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Most of the big items from your first baby can be used again if they pass a few checks: the stroller, crib, bassinet, carrier and high chair. Replace anything that's expired, recalled or worn out, such as a car seat past its expiry date or a cracked soother. Then plan for what you'll need two of at the same time. That's usually a second car seat, a second sleep space if your older child is still in the crib, and a way for both children to ride on the stroller.
Reuse, check or replace: the quick list
| Item | Usually | What to check first |
|---|---|---|
| Infant car seat | Reuse if it passes the checks | Expiry date, crash history, recalls, all parts and the manual |
| Stroller | Reuse, and add a seat or board if needed | Recalls, brakes and harness working, the manual |
| Stroller bassinet | Reuse | Weight and age limits, recalls, fabric and frame |
| Crib | Reuse if it meets current rules | Date on the label, drop sides, missing or loose parts |
| Crib mattress | Reuse if it's firm, flat and fits | Gap at the sides, sagging, damage |
| Bedside bassinet or playard | Reuse | Weight and age limits, recalls, all parts |
| Baby carrier | Reuse | Newborn weight range, whether it needs an insert, buckles and straps |
| High chair | Reuse, or get a second seat | Whether your older child still uses it |
| Soothers and bottle nipples | Replace | Cracks, tears or wear |
For anything that's been in storage, look it up on Health Canada's recall site before you use it again, and make sure you still have the instructions and the labels are readable.
Car seats: check the old one, plan for two
If you kept your first baby's infant seat, check four things before you install it again:
- The expiry date. It's set by the manufacturer and printed on the seat or in the manual. The seat has to stay in date for as long as your new baby will use it. Our car seat expiry guide shows where to find it.
- Crash history. If the seat was in the car during a crash, follow the manufacturer's instructions on replacing it. Our guide to car seat replacement after a crash in BC explains what ICBC covers.
- Recalls. Check the model number and date of manufacture against Transport Canada's recall database, and register the seat with the manufacturer if you didn't the first time.
- Parts and the manual. Make sure you have the base, the infant insert if your seat came with one, and the manual.
If the seat came from a friend or family member, our used car seat guide covers what you can and can't check.
Two seats in the back. If your older child still rides in a car seat, you'll need a second seat, and both have to fit. Your vehicle manual shows which seating positions have UAS anchors and tether anchors. Install both seats a few weeks before the due date, so there's time to try another position or seat if they don't fit well side by side. Browse our infant car seats, or book a car seat check at our Richmond or Burnaby store, which is free for seats bought from us.
Strollers: add a seat, add a board or go double
| Your older child… | Option | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Walks most of the time and rides now and then | Ride-along board | UPPAbaby Vista PiggyBack ($189.99) |
| Still needs a seat, and your stroller converts | Add a second seat | RumbleSeat V3 for the Vista V3 (from $343.99), Sibling Seat for the Donkey 6 Mono ($449.95), second seat for the Gazelle S V2 ($399.95), Sibling Seat for the Bugaboo Kangaroo ($378.95) |
| Rides most of the time, or your stroller doesn't convert | Double stroller | See our best double strollers guide |
Prices are in CAD and were current when we wrote this.
Whichever you choose, the new baby still needs a lie-flat bassinet or an infant car seat on the stroller for the first months. If you kept the bassinet, check its limits again; our guide to moving from the bassinet to the seat lists them by model.
More on each setup:
- Vista V3 PiggyBack vs RumbleSeat V3: board or second seat
- RumbleSeat V3 vs Minu Duo: add a seat or buy a double
- Cybex Gazelle S V2: single-to-double setups
- Bugaboo Kangaroo Sibling Seat: second seat setup
Sleep: crib, mattress and bassinet
Can you reuse the crib?
Usually, yes. Check the label for when it was made. Health Canada advises against using a crib made before September 1986, because it doesn't meet current rules on slat spacing. Traditional drop-side cribs have been illegal to sell, import or advertise in Canada since December 29, 2016, and the rules also apply to cribs that are given away or sold second-hand. If your crib is more than 10 years old, Health Canada recommends checking it for missing, loose, worn, broken or damaged parts.
The mattress
It should be firm and flat, with no sagging or damage, and it has to fit. Health Canada's test: push the mattress firmly against the sides of the crib. There shouldn't be a gap of more than 3 cm (1 3/16 in). Our crib mattress guide covers what to look for if you need a new one.
If your older child is still in the crib
Health Canada says a child should stop using a crib once they're taller than 90 cm (about 35 in) or can climb out, whichever comes first. If your older child hasn't reached that point, you have two choices: the baby starts in a bassinet or a second crib, or your older child moves to a bed. Our guide to moving from a crib to a toddler bed covers the timing, and our bassinet, crib or playard guide compares the first sleep spaces.
Small things to replace
- Soothers: Canada's paediatricians advise checking them for cracks or tears before each use, throwing out any that have them, and replacing them every 2 months.
- Bottle nipples: replace them when they're worn or as the manufacturer recommends.
- Baby walkers: they've been banned in Canada since 2004, including second-hand ones. Health Canada advises disposing of any you have so they can't be used again.
What you might need two of
- Car seats, if your older child still uses one.
- Sleep spaces, if your older child is still in the crib.
- Seats at the table, once the baby starts solids at about 6 months, if your older child still uses the high chair.
- A baby carrier, if yours doesn't suit a newborn. It keeps the baby close and leaves a hand free for your older child. Browse our carriers.
Not sure which second seat or board fits your stroller? Bring the model name when you visit, and call our Richmond, Burnaby or Ottawa store ahead to ask which add-ons and double strollers we have on display.
