Opinions on Items: Are They Needed?

nblondheim

A little background.... I am a FTM expecting twins with a due date of March 9th but had pprom with a water break at 26 weeks. We are still holding on though and will be 29 weeks tomorrow!!! I know that we will deliver by 34 weeks (January) for sure so we will have some early babies.

I took a peak at my registries yesterday as my showers are over and was kind of shocked at the items we are going to need still! Yes some of them are just wants With that being said, I am curious if we can shorten our list based on the items you did use and loved or didn't use at all!

 

1. We have two boppy pillows. Will those work for tandem feeding? I have My Brest Friend Twins Deluxe pillow in my registry but it wasn't purchased yet. What did you use for breast feeding? Is the twins breastfeeding pillow worth while to get?

2. Car seat covers.... we live in northern WI and I know they would be handy but are they necessary? Did you use them and love them?

3. Rock n plays... I have heard so many wonderful things about them that we registered for 2! Are they something we should for sure at least buy 1 of and go from there or something we could probably skip?

4. Moby wrap... I had registered for one and a twin carrier but haven't received either. I have heard that wearing a twin can be a lifesaver. Did you use a moby wrap or any other kind of wrap? Was it worth it?

5. We have the Motorola video monitor but haven't gotten the second camera. If you have a small nursery with the cribs close to each other, can you get away with only 1 camera?

6. Miracle blankets... we did receive a few swaddle blankets but I have heard wonderful things about the miracle blankets. Did you use them? Would the swaddle blankets be enough?

7. Sound machine... did you use one? Is it worth it?

 

Now don't get me wrong.... I definitely wasn't expecting to get everything on our registries and we have been given sooo much already! But I know there are items on there that we definitely still need. I am just trying to figure out what I can do without or what I should still definitely buy! Thanks for your opinions and help in advance!

TheDairyQueenx3

1. I have both boppy and my Brest friend. The my Brest friend by far gets more use!
2. I too am in Northern WI and we just toss a little quilt over their car seats and use an A&A blanket over them nice and tight with a small knit blanket and heat the car before going out you most likely won't be bringing them out a ton so it's not a big deal.
3. YES! Get the rock n play we have the twin bassinet but after two weeks we changed they sleep so much better!!
4 I have a moby and an ergo I like my ergo Better but the moby is nice for bf and to wear them in the early months.
5 don't use the monitors we have the boys in our room and when the go to their cribs I can see across the hall
6 the Velcro blankets are the best! As are the A&A we have 14 Velcro blankets size small in the fleece and the cotton fabric and then we have a total of 8 A&A the Velcro blankets are compatable with the rock n plays and make nights easy! The A&A have about a billion uses like swaddling, nursing cover, a scarf haha!
7 never used a sound machines boys prefer the tv so I leave that on and then tht way I can also see what the heck I'm doing at 3 am!

nblondheim

@mellissalynay90

Thank you very much for your honest feedback! I really appreciate it!!!

Momof8inSC

I don't have twins yet, still pg. BUT, as for miracle blankets, I've used them for 9 years, with my last 4 kids and I can honestly say I've tried all others accept the Aden & Anais (sp) muslin ones. MB are a freaking lifesaver. I was told about them back then in my May 2004 due date group on fertility friend from a twin mama. It's what I give all my friends having a baby shower. I usually have a few. I wouldn't be able to function without them. I only use them at night so baby understands about day/night and it has worked with every single kid. I swaddle in a receiving blanket during day while still a NB.

I don't see a reason for two Boppy pillows. I'm getting the Brest Friend twin. Boppy flattens and you have to support w more pillows and after a c section especially, this isn't easy to bed over like that. I've always used them but excited for more support.

I have a twin graco PnP and getting one RnP for now. I'll see what I need later.

Hope this helps.

Momof8inSC

Oh and I've used moby wraps. What I don't like is they're all cotton =HOT and stretchy =not supportive. I use woven wraps. An inexpensive one to start w is Ellaroo. Go on Facebook and search babywearing on a budget.

I'm using a beco butterfly 2 for my hubby.

TheDairyQueenx3

I second the comment on the moby! It's super hot! And not supportive that's why I said early months (up to 2 months maybe) and it's a lot to fiddle with when you have two crabby babies.

LottaLattes

Boppies are handy for if you end up bottle feeding or just a place to hang with the babies. Nit required.

I just out a blanket over the handle of the car seat and carried it that way for my Buffalo kid. Again, helpful but not required.

My kids slept in $20 bouncy seats from target, though I also don't mind sitting on the floor compared to a chair for bouncing or whatever while you try to get them to sleep.

I used the Moby a little but used a homemade doing more. You can get away without but something to wear at least one baby is helpful those first few weeks. I got mine used off CL for $20 tho.

I haven't ever used a video monitor, a sound one would get you by. Now that they're older, I wish I had a video one just because it sounds like fun in there during naptime sometimes but not required.

Miracle blanket. Yes, worth every freakin penny. Get 4 if you can since you'll be a sad panda the night one pees through and you don't have another on hand.

I got a sound machine that stays on all night and love it. A lot. I also have two older kids who are kinda noisy even when they're quiet so helpful for masking that noise. Or the doorbell ringing during nap time, or garbage trucks at 6am, or digs barking as they walk past your house or all that. You can get by without, but I would prioritize this higher.

Good luck and great job keeping those kiddies in there!!

caden

All of these things are so dependent on personal preferences so what worked for me may not work for you but here's my 2 cents:

1. I bottle fed and used 2 boppies for a LONG time- for feeding and when my kids were learning to sit up (as a pillow around them when the fell over). I used the breast feeding pillow exactly twice and then gave it away. If you BF I imagine that pillow would be critical. If not then it's useless IMO and takes up a lot of space. Your call on whether you want to have it just in case BFing works out.

2. Do you mean the insulated "shower cap" kind? I live in MI and my kids were born in September. I LOVED the covers I described. They're warm enough that my kids didn't need to wear a coat, which means they are super convenient. I didn't even own a coat for my kids the first winter bc if we were outside, they were in their car seats. My kids would kick off a blanket in the car. If my kids had been born in say Feb or Mar then it might not be that useful. I can't see your ticker on my phone.

3. I don't know. I didn't have these.

4. I think some kind of carrier is worth it, be it a wrap or something else. I used an Ergo with an infant insert. Didn't need it often but it was nice to have.

5. Test it out and see if you can see both cribs. I have a Motorola monitor with a camera that pans and it's fine. I'm thinking of buying a 2nd for the playroom but I wouldn't get a 2nd one before your kids are born unless you know you'll need it.

6. Never needed em. I think you could wait and see if your kids are swaddle addicts. Some are, but mine weren't so I didn't need them.

7. Worth every cent. I waited a month to get one and their sleep was immediately better once I used it.

PurpleIris30

1. I use a boppy when nursing one, but the twin brest friend is necessary (for me) for tandem.
2. You can just use a heavier blanket. With preemies in flu season, you won't be taking them many places.
3. We started with one rock n play and bought a second when they both had reflux. I'd definitely get one, and you can order a second later. They sleep so well in them so we really like these.
4. Don't have a moby. We do have an ergo with infant insert. We will get a second carrier - either another ergo or a beco gemini.
5. I just use receiving blankets to swaddle. I have a couple Velcro swaddleme blankets, but they aren't necessary at all. I do like the a&a blankets.
6. They are still in our room, so no experience with monitors.
7. Sound machine not necessary at all.

Hope that helps!

JoDoc

I only have an opinion on 2 of your items. 

#2  I live in central ND, we get bitter cold like WI does.  We don't put coats on our boys (born November 19th), we put them in their car seats, put a light blanket around their legs then use those car seat covers.  We love them.  This way they can stay covered or if it's super nice they can have the flap open.  Also, when we ARE in a store and people crowd around (apparently having twins is like walking around with a flashing billboard screaming "Come stick your face by my babies!") we have the option of "closing them up" without smothering them with a blanket.

#7 I would have said no initially, but in our house we aren't overly quiet, they hear noise during the day.  The first few nights I think it was too quiet for them (especially after having been in NICU where there is no quiet time at all) and they didn't sleep well. We have a small cd player that we have in their room and got a cd with some instrumental Bible Hymns.  They really sound more like a mobile type sound.  We just put it on repeat and let it play softly all night.  That seems to help them.  I don't know if you need a special sound machine, just use a small radio or cd player that you already have, then you can buy as many cd's in order to change it around as often as you like.  

BabyCarryingVessel

Here's my opinions:)
1. Yep, I highly recommend the breast friend pillow.
2. Car seat covers. nope.
3.Rock n Plays... yes x1,000!!!!
4. No Moby experience, but I love my ergo for grocery shopping.
5. My girls hated swaddle, no experience.
6. You'll need two cameras if they'll be in a different room.
7. Sound machine not necessary, but if you have an ipod you can download sounds and play them. When all else failed, the youtube video "baby got colic" worked like a charm 75% of the time to calm them down.

chickaboo1974

 

Since I didn't breast feed- I pumped- I used my two boppies exclusively.

I live in suburban Chicago- and I always just used a blanket to cover the boys in their car seat.

I loved loved loved the RNPs- great things.

Moby wrap- totally not necessary in our experiences

We had a small nursery and one video camera was ok.

Didn't use miracle blankets

YES a sound machine- we still use it today.

CNYBride05

My girls are 5 months old, and I agree with PP, this is all really dependent on you and your needs, but here are my thoughts.

1. I have 1 Boppy and the double Brest Friend. I rarely tandem nurse, but when I do, I use BF or bed pillows, never tried with a Boppy. Boppys are great when the kids are learning to sit and for tummy time. Keep em both .

2. I'm not sure what you mean by car seat covers. We have the shower cap style JJ Cole covers and I love them.

3. My girls sleep in the RnPs every nite and for naps when we travel.

4. I had a stretchy wrap which I used a bit, but found it a pain to put on and difficult to quickly switch babies. And twin carrier... Like for both at the same time?

5. No monitor advice - we just bought one today!

6. No advice. Our girls didn't care much for swaddling and we just use sleep sacks now.

7. We use a white noise app on the iPad.

KRoseToes

I'm still pregnant, so don't have any real advice. But a local twin mom I met swears by the Twin-Z pillow (https://www.twinnursingpillow.org/index.html) It looks like a nice combo of the Boppy and My Brest Friend. I'm pretty sure we're going to get this. I like the idea of it being multi-functional and not having to buy a My Brest Friend and Boppies. (If any twin Moms have this and want to comment on it, I'd love to hear your opinions!)

Wishing35

The moby wrap and 2 rock and plays where essentials for me. The sound machine we use every night but you can use a fan, or free iPhone app so that's no big deal. I don't think car seat covers are a must have, we always just drape receiving blankets over them. I do use my twin z pillow all the time, and I also have 2 boppys for downstairs feedings but I could do without those. If I had to pick one of the items you mentioned rock and plays would be it.

Wishing35

KRoseToes said:

I'm still pregnant, so don't have any real advice. But a local twin mom I met swears by the Twin-Z pillow (https://www.twinnursingpillow.org/index.html) It looks like a nice combo of the Boppy and My Brest Friend. I'm pretty sure we're going to get this. I like the idea of it being multi-functional and not having to buy a My Brest Friend and Boppies.
(If any twin Moms have this and want to comment on it, I'd love to hear your opinions!)

I love the twin z!! I do have 2 bop pies though for when family or DH is around and we feed them one on one, totally not necessary but it makes it more comfortable.

nblondheim

Thank you all sooooo very much for the opinions thus far! I totally understand that each household, family, and baby is different but would hate to be without something that will only benefit us!

We got 2 boppy pillows through the shower...I just planned to keep them both.

I will definitely be looking into an Ergo carrier instead of a Moby!

I love the ideas of just using a cd player (we don't have an ipod unfortunately) instead of a noise machine!

Your opinions have truly helped.... thank you again!

JodiAriel

1. I had a hand me down boppy and the MBF.  I hated the MBF.  It was just two big and bulky.  I just used the boppy with a pillow underneath in the beginning and then just the boppy and now nothing.  We did get a second boppy and used both a lot for bottle feedings (last feeding before bed is always a bottle of pumped milk so they are not dependent on me for bed). My girls use them now to lay on to play, etc

2. Car seat covers.... As long as they are the shower cap style ones.  We used them with a light blanket under them and they stayed plenty warm.  I traveled to NYC with my girls on the train frequently and they kept them warm.  Remember that you can not used the JJ Cole bundlemes.  Nothing is allowed between your child and the straps.  No extra headrests, strap covers, etc. (I am a CPST)

3. Rock n plays... These were a necessity for us.  We used them to sleep until they were 4 mos old.  One of my girls had difficulty transitioning from it though to the crib.

4. Moby wrap...  nope.  Get a buckle carrier instead like a beco or ergo.

5. If you haven't opened it, exchange it and get the one from BRU that comes with both cameras.  We used both and they are in a little room.  Once we move in few mos I will use the second camera in the playroom.

6. Miracle blankets... no.  We used the swaddle blankets and then the magic merlin suit to transition out of the swaddle

7. Sound machine... did you use one? Is it worth it? Yes, it is worth every penny and then some.  We ended buying two of these: https://www.amazon.com/Satechi-Portable-Speaker-SanDisk-BlackBerry/dp/B0043WDNRI/

They charge by USB and run for 5 hours on a charge (or you can leave it permanently plugged it).  It runs off an SD card so you can put anything your child likes on it.  We use this track from youtube, it runs for 12 hours and then starts over again.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KaOrSuWZeM

We used to take them and tuck them in the car seat with them to keep them sleeping when we were in a restaurant, etc.  They are the best thing we ever bought.  Now I keep a spare SD card in my wallet with kids sing along songs on it to use when we are playing at the park, etc.

ntdane

Not sure how things will go once the twins are here but my two cents from DS .

- We didn't try a miracle blanket but the Velcro swaddle me's saved our lives. We swaddled for almost 9 months because he would startle so badly. I would try getting one or two of something like this to try out, then get more as/if needed.

- Sound machine - we got the sound spa one (I think Homemedics might be the brand?) with different sound options and a projector light. LOVE this and use it to this day. We are getting a new one for the twins .

- Carriers - I used a ring sling when DS was small and then moved to the ergo. Loved them both. I tried a moby at a babywearing class and I'm not coordinated enough for one . With the ergo, depending on the size of your babies it could be a little while before you can use it, plus there is an infant insert you would probably need.

hayleydeee

1. I never got the hang of nursing 2 at the same time. I think you'll be fine with 2 boppies to start.

2. Car seat covers.... we live in CA so I never even thought about it. My gut is that a blanket tucked over them after they're buckled in will be just as good.

3. Rock n plays. Yes 2! Put them side by side and cross the bottom bars/rails to rock both at the same time. SO useful. Don't bother with the fancy more expensive ones though.

4. Moby wraps are nice, but you might want to go with something like an Ergo because it's easier to carry a big kid on your back later. I never wanted to carry both at the same time

5. We didnt have a video camera. I'd start with just the one

6. Miracle blankets... Swaddle  blankets are fine. Swaddle Me's are better but not a must

7. Sound machine. We use a white noise ap (tons of free ones available). Also in a pinch a hairdryer running on the cool setting works wonders too!

I found that having less baby stuff was actually easier because you don't have as much junk around the house to trip over, wash and take care of. When we had the twins we downsized our baby gear stash and it was so much better!

Rynleigh

When I read the title of this thread, my brain translated it as, "Do we really need opinions about items?" I thought, for the briefest moment, that you wanted to know if you should really ask for advice about what to get or if you could wing it. 

That is all. 

LOL