2 for the Price of 1- Twin "stuff"

When I found out I was expecting twins one of my first questions was- what STUFF would make life easier with two and what stuff I could get by with what I had.  So here's my list in case you're curious or have someone you know expecting twins.

Chllin' on the nursing pillow

#1  EZ 2 Nurse Pillow-  basically it's like a huge nursing shelf- slants slightly inward so they don't roll off as easily that buckles behind your back so when they move and kick the pillow stays in place.  It comes with a small pillow that goes behind your back.  One baby lays on each side- and you nurse them football style.   Not my favorite hold- but if the alternative is listening to the other hungry babe scream- then I'm all for the football hold. I'm a big fan of nursing- so I knew I wanted to nurse my twins as much as possible.  This pillow makes that possible.  I've heard of some moms doing it by crisscrossing each baby on your lap but I always used the pillow-  even took it to friend's houses if I had to.   Most of the time at church I nursed them one at a time until I could get them to take bottles again.  I bought it used off Craigslist and washed it.  Way too pricey new (like $50+ I think).  The most important twin item in my book.

Also makes a great climbing toy!

Burping newborn twins

#2 Places to set them down.  Charlotte did remarkably well not stepping on them but I still liked to have somewhere to put them.  I already had a swing, someone gave me a bouncer and I borrowed another portable swing.  Looking back I would start with just one swing and one bouncer.  Possibly even borrow them- Abby liked the bouncer more and Olly liked the swing- but if they both liked the same thing you could always get another swing/bouncer.  Only way to get anything done at the beginning.  Don't go get two swings and two bouncers- it takes up way too much space and they can take turns switching between the two if they like both.  Some people will set their babies up in these and sit in front of them on the floor to give them their bottles.

***#3 Addendum:  I don't know how I forgot the ONE item they won't let you leave the hospital without.  Two car seats.  We just bought them  both because you use them so much.  It makes it easier to get them in and out of the car.  You develop lots of muscle from carrying two of them.  Keep them in them at church as long as possible- our twins still go to church in them!  I already had one fairly new infant seat with Charlotte that I liked pretty well so I bought the same kind.  Why?  You can use the same bases and not worry about which side to put them in the car.  Make sure it's compatible with your stroller because anything that means less strapping and unstrapping is a must- plus they stay sleeping more easily.  That being said I had to borrow a Chicco Key Fit  at the last minute, for Abby to come home and the first couple of weeks because my Baby Trend Flex-Loc wasn't rated for less than 5 pounds.  The hospital wouldn't let her go home until she had tested in the Chicco car seat.  Thank goodness for a mom's group with 20 mom's who had 2 year olds to borrow things from!

#3 A good double (or triple) stroller.  No joke.  It is the only way you will ever leave the house.  Places discriminate against twins- not many carts have places for two babies to sit.    You will use this for a long long time.  Even when they can walk it's the best way to keep them contained because you can't just hold them both and do anything else.  There are a few other ways to go places but this is the easiest.  I got the Joovy BIG caboose (known as the lime green limousine) as a group shower gift it runs a whoppin' $380 new.  Two seats that can have infant seat attachments or snack tray attachments and a life-saving (literally) sit and stand on the back for Charlotte.  Anytime I need to go somewhere like the zoo or splash pad with a picnic I bring this- lots of basket room and I can push all my kids.  I did add on a cup holder because every stroller should have one.  It weighs a ton and it barely fits in my gigantic Mercury Grand Marquis trunk but it's a life saver.  I do most of my shopping with this stroller as well.

#4 Double umbrella stroller. Even though I love my gigantic stroller I almost use this one more.  My sweet neighbor down the street gave me this since she was done using it.  I wouldn't have bought another stroller but I'm so glad to have it.  If you can't afford a big stroller I highly recommend a small double umbrella stroller.  I use this one on walks and for short trips.  It even fits in the trunk on top of the limousine stroller so I don't have to take the other one out.  This is a Jeep brand twin stroller.  Downsides- no basket just small pockets on the side so not ideal to take to a store- plus it's too wide to fit through most stores.  It does have a flip over sunshade. Lighter, faster, it's nice to let them sit side by side.  Doesn't hold Charlotte very well, although she does stand on the back bar occasionally.

#5 2 Bumbos.  I already had one and I borrowed another.  The only way to let them both be outside before they can sit up well on their own.  I'd set them up on the porch while Charlotte played.  I tried just bringing one out and holding the other kid but when you need to switch it's too tricky to hold one floppy baby while taking the other one out.  So you need two.  I used them for feeding solids until they got too wiggly.

#6 Two high chairs or boosters

#7 1 Pack and play/ port-a-crib.  They slept together in this in our room for the first 5 months.  I think they liked to have someone warm to snuggle with- they rarely woke each other up unless they were hungry.  More on that in the survival post.  Abby still takes a nap in there in the afternoon because they nap better if they're not all three in the same room.  Some people buy two so they can let them play separately (something twins rarely get to do).  I've also heard of people putting one by the door so when you bring one baby in from the car they can sit in there until you get the second kid in without getting smashed by the door or following you back out.  Could also be a good alternative to buying a second crib.  Great for taking to grandma's to spend the night- I usually borrow a second one for trips.

#8 After about 5 months when Olly started rolling too much and waking up Abby I moved them to separate cribs in their own room. I have them in an L shape in a corner- they make special twin cribs like that but they cost a fortune.  They like to hold hands when they wake up sometimes.  As they get older I might have to move them further apart.  I like having the spare pack and play in my room for the PM nap when Charlotte is in there too. If one baby wakes up at night I put them back down in the pack and play so I don't have to haul them back to their room.

#9 Baby carrier.  I already had a baby snugli (generic baby Bjorn) but it never fit right.  I bought this baby hawk from my friend and I love it.  I used it a ton in the beginning.  Charlotte and one twin (usually Olly) would be in the stroller so Charlotte could be more comfortable and I would put the other twin in the carrier.  A few times I would put Charlotte in the cart, the baby in the car seat in the back of the cart, and the other baby in the carrier.  You feel weighed down and it's tricky when you need to hold another kid but it made an occasional trip possible when Charlotte was too young to walk as much.   A handful of times my sister has worn one baby with the snugli while I had the other in the baby hawk.  This means I didn't have to bring the stroller but it never worked that great.  I would wear the cranky baby while I got something done (dishes, sewing projects, vacuuming...) when they were tiny too.  Someone always needs held but at least you can use your hands this way and keep them happy!

#10 Infant tub.  Only get one.  There's plenty for two people to do without getting two huge infant tubs.  You can also just use the kitchen sink with some padding. Just bathe them one after the other with the extra adult dressing or holding the other baby- or set them in the swing if you're alone.

#11 Boppy Pillows.  I was told to get two Boppy pillows even though you have to use the nursing shelf to nurse them.  They were great for propping up new sitters, laying them down to give them bottles, and keeping one in each room for the occasional single nursing session.  Nice but not necessary- you could always use the twin nursing pillow and one boppy instead of two.

#12 Backpack diaper bag- this one isn't just for twins.  I feel kind of like a goober wearing a back pack at church but it is so worth it to have both hands for carrying two babies without a bag slipping down your shoulder.  Even if you just used a regular school back pack.  I was picky though and wanted a cute print, with a diaper pad, insulated bottle pockets, mom pocket etc. so I found the Ju Ju Be Pack-a-Be for half-price as my Christmas present right after we found out we were having twins.  Super durable- easy to clean and keeps twice as many bottles, sippy cups and diapers organized.

#13 Miscellaneous- of course you'll need twice as many diapers, some extra bottles, and clothes, but those are the big baby items we tried out.  Oh and a double electric pump at the beginning at least.  You have enough to do without having a good breast pump.


Best piece of advice- Borrow whenever possible.  You really don't want to have to store or get rid of twice as much stuff when you're done with it.  Although the few things I have bought 2 of like cribs I'm scared to get rid of because it seems like it would be like asking to have twins again as soon as you got rid of your duplicate stuff!

Bottom line- there a quite a few things that having two will make your life much easier but not all of them are necessities.  But having twins in the "stuff" department is definitely not a 2-for-1 bargain.