10 Must-Haves for Twins
By Erinn Stam
Preparing for twins means more than just buying two of everything. As with singletons, there are many items of baby gear that are promoted as "essential" but that parents find they never use after a week or so. When you have twins, you have to be more selective about what gear you purchase (especially when your bill is doubled every time you buy something new) to help ease the increased demands of parenting. Even simple actions like changing a diaper are made more complicated when you are caring for more than one baby. Here are some products that can help make the process a little easier:
Two Cribs
Many parents don't even use a crib when their babies are newborns, preferring instead to use a bassinet or a co-sleeper. Parents of multiples often put their babies in the same crib when they are small. However, you will eventually need two cribs. Why not just start with them now? Choose convertible cribs that can be turned into toddler beds later so you don't have to replace them when your babies grow.
Pack n Play
When you visit friends and family, a pack n play, or portable crib or play yard, can be quite convenient. Your babies have a place to play and nap, and you can be sure that they aren't crawling around in non-baby-proofed territory. You can also use it at home for naps or play time in areas of your home besides the bedroom.
Double Stroller
When you're on the go, a double stroller can help you easily transport both babies. No need to try to manage two strollers, or to navigate with one baby in a stroller and the other in a sling or carrier. Take the strain off your back and rest both babies comfortably in the stroller, then stow away your diaper bag and other baby essentials in the bins.
Car Seats
Of course, you will need a car seat for every baby that you have. With twins, opt for a car seat that doubles as a carrier. You will save yourself a lot of time when you have to move your babies in and out of the car -- especially useful when you are running errands. No need to fuss with the straps until you are finished and back home for nap time (and maybe not even then).
Twin Baby Carrier
When you need more portability than a stroller will allow, and you don't have the arm strength to carry around your twins in those car seat carriers anymore, opt for a sling or baby carrier designed especially for twins. These carriers allow you to carry your babies on your back or your chest, and some carriers are designed especially to hold twins. (No need to carry one in the front and one in the back!)
Twin Nursing Pillow
Make breastfeeding easier by feeding both at the same time, and give your arms a break with a twin nursing pillow. These pillows allow you to prop up and support both babies while you breastfeed so that you can relax and enjoy the bonding experience.
Backpack Diaper Bag
With twins, you'll need to carry more diapers and supplies such as wipes, bottles, and creams. A bigger diaper bag can accommodate all this, but it may become bulky and cumbersome to carry. Opt for a backpack diaper bag instead to free up your hands and ease some of the strain on your shoulders.
Portable Changing Pad
Baby changing stations are helpful if you have only one baby to change at a time. However, with twins, you will find yourself changing many more diapers per day and in a variety of locations. Opt for a portable changing pad or mat instead so that you are ready wherever you are.
Diaper Pail
With all the diapers you'll be changing, you'll need a good diaper pail to block the odors. Choose a model with strong odor protection. If you find yourself overfilling the pail, buy two.
Bouncers
It can be a lot of work to occupy and entertain two babies at the same time. Bouncers and other activity seats can help you by giving your baby a safe place to sit that includes fun toys and stimulation.
When your twins were young babies, what gear did you find essential to helping ease the first few months? What gear did you find was totally useless? Tell us in the comments!
Bio:
Erinn Stam is the Managing Editor for online nursing schools. She attends Wake Technical Community College and is learning about nursing schools in KS. She lives in Durham, NC with her lovely 4-year-old daughter and exuberant husband.
Comments
Essential gear
Boppy pillows - they were awesome because I could prop them up to see the world, it made tummy time more bearable for them. They weren't just looking at the floor, and they could even face each other, it really helped give me a break for a few minutes. (used until they started crawling - 4 or 5 months)
Bouncers - Two of them. I had them in bouncers that vibrated, a lot. It was great because you could put one in the bouncer in the bathroom with you while bathing the other. Both in the bouncer to watch you fold laundry. They would nap in the bouncers. My son loved it so much I didn't get rid of his until he was almost 2 years old. And he STILL wanted to sit in it, it was like a recliner to him. (Used actively until walking, they liked to relax in them even after they started to crawl - 9 months)
Swings - Not just the little ones that go back and forth... the ones that stand up and go side to side. I don't know what to tell you... there's something magical about that side to side motion. They would go from screaming to sleeping within 5 minutes. Very useful when both are crying and you feel like you're losing your mind. (used actively for about a year)
Graco duoglider double stroller - with two graco snugride carseats - They were cheap, they went together nicely, there was a ton of room under the stroller for anything you needed (useful when I had no car and needed to grocery shop), folded easily with a click locking action, maneuvered fine (not as great as the city mini, but it's an excellent starter), cup holder for water bottles, place for keys and wallet, seats reclined, back seat reclined all the way so you could use it as a changing table or just for napping... I just loved that freaking thing. (Used for 20 months, then bought a city mini used. The city mini is great for outdoors because the shades are awesome and the maneuverability is amazing... however... it's hella expensive, and it does NOT come with cup holders - you buy that extra, NO front bar with kid tray - extra, and NO way to click in carseats - that equip extra as well. Sometimes I really miss my graco because it came with everything and it wasn't that bad at all.)
The car seats were awesome and cheap. We had to upgrade to graco Nautilus toddler/kid car seats at around 10 months for my son because of weight. I swear he's not fat, he's just extremely heavy for some reason. Everyone who picks him up, even to this day, has the same reaction "Whoa! You're heavier than you look!" lol
Diaper Pail - I thought this was useless to be honest with you... When I discovered the pack of 300 baggies for $12 at babies r us, or the 75 pack for $1 at walmart, I donated my pail and started using those to contain our diapers. It's not only expensive to maintain these things with the inserts, but it was such a hassle to take the huge bag of nothing but diapers out, it's heavy and I would almost throw up everytime I did it because of the contained smell not being so contained anymore... I ended up just bagging both diapers ( I always changed them at the same time) in one or two baggies and tossing it into the trash... it contained the smell just as well as the pail, and the trash was taken out on a daily without having to smell that awful stench of marinating diapers. Bleh. Just my opinion.
High chairs I thought were useless, We bought the booster chairs for $15 each instead to attach to the dining set... but to be honest, they were usually on the floor in the livingroom. :) Used those up until recently. (2 years)
Pack n play was a life saver because we were staying with my mom for a few months while in the middle of moving to Miami, we had all our stuff packed away. And we stayed in a couple hotels while apartment hunting on the weekends in Miami as well. If you have a squirrely sleeper, I'd recommend getting two cheaper smaller ones instead of one big nice one... My son used to beat my daughter up, she got no sleep. Don't bother with one if you aren't going to stay at anyone's house or hotel for the first year.
Cribs - I guess it depends on the person, and the kids... I wish we never bought cribs... I wish we would have just used the pack n plays. They were climbing out of their cribs by time they were 10 months old so I had to convert them to the toddler beds... but then we still needed to get them into twin beds because the little bed just was NOT cutting it for the crazy sleeper (my son). So we basically went from pack n play to bunk beds in a matter or two years. The cribs/toddler beds with mattresses weren't worth the $450 we spent on them. Looked cute in the bedroom though. :)
That back pack diaper bag idea is great! I had a generic messenger bag because it was cheaper and BIGGER than the actual diaper bags... but I wish I would have invested in a swiss gear backpack instead, great idea!!! Now the kids have their own little mini backpacks that we put a couple diapers in, small thing of wipes, some snacks, a book, and a toy. They like to carry their own stuff. (awesome!) lol
Exersaucer AND a Jumperoo - These probably aren't NECESSITY items, but man are they awesome to have. We had one of each, and we would switch the kids... eventually we figured out that my son loved the jumperoo because he was restless but not yet walking, and my daughter liked the exersaucer because she really didn't care to move a lot, and there were more things to mess with on it than the other. (Used for about 1 year)
Changing tables - I find changing tables useless... we used the floor, couch, and the top of the pack n play mostly.
I never had a twin nursing pillow, but I'm sure it would have been a bit easier with one. I used the boppy pillows, one on each side. lol It really was a little awkward.
I WISH I would have known about twin baby carriers, how awesome would that have been? A lot of carrying though with the twins in front and a backpack on your back. But think of the calorie burn? :) A+ for that idea, I second that one for sure! But the question is, can you load them up by yourself? lol :)
That's all I can think of as far as essential gear... it's hard to remember all the baby stuff now.. My twins are 2 1/2 years old now... We already have bunk beds, hardly use the stroller anymore, in big kid car seats, feed themselves, dress themselves, change their own pullups, pick up toys, they can even use the xbox controller and put on Netflix movies for themselves... I mean, I'm out of a job almost. lol It's weird looking back and thinking about how hard it used to be, all the sleepless nights and just feeling used up. It's still hard, but for different reasons that are much more manageable. :) They are tons of fun now and it gets better everyday.