Twin survival kit for new mom

My friend is having twins and as part of her shower gift I wanted to put together a basket of some useful thing. I am already including mylicon and colic tablets. I am not looking for large ticket items, just small things that you absolutely needed. Maybe even a book that helped you. Thanks for the input!

Also if you had one piece of advice for a new twin mom what would it be. I could include them on index cards in the basket.

Thanks ladies!

 

i think Twinspiration would be a good book - i really loved the anecdotal nature of it & found it helped me through by seeing that someone else really had survived it all.

maybe a rewards membership to Twinstuff.

gift certificates for some hot meals to be dropped off.

a white noise machine or CD.

here's a quote i found really helpful: 'during this day, i will do the best i can to be a mother to these children with the information, wisdom, and energy i have at this time' - it's still posted on my fridge.

 

Thoughts of things you could include:
1. Nalgene water bottle (for mom)
2. swaddles
3. Nighttime bedtime bath lotions/soaps to start a calming night routine
4. Burp cloths (we never had enough)
5. wipes/diapers

What a nice thing to do for the new mama!

 

I agree with the white-noise cd!! We downloaded some white-noise tracks from Amazon for about $1 each, put them on a cd, and used it in a boom-box in the babies' room. I liked the cd better than a machine because space in their room is limited and the boom-box is also used for lullabys and the radio. I sometimes played them a non-station for white-noise so maybe a boom box would be good.

My advice is to let her know she will be moved into a strange time zone where everything is mixed up. The first few months are survival mode and she shouldn't beat herself up over propriety, following rules, etc. We all end up doing what is best for our own situation, as every baby and every parent is different so what works for one might not work for another. All the advice in the world is worthless if it doesn't fit your own unique situation and nobody will know her babies better than she and her husband. I felt so much pressure from well-meaning friends and family who wanted to "help" but their help was on their schedule and on their terms, which really actually made things more difficult in some ways.

Jus my brainstorming for gifts:

Some natural baby care products would be good. We dealt with diaper rash as early as our hospital days and had nothing to use on their bottoms. The nurse wanted to put Desitin on their bottoms but Desitin contains some really scary ingredients. I wished we had some organic cream to use at the time, and we found some good stuff afterward which really helped (Avalon Organics Zinc Diaper Balm). I also recommend anything from Avalon Organics, California Baby, Burts Bees (Baby Bee), and Alba. Aveeno has recently gotten better with their ingredients, as well, and Method has a few decent looking products but I've never used them.

A basket is a great idea - I have put all the baskets I received to very good use!!

Receiving blankets - she'll probably be astounded at how many she gets, but we found that we were always in need of one those first few months and we had about 20, which didn't seem to be enough.

Cloth diapers - we received one pack of birdseye flatfold diapers and they are so useful for wiping spit-ups, various cleaning, and the boys loved holding them from about week 4 through month 5.

A back scratcher - those hospital beds don't give your back much air and it gets itchy.

A button-down nightgown or pajamas - lightweight and great for breastfeeding.

Bottle/nipple brushes - we seem to go through a fair amount of these as they just wear out.

A variety of pacifiers - we tried a few to find the right ones the boys loved, then we had about a dozen so we didn't have to search far for one when we needed it. The boys loved the orthodontic kind best. Many babies like Soothies.

Bottle holders - we used the "elephant ears" bottle holders as early as 8 weeks. They fit the wide bottles well and I would put each baby in a boppy pillow with the bottle in the holder when things got really freaky with them screaming for food ASAP and me lacking the ability to do 100 things at once while feeding them (like going to the bathroom, getting myself a glass of water, etc.)

Formula dispensers - for about $5 you can buy a container that holds four 8-ounce servings of powdered formula. This is great for the diaper bag. All she would need to do is put the water in the bottles ready for mixing. This is much cheaper than buying ready-made formula.

Small ice-packs for the diaper bag in case she wants to take expressed breast milk out. Thes are also handy for many other uses.

 

Lots of great ideas!! Keep them coming. I'm so excited to make the basket. Thanks!!!

 

Also keep the advice coming. I really want to give here a stacj of cards with advice from other twin mommies. You all are great!

 

Bibs, bibs, bibs...I never thought we would need so many, but with feeding and teething we go through at least 6-10 per day.

Mylicon; the Target brand is like $3.75, where the name brand is $13.99. It has the same ingredients and we use it all the time for DS or he is miserable from his formula. He is just a gassy baby and it is the only thing that helped us. Our doctor said he could have up to 12 doses per day if needed, but we never had to do that many.

Swaddles blankets with velcro were a definate must for the first 4 months.

Those are our must haves. I hope that helps in your basket making. What a kind thought.

 

Burp clothes......it's amazing how many you go through
Baby Tylenol.....even though you can't use it when they are tiny it's nice to have on hand for the first time you need it because inevitably it will be 2 am
A gift card for dinner out for her and DH with an offer of babysitting for the night they choose to use it........it saved DH and I when the boys were about 3 weeks old and my parents watched them for a couple hours so we could go out to dinner, it made a huge difference in my morale
Desitin or other diaper rash cream........look for the kind with the most zinc oxide, Desitin I think is 12%, the more in it, the stronger the cream and we've had some wicked rashes that we needed something stronger than what the home made remedies or the natural products could get rid of
A baby first aid kit......this has come in handy for us more than once
Tiny bandaids......because even if you are the best nail clipper in the world you'll get their tiny finger tip someday and need something small
A rubber duckie that tells you when the bath water is too hot or a thermometer.........you can never be too safe, what feels good to me is WAY to hot for my babies
A measuring cup that has ounces.........this was a lifesaver for me measuring formula water because I didn't trust the drop in liners
What to Expect the First Year..........even though this isn't a twin specific book, it's helped me more than once with the first aid tips it offers and a lot of the basic baby info that I didn't know

Beyond all that, diapers and wipes are always needed and if you can set up some people to bring them meals or make her some meals to put in her freezer that can be easily heated she will love you for it. When people brought us food I wanted to kiss them because there were days where I would literally eat nothing or something totally not good for you like a bag of reeses peanut butter cups because that is what was there.

 

QUOTE(Rach1137 @ Apr 21 2009, 11:23 AM) [snapback]1282677[/snapback]
Desitin or other diaper rash cream........look for the kind with the most zinc oxide, Desitin I think is 12%, the more in it, the stronger the cream and we've had some wicked rashes that we needed something stronger than what the home made remedies or the natural products could get rid of


The Avalon Organics Zinc balm has 25%, btw.

 

For mom - coffee or Starbucks gift card, manicure or pedi
For babies - gripe water, more bottles, burp clothes, formula pitcher or BF supplies, I think this is kinda hard cuz every baby is different. Maybe some season specific items - if babies are born in the summer - some hats and lightweight clothes, etc.
Advice - this too shall pass although we know it doesnt feel like it ever will. Try to get out when you can at first it is a lot of work but it feels good to do somehting normal, even if it is just going to the grocery store.

 

Great idea!!

White noice machine....mine was from bed bath and beyond Homedics sound spa machine with projection screen $19.99
Diapers or gift card
Butt paste...love it!
Pacifiers...lots of them!!
Cloth diapers...burp cloths
grooming kit
onsies
blankets
socks
Munckin sterilizing bags....box comes with 5 bags for microwave and each is 20 uses......GREAT product!!
Munchkin formula dispenser for on the go



As far as a book Happiest baby on the block and my all time favorite.... Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy child. Im not sure when her shower is or when she is due but his book Healthy sleep habits, happy twins will be coming out on June 9th, you could pre-order it from amazon for her.

 

i think one of the best things you can do is offer a range of a type of product so the new mama can try things out without running back and forth to the store or spending her money. we all find what works best for us, so one baby's perfect bottle could be a gas nightmare for another. so i would put together a small collection of baby bath products, lotions and diaper creams. i would also give her one or two bottles from a variety of manufacturers (even if she'll be BF, she may want to pump and bottles would still be needed) so she can find what works best for her. you might also get a small pack of diapers from each of the big brands in a range of sizes. i loved having free trials of diapers, and i loved even more when i remembered we already had a pack the next size up in the closet when we wanted them.

i would also agree with everyone who said burp cloths and washcloths. you can never have enough!

 

I did this a month ago for a friend who just had her baby and included the things that I wished we had had on-hand in the middle of the night. Mylicon, Tylenol, Pedialyte (the singles so you don't waste a whole jug of it), gripe water, salene for the nose, A&D ointment and J&J baby shampoo because I just love the way it smells!

My advice: It gets better! The first 3 months are survival and you do whatever you need to do to make it through. Don't let anybody (especially those who have never had twins) make you feel like you are doing something incorrectly. Take any help you can get and try to be open-minded about doing things not exactly "by the book." After all, there is no such thing as a "textbook" child. Enjoy those babies every day because they grow way too fast! :itwins: :itwins_boys:

ETA: Ditto on the burp clothes. Wal-mart has a 12 pack for $12.

 

Here are some of my can't live without items:

Thermometer(s)
Suction bulb - get a solid one, not one that is in two pieces (we have one for each baby, and keep it at the top of the crib - there's nothing like being woken up by the sound of a baby screeching because they have formula coming out their nose..)
cloth diapers for burp cloths/spit up (we have about 12-so many uses)
Stain remover (oxyclean for baby - works great)
Gift certificate for Applebees or similar restaurant that will deliver (Applebees since they have 'curb-side' service -don't have to get out of the car to get food)
Steam Sanitizer machine (this was a loan from a co-worker, I couldn't live without it) - I know you wanted small ticket items but I have to say this was the best!!
Swaddle cloths - we have four and they are already well-worn, use em every day
Ducky with temperature gauge
Dreft
Bio-Oil for stretch marks/dry skin
Earplugs
White noise CD or similar background noise CD
bottle brush/ nipple brush
Steam sanitizer bags
Gripe Water
Ibuprofen liquid fever reducer
Saline spray for the nose

For advice -
You don't have to be the 'best' mother, you only have to be a 'good enough' mother.... there is no way to spoil a baby
You will sleep again, and there will come a time where you get into a routine and it WILL get easier

 

Totally Toddler stain remover (it's sold at Babies R Us) I hear it's the BEST with any type of stain! (I'll be having my twins shortly so I'm sure I'll be putting it to the test)
Butt Paste
Boppy
Temperature gauge for tub
a few of your favorite baby books so she can read them to the twins...
Diapers, diapers, diapers!!!

I don't know if people do this or not, but I'm using a langerie bag for the washer/dryer to hold socks, hats, etc so they don't get lost!! Seems like a pair of socks usually looses it's mate somewhere along the line!!!!

Not sure if you have a basket already, but maybe a nice large diaper bag to put these things into would be great too!

I don't have any advice yet!!!!!! ;-) Sounds like a wonderful gift that you're giving!

 

My mom had gotten us gift certificates to a sub shop and sandwich shop, so we could order out those first few weeks. That was a lifesaver. Gripe water is amazing at getting rid of hiccups. I still use it. Miracle blankets were also a life saver for us and we didn't have them until they were a few months old. You could probably find them on Craigslist. I just sold mine for $10 each. Some sort of bottle props. I used receiving blankets, but now I know they sell these. Wish I had known. White noise cd or a lullaby cd is a great idea too. We returned our sound machine and just used cds. A few different pacifiers is a great idea too and maybe even some different bottles. I had my heart set on the Playtex nursers, but ended up buying all new bottles because they girls didn't like them.

There is this poem I found online called Twin Hearts. It still makes me cry when I read it. It would be perfect to give at a shower for twins. http://www.mothertochild.com/twinheartscard.html

My advice for those first few weeks is not to beat yourself up over everything you aren't doing. You feel like you are in a hamster wheel and it is totally normal. Feeding, changing, repeat. I use to feel so guilty that I didn't spend any quality time just holding one of them. There just wasn't any free time. It does get better. Everyone will tell you that and it's so hard to imagine that it will, but it WILL. Just hang in there and make sure to give yourself plenty of credit for everything that you are doing. Having twins is an amazing experience that not everyone is lucky enough to have.

 

One thing that I always recommend to any new mom, that I didn't see in the PPs, is a pack of those little paper changing pads that you can lay on your changing table. That way when they pee on themselves when you're changing them, you're not having to constantly wash changing pad covers. Those are a LIFESAVER!!!! Don't know if they're too big for your basket. Huggies (WalMart) makes them and Munchkin (Target).

 

Bibs!! I kept bibs on my babies all of the time when they were little. It was so much easier to change a bib than an entire outfit.
Hand sanatizer - no one touched my babies for the first couple of months without it. I realize they are going to get sick. That's part of being a baby, but I was going to try my best that it didn't happen when they were tiny!
Baby Einstein DVD - my babies LOVE watching these from the time they were very little. It keeps them still for a few minutes. I use while I'm feeding so they don't squirm so much.
Depending on if she is formula or breast feeding - bottle brush/milk storage bags.
Batteries - everything takes batteries and they die so quickly!

I'm sure there is much more, but was trying to think of things that's not very expensive.

It's going to be tough to start, but enjoy every second. Even the 3am feedings. I remember being soooo tired feeding in the middle of the night, but they would smile one time and it was all worth it! There is so much guilt in motherhood - always wondering if you're doing enough. Especially with two! Feeling guilty holding one while the other looks on. It's fine. Better to take turns than not holding either. Experiment! Try doing things different ways. If it doesn't work, try something different the next day. That's the only way to figure out what works best. Don't worry about trying to be super mom, super wife, etc. Taking care of the babies is a full time job and then some. Don't expect to still be able to clean your house, cook for everyone, etc - for a while!

So much advice to give, but I need sleep! Just enjoy it. Babies are such a blessing and having two is just double the blessing!

 

QUOTE(christie76 @ Apr 22 2009, 07:13 AM) [snapback]1283542[/snapback]
My mom had gotten us gift certificates to a sub shop and sandwich shop, so we could order out those first few weeks. That was a lifesaver. Gripe water is amazing at getting rid of hiccups. I still use it. Miracle blankets were also a life saver for us and we didn't have them until they were a few months old. You could probably find them on Craigslist. I just sold mine for $10 each. Some sort of bottle props. I used receiving blankets, but now I know they sell these. Wish I had known. White noise cd or a lullaby cd is a great idea too. We returned our sound machine and just used cds. A few different pacifiers is a great idea too and maybe even some different bottles. I had my heart set on the Playtex nursers, but ended up buying all new bottles because they girls didn't like them.

There is this poem I found online called Twin Hearts. It still makes me cry when I read it. It would be perfect to give at a shower for twins. http://www.mothertochild.com/twinheartscard.html

My advice for those first few weeks is not to beat yourself up over everything you aren't doing. You feel like you are in a hamster wheel and it is totally normal. Feeding, changing, repeat. I use to feel so guilty that I didn't spend any quality time just holding one of them. There just wasn't any free time. It does get better. Everyone will tell you that and it's so hard to imagine that it will, but it WILL. Just hang in there and make sure to give yourself plenty of credit for everything that you are doing. Having twins is an amazing experience that not everyone is lucky enough to have.



I am BAWLING after reading that poem. It's SO beautiful.

 

FWIW, I have a lot of twin books and my favorite so far is 'Juggling Twins'.

 

Wow thanks everyone. I think I'm going to end up spending alot of $ on all the little things she needs. Thanks for the help and pieces of advice.

 

These are the things we couldn't live without:

ASPIRATOR - Get as many as you can from the hospital. Have at least two in the nursery and two where you will be spending the majority of your time
ALCOHOL WIPES - To clean off rectal thermometers. Target use to sell them in those Wet One type of cylinder containers but don't have them here so we bought pads
SALINE DROPS - "Little Noses" is what we use. Babies breathe through their noses so you want to keep them clear if they get stuffy
BURP CLOTHS - What everyone else says, you really really cannot have enough. We went through so many with our dd I started my own company www.babedecorandmore.com.
RECEIVING BLANKETS - For swaddling. Again. I make my own as the ones in the stores aren't normally big enough. Just sew two 45" square flannel pieces together right sides facing and then sew a 5/8" line around the perimeter. We LOVE them. For Spring/Summer, we love the muslin ones I think they are called Aden and Anais or something like that
LOTS OF JAMMIES - We change the babies at least three times a day.
BATH TUB - This would be a cute way to put all of your gifts into and she will only need one as you can only bathe one at a time : )
RECTAL THERMOMETERS - Hospitals recommend having one assigned per baby. Label with a black marker.
ONESIES THAT BUTTON DOWN THE FRONT AND CROTCH AREA - After you feed a baby and they spit up, you don't want to jostle their heads very much.
MOBY D WRAP - You can fit both babies in the wrap with practice so she can hold them at once.

Here is my advice:

1.) To pick up both babies together, place Baby A on a large ottoman. Place Baby B next to Baby A. Slide your arms under their back so each hand is cradling a head and their backs are ontop of your forearms. Lean forward and at the same time lift the babies towards your chest. Lift babies and then adjust one arm under their butts and keep the other arm across the backs of their lower necks/upper back.

2.) Babies like to stretch out sometimes and want visual stimulation so they don't need to be held 24/7. Buy a play mat that you can lay them under so they can look up at the lights or toys while you cuddle the other one.

3.) Sleep when the babies sleep. This is advice that I never took though. I just couldn't sleep in the daytime but I know a lot of new moms who swear by this.

4.) Housecleaning can wait for the weekend. Better yet, suggest to hubby that for a "push present" he can purchase a few months of cleaning service twice per month : )

5.) Get out of the house within the first week or so and get a pedicure!!! It is amazing how much you put on your feet after a twin pregnancy. Also better yet, look into the hospital to see if they have spa services. Where I live there is a company that goes to the hospital for spa services.

6.) As a general rule of thumb, the babies will sleep about one hour for every ounce they eat (hour starting with the beginning of the feeding).

Oops, one baby is stirring. I will write more later : )

 

QUOTE(amelowe9 @ Apr 23 2009, 02:06 AM) [snapback]1285059[/snapback]
I am BAWLING after reading that poem. It's SO beautiful.



I still cry every time I read it and it's on top of my tv. I just read it again and had another cry.

 

Lots of great suggestions on things to put in the basket. I definitely recommend anything that might go into a nursing basket - bottled water, Luna bars, god, what else did I have in mine...

Anyway, I'd suggest adding in a small calendar she can hang on the wall. That way when there are "firsts" she can easily mark them down without the burden of a baby book. If she's up for blogging, I'd definitely add that to the advice. It's hard to keep up, but there is a lot of minutia in mine that I know I'd never be able to remember if not for my blog.

Also, the best advice you can possibly get IMO is to get out! On your own, yes, but I mean get out with the babies. Make it so there's nothing to it. At this point it feels like nothing to get up and out and thank god! Because I'd be dead meat without our once, twice, thrice daily outings...

Such a nice thing you're doing for her!

 

Advice:
it will get better and you are a great mum!
Accept all help you are offered.

As for things, most PPs have covered them: gripe water, plastic backed bibs (also get ones that cover their arms and torsos for when they start solids), onsies, soft toys to look at, music box (my LOs loved theirs and often went to sleep with them - still do!) and nappies (diapers). The latter is a great gift!

 

QUOTE(eechy @ Apr 24 2009, 01:17 AM) [snapback]1286539[/snapback]
Lots of great suggestions on things to put in the basket. I definitely recommend anything that might go into a nursing basket - bottled water, Luna bars, god, what else did I have in mine...

Anyway, I'd suggest adding in a small calendar she can hang on the wall. That way when there are "firsts" she can easily mark them down without the burden of a baby book. If she's up for blogging, I'd definitely add that to the advice. It's hard to keep up, but there is a lot of minutia in mine that I know I'd never be able to remember if not for my blog.

Also, the best advice you can possibly get IMO is to get out! On your own, yes, but I mean get out with the babies. Make it so there's nothing to it. At this point it feels like nothing to get up and out and thank god! Because I'd be dead meat without our once, twice, thrice daily outings...

Such a nice thing you're doing for her!



I actually got a First Year Calendar, which I never used, since they were older when my MIL gave it to me. That would be a great idea for the basket.

 

Blankets, blankets, blankets.

Burp cloths

Twinstuff membership