What I'm Doing Differently With Baby #2

Today I'm sharing what I'm doing differently with baby #2 and how I'm fixing my newborn mistakes! I hope these newborn tips are helpful for you and help you avoid the first time mom mistakes that I made!
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[@BDixon-te9vj]

I used the “moms on call” book with my 1st child and it worked wonderfully. So with my second I started their schedule/routine at 2 weeks(per the book) and it was such a seem-less transition. It gave me time to spend with my toddler so I didn’t feel like I was neglecting her and time for myself. The book gives realistic outlines of schedules depending on your babies age and it provides “crazy day” routines as well. Both of my children started to sleep 12hrs a night since 12weeks of age. I recommend it to every friend that is pregnant. I would say though, to give it a good week or 2 to solidify your routine and then after that it’s smooth sailing. It’s makes a huge difference when you know exactly what time they go down to nap so you can plan things around it and activities with the toddler in stead of going of off wake windows which can be all over the place. Also the days we had to be on the road for story time and things like that I made sure I brought a portable sound machine and it allowed for the baby to still sleep and not be cranky. I hope this helps!

[@Adoptivemomx2]

Here’s an idea: on the days your going to do a bottle, so you can get a chunk of sleep do it in one of the nighttime feedings so Matt can feed her too! That way it will benefit you all! He can bond w her (not that he won’t already), she’ll get used to the bottle and you can get a stretch of sleep. This will help make your days w a toddler and a newborn “easier” I hope. Also, have Rowan “help” w getting her diapers for you, getting burp cloths, etc. He’ll love that feeling of being a big helper! It’s so fun! I’m excited for you! You’ll do great!

[@Matt_Acuna]

We actually did this with Rowan!

[@Thisorganizedmother]

The second time around I made more time for myself to eat and shower instead of staring at my baby while he slept. 😂 And I did not sleep while baby slept during the day because that messes with your own sleep rhythms.

[@mahoganyiana282]

I feel this spiritually. I put myself in the back burner out of pure anxiety

[@Thisorganizedmother]

@@mahoganyiana282 Totally! I feel like a different person the second time around and I think everyone appreciates it. 😅😄

[@MeganAcuna]

I’m hoping to prioritize self care more this time around too 😅 It’s hard!

[@ejmartinez313]

My biggest difference with my 2 month old versus my 20 month old is not picking him up as soon as he stirs. With my first I felt so bad letting him cry but unfortunately with a second baby one of them has to cry and also he stirs and then just puts himself to sleep right away

[@adriannrodd5250]

Watching as I just got my first positive test for our rainbow baby #2. I’ve been watching you for awhile but stopped during my miscarriage. Happy to be back enjoying your videos❤️

[@Matt_Acuna]

Congratulations!!

[@bunnbunnrunn2548]

I loved hearing all of your thoughts with baby #2! I'm going to be a first time mom this fall and I really appreciate your videos!

[@moriahquintana2584]

This video came just in time! I love these types of sit down videos! I’ll be trying a lot of this with my second baby as well. ❤️

[@emmaengland]

I am also a type A planner and trying to learn as much as I can before baby comes. That’s why I’m here! ☺️ Your channel is by far my favorite on KZbin. Thank you for all of the great content 💕

[@bettinak.4]

I'm a first time momma, and my husband gives a bottle to our son once a night. That extra sleep saves my life.

[@Matt_Acuna]

Yay husband! Good for him to pitch in and help!

[@samcobb1353]

Reading baby’s cues is definitely huge. My son is so much different than my daughter. My daughter refused a paci and hated being swaddled and my son loves his paci and loved being swaddled. She was ready to have purées around 4 months and he wasn’t ready for anything besides his bottles until almost 6 months old. And he doesn’t really like purées. He wants real food. So, I definitely agree with reading baby’s cues and not putting so much pressure on yourself or them to hit milestones at certain times. Letting them guide you is game changing. Trusting yourself is awesome but trusting your baby is incredible. They know what they need and when. You’ll do amazing.

[@jasperjax3254]

Pro tip: you don't have to take your shirt off for skin to skin if you never put one on. Pretty sure I walked around in just a nursing bra for the first few weeks and only put a shirt on if I was leaving the house.

[@mel_budgets]

Love this…about to be a first time mom in October and these tips are so helpful. Thanks love your channel. 🥰

[@StephanieHajal]

I totally agree about more skin to skin time! I wish I would have done more of that too with my first too. Hope you had an amazing babymoon👶🏼🌝

[@ashleyingrande8948]

I have a 9 month old son and I’m due with my daughter in October!! I agree with everything you said! I did a lot of those things the first time around too and will be changing things up a little bit for my daughter!

[@imdrawingablank17]

I’m so thankful for the experience I had with kids before I had my own, I’m the oldest of 6 and babysat for a long time. The normal “new mom” stresses didn’t really get to me, I can’t imagine how y’all did all that while caring for new little babies, you poor mamas 😂🥰

[@vheidiv]

Thank you I enjoyed this x

[@carolemoores8070]

I love your videos. You're doing a fabulous job with Rowen. You will be fine with baby Juniper. Such a lovely, modern family. 💕

[@phoenix1391]

Second time around changes that we want to do are very similar to yours. Minus the wake window. We were too lenient and accidentally made her over tired and it was a long struggle after that. We do more of wake window range but also go off of her cues during that window range. I hope that makes sense.

[@JessMullaney]

Skin-to-skin is 100% the thing I wished I had done more with my son as well!! I didn’t do as much of it for the same reasons as you but next time will for sure make the effort.

[@kellyjf990]

Hey Megan! I love your channel and find your content so positive and chill! Rowan is adorable and your family seems so happy! Like another commenter said, give yourself grace. It certainly doesn’t seem like you made any “mistakes” with Rowan that you need to fix for baby Juniper. You are doing great-your kids are fed, clothed, and loved, and that’s what matters! Raising a child is hard and messy, and I believe it’s all about finding what works for you and your family on every decision, rather than what you think you “should” do (outside of pediatrician advice). With that, I felt compelled to comment on the topic of sleep. As a mom of a 14 month old, I wish someone had told me before my baby was born that my baby will sleep without sleep training. I have always nursed him to sleep and overnight, and he naturally started sleeping through the night when he was ready, around 5-6 months. At first I spent so much time worrying that I was creating bad habits, but I now look forward to this time of connection, realizing that babies and toddlers are just communicating their needs and are incapable of manipulation. Of course his sleep is still affected by teething and milestones, but I wanted to give you encouragement that even if you don’t sleep train Juniper, I’m confident she’ll sleep through the night when she is ready! Heysleepybaby on Instagram has been a validating and encouraging resource for me when I have felt overwhelmed and anxious about my baby’s sleep. Highly recommend her account to you and anyone else reading! Anyway I’m sorry for the long comment, but wanted to give encouragement from one mom to another! Congratulations on your baby girl! ☺️

[@krystalt2496]

I agree 100% with this! @heysleepybaby has taken so much of my worry and anxiety about sleep. I’m so glad I found her before my baby was born. I hope you get a second to check her out! Congrats, Megan!

[@charlettedaigneault8903]

The exact same bottle situation happened with me and my daughter, who is my first. Definitely will also be offering more bottles when we have our second kid one day.

[@alexandriakaitlynrauchle9119]

Thank you so much for talking about how you won't be changing her at every feed during the night!!! This is the #1 thing I will do differently. I'm expecting my second baby also and they will be very close to the same spacing as yours. With my son, I thought that if he had pee in his diaper that it would rot his bottom off like poop did, but it absolutely does not! No one ever told me any different though, and it never occurred to me to ask! I know that alone will be an absolute game changer.

[@boycerazor]

I feel all these things so much!! Especially the sleep, I was so concerned about trying to get baby to sleep in her bed, next time I'm going to be way more chill and enjoy the cuddles but also have a good sleep routine. And I defs relate with the skin to skin. Such a hassle but wish I did more of it. Will invest in more comfy clothes that I don't have to fully remove for skin to skin.

[@stephanieruddock1386]

I gave both my EBF babies a bottle 1x per day from birth of pumped milk, as well as binkies immediately, and they never had nipple confusion. I made it into a routine of always doing g a bottle before they went to bed and pumped if my hubby was the one putting them down or pumped right after if I was doing the bottle. I would usually get 8oz and they only took a max of 4oz, so it was a good way to build a stash for when I went back to work:) I BFed both until 17 months. You will do great!!

[@twiggyyy2]

I use a gifted wipe warmer with my first for the first little while of his life (he was born in November, so it was cold), & I can say it with assurance that they are a waste of money. By the time the wipe makes contact with the child’s butt it’s pretty much cold, plus it would dry out the wipes that were near the bottom of the wipe warmer. Just warning you, but it goes without saying that you can make your own decision about it.

[@kaitlinross4348]

Ahh we also had a baby during the pandemic, so we had some of the same problems! Not being able to go places much, not being able to nap in the car or on the go, etc. I will be taking baby #2 out way more too! Hated having to be home for each of her naps, not like we went anywhere lol

[@StephanieKardjian]

What we did early on was offer a bottle right away with a little bit of milk I had pumped and I would put her vitamin D supplement in there. It was about an oz or so at a time and I think it was a great way to introduce a bottle while being flexible with nursing!

[@NatalieAlfordvideos]

I would also do more skin-to-skin!! I didn't want to strip myself or my daughter off either but I wish I had done it more, as well as get my husband to do it too. Also not worry about wake windows as much, I was obsessive about it for a long time and it caused a lot of unnecessary anxiety!

[@jessicamcclure3464]

I totally agree that for my next baby I’m going to get my baby to be able to sleep on the go more! To this day, we have so many issues with her being able to sleep out and about and at daycare. She wants her crib in the dark with the sound machine and it’s so difficult to get her to sleep anywhere else

[@christinagarcia6258]

So agree with you about the overnight diaper changes! My second baby is 3 weeks old now and before he was born I did more research about that and found that if you put lanolin on them before going to bed it will protect them and you don’t need to change them till morning 🙌🏼👏🏼 Been doing that for two weeks now and it’s been working wonders for our sleep and also he’s been great down there so no issues with that!

[@thatjoyfulmama]

How do you not change them till morning? My baby poops in the middle of the night and I wouldn’t have him sit in a dirty diaper till morning

[@bree_babyy6255]

GooodMorning girl ❤️ I’m 29 weeks pregnant with baby #4 & there’s ALOTTT I wanna do differently this time. Same with the pacifier, my baby is definitely getting one this time no doubt lol

[@MeganAcuna]

Binkies save sanity 😂

[@aliswatzell940]

I'm a first timer (38weeks) but my lactation consultant said she has only seen ONE case of true nipple confusion. So yeah.... I'm not going to be shy with the paci!

[@caitlin9823]

I actually did no pacifier with both babies and it worked out for us because I didn’t have to worry about taking it away!

[@frankiebee2980]

Same. I gave the Binky to my son for random situations like grocery store or a public place where he had to be quiet and he treated it more like a toy because he never got it regularly. Worked great for us!

[@MeganAcuna]

That’s awesome! Every family is different 💛

[@zeeak308]

my baby spat out the pacifier at 3 months and just didn’t accept it anymore.. i guess it was a blessing in disguise

[@thatjoyfulmama]

We tried but my son doesn’t care for the pacifier

[@bethanysummers3377]

I persevered with a dummy for comfort/sleeps and it helped her settle so much and then swapped the dummy for a little blanket toy at 6 months old and my daughter took to it well.

[@zayraivette]

I have a 4 yr old a 6 month old and both are so similar and different at the same time. My oldest put himself on a schedule about 6 weeks old and slept for 3-4 hrs at a time. At 3 months, he began sleeping through the night. With my littlest, she began sleeping through the night at about 4 weeks old. However, she wasn't very consistent with naps during the day for a few months. They varied in length and I just went with the flow until they regulated and she became more consistent. Both were bottle fed (personal choice) and had a paci introduced at the hospital. Last thing - I once heard someone say that the kids should be incorporated into your life not the other way around. It resonated with me because I've been very intentional on not losing myself in motherhood. This second time around it's been a bit harder because you have less time but I've learned to lean more into my husband for help.

[@bethanysummers3377]

I started a more structured (slightly flexible) routine of feeds with my second baby. (And not leaving them to comfort suck, I learnt that one too!) Feeding roughly every 3 hours during the day which meant waking them if needed, fitting 8 feeds into the daytime to fill them up. The last feed was a dream feed about 10.30/11pm. I never woke them for feeds during the night, fed them only when they woke. By 4 weeks old they started sleeping 6-8 hours at night. I think the day sleeps still need to be in a naturally duller lit room so they don't get confused with day and night. Also I would put my baby down for a sleep from awake so they would learn to self settle themselves easily. Instead of rocking in my arms I would pat, shhhhh, play soft music in their bed at night or rocker during the day. Only leaving them once starting to fall asleep. She slept in bassinet, or rocker at home and pram or car seat when out. I would cover the pram with a light muslin wrap for sleeping time. She started to know the sleep cues easily. She would wriggle to be put down when tired. Not for everyone but was a game changer for me. She was always a great sleeper from then on.

[@HappieronaHorse]

I thought wipe warmers were totally frivolous at first (and still consider them a “nice to have”). We add distilled water to ours to prevent the wipes from drying out plus a few drops of lavender oil to prevent bacterial growth and make them smell nice. Makes the entire diaper changing experience so pleasant. I like that it also prevents that loud crinkly sound when you get to the end of the package - I would struggle to get that last wipe out one-handed in the middle of the night 😆.

[@abbykmackenzie]

these videos are so helpful even with preparing for my first little one due in january! megan, could you tell us what the sleep course you took is called?! :)

[@HeyJessica]

Just a heads up the owlet had some neg press a few months back and was pulled from the market for a while. Trust your mama instincts and do what makes you feel good! Just wanted to let you know in case you didn’t. ❤️ love your vids.

[@MeganAcuna]

I think that was with the newest model but we have the older one!

[@lizzybee91]

What sleep course are you reviewing? Thank you ☺️ Feel you on the bottle thing, my daughter NEVER took a bottle so it was just me. Hoping to introduce it earlier on and keep on giving it to her at least once a day.

[@josiestyers5784]

I was super anxious with my first and wore it on her every night til she was like 7 months old. With my second I haven't even pulled the owlet out.

[@ejmartinez313]

I find it so much easier to bottle feed versus nursing because it’s easier if I need to put him down to chase my toddler versus the boob. Also prepare yourself for the fact that the second one is different. Rowan is 2 months older than my first and my NB is now 2 months old and everything you said is the same for me specially with pandemic errors, but just in general he’s a better sleeper, a better eater, I produce more milk, it’s a whole different experience

[@stephanie6275]

Wow, this is pretty much what I would like to do with my next Baby! Especially bottle and pacifier, I was also so worried about nipple confusion 🙈 and didn't get a break for pretty much 6 months permanently having him on my boob. Also I need to get more educated about baby sleep. Pregnancy/labour/breastfeeding took up all my research time 😅 In my case I want to take more pictures straight after birth. My husband and I were so overwhelmed we didn't take any so just have a few polaroids the nurses took.

[@KrystenStrunck]

Im def doing a paci but im still waiting on the bottle for a little bit just cause i domt want him ti have a preference cor the bottle. It happened with my first and it wasnt good. :( I also need to catch up in my sleeping info lol

[@dreamingofyoutube6077]

Currently Pregnant with my first, 28 weeks!! But one of the tools that I learned from Bridget Taylor here on youtube is to use Lanolin on your baby instead of diaper cream, it helps keep the moisture at bay and is a natural way to prevent a rash so I made sure to pick some up.

[@zayraivette]

My baby has super sensitive skin and would get a diaper rash if her poopie diaper wasn't changed right away. She wasn't responding at all to normal diaper rash creams (I tried several). Her doctor recommended Vaseline and told me to slather a layer on her bottom to help heal by keeping the moisture at bay.

[@dreamingofyoutube6077]

@@zayraivette I believe, lanolin is similar 💖 Glad you were able to find something that worked!

[@aliq4456]

My daughter and I did a lot of skin to skin in her first couple months while she was in the NICU but she's definitely not cuddly either. Lol like she never fell back asleep in our bed but she was also not breastfed. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@kat9240]

The only thing I really want to change the second time around is being consistent with offering a bottle. We did it for the first month and then only breastfed until a week before I went back to work and trying to get him to take a bottle was such a nightmare for everyone because he would just refuse it or there had to be absolutely no distractions just to get him to drink a few ounces. Also I would be more consistent with doing BLW while home and purées while I’m at work because he is so difficult to feed now

[@pricilasanabria1882]

What course did you when it comes to newborn sleep ??

[@kayteep5129]

My biggest regret is feeling guilty for giving my baby bottles in the beginning when we were struggling with latching. It took us 8 weeks to finally start to get the hang out breastfeeding, but I felt so defeated by bottle feeding in the beginning bc I so badly wanted to breastfeed. So if I could do it again I’d give myself more grace. Also I’d learn how to side lie nurse a lot sooner. This saved my sleep in the newborn days as we would both fall asleep together while she ate. We are only 7 months into motherhood, but I really tried to let go and go with my baby’s needs and cues and not be stressed about a strict schedule.

[@teethgroundsharp]

My partner and I took shifts at night during the newborn phase to give each other space to sleep. Now with a toddler, I know we will have to figure out how to coexist in the bedroom with no sleep 🤪

[@yarazard]

It’s such a good idea to take baby out in beginning, especially if you are the type of person that needs to get out of the house to stay sane lol. Even if you just put them in car and go to a small shop or outdoor walk area. This gets them used to carseat as well. Also, if you are having trouble getting them to nap routinely, the movement of car will put them out!

[@liii9903]

💕

[@microvan1234]

When my son was a newborn he absolutely hated being wet. There was a period of time where we were changing his diaper every half an hour because whenever he’d pee he would immediately start to cry. Luckily that was only a few weeks but man did we go through a lot of diapers. Wipe warmer for night time changes is def a life saver!

[@lauraspencer4173]

LITERALLY SAME!!! Mine just stopped like a month ago and while he still doesn’t like a wet diaper; it’s not the world ending screams when he has to pee back to back

[@kaitlinross4348]

Same with our girl! She is still the same way at 15 months but now she’s able to rip off her own diapers lol. I always wondered how some parents were able to use so little diapers!

[@microvan1234]

@@kaitlinross4348 mines 18 months and takes his diaper off too haha. One time he did that when I wasn’t looking and then stood on the couch by the window and effectively flashed the street 😂

[@kaitlinross4348]

@@microvan1234 Hahahaha oh my😂 Better watch mine, I could so see her doing that😂

[@sincerelyscootie6048]

I kind of regret giving my girl a pacifier lol she's almost three and won't give it up but on her 3rd birthday, its got to go. I also had her on a pretty good feed/sleep schedule before my dad ruined that. Every time she cried he wanted her to have a bottle. Cue me being up every hour feeding her. Stretch out those feeds and she'll most likely sleep longer or through the night, so I've been told

[@morganunraveled]

me rn, watching & holding my one week old: 👀👂🏻 couldnt have clicked this video faster!

[@MeganAcuna]

Congratulations on your little one!

[@ZoeColeman]

You can buy overnight diapers and not change unless it's a poop! Love those 😛

[@xJaMi3]

My 2nd was a girl and just wanna let you know you should change her almost everytime cuz girls get diaper rashes wayyy more often than boys is what I'm finding out. My son hardly got rashes but daughter gets them very often. Even as a newborn.

[@bethanysummers3377]

It might depend on each baby as my 2 babies didn't get rashes much and I have a boy and girl. Maybe the nappy brands too🤷‍♀️

[@xJaMi3]

@@bethanysummers3377 I know every baby is different. I just saying she could get rashes more easily not saying hers will.

[@myrak25]

I would be just so much kinder to myself. I drove myself crazy trying to do everything and when something didnt work I would kill myself. I would also be okay with supplementing with formula. Especially in the beginning. It took me a very long time for my milk supply to kick in and I just think I need to be more okay with that

[@charrinnereynolds2674]

9......

[@stressed4305]

My motto is "If its pee, let it be" overnight lol

[@zeeak308]

ya i just got nighttime diapers that absorb really well

[@charrinnereynolds2674]

Hey call Mom hey I'm mommy daddy