Hellobee

With the exception of buying diapers and a new nursing bra for me, we really didn’t buy very much for our second baby. Living away from family eliminated having a baby shower, and since the girls will share a room in the future, we didn’t need to buy any new decor for a nursery or toddler room.

Since we didn’t need any small items, we focused on things that we’ve always had our eye on, but never necessarily needed. When family and friends asked what we wanted or needed, we were honest and told them we’d prefer money so that we could cash it in towards the things we wanted. In other words, we splurged on a few things, and I’m totally in love with them.

A “Best” Chair Storytime Series. I’ve been in lust with this brand of chairs ever since I first sat in one at Buy Buy Baby many moons ago. The price tag on it is steep, but it’s worth every penny. I chair shopped for months, hoping I could find a better (and cheaper) one, but I never did; I always came back to this one. We ended up using a 20% off coupon (and I’ve heard they sometimes let you stack them for custom orders, but our cashier didn’t play along), so that took a little off the bill. This chair is my jam. It’s ridiculously comfortable, big enough to fit two littles (and an adult) in it, and best of all: it’s silent when the recliner goes back into its normal position (another popular brand was extremely noisy, which isn’t beneficial if you’re putting a baby back to sleep in the middle of the night). I purchased the “Irvington” in an “ash” color.

Solly Baby Wrap. I had a popular wrap (a Moby) for baby number one, and I used it all the time, because I loved having her close and having my hands free. The problem was that I was pretty sure we’d both pass out from the heat—this particular wrap was made of a thick material, and that, combined with living in the south in the summer, was miserable. I heard about Solly Baby while I was pregnant with baby #2, and kept my eye on it. Multiple friends raved about them, boasting about its lightweight, breathable material, and gorgeous colors. I justified on buying this splurge item by getting a great Black Friday deal. They just released their spring line, and I’m going ga-ga over some of the new hues! (Insider tip: keep an eye on their Instagram account—they sometimes offer promo codes!)

4moms rockaRoo. We sold our swing after baby numero uno (international move and all), so this was one of those items we needed to buy. I debated between the Rockaroo and the Mamaroo and went for the first level of their swings/rockers for a few reasons: 1) I’m cheap and wanted to see if she could make do with the cheaper model 2) several friends sung this versions praises, so I figured it was worth a shot 3) I figured if it didn’t go well, I could sell it and get my money back. As I type this, she’s sound asleep as it rocks back and forth. For now, it’s a keeper!

Timi & Leslie “Abby” Diaper Bag. This almost didn’t make the list, because I was making do with my old diaper bag from last time…until it broke a week after she was born. I wanted a diaper bag that looks like a purse and this one more than fits the bill. I puffy-heart love it! It’s large enough to fit all of the baby’s things inside and roomy enough to fit my things, too. I especially love its capability to hold my water bottle on the side pocket, the flap with an additional two pockets in front, and how many “extras” it comes with (a clutch for mom, stroller straps, crossbody strap, changing pad, and more.). Totally worth the money. (Insider tip: check out the “other sellers” section of Amazon to possibly get it cheaper!)

Baby Jogger City Select (with the second seat). Our neighborhood lacks sidewalks and is extremely hilly (think San Francisco type hills…I’m only slightly exaggerating); because of those things, if we ever want to take a stroll around the ‘hood, we need a good stroller for two. Our area is pretty safe, but cars can still be unpredictable, and I’d rather both girls were contained as long as possible. We also travel a lot, and while I’m sure the toddler will enjoy walking, I don’t want to be miles away from the car and have her throw a tantrum because she’s tired of walking (and then I’ll be too tired to carry her). Enter the double stroller. After test driving dozens of strollers, this one fit the bill for our family. It’s durable, there’s a dozen ways for the seats to sit, and it’s on the smaller side when it comes to a double stroller (it’s not small, mind you, just smaller than some). My husband loves it, too, and he’s even gone running with it.

So those were are splurges—some were planned, and others were bought more on whims. Did you have any splurges for any of your kids?