Getting gifts for a new mom is easy. They know nothing and they need EVERYTHING. Getting gifts for a mom having her second child? That’s a little tougher. They’ve already got all the necessary gear, they don’t need or want any more toys and you probably can’t “wow” them with a newfangled baby product because they’ve been there, done that.
So what’s a lady going to a “sprinkle” to do?
(For those not in the know, a “sprinkle” is a “shower” for a mom who has already been around the block at least once. I just learned this myself.)
Instead of getting gifts for the baby, I recommend getting gifts with the mom in mind. The dad too, while you’re at it. You know what my sister decided is her new go-to gift for a second mom? MY BOOK. Yep, that’s right. “The Mommy Shorts Guide to Remarkably Average Parents.” Because by the time you get to number two, you know “perfect parenting” is a big charade and we’d all be a lot happier if we didn’t pretend that raising kids was a piece of cake.
For this month’s swag bag, I partnered with Plum Organics to put together a “Second Baby Survival Kit” to get you through the newborn phase AGAIN. Plum Organics has been a huge supporter of my book (even sponsoring my book tour) because they share my desire to celebrate the realities of parenthood. We both believe that by talking about the ups and downs of having a new baby, like in Plum Organic’s #ParentingUnfiltered campaign, we help normalize the experience for everyone.
Here’s what you’ll find inside our Second Baby Survival Kit:
1) Plum Eat Your Colors Line
Remember when you had your first kid and you thought you had to make all your baby food from scratch? HAHAHA. Those days were hilarious. Why make your life difficult when somebody has already done it for you? Plum’s brand new Eat Your Colors line comes in six vibrant colors which is a great way to get your baby to experiment with different foods and take in some extra nutrients too.
2) $50 Gift Card to Urban Sitter
You know what parents of two or more kids need more than anything? A NIGHT OUT. What stops them? Lack of childcare and lack of planning. On Urban Sitter you can find trusted sitters at a moment’s notice, recommended by people in your community.
3) Lifefactory Wine Glasses
Do I need to explain why parents need to relax with a glass of red every once in awhile? These wine glasses provide extra grip and protection and maybe prevent a spill or two. If they don’t prevent a spill, at least they prevent them shattering on the floor.
4) Chewbeads
Once you’ve dealt with your baby eating your phone, gnawing on shoulder and using your sunglasses like a chew toy, you realize you need a more foolproof teething plan in place. Chewbeads are the one thing you own that you won’t mind if it winds up in your baby’s mouth. In fact, that’s the point.
5) Ear plugs
When you finally decide to sleep train the baby, these “I’m Not Listening” Ear Plugs will come in handy. They’ll also come in handy when you breastfeed the baby and don’t want to hear your toddler screaming for help in the other room. You’ll get to him eventually.
6) “Stick a Cork in it” Pacifier
I remember “pacifier” vs. “no pacifier” being quite the debate when my first was a baby. Would it mess up her teeth? Would she become too dependent on it? Would she use the pacifier straight up through grade school??? Nope. The answer is NOPE. Both my girls used pacifiers religiously when they were little and we took them away when the doctor told us too (around 18 months), with way less drama than we imagined. I say, it it helps, “Stick a Cork in it.” The pacifier can be a total sanity saver.
7) Adult Coloring Book
When both kids are finally down for the count, what’s a mom to do? Sleep when the baby sleeps? NAH. Let off some steam with the Swear Word Coloring Book for Parents. Since your kids probably can’t read, feel free to color when they are wide awake too.
8) Assortment of Plum Snacks
Nothing makes parenting easier more than well-received snacks. Pre-packaged single serve snacks that you can toss in a diaper bag like Plum’s Little Yums Teething Wafers, Mashups, Mighty Snack Bars are what makes the world go round. Puffs were my go-to to keep my baby seated at a restaurant before the food was served. Now, Plum’s Super Puffs come in a larger variety of nutrient-packed flavors. And I can’t say enough good things about Plum Mighty Dinos. We go through a pack a day at my office and we don’t even have any children in here!
9) Sleep is Overrated Candle
This Strong Cup of Coffee-scented candle will keep you awake when you know going to bed is futile. You’ll just need to get up in a couple of hours anyway. Plus it can help you feel rejuvenated in the morning after another sleepness night. Did I mention that the scent can do wonders to hide that diaper pail stench?
10) Grounds for Change Coffee & Numi Tea
If the candle doesn’t do the trick, maybe actually ingesting caffeine will help. Grounds for Change produces fair trade organic coffee, including this bag of their Cafe Femenino blend from Peru. If tea is really more your thing, the Numi Tea Mini Sampler has 8 different teas for you to try.
11) Dry Shampoo
It’s called Dirty Secret for a reason. New moms don’t have time to shower everyday and new moms of baby #2 don’t have time to shower at all. But nobody has to know that if you’ve got the right dry shampoo.
12) Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Truffles
I’ll meet you in the kitchen to sample these Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Truffles from Alter Eco. What? You don’t see me? Try crouching down behind the counter so you’re not in your toddler’s line of view. There I am!
13) Basq NYC Bright Eyes
Remember how I said sleep is overrated? Somehow your undereye bags didn’t get the message. Hopefully, this cucumber eye cream will help with your dark circles, because we both know your sleep schedule isn’t getting any better for at least the next five years.
14) A signed copy of my book!
As I said, there is no better gift for parents of a second child than to tell them that’s it’s going to be a shit show for a little bit, but that’s okay. The shit show happens to us all. If you want to find out when the good stuff starts, turn to Page 154, which is titled “Why You Should Have Two Kids.” You can buy “The Mommy Shorts Guide to Remarkably Average Parenting” here.
To enter, you must subscribe to the Mommy Shorts newsletter and leave a comment below sharing your best piece of #ParentingUnfiltered advice for moms and dads about to have their first or second or third or fourth or…
If you don’t already subscribe, you can do so here.
WINNER UPDATE:
Congratulations to Alexis L! Please contact allie@mommyshorts.com to claim your prize!
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This post was sponsored by Plum Organics, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read all of the articles….they will scare you so much you’ll think you’re a pro when you realize all those things you read about aren’t true for everyone.
learn to laugh at yourself! take parenting seriously but don’t take yourself seriously. and, seriously do what works for your family. formula feeding or extended nursing or cheerios or only organic, whatever it is, do what works for you- AND!- give other parents the same grace. we’re all trying our best or doing what works for us. we’re learning just like our kids are!
Just found out we are expecting baby #2… definitely in panic mode since #1 is only 7 months old and I feel like I’m still learning how to do this mom thing with one!!! I just take one day at a time and it doesn’t seem so overwhelming. Having an amazing husband helps too ?
don’t feel bad if you are too tired to play with your children, lay on the floor and let yourself be a jungle gym. my 6 month old loves climbing me and pretending I’m horse and all I got to do is just lay there.
I’m due with my second baby in May, and since work has gotten busier, my toddler’s attitude is now something else, I have learned sometimes it’s okay to have fast food for dinner a few times a week.
My advise is utilize the iPad! And ignore people who judge your amount of screen time!
My second is a week old and my first is almost 3. Best advice…you husband/partner can’t read your mind, even if you think your needs are obvious. When he’s eating lunch with your 3 year old and your starving to death with a boob in the babies mouth, ask the man to make you a darn sandwich.
Stay calm and try to not to laugh at your toddler daughter when she gets weepy after learning that she’ll never get to breastfeed her baby brother. ?
Ferber your baby. It’s the best thing we did. It helps lay the groundwork for lifelong good sleep habits.
Drink wine and give everyone in the house some slack–yourself included!
Advice, buy paper plates and plastic wear because sleep is WAY better than doing the dishes!!!
Pick your battles with your older child and learn how to use a crock pot!
I love these ideas as sprinkle gifts! As for advice? Take parenting advice with a grain of salt.
Cherish every moment.
Know that every family’s journey is different – don’t compare!
Take just as many pictures as you did with your first!
BREATHE (with wine)!
Helping my sister raise her three year old since birth, has me thinking I’m ready for my 1st baby … 8 weeks pregnant and hoping I keep this state of mind till my baby is 20 hrs old ?
A clean house is way overrated. They time flies way to quickly enough them and play with them.
I’m about to have my fifth kid in five years on Friday. My best advice is to do what you have to do and have a sense of humor especially on the hard days.
First time commenter, long time snapchat follower!! I’m a pretty new mom myself, but so far I definitely think buy more wipes than you’d ever think you’ll need.
My husband and I have just welcomed our second little boy 11 weeks ago. There is no amount of advice that could have prepared me for this kind of torture, oh I mean…joy. Living with a toddler and a newborn is utter chaos. Just when I finally thought I had this whole mom thing down, colic and a sleep hating newborn have taught me I don’t know jack. The best advice I have is acceptance. Accept that it is not going to be perfect, your kids are going to act out, the newborn will cry, and most of the time so will you. Just quote that Queen Elsa, and “Let it go”.
Leave your baby with his aunt! – We don’t have any kids, but my nephew is due to be born into this world on Christmas Day, and I plan on giving my sister and brother in law this advice as often as possible 🙂
Mom of 2 under 3 here. Best piece of advice I can give is to choose your battles. Sometimes it’s worth spending ten minutes in the toy aisle at Target while your kiddo sings karaoke with the Frozen toy to avoid a meltdown!
Best piece of advice I can give is to choose your battles. Sometimes it’s worth spending ten minutes in the toy aisle at Target while your kiddo sings karaoke with the Frozen toy to avoid a meltdown!
I’m 35 weeks pregnant with our second, so I have no real advice. In fact, in total freak out mode over here. But, reading through all of these comments is super helpful! I think the advice I can give myself, and have to make it a point to remember, is just to take one days at a time.
I’m two weeks away from being a parent of 2! So far, my best advice is to enjoy the time alone with the first born as much as you can. It’ll never be just you two ever again! I’ve been putting off housework to savor every moment of my “only” child before he is a “big brother”.
Entering for mom give-away p.s. í havent stopped following you since election ?? love you all!
The best parenting advice I’ve ever been given is very cliche but also the most helpful. It’s is, listen to the advice of other mothers, when appropriate and warranted. Ultimately though, do what feels right for you and your child(ren). #ParentingUnfiltered
Also, the song Keep your head up by Andy Grammar always lifts my spirit on a hard day.
I’m currently pregnant with number 2 but my best advice so far is to remember that the days (and nights!) are long, but the years are short!
I just had my 2nd baby. When they say 2 is a game changer, they weren’t lying! This is definitely a crazy ride. It’s been a challenge of a life time but the most rewarding. It would be even better if both kids took naps at the same time to give mommy a break. Haha.
Smell snuggles for a while.
“Let it go, let it go”
Be kind to yourself! Moms are far too hard on themselves over and we all just need to lighten up and have fun raising our babies!
Do the best that you can with what you have.
Just had my first, best piece of advice is to find the way that suits you and not to listen too much to everybody else telling you how to do things.
I am a recent mom of two and my advice is to RELAX and take your time when it comes to getting out of the house. I would rather show up slightly late but in a great mood than on time but in a horrible mood, or worse, having taken my rushed attitude out on my two year old who has no idea what time it is!
Pick your battles. Let them pick their own clothes even if it’s painful to watch them going out of the house in ‘their’ outfit.
Try to avoid constant mommy guilt! You aren’t doing it wrong.
Pick your battles and stop comparing your parenting to others. Every family has a different way of making it work. Currently pregnant with #2, and feel like I have such a different outlook on parenting than I did before #1 was born.
My friend had said a million times that going from 1 to 2 almost killed her and had vowed to never have another. She shared that #3 is on the way yesterday. Praying for her 🙂
The serious how-to parent books will kill you. Ilana’s book is all you need to survive. #realtalk #parentingunfiltered
Must needs for any mom, new or not.
Would love to win this for my friend and her wife who just welcomed their second baby and have spent the last few weeks balancing between their oldest, the new baby who is in the NICU and work. They could totally use this survival kit.
I don’t have any advice for the second baby because I only have one myself.
It’s totally acceptable to look de you mind and be a slob for a little while. Everything is going to be okay ?
Lose your mind**
My best advice to 2nd time mom’s is to trust your instincts, even when they are completely different from when you had your first! Everything I thought I knew with my first, every philosophy I thought was in line with my parenting style went out the window! 2nd time parents philosophy…SURVIVAL!
You will never be on time all the time.
Don’t be concerned with anyone else judging you, your parenting style, or your parenting decisions. If your kid is alive and happy (sometimes), you’re killin’ it!!
Just had my second child (daughter) November 1st and it’s a challenge to say the least! Sleep has evaded me for the past 2 weeks lol with my son I was reluctant to receive help for the first couple months because I felt as though it was wrong to have someone watch him so I could sleep or whatever lol but trust me take the help!! With a toddler and a new born I’ll take the help where ever I can get it ? Showers longer than 5 minutes and cat naps have never been so important!
I am about to have baby #2 in January! ?? So I will be new to this, but I think it’s important to also take time for yourself and don’t feel like you need to do everything alone. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, for your own sanity!
Remember that everything is a phase. If you like it, don’t get too used to it, it will change. If you can’t stand it, just wait, it will change. So much easier to remember the second time around!
#ParentingUnfiltered I am a mom to a nine year old, a two year old and a newborn. My advice to other moms out there is to not purchase so many pointless things that the baby doesn’t need and won’t use, try to take a nap when the baby takes a nap, when you want to take a shower and just put your baby inside a bouncer or something similar and put it inside the bathroom so that you could watch the baby as you shower. These are some tips to the other moms.
My best piece of advice is to prepare the first child for their sibling’s arrival as much as possible! We set a lot of expectations (the baby will be tiny and require a lot of our attention), reaffirmed my son’s essential role in the family, and even tried to get him to interact with other people’s babies. (I wrote about it here: https://welleatyouupweloveyouso.com/2016/03/01/getting-ready-to-become-a-big-brother/)
While you have help, figure shit out. Grocery stores, target, doctor appointments etc. These trips are a snap now because my mom helped me figure it out in those first weeks.
Best advise – as a mom of 2 boys – always point the firehose down! LOL!
Your first child will most likely have some jealousy toward the new baby and may want more attention than usually because they see you giving it all to the new sibling, but it sometimes helps, if you get your first child involved with helping you with taking care of your new born. It helps make you older child feel important and needed. Also they are still getting attention that is needed. Then you have help getting things done too. ?
Make a deal with you significant other to excuse anything that is said to one another anytime past 1am when you have a newborn in the house.
Don’t get to comfortable! As soon as you get used to something (sleeping through the night, preferences, favorite show, routine, etc.) they’ll start a new phase and you’ll be back to square one. Get used to being flexible and don’t have strict expectations for anything and you’ll never be disappointed.
It’s ok to give in sometimes, you’ve got to pick your battles! #parentingunfiltered
I’m not sure I’m in a position to give advice, I’m pregnant with my second and my first is very dependent on me. He is in a mommy phase where he wants me and not daddy to do everything. We are trying to ween him off this because it’s going to spell trouble in a few months, but it has not been easy. I wish we had been more firm and not given into his wanting only mommy from the start.
do what works for you and your family, dont worry about everyone elses opinions and judgements
My advice is you can never own too many socks, finding other mom friends will save your sanity, and remember that no kid comes with instructions. We are all doing our best.
When a blow out happens, it’s ok to just toss the outfit. Your other kid can be your “helper” and take it out to the trash can for you.
Remember it’s okay to be a remarkably average parent and just do what is right for your family!
My one little piece of advise is to still make time for you and your spouse. The more kids you have, the harder it is to find someone to watch them. HaHa! So go out and have a nice adult dinner without the kids when you can! 🙂 You’ll feel re-energized and ready to tackle your babes when you get home!
Some advice for a second baby?? Paper plates. There’s a reason target offers them for $2.99 for 54286 plates!! Take advantage of anyone who is willing to help, you don’t have to do everything! Lastly, enjoy the baby. As hard as it is to imagine, it does get easier. The laundry/mess/dishes/etc will always be there, just hold that baby and breath in his or her sweet baby breath. ???
My advice for a first time mom… just relax the first 3 months and spend time with your newborn. Let them sleep on your chest and binge watch Netflix. They don’t stay new for very long, you can clean the house later.