with life.
One of the very best gifts you can give is to check in on that new mama. Months after her baby is born, check-in and see what she needs. I promise you that she will appreciate it so very much.
With my second baby, that was a time I really struggled. I was so desperately lonely and overwhelmed. With my third baby, I didn’t feel the same way. Everyone goes through different seasons, but checking in and seeing how they’re going will always be appreciated if it’s done with love.
You may even consider dropping off a home-cooked meal or two. I would have loved that!
Phone calls may not get answered (she’s busy after all), but do send texts. Don’t be offended if she doesn’t respond right away, she may not have a choice. I can guarantee though, that she will greatly appreciate the thought.
Final Thoughts
Second baby gifts do tend to be a bit different than those for a first baby.
Ultimately, you’re going to be focusing much more on how you can practically help a busy mom and bless the entire family.
If they have other young children you may even consider doing some small sibling gifts such as a coloring book.
Whatever you decide, this list is sure to give you some great food for thought!
