Preparing for your second baby's arrival: simple ways to help manage two

Delivering the goods: What to buy new and what to reuse

When should you start preparing a baby number 2 checklist? Start early, don’t wait until your third trimester before going through all your old boxes. It will take longer than you think, particularly when you are preparing for a second baby with a toddler in the house.

First, go through your boxes, clean up the old items and make sure things work safely. Here’s a list of things you must have on your baby 2 checklist:

Spitting the dummy: Preparing your older child

When bringing home your new baby, will your first child feel jealous? The age gap will make a difference, but most likely he or she will feel jealous of the attention the new baby is getting. Children under two will likely feel more intense jealousy than an older child. Usually, children over three better understand their new role as a big brother or sister.

Childrens’ books can be a great help in preparing older siblings for the arrival of a new baby.  Look out for these books I Am A Big Brother, I Am A Big Sister, and You Were The First. Well before your baby is born, don’t forget to ask your first child if they don’t want their toys, clothes, and crib before passing them down to baby number 2. This will make the transition and life much easier.

Baby one more time: Get ready again

Dust off your hospital bag and what goes inside it. To refresh your memory, check out this list here. While you are at it, work out the must-haves you’ll need in your postpartum kit.

It’s also a good idea to revisit your original birth plan. Write out your birth plan again and put it in a binder with the other paperwork that you want to give to the hospital on arrival. Some parents also do refresher prenatal class. If it’s been a while—and it’s a bit of a blur—it’s a great idea. If you don’t think you need one, it is worth revising some of the things you learnt the first time around.

 And finally, before the big arrival day, stock up on meal prep, frozen meals and essential items for the household. The last thing you want to have to worry about with two kids is what to feed them when you come home.

THE AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF FAMILY STUDIES BACK IN 2018 CALCULATES THAT A FIRST CHILD COSTS BETWEEN $3,000 AND $13,000 IN THE FIRST YEAR ALONE. AND ONE OF THE LATEST STUDIES COSTS OF KIDS REPORT BY SUNCORP BANK IN 2021 SHOWS THAT THE COST OF RAISING A CHILD IN AUSTRALIA HAS INCREASED MORE THAN 10% PAST FIVE YEARS THERE WILL BE SOME SAVING ON YOUR SECOND CHILD, BUT LIKE MOST LIFE GOALS, IT'S BETTER TO MAKE A BUDGET AHEAD OF TIME IF YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE THEM.

The comprehensive study by The Australian Institute of Family Studies back in 2018 calculates that a first child costs between $3,000 and $13,000 in the first year alone. And one of the latest studies Cost of Kids Report by Suncorp Bank in 2021 shows that the cost of raising a child in Australia has increased more than 10% in the past five years. There will be some saving on your second child, but like most life goals, it’s better to make a budget ahead of time if you want to achieve them.

First off, don’t wait too long to go through your stored baby things, that way you’ll know exactly what you need to buy ahead of time. Also, the sooner you start planning the more you can save. Knowing early what’s on your second baby checklist means you can take advantage of sales.