Question about twin gear!

Hi all,

I'm very new to twinstuff! I'm fifteen weeks pregnant with twins--our first!

I'm sure people have asked these questions before, but I've been trying to think ahead to twin gear.

First of all, do any of you use baby carriers/slings for your twins? Is it feasible to carry two around? What have you found that works well for the kiddos and isn't too hard on your back/shoulders? Are there strategies you've developed for carrying two? I definitely want to wear the babies as much as I can, even if it's just one at a time. I've seen a site with carriers that snap together, but they still look heavy and a little awkward!

Also, for nursing, would you recommend a pillow especially for twins (like the EZ-2 nursing pillow) or would a boppie or brest friend work just as well? Maybe this is a better question for the breastfeeding forum, but have many of you had success tandem feeding?

Thanks in advance for your help! I'm really looking forward to being a part of this community!!


Joanna

 

I bought a maya wrap sling, but it was hard to figure out. I only used it a handful of times. And I've heard that the boppy's aren't very good for breastfeeding twins. I'm sure someone else on here will have better advice and suggestions

And congrats!! Twins are so much fun!

 

Hi Joanna. Welcome to TS. :sign0016:

I've heard that boppies don't work very well for feeding both at once and lots of people seem to like the EZ-2-Nurse Twins pillow.

As for carriers, I won't be helpful there either but I think we plan to get two. One for me and the other for my dh / mother / friend, depending on who's with me.

Hopefully some experienced twin mommies will give their opinions.

Looking forward to getting to know you.

Cary

 

The EZ2Nurse pillow is awesome! I am still using mine. The boppies are too small in my opionion. .. there is just no way that I could fit both of them on at the same time without my ez2nurse pillow. Tandem feeding saves time & helps your supply. Mothering multiples is an awesome book if you are interested.

:hi: Welcome to TS!

 

Hi, welcome to Twinstuff!! :wavey: I too used the EZ2Nurse pillow and it was great for nursing twins. I didn't have any slings or carriers so I can't help you there.

I would encourage you to join our Big Sister Program. You will be matched up with another member whose twins are older and can answer any questions you have and give you support throughout your pregnancy. Click on the link in my signature for more information, it's a great program.

Glad you found us, looking forward to getting to know you better. Congrats on your twins.

 

:sign0016: I bought the Maxi Mom twin carrier and returned it immediately! It came with a video (that should explain how difficult it is to figure out how to use it!). After finally getting it put together with babies in it, you cant really do anything with them in there. It is way to bulky. I did use the single carrier I had from BRU though.

 

I only ever wore them seperatly in my sling, we have two, one for me and one for dh. I still use my EZ-2 pillow for nursing, and dh uses it when I work to give them bottles at the same time too!!

Congrats on your twins!!!

 

QUOTE(joannabug @ Jun 15 2007, 12:34 PM) [snapback]293617[/snapback]
Hi all,

I'm very new to twinstuff! I'm fifteen weeks pregnant with twins--our first!

I'm sure people have asked these questions before, but I've been trying to think ahead to twin gear.

First of all, do any of you use baby carriers/slings for your twins? Is it feasible to carry two around? What have you found that works well for the kiddos and isn't too hard on your back/shoulders? Are there strategies you've developed for carrying two? I definitely want to wear the babies as much as I can, even if it's just one at a time. I've seen a site with carriers that snap together, but they still look heavy and a little awkward!

Also, for nursing, would you recommend a pillow especially for twins (like the EZ-2 nursing pillow) or would a boppie or brest friend work just as well? Maybe this is a better question for the breastfeeding forum, but have many of you had success tandem feeding?

Thanks in advance for your help! I'm really looking forward to being a part of this community!!
Joanna


I'm using a Hotslings sling this time for my singleton and I love it! It's easy to use and Elizabeth sleeps in it while I carry her around the house!

I highly recommend buying an EZ 2 Nurse pillow. I fed mine until their 1st bday using it! You can tandem feed them on a boppy at first, but they will quickly outgrow it. Tandem nursing will make your life SOOO much easier b/c it shortens feeding time alot and gives you more free time!

Feel free to visit us anytime in the Breastfeeding forum

 

I use the EZ2nurse pillow also-- helps a lot; at night I can get by with two boppies, but it doesn't work all that well and is somewhat frustrating, so I wouldn't suggest that for all the time. Plus, the EZ2Nurse pillow lets me go handsfree once they are on good and eating. I tandem feed probably about 75-80% of the time ( I like to feed one at a time sometimes just to give my full attention to each one for a little bit of the day)

I have two homemade slings and two Baby Bjorns. I haven't figured out how to carry both at once, so what I do is if I'm home alone, if one is sleeping and the other awake, I'll "wear" the awake one and switch later. If I have help, we can both wear them or hold them. They are still too little to really be on a schedule of both asleep always at the same time.

Good luck with your pregnancy!

Erica.

 

I only carry one in a sling and the other, I just carry. They are 11 months and 17ish lbs and I have amazingly strong arms now.

As for nursing pillow, the one we use is the one from eversotiny.com We loved it. I even ate a steak and baked potato dinner while tandem nusing them at 2 months old. (My mom cut everthing up into bite sized pieces - you gotta love moms!)

 

I didnt breats feed my twins, so I cant help you there, but...

Here is a site with the best slings ever!!

www.mamamadeproducts.com

Best sling ever!! Only $45 and you can get two newborn twins in there, but when they get bigger its just one, but your hands are totally free! I think it might be cakked a maya wrap?! Im not sure. It looks like you could do the same thing with a sheet, but anyway its FABULOUS!!!!

HTH!

 

Thank you all sooooooo much for your advice and for being so welcoming! I'll definitely look into your suggestions for twin pillows and for slings, and see what I can come up with. I have a friend who is teaching herself how to make slings, so maybe I can talk her into helping design one that will work for twins when they're little

I'm really looking forward to getting involved in this community.

Thanks again to everyone!!!

 

I have to say I hated the EZ 2 Nurse pillow! It never worked for me at all. If you are very thin, I don't think it is a good choice. It gaped at the sides so my babies would fall in, or if I pushed it back so it didn't have any gaps around my waist, it stuck out about 6+ in. behind my back and I had to sit totally upright because I couldn't lean back at all without pushing the pillow forward and causing gaps. I found that my body pillow that I slept with while pregnant was better for us for nursing. I could tandem feed but I preferred to feed them one at a time. I have an older singleton and I missed the one on one bonding of one on one nursing, and when you tandem feed, you can't get up and walk around unless you can figure out how to do it with a sling. I didn't like being stuck in a chair to nurse if I needed to help or get my son.

I never could figure out how to use a sling for both babies either. I had a maya wrap and tried and practiced with the video forever, but it never worked. It seemed the girls just rolled against each other and would get crankier.

 

I never got the hang of tandem feeding, so the regular boppy was just fine for me!

I just used a regular carrier to carry one. Had my arms free to carry the other!! I dont' see how you could put both in a carrier and feel comfortable.

Congrats!!!

 

This is a great link for babywearing more than one: http://www.thebabywearer.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=59

I've read that you can wear both babes when they are small in a wrap together. Later, I plan to try wearing one in my wrap on the front and one in a mei tai on my back (once they're bigger, of course!)

 

Hi Joanna,
Like most folks here, I tried just about everything since I was totally clueless with my first/only pregnancy.

In general with gear, you may want to try borrowing items like a baby bjorn, sling or stroller to test drive and see what works for you and your family.

Especially items that are only designed for the first few months - like the EZ2Nurse. I loved it for tandem nursing in the hospital bed and later/about 9 months when they were super fast nursers. But lots of times I just used pillows on a sofa.

The Baby Bargains book is great for helping you figure out what you need based on your own criteria/lifestyle. It's the Rosetta Stone of first-time parenting. www.babybargains.com

Hope this helps - congrats!