The jump from one to two children is a peculiar kind of chaos. Not quite the wide-eyed shock of first-time parenthood, but a different balancing act entirely. Suddenly you’re expected to manage two sets of needs, two nap schedules, and approximately 300% more laundry (don’t ask me to do the maths on that), all while ensuring you are suitably fed and showered (hah!) yourself.

I remember saying to a friend, with misplaced confidence, that adding another baby would be an extension of what I already knew. She gently explained that she’d spent her morning trying to strap her toddler, still with porridge all over his face, into his car seat while breastfeeding her newborn in his sling, and that was all before 8am on just three hours sleep. I realised we were in an entirely new league of logistics.

And though no one can shield you from the utter chaos that is being a mother of two, there is much to be said for having the right kit. Investing in the certain essentials will genuinely save your sanity. From a double buggy that safely straps your toddler into place while your newborn sleeps soundly in a bassinet beside them, to a prep machine that shaves precious minutes off the 3am feed, small practicalities make an enormous difference. These aren’t indulgences; they’re tiny lifelines for survival, helping you reclaim moments of calm amid the beautiful, noisy blur.

Because while you can’t prepare for every emotion that comes with expanding your family, you can prepare your toolkit, and that’s a good place to start.