The first weeks

ok all you moms that have your twins on the outside!!!! This one is for you!
What were your big can't live with out it things from the first weeks?
I am going over my check lists and trying to see what is most needed immediately and what can wait a bit. I think some of the other expecting momma's would love to hear from the vetrans what we REALLY need!

 

QUOTE(Appymomma @ Mar 10 2008, 08:59 PM) [snapback]662535[/snapback]
ok all you moms that have your twins on the outside!!!! This one is for you!
What were your big can't live with out it things from the first weeks?
I am going over my check lists and trying to see what is most needed immediately and what can wait a bit. I think some of the other expecting momma's would love to hear from the vetrans what we REALLY need!


HELP! Whoever offers it-TAKE IT! And definitely FOOD! If anyone says, "What can I do?" Say-bring a meal! It's a lifesaver!

As for baby items...I would say the swaddle blankets for us. My boys calmed down in them, and still sleep swaddled and they are 4.5 months. I also would have to say-sleepers. Don't fret about cute outfits. It's way easier to put them in pj's then pants, onesies, etc...

That's all I can really think about. I'm sure others will have more to say! Good luck and congrats!

 

I second the meals! And the swaddle..we love the miracle blanket. www.miracleblanket.com
I also agree about not worrying about 'cutsie' outfits. Ours lived in their onesies and sleepers....get ones with zippers...makes things easier!
Cloth diapers are great burp cloths. I have a bib pet peeve...get terry cloth bibs, they are more absorbant then those cutsie cloth bibs. I also HATE, HATE , HATE bibs with that really sticky velcro....it sticks to EVERYTHING when I do that wash....UGH! Get bibs with snaps or that smooth velcro!
Having two boppys saved my life!
That's all I can think of right now...

 

yes, don't worry about all the cutsie wootsie outfits they will be in sleepers, onsies for the most part. I second the bobbys they were the only way I feed my two especially in the first 3 months on the couch with one on either side of me. Also, if you are bottle feeding it really helps to make batches of formula and get a routine down where at some point when you put them down bottles are cleaned and refilled enough to last until the next day it saves lots of time when your babies are screaming...I think we had about 24 ready for each day.

 

Ohhhh! I second the BIBS! And if you think you have enough-GO GET MORE! Same thing with burp cloths! GET MORE! It's amazing how many you go through! And with the bibs-ditch the tie bibs! Yuck! It's one thing when the kids are older and sitting up. But to put a tie bib on a floppy head-forget it!

GET MORE BIBS/BURP cloths! We probably have close to 100 bibs. A good portion are ties....But we need to do wash-not for clothes-but for bibs/burp cloths!

 

1) Bouncy seats! I could strap them in and run to the bathroom without worrying.

2) Formula dispensers for powdered formula! Here is a link to show you what I mean, but they sell cheap ones at Walmart. After 2 weeks of trying to BF and pumping non-stop, I realized that, for my sanity I needed to use formula (mine refused to latch on). These dispensers were a life saver. I lined up bottles of water for every feeding throughout the night on my night stand. I put pre-measured powdered formula in each section of the dispensers and put them on my nightstand, as well. That way, in the middle of the night I could just reach over, take the nipple off a bottle, pour the formula in, put the nipple back on, shake it up, and feed a baby. I never even left my bed since they slept within arms length. The water was already room temp and I never had to get up, go to the kitchen, and warm up a bottle.

 

First 2 Months:

1. EZ-2-Nurse Twin Nursing Pillow (for BF mamas) - absolute MUST have!

2. Lots of bibs & burp cloths

3. Miracle Blankets

4. White noise machine / C.D.

5. Nursing Cover (Takes all the stress out of public nursing!)


For Later:

1. Ultimate Crib Sheets

2. Two bouncers

3. Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth

 

HELP!!!!!!! Find out now how people want to help, get a list together of who dh can call for certain things (need a meal or babies screaming, etc).

stock up on anything and everything you can, grocery shopping will never be easy again, lol. Have lanolin, soothies, etc on hand for bfing.

Goodluck!!

 

Thanks! Keep em comming.
I will be nursing. I am a nursing leader in my area, well when I was nursing my DD. I have the EZ2Nurse pillow and a Brestfriend pillow. No problems with modesty so no cover for me!
One item that I am not sure about is the Boppy Nest, should I or shouldn't I? We have a Papasan bouncer and a FischerPrice bouncer/rocker and one swing. DD was a swing and bouncer kid all the way.
I have my moby wrap and slings ready to go!
Cloth diapers are our preference but we do have some disposies at the ready.
We have tons of burps and bibs, really tons!
I have a great pump and some bottles to store milk in, so no worries there.
We are filling up our freezer with foods that we can heat and eat.
Are you ever really ready? Does it just hit you like a truck?
We thought we were unprepared for one, but 2 is just a whole new ball game!

 

Swaddle blankets, especially those made out of the same material t-shirts are made out of, they are stretchy in just the right places and they "breathe". My pack and Play was the greatest thing ever we were sad when we hit the weight limit to the bassinet part!! My sister, (wish I could lend her to you) she came one night a week and slept over she is a night shift nurse so staying up all night with babies was fun to her and I and DH got lots of sleep!! Maybe you could find you a recruit?

 

*Definitely meals and anyone who offers "help" - take them up on it!!

*If you are planning to BF, the EZ 2 Nurse pillow, as well as a pump and age containers for milk if you will go back to work at some point

*a double stroller - saved us with having to bring them to frequent appointments - those carriers get so heavy and if you have a c-section you won't be able to be lifting much

*the little snap over undershirts (to use until cord falls off), lots of onesies and zip up sleepers

*bouncy seats - so they have a safe place from other kids, animals, etc. when you're not able to be holding them

*a humidifier

*I had a little basket that sat in our bed beside me when I was nursing. It had Lasinoh in it, soothies, chocolate , paper, a pen (for list making, etc.), my cell phone, a little clip reading light, the remote, a book, etc! All that stuff you think of just after you finally get them latched on!

 

I would definately say YES to anybody who offers to HELP. You were saying you only have one swing but two swings have been a lifesaver for us at times. Lots of burp cloths and bibs like you said you have already. Lots and lots and lots of onesies and sleepers. You can never have too many. It sounds like from the list that you made that you are pretty much ready all you need are two beautiful babies!!!

 

Sounds like you're doing well with what you have going... I second the "second" swing... We used both the swings we had simultaneously ALL the time... It was definitely a lifesaver to have 2 swings...

 

Ditto to what they said! Everything I was going to say has been said!! :lol:

Don't forget to take lots of pictures.

I also printed off blank calendars before they were born, and write any milestones or anything important on it, I have one for each of the boys.


ENJOY ENJOY ENJOY!

Missy

 

Are you talking about the boppy noggin nest to keep them from getting flat spots on their heads? If so, DEFINITELY get two! I didn't know about them until we were in PT for plagiocephaly and torticollis. If I had known, we may have been able to prevent the plagiocephaly. (although the torticollis was most likely caused in utero)

I think the pack and plays are our single most-used item. We have one upstairs next to the crib in our bedroom that is our night-time changing station, and another downstairs that is changing station/baby corral. Sometimes, you just need a safe place to put a baby down while you pee/answer the phone/etc.

As for clothing, we got SO many t-shirts from the hospital, they LIVED in those for the first 4 weeks. (until they outgrew them! My husband still tries to put them on them even though they don't fit!!!!) I have tons of newborn sized stuff that they never wore.

 

Diapers cloth and disposable and wipes I would stock up at least a couple of weeks worth, I always had a hard time getting out to get stuff and you will need a lot.
If anyone offers help take it.
Get plenty sleep now, it will help you survive better the first month
And cherish every moment

 

QUOTE(Appymomma @ Mar 10 2008, 08:59 PM) [snapback]662535[/snapback]
ok all you moms that have your twins on the outside!!!! This one is for you!
What were your big can't live with out it things from the first weeks?
I am going over my check lists and trying to see what is most needed immediately and what can wait a bit. I think some of the other expecting momma's would love to hear from the vetrans what we REALLY need!


I can't live without their swings. We had one Fisher Price Papasan swing and bought a second. It is a gift from God! It almost always calms them both down (unless they are truly hungry and then the only thing that calms them is feeding them).

In the non-material area, lots of help. My DH was home for 2 weeks, then my mom came for 2 weeks, then my SIL came for a week. Halfway through the week with my SIL, I finally felt that I could do it on my own (that feeling was helped by the fact that she was driving me crazy and complaining about being tired despite the fact that she was not getting up with them at night). In the first couple weeks, especially, take sleep. Force your DH or your mom or whoever to do feedings for you (if you are not bfing) and sleep. I felt bad sleeping when DH wasn't, but a nurse who came to our house pointed out that I had had major surgery and was recovering - he was not.

Also - have lots of food laid in. Frozen meals, easy stuff. We ended up living on Pop Tarts, Hot Pockets, etc. We had lots of frozen dinners, but nothing good for breakfast or lunch. So think about easy healthy things for ALL meals to have on hand.

 

QUOTE(Appymomma @ Mar 10 2008, 11:32 PM) [snapback]662809[/snapback]
Are you ever really ready? Does it just hit you like a truck?
We thought we were unprepared for one, but 2 is just a whole new ball game!


You are never ready. Even knowing what it is going to be doesn't prepare you for actually living it. They are such an amazing gift, but in the early weeks it is hard to remember that sometimes. Best of luck!

 

Yes, ditto about FOOD and HELP! Otherwise, sounds like you're pretty well set. Good luck! Looking foward to seeing you over on this side of the tracks.

 

Everyone has about said it. Help, sleep, all of those other things, as well (all of the necessary baby paraphernalia has been mentioned). Steal away quiet moments with your wee ones together and one-on-one time when they are so small and new. Take in those moments in the middle of the night when you have a baby with their little soft breath on your neck as your soothing them. Cherish them, as I'm sure you already do.

Congrats - it will be great (and tiring and frustrating and confusing, but GREAT!)/

Shelby

 

I have a basket for diaper changing time. That way I didn't have to go to their room. It held diapers, wipes, cream, diaper rash, hand santizer, lanolin(for me) breast pads, burp cloths, and anything else I might need. It was wonderful adn then you knew where everything was and it was on hand. The basket came from walmart and is for a diaper station (but any straight sided basket would do) and is lined with fabric and pockets. I loved it. I still use it

Ditto to everything else. My babies lived in onsies (preemie size and they were big) Lots of recieving blankets we had tons but they were always spit on or wet on or stinky. I also had baskets in their room for blankets and burp cloths. We went through so many it was easy to get more and then my DH or whoever was staying with me could find it easy.

 

Bouncy seats were a must for us. They have been used daily since the boys came home. We also have gotten our money's worth from our double stroller. I know there are differing opinions and I've only had the Duoglider, but I really like it a lot. Meals were great too. My saving grace was that I am a compulsive planner. I had my suitcase mostly packed by 6 months along and lists of phone numbers (one for me, one for my hubbie, etc.), had cell phones charged up every night, baby clothes washed, bouncey seats and cribs put together, and everything ready to go. It was a good thing because the boys came more than 8 weeks early by c-section at Hopkins which is 2 1/2 hours from our home. After back and forth trips to the NICU for over a month, we were glad to have meals ready for us that I didn't have to cook (and that weren't fast food) and glad that we didn't have to get baby stuff put together. The packing ahead helped too!

Things I thought I needed but hardly used or didn't need: bottle warmers, wipe warmer, swaddle blankets--my boys hated to be bound up and liked to be free to move, fancy newborn clothes--they were in NB size sleepers for almost 3 months and I left them in as long as they were clean (changing took too much energy), a Medela hand pump--Pump in Style double electric was wonderful!, nursing gowns

 

QUOTE(LV twinmama @ Mar 11 2008, 10:47 PM) [snapback]664547[/snapback]
I have a basket for diaper changing time. That way I didn't have to go to their room. It held diapers, wipes, cream, diaper rash, hand santizer, lanolin(for me) breast pads, burp cloths, and anything else I might need. It was wonderful adn then you knew where everything was and it was on hand. The basket came from walmart and is for a diaper station (but any straight sided basket would do) and is lined with fabric and pockets. I loved it. I still use it

Ditto to everything else. My babies lived in onsies (preemie size and they were big) Lots of recieving blankets we had tons but they were always spit on or wet on or stinky. I also had baskets in their room for blankets and burp cloths. We went through so many it was easy to get more and then my DH or whoever was staying with me could find it easy.


Ditto on the diaper basket. We have a changing pad with sides and diaper supplies downstairs because it is too hard to take 2 boys up to the changing table 15 times a day.

 

An extra pair of hands (or more)- to clean and cook and take care of YOU (not the babies).
Boppy pillows.. whoever invented these is a genius (we still use them for things).
Swing or bouncy (but my girls didn't like them until they were over 6 weeks old).
Changing table.. I thought this was a waste of money, but my back thanked me for reconsidering.
Swaddle blankets or just plain flannel receiving blankets.
Lots of footy sleepers and onesies.
If you are bottle feeding, get more bottles and nipples than you need for a day so you don't have to worry about washing them for the next feeding.
If you are breastfeeding, the easy-2-nurse pillow is fantastic.
A sense of humor about the lack of sleep

GL with the rest of your pregnancy!

 

Miracle Blankets!

 

First few weeks:

Soothie paci's, waffle type blankets for swaddling and tons sleepers that zip because the snap ones drive you wacky after a bit... PnP was great too...

other than that i swear i had such good babies that noting else was needed but me... and i was more than there so we were all good... We never used swings, bouncers, nothing till about one month... they were so small i never messed with it, they were fine right with us...