75% of mums say they feel more relaxed second-time around, according to a new survey.
Mums tend to be more relaxed and confident with baby number two and will generally leave them cry just a little bit longer and wean them earlier.
More than 30% of 'second time mums' only change a nappy when absolutely necessary and feel more comfortable about leaving their child to entertain themselves while they do with the housework.
Over a quarter of second-time-around mums just blend the family meal rather than make their second baby 'special food' according to the poll of 3,000 mums with two or more children, carried out by Munchkin this month. 26% also admitted that they started weaning baby number two around four months rather than at 6 months as with their first-born.
Mums also spend less on their second child and are happier to accept second-hand baby clothes from friends and family. Mums of second children allow the children sweets and chocolate at a much younger age than their older siblings, and also allow them to watch 'older television' at an earlier age.
The spokesman for Munchkin Claire Rayner said: 'It is understandable that mums will be more confident the more children they have, and therefore less worried about things.'
The poll also shows that second children are picked up less when they hurt themselves and are even encouraged to feed themselves earlier and develop more quickly .
6 out of 10 of the mums surveyed, believe they were too fussy and attentive with their first child, and 42% of them admit they worried more about them than their second child.
20 things mums admit doing differently with their second child:
1. Leave to entertain themselves with toys while you get on with the housework
2. Only changed a nappy when necessary rather than after every feed
3. Stopped making the baby their own food and blend the family meal
4. Started weaning the baby onto food at four months rather than six
5. Leave the baby to cry for longer rather than rushing to see what is wrong
6. More willing to accept second-hand clothes
7. Spend less money on toys and treats
8. Only had the baby in your bedroom for the first few weeks rather than six months
9. Let them watch 'older television' at a younger age than their older sibling
10. Not as worried about safety and buying home safety products
11. Happier to buy second hand safety products - gates, bed rails, monitors
12. Leave them to manage with their own food
13. Sterilize bottles, toys and feeding equipment for less or no time at all
14. Pick them up less when they hurt themselves
15. Give them sweets or chocolate at an earlier age
16. Trust them with a knife and fork at an earlier age
17. Spend less money on safety products
18. Go back to work sooner
19. Expect them to develop quicker
20. Put them into nursery earlier
June 2011
Munchkin was founded by dad-of-two Steven B. Dunn 20 years ago in California. His aim was to rid the world of tired and mundane products by developing clever, innovative products that excite and delight parents and children making parenting and life safer, easier and more enjoyable.
Middle Child Syndrome | 
Second Child Treated Differently To First Child
