Advice: What to get parents of new twins?

Laxbugg1410 · October 2011

Hi everyone,

My boss and his wife recently welcomed twin girls (at 32 weeks) after she was on bedrest for most of the pregnancy. The girls were 3 1/2 and 4lbs and are doing great, as is mom.

Unfortunately, they did not get many supplies for the babies because they were so early and because mom was on bedrest. My colleagues and I would like to get them some things they need and of course as a mom I can think of a thousand things they might need, but I need your advice on what twin-specific items they might need.

AND, they live in a 5-story walk-up building so recommendations on a carrier (moby, ergo, etc) that can hold twins when they come and go would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

LoveTravel · October 2011

This might not be twin-specific items, but since their girls will be in the NICU perhaps a few co-workers could make some meals so they can be frozen? They likely will be in and out of the house and having ready-to eat meals would be a good idea IMO.

As far as carriers...it's hard to tell what would be the best it's all on preference...I know I really like my baby bjorn...since the babies will be smaller when they go home they might just opt to have the babies in car seat and carry them up this way, not idea I know....

Diapers and wipes are always something they will need I'm not sure if the girls will be FF or not, but if they were and you could find out the formula brand that would be a big help....

Hopefully other MoM's can chime in and give you other suggestions!

TheBachelorette · October 2011

These are the things we could not live without: newborn boppy pillows (they are different from the normal boppies), RnPs, Dr. Browns bottles and munchkin dishwasher baskets, snugabunny swings, fisher price bouncers, mam pacifers, cloth diapers for burp cloths (i like kushies), aiden + anais blankets for swaddling, space saver high chairs. When they were younger we fed in the newborn boppies or bouncers. We have a beco gemini and pikkolo for carrying babies. Diapers, wipes, gift cards, and home cooked meals are also great ideas. Our big splurge and the one thing that comes in handy most is our BJCS, but I would refrain from purchasing a stroller unless you know they do not have one.

cocojack10 · October 2011

The first couple of months, I adored the meal provided by MIL. She paid for a food delivery company to bring us dinner daily (and most time it was enough for my lunch the next day too). And it wans't expensive ($45/wk).

Since you don't know what each baby will specifically like, I'd start with 1 swing and 1 bouncy since those are more "essentials" IMO. Also, maybe a PNP for the living area. Boppy... even if not nursing, we used our a lot (propping baby after bottle, assisting with sitting once older, etc).

Is their nursery setup? How about going over one day with friends/family, and putting it together (paint, decorate, build furniture, etc). If they dont' have a glider and have room for one, I highly recommed it.

blondek8 · October 2011

I can't think of any "twin-specific" stuff that was more important to us at the beginning than food, booze and help. Real help. Not the kind that comes around to snuggle babies but the kind that actually vaccuums, mops, cleans toilets, folds laundry.

MrsLnt · October 2011

blondek8:
I can't think of any "twin-specific" stuff that was more important to us at the beginning than food, booze and help. Real help. Not the kind that comes around to snuggle babies but the kind that actually vaccuums, mops, cleans toilets, folds laundry.

Kayte is wise.

blondek8 · October 2011

MrsLnt:
blondek8:
I can't think of any "twin-specific" stuff that was more important to us at the beginning than food, booze and help. Real help. Not the kind that comes around to snuggle babies but the kind that actually vaccuums, mops, cleans toilets, folds laundry.
Kayte is wise.

Yes Beer

KarlsSweetie05 · October 2011

I couldn't / can't live without 2 bouncy seats. I use them all the time.

While they are in NICU, gift cards for gas (if its a long drive from home to hospital) or gift cards for local restaurants by hospital are appreciated. You get so sick of hospital food.

Frozen meals (either homemade or from a delivery service) are a godsend.

A cleaning service (even 1x) is another gift from above.

I used a Moby wrap with my twins. Mine were 3 lbs and 4 lbs when born and I found the Moby was awesome. I only carried one at a time, but the instructions say you can use it for smaller twins to hold both at the same time.

A good friend put together a NICU care package for me as she had been through NICU with her twins...

- a small log book with an attached pen (so it wouldn't get lost) to record all the things that happend each day / doctor orders / medical topics for the babies. The book fit in my purse. Invaluable! You are so sleep deprived and worried and you can't remember things from one minute to the next, much less keep the babies' info straight. NICU is really hard on the babies and the parents.

- a small handheld mirror so I could see the babies faces when we did kangaroo care.

- a small bottle of heavy duty hand lotion. You have to wash your hands so many times in the NICU and your hands get horribly chaffed and dry so fast.

- a roll of quarters for the vending machine in the NICU waiting area

- a trashy Harlequin Romance novel to take my mind off things during shift changes / when we couldn't be in NICU. You need something mindless sometimes to just destress.

- A relaxation / sleep CD and sleep mask for at home. I tried to listen to CD so I could try to fall asleep. It was hard to sleep when your babies are not home with you. You miss them terribly.

- Gift cards to restaurants by the hospital.

Mrs.NGM · October 2011

Meals and alcohol! Seriously, a glass of wine at the end of a long day has been so nice.

And any sort of help. We've had people come over saying they would help and I end up entertaining and visiting with them instead....not helpful at all.

tmbuchmann · October 2011

My work all went in on a Babies R Us gift card. I ended up buying diapers with it. It did not go to waste!

ardilla · October 2011

I was on bedrest the last 14 weeks of my pregnancy, so we were a bit unprepared. I had tried to get DH to get supplies, but that didn't work so well! What we needed more of/didn't have when we got home: formula (if not BF), formula pitcher (to mix large batches at a time) more bottles, bottle drying rack, microwave sterilizer for bottle parts, microwave sterilizer bags for pump parts and pacis, dishwasher rack for bottle parts, cloth diapers/burp cloths, extra crib sheets, changing pad covers, and Boppy covers.....then more basics like diaper rash cream, diapers, and wipes!