What do I need?

I'm going to register for my b/g twins tomorrow. I feel like I will miss something important. I realize we're going to need lots of diapers and wipes. I'm due Jan8, 09 but doc says we'll go to 37 weeks (around Dec 21st) I fully intend to breastfeed, and for now the twins will share a room/crib. I'm anxious to hear from you...

1. In your experience, what kinds of things are you so thankful to have had/couldn't live without those first few days?

2. Where are the best places to register? We don't have a BRU locally, but with my last pregnancy I registered there online and things were sent directly to my house. This is easier for my family across the country. Any other places with good online registries?

3. How many places did you register?

 

Boppys!!!! to help breastfeed and prop up little babies. They were probablly they best gifts I got. And a diaper caddy. We registared at 3 places. Target, bru and a place in Sac, called Goores, bc it had the pattern I wanted for the stroller and the carseats. OHHH and I loved any blankets with elastec/ spandex to swaddle them. Impo I didn'y really care for the flannel ones. Hope thats helps....

 

Swings.. Life saver for me.

I didnt breastfeed but i would still have a couple bottles just in case!

Target and BRU. I tried not to double register.. I didnt get much off the registery bc i didnt have a baby shower.. But it still helped! (It was like a personal list)

 

If you are planning to bf, then consider trying to get a EZ2nurse pillow - I got one second hand and just washed it really well. It has been great and I didn't spend a ton on it just in case I decided not to bf. I also had a can of formula and some bottles just in case (which we did end up using a little bit).
We use to go through footed sleepers like they were going out of style - we found that we needed about 20 - which we got for a deal at a second hand store!
A swing was useful, lots of receiving cloths (which we used as burp cloths), miracle blankets, white noise machine, play mat with dangly things on top, bouncy chair, excersaucer (we started putting them in it around 4mnths), thats all I can think of right now...

good luck!

 

- A double snap-n-go stroller (with infant seats that fit in it, of course!). I wasn't going to get a snap-n-go, but had a twin mom friend who INSISTED on it, and I now love the thing. It has honestly been our saving grace these first few months. I would recommend getting infant seats that go to the higher weight/height limits (30 lb./30 in.), as they'll last for a larger portion of the first year (which means your snap-n-go will last for a longer portion, as well!).

- EZ2Nurse Pillow

- Swaddle blankets. I personally loved the Lullawrap by Cloud B, but I've noticed that lots of other moms swear by either the Kiddopotamus SwaddleMe or Miracle Blanket.

- If you're nursing, a breast pump is really helpful (both to aid in your milk coming in and in building your supply). While it can absolutely be done, getting the hang of nursing twins can take some time, so you may need a pump to get you through the first few weeks as you figure things out. You can rent hospital-grade pumps until you decide whether you'll use one enough to justify purchasing one.

 

For those early weeks:

-Boppy Pillow (great for bfing tiny babies)

-Hospital Grade Breast Pump (great for building your supply or maintaining your supply if you have trouble bfing, but still want your babies to get breast milk)

-Swings and Bouncy Seats

-LOTS of warm sleepers (mine were born 1/3/08 - and they lived in fleece sleepers until March!)

-Baby Books or Journals (to write down as much as you can - it was such a blur for me and I'm so glad I wrote stuff down!)

-Sleep Sacks

 

Waterproof pads!!! I still use them all the time to change the babies.

Baby tub - I used the small fisher price ones at first, then switched to the primo eurobath - still using it

I wouldn't bother with sleep sacks. We only started using them at 4 months. We swaddled them before that.


Don't bother with putting receiving blankets on your registry. The ones you find in most stores are useless. I only liked the big ones from Warlmart (George is the brand), even though I don't like walmart.

I don't really think it's worth it to spend extra money on the large infant seats personally, as they still only go to 30inch and most babies outgrow the seats in length first... and the standard ones go to 29 inches.

For the rest, you probably know, as it's not your first babies.

 

Honestly, if they came today, all you'd need is carseats and diapers. Everything else falls into the category of "nice to have."

When I was pregnant, I got an Amazon Prime membership. It's $75 yearly, and with amazon prime you get free 2 day shipping and $3.99 next day shipping. When I found that I really wanted something, say a boppy, or an exersaucer, or more baby towels, or BPA free bottles, etc. etc., I just ordered it from Amazon and got it either the next day or the day after. That $75 was well worth it for the savings on shipping for all the stuff I ordered and had delivered next day. You can even order diapers that way, if you want.

I guess what I'm saying is, don't stress out too much about "what you need" because everyone has different preferences--personally, I didn't use a snap and go stroller very much. I didn't think it steered as well as my graco, and I certainly didn't like it as much as my jogger. But other twin moms swear by them! You won't know what works for you until you're in the thick of it.

 

I registered at both BRU and Target.

Useful things were onesies (in assorted sizes), double sng, car seats, pnp's, and boppie pillows.. oh and lots and lots of cloth diapers that we used for burp cloths. When they got older I was happy to have swings too. GL with the rest of your pregnancy!