Gift Ideas for a Second Baby

A first baby often arrives with a lot of fanfare, but the second child in the family often receives less attention. Traditionally, showers were only given for the first child in a family, but more recent trends indicate that showers and gifts are more often offered for each child born to a family. Even if a family has items still usable from their first child, select gifts especially for a second child and share in the joy of a new life.

  1. Gender-Specific

    • Choose gifts based on the baby's gender. If the second child is a different gender from the first, plenty of options exist for gifts. Give clothing, blankets, sippy cups, toys, socks, or shoes for the new baby in gender-specific colors or styles that the family will not have. Big items like car seats, bouncy seats, portable cribs and crib bedding also come in various colors for boys or girls.

    Pamper the New Mom

    • Second-time moms must learn to divide their time between two children, and depending on the children's age difference, they may find little time left for themselves. A thoughtful gift for a family welcoming a second baby is gift certificates for the family's favorite eatery, a massage for the new mom and dad, a spa treatment, or another favorite activity. Encourage new parents to maintain their relationship with each other by offering to look after the little ones while the parents enjoy some time away.

    Practical Gifts

    • Even though they are so small, newborns consume some items in large numbers, including diapers, wipes and formula if the mom is not breastfeeding. These gifts are always welcome, even though they may lack the "wow" factor. A gift of diapers and wipes frees up money that the family can use to purchase other needed items. Get together with some friends and prepare several freezer meals for the family that can be used anytime.

    New Gadgets

    • If the second child is born within a couple of years of the first, technology and the marketplace are constantly changing the offerings for babies and your gift can reflect this. The latest car seats and cribs feature updated safety features that may be appealing to parents. Parents will often enjoy having the latest version of a popular toy or baby game. Clothing styles change seasonally, so if the new baby belongs to fashion-forward parents, choosing a gift that reflects the latest styles will be welcomed.

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