Must-have's for twins in first two weeks?

Trina - posted on 01/17/2013

Boppy pillows were a Godsend for me. Those first few weeks are really hard and you're going to want to make sure you have easy access to everything. This includes food! No one prepared me for how hungry I was while breast feeding and staying up so long. Make sure you have snacks for the hospital and at home that are ready to go. I had a hard time finding the time to do anything until I became better able to handle two, that includes eating and going to the bathroom. The weeks will pass though and you do get the hang of it!!! Just remember they are sturdier than you think and you'll get more comfortable with them!

Julixa - posted on 01/10/2013

I couldnt live without my twin baby journal. Helped me keep track of feedings, naps, diaper changes etc. It lasts two months and when you're running out you just get a new one. Worth every penny. Got mine at twinbabyjournal.com

I also couldn't live without my swing. No, I didnt get two. One was just fine.
Many people love their changing tables but I didnt ind much use for it after a year...

Ianina - posted on 12/09/2011

I have the Graco duo glider with the car seats. I live in an apartment too and it is perfect!

Kristy - posted on 12/09/2011

I had graco car seats that snap into bases in the car so for a stroller I got the graco snap and go stroller. The seats go straight from car to stroller without unhooking and moving the little guys. Its long and skinny so it fits thru any door.

Kristy - posted on 12/09/2011

I had graco car seats that snap into bases in the car so for a stroller I got the graco snap and go stroller. The seats go straight from car to stroller without unhooking and moving the little guys. Its long and skinny so it fits thru any door.

Ayman - posted on 12/09/2011

Thank you for your responses! Another related question - any recommendation on twin newborn strollers? I have heard that newborns need a flat surface and most strollers are curved backs. Also, I need to be mindful that the stroller fits through apartment doors

Kristy - posted on 12/07/2011

My boys slept together until they could roll. They actually slept better. Equipment I couldn't live without was swings. Also I found this bottle called a podi. It's basically a nippel on a straw. I like to hold my boys to feed them but that was a life savor when they got hungry at the same time.

Elizabeth - posted on 12/01/2011

I also found that I HATED any kind of help unless it was from my husband. We found what worked for us, and when people say they want to come over to help you, it ended up that I had to entertain them, take care of my daughters, and recover from my c-section. It was more of a burden. So I didnt have anyone over, when they asked I said no.

Elizabeth - posted on 12/01/2011

I use my boppies, and bouncer chairs all the time! And make sure you grab the boogie suckers they provide at the hospital. there are none other like them!!! I was so sad when I lost mine. :/ also, Dr. Browns bottles. Helps great with gassy babies. Trust me, around 5 weeks they will hit a gassy pahse so bad, I wanted to runaway and never come back, all the while wishing I could take their pain away. We live in a 1 bedroom apartment that my husband and I grew out of, but found out were were expecting a baby, then we found out it was two, so we tried to look for a place and the timing sucked, so we are here for the next 5 months! my daughters will be 1 in may and thats when out lease it up. If youre into swings, get the travel swings! They are easy to fold, manuver and take with you!

Michelle - posted on 11/27/2011

My identical twins girls turned 5 last week-end. But I still remember what I couldn't live without in the first few months. We only used one cot (sorry crib, I live in Australia) for both my girls until they were about 4 months old. We swaddled them in blankets and layed them next to each other on one end of the cot. As they are newborns they can't get out of the swaddling and they don't move around a lot, just sleep. So the blankets won't go over their faces or mouths. I found with my girls they went to sleep easier being right next to each other, as they spent 36 weeks in my womb all squashed up next to each other. They would instinctively know that they were near each other, so for me I think that it's a comfort thing for them to know their sibling was nearby. When they got a little bit bigger we put one twin on one end of the cot, and the other twin at the opposite end. And then when they started to roll, we put up the second cot so they both had their own cot to sleep in. We found that the twin that had the new cot found it a bit harder to get to sleep for about a week, as she was so used to being near her sister. But it after she got used to it she slept great by herself. They both did thankfully. Also mentioned were the baby swings or rockers. Boy they are a godsend if you can have one for each of your babies. We only have 2 hands and with 2 babies, the rockers we had were a great helper as my husband worked 6 days a week long hours. So the rockers were like an extra pair of helping hands for me. I also found having an extra set or two of cot sheets for each child was helpful. One on the mattress, one in the linen cupboard and maybe one in the wash. Always ideal to have extra linen on hand for bed changes in the middle of the night. Probably won't happen when they are newborns, but will happen on the odd occasion when they are older trust me. I had bottle warmers for my girls but never found the need to use them as I used different methods to warm up their bottles. So I gave them to my brother and SIL when they had their twins 2 years ago and they loved them and used them constantly. So you can buy too much stuff and equipment and think wow that would be great but never use it. If you can hire or get second hand even better because then if you don't like using it or don't end up using it a lot, then you don't feel like you have wasted heaps of money on something you don't or rarely use. On the other hand if other people want to buy them for you, that's great! I know newborn clothes are soooo cute and hard to resist. But my advice is don't buy heaps of newborn clothes as they are only very little for a short time. And before you know it they will be onto the next size and all those cute little outfits will sit in the cupboard unworn. Those Bonds suits with the mittens built into the outfit are wonderful. Babies can regulate their body temperatures quite well wearing them, keeps them snuggly and comfortable and they don't scratch their faces with the mittens on while they sleep. I had a hexagonal playpen that came with a thick padded mat underneath. The mat is still going strong 5 years later, as we take it to the beach and to events like picnics. It was a super big playpen as I found that so much better for my girls as they got bigger, I didn't like the thought of getting a normal sized playpen which would be fine for just one baby. At least when they could roll over and then crawl around they weren't on top of each other then. Good luck and all the best.

Mary - posted on 11/25/2011

Hi! I am due with twin girls in March! What playpen did you all use for them to sleep in at first? I am looking for suggestions. Which ones are the most safe?

TAMMY - posted on 11/12/2011

I also used wedges so they would stay in one spot in the playpen..U can get them at walmart or places like that they are to also help with sids.

Amy - posted on 11/12/2011

Our girls slept together too!! Those baby bouncy seat things came in handy...they're not too big and it's easy to set them down if you need to get up or if you're feeding or changing one. I know you said you didn't have much room but the things I could not live without were their swings. Good luck to you!!

TAMMY - posted on 11/10/2011

I recommend bobby pillows you can use them alot up until they are a year old and i had my girls in a playpen together..

Whitney - posted on 11/08/2011

I agree with Ianina, the swaddle blankets and sleep sacs work GREAT!!! Mine slept together for the first 3-4 months as well. I didn't put blankets with mine because they were so warm in the sleep sacs/swaddle. I had the Halo sleep sacs that had a velcro piece that was the swaddle. They were really good too. I was so worried about them sleeping with blankets that mine didn't start sleeping with a big blanket until maybe a month or little more ago...they are 10 months!! Good luck with the babies.

Ianina - posted on 11/08/2011

I had my twins sleeping in the playpen for at least 4 months. After that I had to separate them since one was waking up in the middle of the night to eat and was waking up her sister.
If you wrap every baby in a soft blanket you shouldn't have to worry much about accidents. That is what I did and I had the girls in winter. The swaddle blankets/sleeping sacs worked really well with mines :)

Ayman - posted on 11/08/2011

all - thanks so much!
caryn: my twins are due april 6. i do expect a sooner delivery given they are twins.
question about playpen as sleeping area - is it safe to have them sleep together? given that there will be blankets etc. to accidentally cover their nose/ mouth

Caryn - posted on 11/06/2011

Hello again... no you definately don't need to buy both. I made the mistake of having to much equipment around the house.... it just clutters it up to much. Yes a playpen works too... they can be together.. They make them now so versital. It is portable, light, can be bed, playpen, etc. Caryn

Whitney - posted on 11/05/2011

Regarding your question...bassinets are great but you can't really use them very long especially if you will put them in the same. I had a bassinet with my 2nd child but did not purchase one with my twins due to the fact they wouldn't be in it that long. Mine slept in a playpen for maybe the first 2-4 weeks. You can use a playpen for alot longer so I felt it was a better choice. Is this your first pregnancy?

Ayman - posted on 11/05/2011

Hi Caryn: thanks for your response! What is the advantage of a bassinet over a crib? Do you recommend buying either one or both? I will have my mom staying with me to help me while I am home with the newborns. We are due on April 6th.

Caryn - posted on 11/05/2011

It would be great if you had help, a mom or husband with time at home. I hope you do. The twins can sleep together in a basanet at first. you will need diapers of course, soft cotton blankets you wrap them in. teeshirts. It has been over 13 years since my girls were born, so not sure I am much help. but feel free to ask me questions, i remember the first week or so calling a mom I hardly knew from the twin moms club, i was very overwhelmed at first. Try to relax, and just do the best you can. You don't need to do it all perfectly. When are your twins due? I feel very honored to be a mom of twins.