Hello,
I am due with twin girls May 2015, this is my first pregnancy. So, you can imagine the shock of having twins especially since they didn't find the second baby until 13 weeks! Anyways, I was hoping to get some insight on what I really need extra or doubles of. All of my friends are saying I need 2 of everything (none of them have ever had twins). buying 2 of everything seems a little much to me. Do I really need 2 swings and 2 bouncers? I look forward to hearing your advice anything will help at this point!
Re: Is 2 of EVERYTHING really needed???????
Swings are big, I would get one and see if your babies like it. Some babies do, some don't.
So my advice overall is get one and see if you use it/babies like it. Except where they will be sleeping. You might even want 2 bouncers because I put them in front of the shower so I can keep an eye on them while showering. Plus bouncers are small and cheap.
I've never owned a swing. They're huge and expensive. I've always preferred bouncers, but ones that actually bounce, not just a vibrating seat.
We also had one playmat and one exersaucer. No jumperoo or anything.
If you're planning to BF, a twin nursing pillow is very useful - I'd say 95% of twin mamas who nurse use one. I had a boppy from my singleton, but could have gotten by without one. I also barely used the bumbo.
Strollers: preferences vary widely on this. I prefer a stroller frame for the early months and then a jogger for everyday use. I went with the joovy twin roo frame and then a bob duallie.
We have two ergos, also. We tend to babywear a lot and each parent will wear a twin. A lot of times it's easier than maneuvering a double stroller - we live pretty urban and space is at a premium.
You will need more clothes, diapers, sheets, blankets. A lot is depends to how often you wash. Same with bottles. I work and BFed, so I had 4 sets of pump parts and enough bottles for 2-3 days (feeds I'd be away, we tandem nursed the rest). I also had two pumps so I could keep one at work but that was mainly convenience - I had one from my singleton and then got another through insurance.
Don't go crazy before you know what works.
2 infant car seats (I didn't find infant seats necessary with my singletons, but with the twins they were pretty crucial)
Right ovary removed 09.04.2012 via vertical laparotomy
Essure implant placed on remaining tube 06.13.2013; successful followup scan 09.30.2013
We live in a 1400 sq ft mobile home, so it was overwhelming for our small space. The way we handled it is I did not have all these things at once. As soon as they grew out of the swing, that went into storage. Once they grew into the jumperoos, the bouncers and rock and plays went away. I almost put the pack and play away, but it is in my living room now so they can have their own play space where their older siblings can't crash into them. The biggest challenge now is the two jumperoos. They are huge and take up a lot of space, but they both love them.
When I think of what we got by with only having one of, I can't think of much. Maybe because certain things we just don't have at all - swing, pack n play (have them, don't use them), jumperoo, high chair (we always used either a Bumbo or booster chair).
We do only have 1 play mat which continues to be fine.
So we have:
1 play mat
2 rock n plays
2 Boppies
2 bouncy chairs
2 exersaucers
2 bumbos
2 boosters
2 cribs
2 car seats (obvi)
We actually have 3 strollers. Snap n go, side by side jogger, and tandem.
So we do need 2 of everything. But certain things we're fine with not having at all.
Baby Boy #1 born 1/15/2010
Babies #2 & #3 arriving Spring 2014 (EDD June 18)