What could you not live without?

Yesterday evening we were walking back from my in laws and I was watching my DH pull the twins in their wagon. It is a double seated radio flyer wagon with canopy. We bought it for their 1st birthday. I just got to thinking how great of a purchase it was for us. We have used that thing sooooo much. It has certainly made it easier carting them around. It made me wonder what other parents of twins have found to make their lives easier and could not live without. I know the double stroller would go on my list as well. We wouldn't have been able to leave the house when they were little without it.

So, what items do you think are absolutely neccessary and you are so glad you bought it because it makes your life easier with twins?

 

Swaddles, sleep wedges, swings, baby bjorn for carrying around the house.

 

The Mountain Buggy!!!!

There were a bunch of things for the baby stage (Miracle Blanket, bouncy seats, etc.) that we relied on heavily, but the Mountain Buggy is the only thing we've used for (almost) their entire lives. I seriously cannot imagine how different our lives would have been without it.

 

A high quality double stroller. I used it several times a day in the first year, daily in the second, and weekly in the third. I'm so glad I didn't get a cheap one that might have fallen apart.

 

A great jogging stroller. We use ours everyday and I can't imagine not having it, or having one that isn't great quality.

 

Citi-Mini double stroller
Skiphop Double Duo diaper bag
Munchkin formula dispensers
stroller hooks
Step 2 Double Wagon

 

Bouncy seat
Soft [cuddly] blankets
Jug to mix formula in
Baby Einstein videos [for the occassional dose of sanity]

[We didn't get any of that cool stuff for the girls and we managed just fine [so far ]]

 

I just got a nice jogging stroller a couple weeks ago and I LOVE it. I wish I had splurged for a nice one from the beginning because I suffered with bad strollers for a long time and spent way too much money in the long run on several mediocre ones.

 

the firsrt thing that comes to mind is my ergo carrier. i loved my slings when they were little, but carrying one in this now (and the other w/dad, my mom, or in a stroller) has made it so easy to take them places. they only like the stroller (our bob, which i love) for their afternoon naps.

i geuss the other thing i could not have lived w/out is my pump. one of my gusy was unable to latch so i've pumped for him since he was born. i'm sure there are other things, but those come to mind first!

 

Ditto the wagon. Ours is a hand-me-down, and I thought it was kind of silly but I took it because I didn't want to offend the relative who was giving it to us. It doesn't have a canopy, but it does have little seats and 3 pt harnesses. It is so easy to take them for quick strolls around the neighborhood and I like to use it at the park too. We have a double jogging stroller and a tandem as well, but the wagon is so much easier to use for quick walks and in outdoor settings.

The other thing that came to mind is my Scootababy hip carrier. So easy to pop DD in this and put DS in a cart or the umbrella stroller. http://www.scootababy.com/

It seems like lots of the cannot live without products are things to make getting out with twins easier!

 

I could not live without my BOB jogging stroller. I love that thing. Sometimes, my girls will only stop crying if I put them in it. In fact, I refer to it as a person and EVERYONE in my neighborhood calls my stroller BOB!! lol...

 

Great question (I am limiting my list to the things we use in the SY because if I added all the things that kept me sane in the FY, we'd be here all day)
Munchkin straw cups!
Bob stroller
Radio Flyer Wagon
vibrating mattress for my DS that helps him to fall asleep fast
books that keep the kids occupied
Sesame Street
Twinstuff

 

My sister! I am a single mother and I could not survive without her!

 

For those using jogging stroller or BOB....are they lightweight. Are you able to load and unload pretty easy or do you just use it to walk around the neighborhood?

Why I ask.....We need a lightweight double stroller. Our double stroller was nice when they were infants, but now I hate lugging it around...to heavy!

 

QUOTE(momofb/gtwins @ Jun 22 2009, 03:04 PM) [snapback]1363793[/snapback]
For those using jogging stroller or BOB....are they lightweight. Are you able to load and unload pretty easy or do you just use it to walk around the neighborhood?

Why I ask.....We need a lightweight double stroller. Our double stroller was nice when they were infants, but now I hate lugging it around...to heavy!


My jogger was a dreamer designs, extrodinarily lightweight, It wieghed less than 10 lbs. It didn't fit in our VW beetle so I transported it on a rooftop luggage rack. It was no problem to swing that thing up there by myself.

 

We have the double expedition jogging stroller from one step ahead. It is a little bit different color than the one they currently carry (last yr. vs. this yrs model) but I love it. It actually fits better in the back of our van than my quattro duo. I haven't used the graco stroller since they were out of the infant seats since it is so heavy. Our jogger is much lighter. I use it just about everywhere. The only time I ever use our other lightweight double stroller (jeep twin sport) is the doctor's office (too small a space in the exam room for 2 babies and a bigger jogger), kohl's (which I mostly avoid with the boys because of how horrible the space is) and the pharmacy (since they are also in a tiny space that I mostly try to avoid with the boys).

 

QUOTE(Rach1137 @ Jun 22 2009, 11:16 AM) [snapback]1363903[/snapback]
We have the double expedition jogging stroller from one step ahead. It is a little bit different color than the one they currently carry (last yr. vs. this yrs model) but I love it. It actually fits better in the back of our van than my quattro duo. I haven't used the graco stroller since they were out of the infant seats since it is so heavy. Our jogger is much lighter. I use it just about everywhere. The only time I ever use our other lightweight double stroller (jeep twin sport) is the doctor's office (too small a space in the exam room for 2 babies and a bigger jogger), kohl's (which I mostly avoid with the boys because of how horrible the space is) and the pharmacy (since they are also in a tiny space that I mostly try to avoid with the boys).



So, you like the double jog stroller better than the jeep twin sport? The reason ask.....I was actually looking at the jeep double strollers. They seemed like they were really lightweight and you could get them in and out of car easy. I need something that folds down pretty compact. I drive a Chrysler Pacifica and if I have anyone in the 3rd row seat, I have very little cargo room.

 

I'll chime in. I think the Double Expedition jogger from One Step Ahead is the same as my Baby Trend Double Expedition jogger. http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2796629

I find it more cumbersome to load in and out of my SUV than my Graco Duoglider. I don't know if it is necessarily heavier, but it is more awkward since it's just as long as the Graco and wider. Besides that, I really do like the stroller. I keep it ready to go in my garage for longer walks in the neighborhood.

 

QUOTE(momofb/gtwins @ Jun 22 2009, 03:04 PM) [snapback]1363793[/snapback]
For those using jogging stroller or BOB....are they lightweight. Are you able to load and unload pretty easy or do you just use it to walk around the neighborhood?

Why I ask.....We need a lightweight double stroller. Our double stroller was nice when they were infants, but now I hate lugging it around...to heavy!

The Mountain Buggy is definitely NOT light. It handles like a dream when it's on all 4 wheels, but it's a struggle to lift it off the ground. We still take it places in the back of our station wagon, but mostly it lives in the garage.

 

My stroller (I wanted a light one so went for the city mini double and love it)
Waterproof pads still, they don't pee when we change them anymore but they are great to avoid poop on the floor/bed
Sleep sacks still. Keeps them warm and they can't climb over the crib

All I can think of!

 

I cannot live without my Eddie Bauer folding booster seats. I use them in the bottom of the shopping cart to seat my twins whenever we go shopping. They love sitting in the cart with the groceries and it makes me happy that they are safe and securely buckled in the bottom. I also use them in restaurants along with my Kidopotamus mats for dining.

 

our best buy was a toyota estima!!! second hand and a very good price. its a dream to drive, had masses of space, electric curtains so you can shut out the sun in the back while driving, sliding back door so on a rainy day (which is pretty much everyday here!) you can throw all the kids in the back and then get everyone strapped in without getting your bum wet!!!
i love our feeding chairs as well, just clip onto normal chairs and easily transported when we go to my folks for dinner.
im also still in love with our jane powertwin. its so easy to get around and has suited all the stages so far
x