I had a two singleton babies before I got pregnant with my twins. Even with one baby, the gear can be overwhelming. Let me see what I can do to help sort out what things are good to get, what you might need two of, and what you can pass on all together.
1) Boppy Pillow/ Twin Z Pillow: When I had one baby, I loved having a Boppy pillow to set the baby down in. I used them to sit on after birth (it has a hole in the middle, perfect for a sore bottom), and wrapped around me when I was breastfeeding one child.
The Twin Z Pillow is the twin version of the Boppy. You can put your twins in side by side, or you can wrap it around you to help you tandem breastfeed the babies. Plus, aren't babies cute positioning in the Twin Z Pillow?
2) My BreastFriend/ My Breastfriend Twins: My sister loved her "Breast Friend" pillow. I preferred the Boppy, but if you liked the more secure shelf style pillow to help breast feed, they make a twin version. Get it.
3) Cribs: Someday, you will need two cribs. You don't need two cribs right away. Many people use one crib and just put both babies in it from the start. They are so little and don't roll anyway, so why not let them share a crib? Plus, after sharing 9 months in close quarters in the womb, sleeping next to each other might be very comforting for your babies! Plan on leaving one crib in the box until the babies are rolling over--- (My kids rolled around 4 months old... but every kid is different!)
4) Stroller: Oh boy. This is tough. Everyone has a different stroller that they love, or hate. I can't speak to all the strollers, but I bought the Baby Jogger City Select Lux before I had my second child because I liked the ability to add a second seat, or use it as a single. Now that I have twins on the way, I am glad I already have this piece of equipment! You can add prams, or even a little Glider board for your older sibling to ride on. Plus, I like using the car seat attachment for easy loading and unloading when they are little. (And it pushes like a dream. It's not cheap, but its pretty awesome.).
Even though I have the City Select Lux, I am tempted by the Baby Jogger City Mini Double. I like the idea of twins side by side. BUT this doesn't allow you to have two car seats in it, so probably best for once your kids are big enough not to be in the car seats all the time.
Also, Think about where you will take the stroller. Walks around the neighborhood? A wide stroller is easy! Walking around downtown with narrow sidewalks and even narrower isles in the stores? Maybe a skinner one is best.
5) Car Seats: A lot of things to think about here. How big is your backseat? Do you have to fit three children side by side? How heavy is the car seat? If you have to carry two of them, you don't want them to be too heavy! How long will they last for your child (aka: Whats the max weight it will hold?) Take a peak at safety ratings too. And if your buying for twins, buy the same car seat (different colors is ok). You want to be able to put either baby in either car seat and put it on either base in your car.
A few things to remember:
If a car seat is in a car accident (even if there is no child in it at the time) its no longer safe, so you will need to replace it. Consider this before you spend $400 on a single car seat.
Car seats expire! They expire 6 years after manufactured. If you plan on using your car seat from a previous baby, make sure its not too old!
Here is the car seat that I have chosen for my twins. It worked well with my single babies, so I am buying a second one for my twins!
6) Bottles: This is another choice that can be so overwhelming. My first had a lot of spitting up, but once I switched her to Dr. Brown's bottles, it lessened! I was so happy to find something that helped! I plan on using these bottles with my twins as well.
While you're looking at Dr. Brown's Bottles, Consider the Bottle Warmer, and the formula mixer. With so many bottles you will make each day, the mixer might be a worthwhile investment!
7) Teethers: My kids loved Sophie. For some reason, this silly giraffe is the RIGHT toy to help with teething pain. With long legs and neck, they can chew on different areas of Sophie to help with teething pain all over their mouth. And she's easy to hang on to! We loved Sophie so much, but this is one toy that we did not pass from baby to baby. With all the moisture between teething, and washing, the inside of Sophie can be really gross and eventually moldy. After one child is done with Sophie, she goes into the trash, and we buy a new one when the next child needs one. Got twins? Buy two.
8) Swaddles: It took me too long to find muslin blankets for my kids. These Aden and Anais ones are so perfect for so many things. I used them to swaddle the babies. They were nice and long and easy to wrap my babies up in. I used the as sunshades over their car seat when I was shopping. I used them as burp cloths! They are pretty absorbant and worked great as a multi functional tool. I would always have a baby and a blanket that I could use for whatever I needed it for. Plus, the more you wash the blankets, the softer they become. I don't know if that's real, but it sure seems that way to me!
9) Bouncy Seat: Let me just first tell you, not all baby bouncers are created equally. All of them hold babies. Some of them are cheap and bulky. Others are slick and sophisticated. But the Baby Bjorn Bouncer is my favorite. First, its great for babies with hip dysplasia because it helps baby's sit in a way that encourages good hip development. Second, It folds flat! Its easy to store or transport. Third, It grows with your child. My niece used hers until she was 4 years old just as a comfy seat in her living room. It's truly the bouncy seat above all bouncy seats. Don't buy some garbage bulky bouncy seat-- get the Bjorn.
10) Baby Swing: Let's talk about the Mamaroo. It's a swing on steroids. It has so many buttons and can do so many things, you will be amazed. (YOU CAN CONTROL IT FROM YOUR PHONE!). If your budget allows, this swing is pretty great. Sleek look, great options for motion and unzips the fabric so you can easily wash it. I have one, and I plan on borrowing my sisters when I have twins. It's worth loosing the floor space.
There are so many things that you can find and buy that promise to be the way to go and the best thing to get for your baby. The truth is, some babies like some things, other babies hate those same things. You never know what your kid will like until you try it. If you have the budget, try a bunch of things! If you don't consider borrowing things from friends before you know if it will help your baby or not.
(As an amazon affiliate, if you purchase something from our links, Double Take will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I appreciate your support! -- Meredith)
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