What to buy 2 of and what not to?

Hi ladies -

I'm a FTM and I'm 14 wks pregnant with fraternal twins. Since I'm a FTM, I don't have any of the baby essentials and it doesn't look like we'll be getting any hand me downs from family. I don't plan on registering for a couple months yet but I have been browsing around. I've heard alot about not needing 2 of everything. Do any current mommies of twins have any advice on what they found they needed 2 of what they made do without?

I definitely don't want to go overboard so any tips would be helpful!

Thanks!

 

Hi ladies -

I'm a FTM and I'm 14 wks pregnant with fraternal twins. Since I'm a FTM, I don't have any of the baby essentials and it doesn't look like we'll be getting any hand me downs from family. I don't plan on registering for a couple months yet but I have been browsing around. I've heard alot about not needing 2 of everything. Do any current mommies of twins have any advice on what they found they needed 2 of what they made do without?

I definitely don't want to go overboard so any tips would be helpful!

Thanks!

 

It really comes down to personally preference. Each mom finds different things valuable, and so you will get a lot of mixed advice. My best advice: if you think you will need two, buy two but SAVE THE RECEIPTS! Open one item at a time; if you HAVE to have the other one, then open it too. If not, return the second item.

Here are some things that we HAD to have two of:
*car seats
*cribs
*high chairs

Here are some things that we FELT WE NEEDED to have two of (pretty much, for our sanity!!!):
*portable swings
*boppy pillows
*exersaucer (or similar device)
*single strollers (we really used these a lot, but it was just a personal thing)
*Baby Bjorns (one for me and one for DH)
*pack n plays

Here are some things that we only needed ONE of:
*bouncy seat (they didn't like it)
*Bumbo seat
*play mat
*jumper (we had the jumperoo, but there are those doorway jumpers too)
*baby bathtub

It really is a matter of trial and error and it also depends on your babies personalities!!!! Good luck!

 

It's going to depend on your babies and what they like. Here's what we have 2 of:

2 Swings, huge lifesaver for us
2 car sweats
2 cribs
2 high chairs

We have one:
PNP-we use that in the livingroom
Co-Sleeper -We use that for our room
Bouncy chair
bathtub
double stroller

 

We are only going to start with 2 car seats and 2 highchairs. Everything else like the swings we are going to start with one and see if there is need for another.

 

From my experience, the only things we needed 2 of were:
- infant car seats
- bouncy seats
- exersaucers (we used 2 different ones for variety)
- high chairs
- portable feeding chairs (for visiting friends or going on picnics)
- 2 cribs (although my twins shared the same crib for about 5-6 months).
I might consider 2 umbrella strollers this time around but that's about it.

 

You know, you'd be surprised what people will offer up when they find out you are having two. A friend of my husband's just gave us a double medela advanced PIS, a hop-n-pop, two activity mats, and a bouncer. My advice is to make a list of things you need, a list of things you want, and a list of things you'd just love to have. That way, you can keep track of it. Don't bother paying full price until it seems pretty obvious that you are not getting a good deal on a used one or a freebie. We have just coasted along waiting for an insurance check to buy the baby things we need and lo and behold now all we have left are 2 angelcare movement sensors, 1 double snap and go, and 1 extra carseat! I never had a swing with my son (I held him constantly but this time I don't have that luxury). Now I have two because I got great deals on craigslist where I got a portable graco and portable fisher price deluxe takealong for $10 each. All of the fabric parts on things like that are removeable and washable and you can lysol the plastic. I would pick up any bouncer seats for $5 that you can get. I live in a 2 story house and I wanted bouncers for downstairs (they are light and you can put them in the kitchen while you are cooking or in the living room while you are watching t.v.)and upstairs (great to put in the bathroom while you are taking care of your business in there). I held off on a high chair with my son and will probably do the same with the twins unless I find a dirt cheap deal. It was good for us because we didn't use a high chair (just put him in a bouncer or carrier on the table)until he was able to control himself better. By that time you might can get rid of some the very tiny baby stuff to make more space.

 

I agree with pp that it is a personal preference. Here is what we had to have two of:

-- Car seats
-- Bouncy seats
-- Exersaucers
-- High Chairs
-- Cribs
-- Pack-n-Plays
-- Boppy Pillows

Mine were not big on the swing or jumperoo. If they had been than I would have gotten two. We had one of everything else.

 

we have 2 of:

-cribs
-swings (my girls love their swings & nap in them)
-bouncers
-feeding chairs (instead of a highchair- they strap to adult chair/have a tray like a highchair)


we have 1 excersaucer from my older dd- don't know if we'll get another yet since they're not quite old enough to see if they like it.

 

I'm an odd ball in many ways I know. But we only just bought our third "two of them" item. The bikes they are getting for Christmas. Other than that we have two car seats, and two high chairs (the tray less kind that pull up to the table, I love those). They sleep in one bed, we only ever had one pack and play, one bouncy seat, one jumper, one rocking seat, one double stroller, one push toy, one ride on toy, they have about 6 dolls, but no two are the same, etc. etc. You really don't need all that stuff. Especially if you don't have the money for it. My girls have know what "taking turns" means since they were about 4 months old.

 

You can likely start with one crib, one bouncer, and one swing. You'll need two carseats and you'll probably want to go with a double stroller that will last you a while, like a Duoglider. You'll probably want two slings or other baby carriers. Don't bother with an excersaucer or jumperoo yet. You can buy one of each at an age closer to 5 months old, if you decide you need them. You can also wait on the high chairs until closer to 5 months old as well.

Since you live in a large metro area, definitely contact your local mothers of twins club. You can go to NOMOTC.org and put in your zip code to find the closest one. Clubs have bi-annual sales with lots of used merchandise in great condition and you'll save tons of money by buying some of the basics (like bouncers & highchairs) there.

One tip, do not worry about matching the patterns of the infant carseats and the stroller. You can usually save money by not matching and the infant carseats will only be in the stroller for about 6 months.