Written by Harbor Council Member, Shira Page

I’m currently prepping for the arrival of my third baby. We weren’t always sure we were going to have a third kid; in fact, for a little while we had pretty much concluded that we were done having babies and, as a result, began to shed most of the baby stuff from storage. This means that with Baby #3, I am mostly starting fresh.

The good news is that in raising my two older kids, I’ve learned a lot about what works, what’s a waste of time and money, and what’s worth the investment. Here’s what I’m doing differently with Baby #3…

Anything that can be secondhand will be

Budgets are tight and adding a new member to the family certainly doesn’t help with that. I’ve learned through my first two children that there are a few things that have very short windows of usefulness. These aren’t worth buying new and, fortunately, are frequently circulated in mom groups, Facebook Marketplace, and Good Buy Gear:

  • Pack ‘N Play

  • Infant clothing, shoes, and hats

  • Infant stroller

  • Baby carrier

  • Swaddles

  • Baby toys and activity centers

  • Bouncer

  • High chair

  • Baby furniture

An infant car seat that’s easy to move

Infant car seats can be heavy and hard to manage. When two kids are eager to get going or lingering by a parked car, there isn’t time to unfold a clunky stroller and then attach the car seat. I found a like-new Doona 2-in-1 stroller and carrier on Facebook Marketplace, and I’m so excited about it. Getting my littlest one in and out of the car easily will be a big win during family trips and school pick-ups.

A monitor that does it all

We never splurged on elaborate monitors with our older kids—we stuck with simple radio monitors that got the job done. With that being said, they did not last. This time around, I want to be notified about wake-ups rather than constantly having to listen to the monitor on my own. That’s why we’re choosing Harbor this time. And I love that if we need extra support, we can add the Harbor Remote Night Nanny or Sleep Coach CareTeam Texting Line for reassurance.

I’m saying no to snaps

With my first two kids, I couldn’t resist a cute onesie and paid little attention to how easy it would be to get on and off. Because of this, I ended up with many (very cute!) onesies that had dreaded snaps. When you have to undo a onesie every few hours for a diaper change, snaps can become your worst enemy. It reached a point where my daughters would chill with half their onesies undone all day. This time, I’m refusing to use snap-closure onesies and am instead choosing zipper or magnet closures.

An open mind about infant feeding

With my first kids, I went into new motherhood with the belief that there was only one “right” way to feed. My second kid threw me for a loop, as our feeding journey involved lots of pumping, nipple shields, and, eventually, combo feeding with formula.

This time around, I’m going into it with the mindset that anything can happen. I’m also focusing on the mantra, “fed is best”. I have access to support from local International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) and my own experience and education (I’m a certified lactation counselor myself!). I’m going to have the supplies for all types of feeding journeys, including formula, at the ready so I don’t panic if and when I need to pivot. It’s always a good idea to have a solid, hospital-grade pump like the Spectra S1 or S2 or Luna Motif.

Meal prepping

This one is ambitious, but there’s nothing better than a freezer full of nutritious meals to make the postpartum period less stressful. I love a high-protein breakfast, but cooking eggs with a newborn is an impossible task. I’m going to fill our freezer with microwavable breakfast burritos (this recipe is veggie-packed and very easy to make) and easy meals so we don’t have to rely exclusively on take-out.

Things that make mom feel good

If I’ve learned one thing from my past two postpartum experiences, it’s that focusing on having things for yourself goes a long way. Baby is going to be happy in any ol’ hand-me-down onesie. They don’t need new toys or books, either. What they do need is a caregiver who is feeling their best.

I’ve made a small registry with stuff that will allow me to feel cozy and comfortable during the first few weeks. Think: Outfits that are comfortable and allow my body to adjust to not being pregnant anymore, a warm blanket to help with feeds, and books and movies for rare moments of downtime.

Education and support. 

While I may be a “seasoned” parent, I know from my second baby that there is always room for a curveball. That’s why my spouse and I are taking a veteran parent class with NAPS. We also have a birth doula lined up and a list of services to employ in case we need extra support like a Remote Night Nanny from Harbor or a virtual certified lactation consultant. You never know what each baby will bring and no matter how much you know (or think you know), it helps to have a village at the ready!