A third baby is centrally about what makes life survivable, rather than frills and aesthetics.
I couldn’t go out in public without random people commenting that my hands must be full with twins. Now I have a built in one liner of having no hands left with our newborn. With 3 children under 2 years old, our needs criteria has shift hard toward space saving, time saving and hands-free systems.
NEED: Baby Wearing Wrap (For Hands Already Full)
I occasionally used a baby wrap around the house for soothing a fussy baby while trying to straight up or tackling dishes. When we had a third baby at home, the baby wearing wrap became essential. I could take the twins out for a walk in their double stroller while wearing baby, or have them snuggling on either side while sitting on the couch.
What we used: Beluga Baby Buckle Carrier
When you already have two little ones, a new born, and Postpartum brain fog, the last think you need is multi step knot typing ritual each time you set out the door. I choose a simple buckle in and go baby wear that didn’t need to tap into my limited mental bandwidth. This was great for neighbourhood walks, family events and getting tasks done around the house. Baby could even breast fed the first couple months while strapped in.
NEED: Four Seater Wagon (Best Stroller Alternative for 3 Kids)
This was honestly my biggest logistical stressor with 3 under 2 years. Our two-seater car seat–compatible stroller had been our lifeline to the outside world. I was able to walk, shop, and run errands solo with confidence.
Now with 3 under 2, our options became much more specialized.
I elected to wear baby (see wrap above) until she maxed out the weight limit. Since everyone was so young, I sometimes managed to fit both the baby and one twin in the back seat while the other twin sat in the front. This worked until she was a little over one year old.
What we used: Keenz XC+ Plus 4 Person Stroller Wagon
This is certainly a wagon that comes with all the bells and whistles, allowing you to stay out all day. And really, if I am going to go through the hour long production to get out the door, I want to be comfortable staying out.
It comes with:
- an attached cooler (bottles/breastmilk, snacks, water)
- Rain cover with optional shade screens
- space to pre-pack: hats, sunscreen, sunglasses, blankets, diaper kit, a light cardigan, water bottles and more
That way, you just plop the kids in and go.
It folds up nicely for the van, but honestly, we mostly use it for walking trips from home.
NEED: Extra Diaper Bin (Or Two)
We were in the middle of toilet training when baby arrived. That means triple the diaper changes, and triple the waste. One pail simply wasn’t enough. We opted for one in the nursery, and one in bathroom to support toilet training. Because our boys enjoyed a Montessori style open concept room, a pail in their bedroom wasn’t an option.
What we use: Magic Majestic diaper pail
Diaper genies are great for managing the smell, but I didn’t like that they required pricier refill rings. Or that you had to press your hand into the diaper when throughing them out. Instead, we used the Magic Majestic diaper pail. Great odor control and no expensive propriety bags. Our little ones were easily able to use it unassisted to dispose of their pull ups themselves. They loved watching the pull ups disappear. This could possibly be good option for storing soiled reusable diapers instead.
NEED: Bottle Nipple Replacements (Often Forgotten)
Bottle nipple replacements are often forgotten but are an essential item to keep on hand. We hadn’t realized (or had simply forgotten) that the twins had chewed through the nipples by the time they were done using bottles. Having extras on hand also makes washing up much easier.
We Used: Avent Glass Baby Bottle
We used the Avent glass baby bottles because they were easy to clean, and for the health and environmental ___
What really stood out to me were the nipples. Since I combo fed with both breast and bottle, breast-like shape seemed to make switching between the two a lot easier for each baby. I also like that my baby controls the flow of milk, kind of like when nursing. The nipple only releases milk when they’re actively drinking, so if they pause to breathe or swallow, it stops—no constant dripping. Speaking of that, the no-drip design is such a nice bonus because it helps avoid wasted milk. And the anti-colic valve is great too, since it helps keep air out of their tummy and reduces fussiness.
What you MIGHT need with Baby #3
Car Organization System
Set up a permanent car bin with:
Diaper pack with Wipes
Extra outfits
Snacks
Small blanket
Spare bibs
This eliminates 90% of the “we forgot something” moments. You can buy a fancy divided one, or just use a basket that fits between the seats.
Seasonal Clothing
You only need to fill gaps where the size and season don’t overlap as they did with your other children. Think seasonal PJs, snow suits or replacing pants with the knees worn out. Skip the trendy outfits and prioritize easy to change clothing. We learned quick from the twins that zippers win over snaps every time.
We organized hand me downs by size in clear plastic bins that could be rotated in to baby’s wardrobe as she grew. This gave us a clear picture of exactly what we had on hand, and what items we would need to buy to fulfill seasonal needs. For us, that meant pjs for Christmas and a larger size in swim wear for the summer. Want to really organize your children’s wardrobe? Check out how to make a simple capsule wardrobe with Montessori in mind.
What You Don’t Need With Baby #3
By the time baby #3 arrives, you’ve likely have a greater maternal urge to purge rather than nest. Every new item is one less square of useable space in a quickly expanding household. Right now the focus should be meeting baby’s basic needs and skipping the dust collectors that will only stall rather than super charge your household’s rhythm. Here’s what you can confidently skip:
Clothes
You’ll be absolutely drowning in hand-me-downs. Between older siblings and well-meaning friends, you likely won’t need to buy much, if anything. I know some can get sentimental about the idea that baby deserves new and shiny clothes all their own. Respectfully, that’s a whole lot for impactful when
Toys
Let’s be honest, your toddlers already have more toys than they use. Even the baby toys you saved from baby 1 & 2 will never be as fascinating to baby 3 as what their siblings are playing with right now.
Car Seat
Most carseats have a lifespan of 10 years from the manufacturer’s date, with mosts babies growing out of their infant carseats in by 18 months. So if your current one isn’t expired and still meets safety standards, no need to start from scratch.
Bassinet
By now, you already have a sleep setup that works. Baby #3 can go straight into the system you trust.
Baby Gadgets
All those “must-have” gadgets? You’ve seen the truth. Most of them collect dust, so stick to the essentials you actually used.
