Or last “discussion topic” was wildly successful and provided us with tons of advice, suggestions, and resources for all things diapers. I have to admit, we haven’t come to a firm decision on the matter… but we’ve been doing lots of research on some of the suggested websites/blogs. Knowing our ladies will likely be on the smaller side when they arrive, we’ll be using disposables for the first few months anyway… so we don’t feel too rushed to make a decision just yet. I love that I can throw questions out there into internet universe and get so many helpful and opinionated responses! Thanks ladies! Cheers to learning from YOUR mistakes!
So we’ve been registering… right? Registering is supposed to be FUN! I thought for sure it would be just like registering for our wedding. But it’s not. Choosing mixing bowls and bed sheets doesn’t seem to compare to decisions involving the safety of your offspring (and your sanity). We chose to register on Amazon.com, because many of our family and friends are all spread out in little bitty towns that don’t have things like Babies’R’Us, Target… heck, the town WE live in doesn’t even have a gas station.
We started the whole process by making a list of things we’ll need by the time the Little Women make their entrance. We’re not even worrying about high chairs and Exersaucers at this point. Just newborn baby infant munbo-jumbo for now. So my head doesn’t explode.
And oh… my… gosh.
These girls are already high maintenance! And then I remember the check we wrote at the fertility clinic, and I remember that we can do it! With careful planning, budgeting, and continued backsplash painting… take a breath. One thing at a time.
One of the Pro’s of Amazon, is also a huge Con for me… the reviews of opinionated women.. First of all, there’s hundreds of different options for each product. Type in “infant car seat” and you get 891 different options, all having some good reviews and some bad reviews from well-meaning women. It probably took me a total for 4 hours just to register for car seats.
So here’s where you come in: Which product was a life-saver for you? What could you simply not have lived without in those early months (other than red wine and a pedicure)? What should I look for in a bouncy seat, baby monitor, diaper bag? Are Diaper Genie’s really necessary? Do baby swings really need to vibrate?
What is that one thing you couldn’t live without? Spill it.
.
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I’m really late in posting, so hope you’ll still see this, Beth. I’m the grandma, but I have 5 grandchildren age 4 and under….with another 2 grandbabies on the way. I live within 7 miles of all my grandkids and babysit them on a regular basis. Also, my daughter gave birth to twin sons about 16 months ago, so I can tell you what worked for her.
Like many other posters have said, do NOT buy a Diaper Genie. If you really want some type of disposal system, go with the Diaper Champ. You can at least use bags of your choice in them. My daughter had two swings for her twins. Yes, in the early months (0-6 mos.) she often used them both at the same time. Again, get the kind that swings side-to-side and back-and-forth. Daughter also had two boppys and used them often…at the same time. Having a comfortable (LazyBoy-type) rocking chair is a must. Those little glider rockers marketed for nursery use are pretty much useless and very uncomfortable. Daughter also does not have a specific changing table, but my husband and I did take an older 9 drawer low dresser, painted it and added a changing pad to the top. We bought a changing pad, measured it, and my husband actually built a 4-sided frame (with bottom) to enclose the changing pad, then secured the frame to the dresser top. (The changing pad had a strap for the baby which we threaded thru some slits on the bottom of frame.
When the twins were tiny, daughter and her husband kept a porta crib (with a bottom that raised up to within a foot of the top) in their living room. The twins slept in that porta crib thru the day, plus it was easy for daughter to use for changing their diapers. (She had a c-sec with complications, so bending was a problem for about 8 weeks.) As soon as the twins come home from the hospital, it’s a lifesaver to get into the habit of having some type of white noise (fan, vaporizer, etc.), long playing music box, or something similar to use when you put the twins down for naps and for the night. Since it’s a consistency in their lives, and a soothing sound, the twins will instantly relax and will be much easier to put to bed….sans crying.
I agree that Britax and some other high-end carseats are wonderful for the babies, but if you can’t afford two of them, then consider the Graco Snugride. All our grandkids have used them and the Snugrides fair well.
When it comes to strollers, it might be worth the investment for you to buy a double “Snap and Go” by Baby Trend. It’s basically a stroller frame that allows you to just “snap” in the infant carseat and “go”. Other than that stroller, I would also recommend a nice jogging stoller….esp. since you may be taking them outside on your vast property.
I would also recommend a bouncer seat or two. Make sure it has a vibrating seat feature, lights that move to music and dangling toys out in front of the baby…..NOT above their head.
When baby is a bit older, you’ll need two highchairs, one jumperoo, and at least one Bumbo seat.
My last advice is to check the Fisher-Price Rainforest line of products. Yes, they are a rather loud print, but the products are wonderful to use….especially the jumperoo, high chair, swing and bouncer. Oh, also, if there is any possibility that you’ll have more children, I would really resist the idea of buying all the equipment in pink.
I would like to also mention that Craigslist is a wonderful place to look for used equipment. I would stay away from buying carseats or mattresses from someone I didn’t know, but all other equipment can easily be washed and sanitized. It will save you a ton of money.
Congrats on the twins, and good luck!
A swing–Definitely a must have! That and a bouncy seat. As for the Diaper Gene–TOTAL waste of money!!!
A swing–Definitely a must have! That and a bouncy seat. As for the Diaper Gene–TOTAL waste of money!!!
I have an almost 2 year old and am expecting our second in May and I will say the number one thing that helped me was my baby wrap. I made my own stretchy one (like a Moby) just with stretchy fabric (you’ll need about 6 yards or so, depending on your height). I know you can wear both twins at once in wraps as well. It was the only thing that calmed my daughter and I had my hands free to get other things done. As she got bigger I got a woven one that didn’t stretch and then eventually made a sling later on. I plan on getting a mesh wrap for this one, so I can be in the pool chasing my toddler.
I would also recommend just waiting on some of the extras or borrowing from friends. We borrowed a bouncy seat from some friends to see if our daughter liked it before buying our own.
I also agree with everyone that suggests a recliner rather than a glider. It is soooo nice having those big comfy arms to support your arms when you’ve been holding your new babies for 45 minutes as they nurse (and yes, it can take that long at the beginning. Both you AND they are learning a new skill). Plus, I can’t tell you how many times I just doze in the chair while she nursed or when she fell asleep (she always woke up if I tried to lay her down.) The big recliners may not look as cute in the nursery, but it’s worth it. I’m especially glad I’ll have our big recliner as I will probably be tandem nursing my daughter and her new sibling. You just need a big chair to have more than one child on your lap!
Also, if you really want to breastfeed, I would recommend not having any formula in the house. When you’re exhausted, it’s just too easy to turn to and using any formula can seriously hurt your milk supply since it’s all about supply and demand. If your babies don’t suckle, your milk supply simply will not adjust with their needs.
Praying the rest of the pregnancy goes well for you!
I have an almost 2 year old and am expecting our second in May and I will say the number one thing that helped me was my baby wrap. I made my own stretchy one (like a Moby) just with stretchy fabric (you’ll need about 6 yards or so, depending on your height). I know you can wear both twins at once in wraps as well. It was the only thing that calmed my daughter and I had my hands free to get other things done. As she got bigger I got a woven one that didn’t stretch and then eventually made a sling later on. I plan on getting a mesh wrap for this one, so I can be in the pool chasing my toddler.
I would also recommend just waiting on some of the extras or borrowing from friends. We borrowed a bouncy seat from some friends to see if our daughter liked it before buying our own.
I also agree with everyone that suggests a recliner rather than a glider. It is soooo nice having those big comfy arms to support your arms when you’ve been holding your new babies for 45 minutes as they nurse (and yes, it can take that long at the beginning. Both you AND they are learning a new skill). Plus, I can’t tell you how many times I just doze in the chair while she nursed or when she fell asleep (she always woke up if I tried to lay her down.) The big recliners may not look as cute in the nursery, but it’s worth it. I’m especially glad I’ll have our big recliner as I will probably be tandem nursing my daughter and her new sibling. You just need a big chair to have more than one child on your lap!
Also, if you really want to breastfeed, I would recommend not having any formula in the house. When you’re exhausted, it’s just too easy to turn to and using any formula can seriously hurt your milk supply since it’s all about supply and demand. If your babies don’t suckle, your milk supply simply will not adjust with their needs.
Praying the rest of the pregnancy goes well for you!
There have been so many helpful comments, that I really don’t know where to start. But, one of the most important things i can share with you as a mother of grown twins, is that where ever your bedroom is, you should also have a baby crib nearby. If you plan to spend your days downstairs on the main floor of your house, set one up down there, also. You will find that there are so many steps in a day, that saving a few is really worth the crowded-ness. I had a bassinet by the couch and one upstairs by my bed. My twins slept together at night-time in the same crib-one at each corner, and somehow they managed to scooch together by the time they woke up! I would quickly change one in the dark, breastfeed that one and hand her off to my husband to get her back to sleep. Then the next twin was changed and bottle-fed, as I was exhausted and wanted sleep! we would always swaddle them in the old fashioned cotton recieving blankets, it was true with mine, they felt more secure that way. My girls loved sleeping together, but after 2-3 months, it gets really hard to separate them, and they keep each other up at night, so I would suggest that they have separate beds or bassinets also. That way, you can roll the bassinets around to where you are during the day, and they can enjoy the house with you as you go about your routine. Mine shared a room with their big sister, and they loved looking at each other from across the room. Of course, you really need to let people help you when you can so that you don’t feel like a milk-making, diaper changing, laundry-doing machine! Get your rest and keep healthy! Love is the best commodity and lots of prayer and patience helps too!
There have been so many helpful comments, that I really don’t know where to start. But, one of the most important things i can share with you as a mother of grown twins, is that where ever your bedroom is, you should also have a baby crib nearby. If you plan to spend your days downstairs on the main floor of your house, set one up down there, also. You will find that there are so many steps in a day, that saving a few is really worth the crowded-ness. I had a bassinet by the couch and one upstairs by my bed. My twins slept together at night-time in the same crib-one at each corner, and somehow they managed to scooch together by the time they woke up! I would quickly change one in the dark, breastfeed that one and hand her off to my husband to get her back to sleep. Then the next twin was changed and bottle-fed, as I was exhausted and wanted sleep! we would always swaddle them in the old fashioned cotton recieving blankets, it was true with mine, they felt more secure that way. My girls loved sleeping together, but after 2-3 months, it gets really hard to separate them, and they keep each other up at night, so I would suggest that they have separate beds or bassinets also. That way, you can roll the bassinets around to where you are during the day, and they can enjoy the house with you as you go about your routine. Mine shared a room with their big sister, and they loved looking at each other from across the room. Of course, you really need to let people help you when you can so that you don’t feel like a milk-making, diaper changing, laundry-doing machine! Get your rest and keep healthy! Love is the best commodity and lots of prayer and patience helps too!
Bethany – I forgot to mention the ointment I used on my grandson’s when they were little. It is called “Plenders Ointment”. It is the best thing ever that I have found for diaper rash. It works overnight in most cases. It is made locally (Orange City, IA) but can be purchased at Lewis Drug store or I think you can find it on-line. It is worth it’s weight in gold!!!
Bethany – I forgot to mention the ointment I used on my grandson’s when they were little. It is called “Plenders Ointment”. It is the best thing ever that I have found for diaper rash. It works overnight in most cases. It is made locally (Orange City, IA) but can be purchased at Lewis Drug store or I think you can find it on-line. It is worth it’s weight in gold!!!
Maybe I should add that I didn’t have the big Lazy Boy in the nursery, just in our family room…..
Maybe I should add that I didn’t have the big Lazy Boy in the nursery, just in our family room…..
I had a glider in the nursery when my first was born….it has been in the attic in storage since he was a few months old…didn’t even get it out for our second baby. So, my answer to your question if it would be comfortable enough to sit in for hours: I don’t think so! I can’t even imagine having two babies on my lap in one!
I also loved my wrap that I had for my babies. I just made one from a long piece of fabric and had so many compliments on it.
Bethany- we used a regular glider with a foot rest for our nursery- worked just fine and way affordable…ummm i think i got mine for 80 bucks at walmart of all places LOL
just make sure there is a pocketon the side to hold a good book/magazine
i always got bored breastfeeding…but that’s just me LOL I think i had some snacks in the side pocket as well!!! but yeah…i was only breast feeding one at a time- not sure how that would work with two…
jk
Bethany- we used a regular glider with a foot rest for our nursery- worked just fine and way affordable…ummm i think i got mine for 80 bucks at walmart of all places LOL
just make sure there is a pocketon the side to hold a good book/magazine
i always got bored breastfeeding…but that’s just me LOL I think i had some snacks in the side pocket as well!!! but yeah…i was only breast feeding one at a time- not sure how that would work with two…
jk
i didn’t like the gliders. didn’t let me recline enough. i got a pottery barn kids knock off from usa baby. love it!! i still use it even though she is 6.
Definetly could not have made it without my swing. Easily worth every penny.
And just make your own receiving blankets…nice and big.
Just a reminder…there are new crib standards that cribs have to be made to – you may want to wait to get a crib with these new standards! Check out the information online
Oh my gosh… You guys are supremely awesome. Hearing it from seasoned professions is priceless info. I know one thing for sure… We’re skipping the diaper genie!!
Also: THANK YOU to those who pointed out the importance of a comfortable rocking chair. My loving husband hauled an antique wooden rocking chair from the guest room, (complete with broken caning and splinters) into the nursery, and acted all proud of himself for being able to check one more thing off our list. I stared blankly at him in disbelief.
Someone suggested a reclining Lazy Boy for rocking/nursing, but do any of you have anything positive or negative to say about simple glider chairs? Are the comfortable enough to sit in for hours, using the My Breast Friend to tandem nurse the twins?
Oh my gosh… You guys are supremely awesome. Hearing it from seasoned professions is priceless info. I know one thing for sure… We’re skipping the diaper genie!!
Also: THANK YOU to those who pointed out the importance of a comfortable rocking chair. My loving husband hauled an antique wooden rocking chair from the guest room, (complete with broken caning and splinters) into the nursery, and acted all proud of himself for being able to check one more thing off our list. I stared blankly at him in disbelief.
Someone suggested a reclining Lazy Boy for rocking/nursing, but do any of you have anything positive or negative to say about simple glider chairs? Are the comfortable enough to sit in for hours, using the My Breast Friend to tandem nurse the twins?
Assuming someone is throwing you a babyshower, I have a tip that worked great for the ones Ive thrown. Put on the invite, that anyone who brings you a package of diapers (ranging in sizes) will get their name put in for a door prize drawing. We just used a $20 gas card. My cousins son is almost a year old and still hasnt had to buy any diapers. Congrats on your Twincesses!
Assuming someone is throwing you a babyshower, I have a tip that worked great for the ones Ive thrown. Put on the invite, that anyone who brings you a package of diapers (ranging in sizes) will get their name put in for a door prize drawing. We just used a $20 gas card. My cousins son is almost a year old and still hasnt had to buy any diapers. Congrats on your Twincesses!
My two cents about what worked for both of my girls is as follows:
A sling! I wore my girls everywhere! LOVED it. One little boy once asked his mom if my youngest girl had legs as she was always in the sling. SAVED my life! I could even nap on the couch with a baby in the sling if needed. Try a few on.
A changing table that had the baby bottom toward me and not to the side. I never understood why they were sidways.
The rest of the stuff you will figure out. I had my girls one at a time so having twins is a whole new thing. Find a mommy of twins group. That may help you to know more of what worked for them.
The last thing I found lifesaving was to believe in myself as a mother. EVERYONE has advice. Listen but know that YOU and your husband will know your girls the best. You will know what works and what doesn’t – mostly through trial and error. You are going to do great…even when you think you are failing. Trust yourself.
My two cents about what worked for both of my girls is as follows:
A sling! I wore my girls everywhere! LOVED it. One little boy once asked his mom if my youngest girl had legs as she was always in the sling. SAVED my life! I could even nap on the couch with a baby in the sling if needed. Try a few on.
A changing table that had the baby bottom toward me and not to the side. I never understood why they were sidways.
The rest of the stuff you will figure out. I had my girls one at a time so having twins is a whole new thing. Find a mommy of twins group. That may help you to know more of what worked for them.
The last thing I found lifesaving was to believe in myself as a mother. EVERYONE has advice. Listen but know that YOU and your husband will know your girls the best. You will know what works and what doesn’t – mostly through trial and error. You are going to do great…even when you think you are failing. Trust yourself.
My daughter Arleigh is 2 months old so I’m still a new mommy but I have a few things that I’d like to suggest.
Don’t waste money on a changing table, you’ll usually change her where ever you are at. In bed, on the couch, on the floor after tummy time. I know if I’m exhausted with one, you’ll be SUPER exhausted with 2! So where you change her won’t really matter, but make sure you get the diaper on them fast! I put a waterproof mattress cover on one couch cushion and we put a printed tapestry over the whole sofa. Super cheap and it looks cute. We also got the waterproof mattress cover on our bed for when my water broke, which never happened, I had an emergency c section, but she’s peed on my bed enough for us to be thankful we got it 🙂 Or d the changing pad on a dresser, but don’t take your hand or eyes off them.
Lots of burp cloths (the prefold cloth diaper kind), reusable nursing pads, nursing bras (sports bras work well too) swaddle wraps, the ones that come with velcro on them and are easy to wrap instead of regular blankets. Waking up one morning with a blanket covering her face was enough to scare the life out of me so I will only use the swaddle sleep wraps and sacks. Maybe you can find a pattern and some good stretch jersey material to sew your own?
Breast pump. I got mine after 4 days in the hospital with my premie not being able to latch. It took us a month to get a good latch and there were a lot of sleepless nights of pumping every 2 hours. Get a pump just in case. You CAN breastfeed twins! It just takes extra determination. I went with the lansinoh affinity it’s been great.
Boppy… good for when the baby is AWAKE. I say this because my baby Arleigh is too much of a wiggle worm, even at a week old she would wiggle down so far that it could have been dangerous to let her sleep in. Only use it when you’re watching them 110%
Onesies with the hand covers built in. I always feel bad if I let her sleep without them because when I get her up her hands are always cold. Also because it’s hard to keep track of all the loose baby gloves, the washer gnome takes them.
Hats & socks.
My daughter Arleigh is 2 months old so I’m still a new mommy but I have a few things that I’d like to suggest.
Don’t waste money on a changing table, you’ll usually change her where ever you are at. In bed, on the couch, on the floor after tummy time. I know if I’m exhausted with one, you’ll be SUPER exhausted with 2! So where you change her won’t really matter, but make sure you get the diaper on them fast! I put a waterproof mattress cover on one couch cushion and we put a printed tapestry over the whole sofa. Super cheap and it looks cute. We also got the waterproof mattress cover on our bed for when my water broke, which never happened, I had an emergency c section, but she’s peed on my bed enough for us to be thankful we got it 🙂 Or d the changing pad on a dresser, but don’t take your hand or eyes off them.
Lots of burp cloths (the prefold cloth diaper kind), reusable nursing pads, nursing bras (sports bras work well too) swaddle wraps, the ones that come with velcro on them and are easy to wrap instead of regular blankets. Waking up one morning with a blanket covering her face was enough to scare the life out of me so I will only use the swaddle sleep wraps and sacks. Maybe you can find a pattern and some good stretch jersey material to sew your own?
Breast pump. I got mine after 4 days in the hospital with my premie not being able to latch. It took us a month to get a good latch and there were a lot of sleepless nights of pumping every 2 hours. Get a pump just in case. You CAN breastfeed twins! It just takes extra determination. I went with the lansinoh affinity it’s been great.
Boppy… good for when the baby is AWAKE. I say this because my baby Arleigh is too much of a wiggle worm, even at a week old she would wiggle down so far that it could have been dangerous to let her sleep in. Only use it when you’re watching them 110%
Onesies with the hand covers built in. I always feel bad if I let her sleep without them because when I get her up her hands are always cold. Also because it’s hard to keep track of all the loose baby gloves, the washer gnome takes them.
Hats & socks.
For holding dirty diapers.. we have a diaper champ (Just like Carrie!) It worked AWESOME for us until around 1 year.. Miles was on table food exclusively and going through WAY less diapers. The stink was WAY too much. By that point, each poo filled diaper was walked out of the house as soon as possible.
for burp clothes, We liked the cloth diapers you can buy in bulk at target or walmart. they are way more absorbent than pretty burp clothes.
When teething ramps up (and you start solids) – have LOTS of bibs. any bib will do – you just need lots of them 🙂
We skipped the baby bath tubs and went from holding Miles in the sink, to holding him in the bath tub, and then letting him sit on his own in the bath tub with a bath mat. We didn’t have a place to store such a large object…
We loved the bouncy seat, swing, and jumper-roo. they gave me sanity when I needed to get things done. True, they can be frivolous wants, but I would have considered them needs.
The pack n play was a need for as much traveling as we did. I also wanted them for camping, but never got that opportunity with Miles. Maybe #2 someday 🙂
boppy pillow – for all the reasons mentioned above. Even though the label says not too, Miles slept swaddled in receiving blankets, slightly elevated in his boppy pillow for the first 4-6 weeks.
a timer that lets you time multiple things at once. I often lost track of time!!! I would start one to keep track of feedings, and another to time his naps, etc. I was super overtired and stressed to keep everything straight in my head for the first month or so. I really wanted to set up a strict schedule to “BabyWise” him…
I’ll keep thinking – I’m sure I’ve got more ideas…
For holding dirty diapers.. we have a diaper champ (Just like Carrie!) It worked AWESOME for us until around 1 year.. Miles was on table food exclusively and going through WAY less diapers. The stink was WAY too much. By that point, each poo filled diaper was walked out of the house as soon as possible.
for burp clothes, We liked the cloth diapers you can buy in bulk at target or walmart. they are way more absorbent than pretty burp clothes.
When teething ramps up (and you start solids) – have LOTS of bibs. any bib will do – you just need lots of them 🙂
We skipped the baby bath tubs and went from holding Miles in the sink, to holding him in the bath tub, and then letting him sit on his own in the bath tub with a bath mat. We didn’t have a place to store such a large object…
We loved the bouncy seat, swing, and jumper-roo. they gave me sanity when I needed to get things done. True, they can be frivolous wants, but I would have considered them needs.
The pack n play was a need for as much traveling as we did. I also wanted them for camping, but never got that opportunity with Miles. Maybe #2 someday 🙂
boppy pillow – for all the reasons mentioned above. Even though the label says not too, Miles slept swaddled in receiving blankets, slightly elevated in his boppy pillow for the first 4-6 weeks.
a timer that lets you time multiple things at once. I often lost track of time!!! I would start one to keep track of feedings, and another to time his naps, etc. I was super overtired and stressed to keep everything straight in my head for the first month or so. I really wanted to set up a strict schedule to “BabyWise” him…
I’ll keep thinking – I’m sure I’ve got more ideas…
Here’s my list….I had two super fussy newborns and could not have LIVED without
A. good swaddling blankets!!! the old fashioned way of swaddling worked best for me- those fancy new swaddling sets just get to be a mess with all the velcro and seperate pieces and i’d lose track of them and it was just quicker to grab a swaddling blanket and wrap that kid up as tight as i could! i have to say- i stole a hospital blanket from the hospital (yes…i did! ) and never found a better thicker tighter bigger swaddling blanket! i used it for both boys! (thank you Mercy hospital for helping me sleep)
B. Somebody bought me this as a gift : http://www.munchkin.com/products/detail.html?pID=218 I was reluctant to pull it out because i thought it was weird…but desperate time call for desperate measures…..i used this for both boys and it was a life saved!! They both loved it!
C. the first week or so home from the hospital the only way i got any sleep was thanks to our vibrating musical baby bouncer. I got used to sleeping to lullaby music right along with the baby 😉 yes….vibrating is extremely important!
D. Our side-swinging baby swing. Put both babies right to sleep. instant nap -time for Mommy!
E. Dont get burp cloths. they are a waste. Receiving blankets are much more re-usable and hold more puke 🙂
F. i hate cute little bibs. i never used them. they were pointless. if the kid is gonna puke he’s gonna destroy his clothes anyway. If a kid is drooling it’s gonna soak right through. again- i lived with recieving blankets all over my house…but i had two pretty hard-core pukers!
G. I LOVED putting my boys in the sleeper “gowns”….sooo much easier in the middle of the night to roll up- change diaper- roll down…and wander back to bed. all those snaps are just impossible when you are sleep deprived.
H. Put baby tylenol, motrine, and gas drops on your baby registry. That medication gets way expensive…better to get that then the 3 million bottles of baby lotion you will get 🙂
I. You’ll need a play mat sooner then you think…get one with like a bird chirping or flying directly over the baby’s head. This will keep their attention for hours- it’s amazing.
J. Finally- I bought a changing mat and threw it on top of a lose long dresser.s SO glad i did that! the dresser holds more clothes- and truthfully i probably only used that mat 10 percent of the time. the rest of the time I randomly changed the boys whenever/wherever i could
hope this helped!
JK
Here’s my list….I had two super fussy newborns and could not have LIVED without
A. good swaddling blankets!!! the old fashioned way of swaddling worked best for me- those fancy new swaddling sets just get to be a mess with all the velcro and seperate pieces and i’d lose track of them and it was just quicker to grab a swaddling blanket and wrap that kid up as tight as i could! i have to say- i stole a hospital blanket from the hospital (yes…i did! ) and never found a better thicker tighter bigger swaddling blanket! i used it for both boys! (thank you Mercy hospital for helping me sleep)
B. Somebody bought me this as a gift : http://www.munchkin.com/products/detail.html?pID=218 I was reluctant to pull it out because i thought it was weird…but desperate time call for desperate measures…..i used this for both boys and it was a life saved!! They both loved it!
C. the first week or so home from the hospital the only way i got any sleep was thanks to our vibrating musical baby bouncer. I got used to sleeping to lullaby music right along with the baby 😉 yes….vibrating is extremely important!
D. Our side-swinging baby swing. Put both babies right to sleep. instant nap -time for Mommy!
E. Dont get burp cloths. they are a waste. Receiving blankets are much more re-usable and hold more puke 🙂
F. i hate cute little bibs. i never used them. they were pointless. if the kid is gonna puke he’s gonna destroy his clothes anyway. If a kid is drooling it’s gonna soak right through. again- i lived with recieving blankets all over my house…but i had two pretty hard-core pukers!
G. I LOVED putting my boys in the sleeper “gowns”….sooo much easier in the middle of the night to roll up- change diaper- roll down…and wander back to bed. all those snaps are just impossible when you are sleep deprived.
H. Put baby tylenol, motrine, and gas drops on your baby registry. That medication gets way expensive…better to get that then the 3 million bottles of baby lotion you will get 🙂
I. You’ll need a play mat sooner then you think…get one with like a bird chirping or flying directly over the baby’s head. This will keep their attention for hours- it’s amazing.
J. Finally- I bought a changing mat and threw it on top of a lose long dresser.s SO glad i did that! the dresser holds more clothes- and truthfully i probably only used that mat 10 percent of the time. the rest of the time I randomly changed the boys whenever/wherever i could
hope this helped!
JK
boppy boppy boppy! Not only was it AWESOME when the baby was little, but as she grew helping her sit. and even now she is 1 and a half and still loves it.
boppy boppy boppy! Not only was it AWESOME when the baby was little, but as she grew helping her sit. and even now she is 1 and a half and still loves it.
Lots of burp cloths. I used cloth diapers for burp cloths at home and saved my pretty ones for when we went out. My first was a puker and these are super absorbant.
My baby also refused to sleep if I layed her down. So I spent a lot of nights sleeping in the rocking chair holding her. That being said the one place I could get her to sleep sometimes was in her swing. I have a papason (sp?) swing that totally saved my life. She loved the side to side swinging. LOVE LOVE LOVE!
Here are our favorites/Must haves:
1. Bobby Pillow x2 if you have a two story house. Leave one in the living room and one in the girls’ room.
2. Moby Wrap! I can’t say enough about this product. Love, Love, Love!
3. Swaddlers or swaddling blankets. Babies sleep so much better when they are swaddled. We swaddled our daughter until she was almost a year old.
4. CD player and lullaby cd’s. Soothing white noise really helps babies calm and go to sleep and stay asleep.
5. A great Medela Breast Pump. A necessity if you are planning on nursing. Don’t go for a cheap one as hopefully you will be using it for a whole year!
6. A swing that not only swings front to back but side to side. Something about side to side that is much more soothing.
7. Tupperware containers and lots of breastmilk storage bags. Set a system up for organized storing of breastmilk. I recommend you lay them flat to freeze. Much easier to then nicely line them up in a tupperware container and keep your freezer organized!
I am sure I could think of more things but these are the ones we really loved and used!
Enjoy every moment. They grow oh so fast! Good Luck! Jill!
Here are our favorites/Must haves:
1. Bobby Pillow x2 if you have a two story house. Leave one in the living room and one in the girls’ room.
2. Moby Wrap! I can’t say enough about this product. Love, Love, Love!
3. Swaddlers or swaddling blankets. Babies sleep so much better when they are swaddled. We swaddled our daughter until she was almost a year old.
4. CD player and lullaby cd’s. Soothing white noise really helps babies calm and go to sleep and stay asleep.
5. A great Medela Breast Pump. A necessity if you are planning on nursing. Don’t go for a cheap one as hopefully you will be using it for a whole year!
6. A swing that not only swings front to back but side to side. Something about side to side that is much more soothing.
7. Tupperware containers and lots of breastmilk storage bags. Set a system up for organized storing of breastmilk. I recommend you lay them flat to freeze. Much easier to then nicely line them up in a tupperware container and keep your freezer organized!
I am sure I could think of more things but these are the ones we really loved and used!
Enjoy every moment. They grow oh so fast! Good Luck! Jill!
The thing is that ALL babies are different. One of your ladies may LOVE the swing, while the other hates it. But, that is one thing we could not have lived without. Our lil lady had bad acid reflux, so for the first 2 months or so she lived in the swing (when we were not holding her, of course.)
*Burp clothes–we went through them like water.
*Butt Paste for the bad diaper rashes (She gets them more now from teething than she did with diapers.)
*Music box that attaches to the crib. She falls asleep within 10 min (most nights) when it is on.
If I could write a book about all of this it would have one page.
Trial.and.error!
Blessings to you and Nick!
The thing is that ALL babies are different. One of your ladies may LOVE the swing, while the other hates it. But, that is one thing we could not have lived without. Our lil lady had bad acid reflux, so for the first 2 months or so she lived in the swing (when we were not holding her, of course.)
*Burp clothes–we went through them like water.
*Butt Paste for the bad diaper rashes (She gets them more now from teething than she did with diapers.)
*Music box that attaches to the crib. She falls asleep within 10 min (most nights) when it is on.
If I could write a book about all of this it would have one page.
Trial.and.error!
Blessings to you and Nick!
We had two diaper genies…one for upstairs and one for downstairs. We used neither. They were much more hassle than they were worth. We have a special “Diaper garbage” in the garage (which is attached to the house so no treks through the snow to toss poopies) that all diapers go into. The smell stays in the garage and out of the house!
We also found that none of our four little ones liked the swing but they LOVED their bouncy seat! In fact, we went through four of them – one for each kiddo! My advice is to get one that vibrates and that has some sort of light-up, kicky thingy bar to keep them entertained as they get older.
Last thing: Lots and lots of patience and prayers!
We had two diaper genies…one for upstairs and one for downstairs. We used neither. They were much more hassle than they were worth. We have a special “Diaper garbage” in the garage (which is attached to the house so no treks through the snow to toss poopies) that all diapers go into. The smell stays in the garage and out of the house!
We also found that none of our four little ones liked the swing but they LOVED their bouncy seat! In fact, we went through four of them – one for each kiddo! My advice is to get one that vibrates and that has some sort of light-up, kicky thingy bar to keep them entertained as they get older.
Last thing: Lots and lots of patience and prayers!
Electric (yes eletric) sterlizier. This one
http://www.amazon.com/Philips-AVENT-iQ24-Steam-Sterilizer/dp/B001C3MHF0/ref=dp_ob_title_baby
Due to a medical condition my DD#2 was not able to breast feed (not everyone can). I purchased the above sterlizier and it is the one thing they can’t live without.
Electric (yes eletric) sterlizier. This one
http://www.amazon.com/Philips-AVENT-iQ24-Steam-Sterilizer/dp/B001C3MHF0/ref=dp_ob_title_baby
Due to a medical condition my DD#2 was not able to breast feed (not everyone can). I purchased the above sterlizier and it is the one thing they can’t live without.
I just had my first 4 months ago, and he loves his activity gym and mobile. At first I thought the gym was ‘unnecessary’ as I wanted to keep what we did buy to a minimum, but it’s been a huge life saver. I can lay him under that and he really enjoys looking at the dangling objects. Plus, as he got older he started reaching for them. It’s a fun milestone to watch for. Now he likes to be under there and grab, twist, shake the objects until his little heart is content. I get the same reaction out of the mobile (by Tiny Love). It plays 3 different classical songs and is very soothing. The objects that hang from it are brightly colored and have contrasting patterns on the animals feet. Perfect for the little eyes that are still developing. I am very happy for the two of you, and love your blog! Can’t wait to keep reading your unfolding story.
I just had my first 4 months ago, and he loves his activity gym and mobile. At first I thought the gym was ‘unnecessary’ as I wanted to keep what we did buy to a minimum, but it’s been a huge life saver. I can lay him under that and he really enjoys looking at the dangling objects. Plus, as he got older he started reaching for them. It’s a fun milestone to watch for. Now he likes to be under there and grab, twist, shake the objects until his little heart is content. I get the same reaction out of the mobile (by Tiny Love). It plays 3 different classical songs and is very soothing. The objects that hang from it are brightly colored and have contrasting patterns on the animals feet. Perfect for the little eyes that are still developing. I am very happy for the two of you, and love your blog! Can’t wait to keep reading your unfolding story.
the diaper genie sucked! just start saving your grocery bags now. they worked the best.
loved the receiving blankets, but i went to joann’s fabrics and bought a yard of flannel in a few cute patterns and just ziged around it. worked way better than the store bought ones.
my daughter loved the swing, exerisaucer, and the bouncy. if they are too much, check 2nd hand stores. but in my opinion, best money spent!
get a cold humidifier. it will keep the air cool and their skin very soft. i never had to put lotion on my daughter. plus they will like the white noise it makes.
someone suggested a good thermoter. yes, but get the one that just runs along their foreheads and not the one that goes in their ears. when they have ear infections, the one in their ear will hurt.
love your blog. your story is mine. we are have our transfer next week.
the diaper genie sucked! just start saving your grocery bags now. they worked the best.
loved the receiving blankets, but i went to joann’s fabrics and bought a yard of flannel in a few cute patterns and just ziged around it. worked way better than the store bought ones.
my daughter loved the swing, exerisaucer, and the bouncy. if they are too much, check 2nd hand stores. but in my opinion, best money spent!
get a cold humidifier. it will keep the air cool and their skin very soft. i never had to put lotion on my daughter. plus they will like the white noise it makes.
someone suggested a good thermoter. yes, but get the one that just runs along their foreheads and not the one that goes in their ears. when they have ear infections, the one in their ear will hurt.
love your blog. your story is mine. we are have our transfer next week.
Ok so the swings are GREAT but some babies HATE them. For me having a bouncy with a vibrator was necessary!! I totally agree with the other ladies you certainly don’t need 2 of each when it comes to the ‘accessories’.
Diaper genie – waste!
Basically keep it simple!! All the bells and whistles just take up tons of space in your house.
Ok so the swings are GREAT but some babies HATE them. For me having a bouncy with a vibrator was necessary!! I totally agree with the other ladies you certainly don’t need 2 of each when it comes to the ‘accessories’.
Diaper genie – waste!
Basically keep it simple!! All the bells and whistles just take up tons of space in your house.
I agree that the basics are necessary, but they have made so many advances in baby products these days we might as well take advantage of them! We liked our Diaper Genie, because before you know it, they start eating solids and it starts to STINK! I also liked the wipes warmer…would you want to wake up at 3 a.m. and have someone wipe your butt with a cold washcloth? This definitely helps soothe and calm. We loved our bottle warmer, saved so much time rather than heating in a warm bath. We had a great little glow worm that you could press it’s belly and it would light up and play music for about 2-3 minutes. It helped my son go to sleep when he was little and still does at almost 2 years old. If you want to get those little sweeties on a routine, preferrably the same one, read The Baby Whisperer by Traci Hogg, it will save your life and your sanity. Lastly, this is a little ways down the road, but if you want to save a ton of money, make their baby food instead of buying canned. It takes a little more time, but is so worth it nutritionally and financially. The Boon baby food feeder at target is a great way to travel with your home made baby food as it is storage built in with the spoon – no mess! Good luck!
I agree that the basics are necessary, but they have made so many advances in baby products these days we might as well take advantage of them! We liked our Diaper Genie, because before you know it, they start eating solids and it starts to STINK! I also liked the wipes warmer…would you want to wake up at 3 a.m. and have someone wipe your butt with a cold washcloth? This definitely helps soothe and calm. We loved our bottle warmer, saved so much time rather than heating in a warm bath. We had a great little glow worm that you could press it’s belly and it would light up and play music for about 2-3 minutes. It helped my son go to sleep when he was little and still does at almost 2 years old. If you want to get those little sweeties on a routine, preferrably the same one, read The Baby Whisperer by Traci Hogg, it will save your life and your sanity. Lastly, this is a little ways down the road, but if you want to save a ton of money, make their baby food instead of buying canned. It takes a little more time, but is so worth it nutritionally and financially. The Boon baby food feeder at target is a great way to travel with your home made baby food as it is storage built in with the spoon – no mess! Good luck!
Video baby monitor! Love, love! I still have one in my 5 year olds room and my 20 month old son’s room! Way better peace of mind seeing them.
Swing!!!!!!!! The type that snuggles them and lays back pretty flat. My son slept in that thing and it was a huge life saver.
No diaper genie, no diaper heating wipe thingy, no bottle warmer.
I didn’t even use but did have a changing pad on their dressers. Honestly u change the baby wherever u are at…your bed, floor, couch…etc! Which leads to you need diaper changing pads. They are just thin pads. I would put that under the baby when I changed and if they made a mess u just put it in the laundry. Get lots of those.
Swaddlers are amazing!!! Swaddle those girls tight…like really tight and they will sleep like a charm! I had the special swaddling blankets that velcrod etc.
I Also loved the muslin blankets. Super thin and just amazing!
Get a boppy. Bumbo. Pacifiers!!!!!! Try them all till u find what they will take.
We use this garbage can for diapers:
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3491391
You can use your own bags in it–we use Glad bags with Febreeze in them just to stop any possible smells. We only change the bag about once and week and literally never smell anything in her room. I guess that might change once she starts eating solid food and has stinkier diapers, but I am extremely happy with it! It’s super easy to use and you don’t have to buy any special bags!
We use this garbage can for diapers:
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3491391
You can use your own bags in it–we use Glad bags with Febreeze in them just to stop any possible smells. We only change the bag about once and week and literally never smell anything in her room. I guess that might change once she starts eating solid food and has stinkier diapers, but I am extremely happy with it! It’s super easy to use and you don’t have to buy any special bags!
http://www.amazon.com/Mothering-Multiples-Breastfeeding-Caring-Twins/dp/0912500514
I loved that book! It (and a good lactation consultant) made breastfeeding twins possible for us.
I loved loved loved our Podee bottles. It’s a bottle with a long straw-like tube attached to a pacifier-like nipple, so when the babies were screaming in the car we could poke a Podee in next to them and they could use it hands free. We didn’t use it other than in the car, but it was awesome there!
http://www.podee.com/index.html
http://www.amazon.com/Mothering-Multiples-Breastfeeding-Caring-Twins/dp/0912500514
I loved that book! It (and a good lactation consultant) made breastfeeding twins possible for us.
I loved loved loved our Podee bottles. It’s a bottle with a long straw-like tube attached to a pacifier-like nipple, so when the babies were screaming in the car we could poke a Podee in next to them and they could use it hands free. We didn’t use it other than in the car, but it was awesome there!
http://www.podee.com/index.html
First let me tell you congratulations! Ok, I have 3 boys with my youngest just getting ready to turn 1. I would say, you need the standard diapers, wipes, and bottles. I recommend rather than swaddling blankets to register for a couple of swaddlers. The Halo brand are reasonably prince, probably lower than most others and they are recommended by the NICU team @ Methodist, you can buy them right in the gift shop! Absolutely loved them. I completely agree with the above comment, one bouncer and one swing and you could swap them out or wait to find out which prefers what. I would also encourage you and the hubby to look into the baby carriers, not so much the bulky “pouches” you find but the wraps, there’s one out their you can order to fit your size perfectly and they are a life saver. You can hold the itty bitty’s and get stuff done too. Most can hold upto 35lbs. For the most part all the other stuff is personal preference or baby preference! I hope this helps, congratulations again!
P.S. I adore your blog, I stumbled upon it one day and have been hooked every since. It’s nice to hear from others in our honky tonk part of the world, I’m over in po-dunk Granger! Love us Country folk!
I totally meant to include the thermal stretchy receiving blankets on my list too! Great as a light blanket and we used them as swaddlers too! I really can’t believe I forgot them….it is one of my standard baby shower gifts!
PS….this is totally confusing, but earlier when I posted (Jenn) I was signed in to my “family” email account and now I’m on my personal account….hence the two different names while referring to an earlier post!
TGIF!!!!
I totally meant to include the thermal stretchy receiving blankets on my list too! Great as a light blanket and we used them as swaddlers too! I really can’t believe I forgot them….it is one of my standard baby shower gifts!
PS….this is totally confusing, but earlier when I posted (Jenn) I was signed in to my “family” email account and now I’m on my personal account….hence the two different names while referring to an earlier post!
TGIF!!!!
Ok – this is from an “old mother”. The changing pad that the sides come up with the terry cloth changeable covers were necessary for me. Besides helping to keep the baby “put” it protected things if there was an “accident” while changing.
Also, I agree – a rocking recliner is a must. You could spend many, many late nights in one (especially when teething) and being comfortable is a great thing!
If you can sew or know someone who does, have them make you some double sided burp rags out of hand towels or terry cloth. The ones in the store are worthless!
My daughter who just had a baby a year ago bought my grandson a sleveless sack made out of a fleece material that you zipped the baby in at nightime over their sleepers so he was always covered and couldn’t “kick off his blanket!” I thought that was the best thing ever! He never got cold at night!
These are a few things that I remember. Hopefully, it will help you a bit! Good luck!
Ok – this is from an “old mother”. The changing pad that the sides come up with the terry cloth changeable covers were necessary for me. Besides helping to keep the baby “put” it protected things if there was an “accident” while changing.
Also, I agree – a rocking recliner is a must. You could spend many, many late nights in one (especially when teething) and being comfortable is a great thing!
If you can sew or know someone who does, have them make you some double sided burp rags out of hand towels or terry cloth. The ones in the store are worthless!
My daughter who just had a baby a year ago bought my grandson a sleveless sack made out of a fleece material that you zipped the baby in at nightime over their sleepers so he was always covered and couldn’t “kick off his blanket!” I thought that was the best thing ever! He never got cold at night!
These are a few things that I remember. Hopefully, it will help you a bit! Good luck!
I would say don’t waste your money on a diaper genie, we did and we used it for a week and then the whole thing smelled anyways, even after you emptied it, just have a garbage can outside for them.
If you plan on using your stroller alot, and being outside with it, I would suggest getting a double running stroller, they are so much easier to push!
I would recommend Britax car seats, they have extremely highly safety ratings and most of the personal ratings are highly recommended too.
I couldn’t have survived without my receiving blankets like some else commented about! I used them on the floor to swaddle them, as wipe up rags. I would suggested going to a fabric store and getting 1 1/4 yards of different flannels, then have someone surge the edges. These are bigger, and cheaper then buying them in the store and they work great as nursing covers!
I would also suggest simply for the first couple of months getting some carters onesies and the little matching pants, they now make them super cute, and your little ones will be comfortable in them! I had many clothes given to me for presents and really these and little on piece cotton outfits were all my kids wore for the first couple of months!
Those are the only things I can think of that I really loved, and have a whole long list of things that were a huge waste of money!
Good luck!
When I had my first baby 9 years ago, we bought a diaper genie. And then took it back. Big waste of money. Just use grocery bags like everyone else has said.
Really the majority of stuff out there is just unnecessary expense. Think about it…babies NEED food, a place to sleep and something to poop in. That’s it. The rest is just fluff. Don’t break the bank buying bouncers and jumpers and bumbo’s and boppy’s – they will live and so will you!
I was surprised to read in the comments so far that people didn’t use receiving blankets…I went through those like crazy. Especially if they spit up a lot. And most babies like to be wrapped up like burritos at first so they feel secure – so I say receiving blankets all the way! (I also agree with emilyc – the flannel ones were pointless…the thermal were great and I loved the stretchy soft cotton ones if you can find them. Oh and also what she said about burp rags…the cutes ones suck. Use the thick boring ones or the rec. blanket)
While it’s fun to dress them up like mini-models in skinny jeans and blouses, I always wanted my babies to be comfy so they really wore sleepers most of the first 6 months…soft, cozy and still cute.
Also one commenter suggested those little mittens to keep them from scratching themselves. I never had any luck with those, they just fell off all the time…I found a pair of socks worked just a well or better.
Good luck – you will figure out what works for you and what doesn’t…just don’t stress about getting everything under the sun before they get here…as long as you have the carseats, some diapers and your boobs you will be okay!
When I had my first baby 9 years ago, we bought a diaper genie. And then took it back. Big waste of money. Just use grocery bags like everyone else has said.
Really the majority of stuff out there is just unnecessary expense. Think about it…babies NEED food, a place to sleep and something to poop in. That’s it. The rest is just fluff. Don’t break the bank buying bouncers and jumpers and bumbo’s and boppy’s – they will live and so will you!
I was surprised to read in the comments so far that people didn’t use receiving blankets…I went through those like crazy. Especially if they spit up a lot. And most babies like to be wrapped up like burritos at first so they feel secure – so I say receiving blankets all the way! (I also agree with emilyc – the flannel ones were pointless…the thermal were great and I loved the stretchy soft cotton ones if you can find them. Oh and also what she said about burp rags…the cutes ones suck. Use the thick boring ones or the rec. blanket)
While it’s fun to dress them up like mini-models in skinny jeans and blouses, I always wanted my babies to be comfy so they really wore sleepers most of the first 6 months…soft, cozy and still cute.
Also one commenter suggested those little mittens to keep them from scratching themselves. I never had any luck with those, they just fell off all the time…I found a pair of socks worked just a well or better.
Good luck – you will figure out what works for you and what doesn’t…just don’t stress about getting everything under the sun before they get here…as long as you have the carseats, some diapers and your boobs you will be okay!
I will be the lone dissenter — we used receiving blankets quite a bit (March and November babies) for swaddling — but only the thermal kind. And not Gerber. Those are tiny (which may be OK for your little ladies) but were too small for my smaller boys. I hated the “flannel” ones sold in stores. They were worthless for swaddling. I’m pregnant with number 3 now and will likely be investing in a few sleep sacks or these almost gauzy like “blankets” from Target.
I found early on that the cutesie burp clothes were worthless. They are too thin and if your babies spit up a lot they soak straight through. I bought the old-fashioned cloth diapers (you can get them at Target) and used those for burp rags instead. They aren’t as cute, but they were so much more practical.
Oh, and we had a diaper genie and never used it past the first few weeks. Could be because we also didn’t have a changing table so we usually threw away wherever we were. If you are going to cloth diaper I definitely wouldn’t invest in one of those.
And like others have said don’t invest in a lot of clothes up front. They wear sleepers for quite awhile and really, when they are that little, that’s about all the fit nicely into. Outfits just tend to bunch up and look really uncomfortable.
I will be the lone dissenter — we used receiving blankets quite a bit (March and November babies) for swaddling — but only the thermal kind. And not Gerber. Those are tiny (which may be OK for your little ladies) but were too small for my smaller boys. I hated the “flannel” ones sold in stores. They were worthless for swaddling. I’m pregnant with number 3 now and will likely be investing in a few sleep sacks or these almost gauzy like “blankets” from Target.
I found early on that the cutesie burp clothes were worthless. They are too thin and if your babies spit up a lot they soak straight through. I bought the old-fashioned cloth diapers (you can get them at Target) and used those for burp rags instead. They aren’t as cute, but they were so much more practical.
Oh, and we had a diaper genie and never used it past the first few weeks. Could be because we also didn’t have a changing table so we usually threw away wherever we were. If you are going to cloth diaper I definitely wouldn’t invest in one of those.
And like others have said don’t invest in a lot of clothes up front. They wear sleepers for quite awhile and really, when they are that little, that’s about all the fit nicely into. Outfits just tend to bunch up and look really uncomfortable.
It is so confusing trying to figure out what exactly you will need! With my first I had so much stuff I didn’t use, it was crazy! You could seriously survive with having a few basic items. The things I couldn’t live without the first few weeks: diapers and wipes (we had a diaper genie and ended up just using a trash can with a grocery bag in it and took it out daily), a few sleepers, gowns and onesies (I didn’t know what we were having and if your family is anything like mine, you will be inundated with clothes….but I saw purple clothes X a lot on your list and thought that was cute!), a food source (I nursed but I still had a pump and bottles available in case we needed them…the hospital will give you various formula samples if you just want to have a little bit on hand) and somewhere for the babes to sleep. Both of my boys slept in our room in a bassinet when they came home from the hospital. There was not one “accessory” that we couldn’t have lived without. I do agree with previous posts about getting a good thermometer (I would suggest a good temperal one) and preparing meals ahead. That was a lifesaver for us, I had meals in the freezer ready to go so that all we had to do was take something out in the morning and I could pop it in the oven/crockpot and have a good supper. I also agree that the Graco Snugride is a great carseat! Also you will want a nice comfy spot to rock the girls. I had a lovely Lazy Boy rocker recliner that we spent many hours in! If you can buy second hand from someone you know, go for it! My sister-in-law and I had babies opposite each other (one of us had a baby every year from 2005 – 2009) and we shared a lot of the big equipment and that was great!
You should definately go to Babies-r-us and check out things though and see how they work, how it feels to push a certain stroller, etc just to see if you like them. We took a two hour drive to Des Moines to do this and it was priceless. I didn’t register there, but I got an idea of what I wanted and what I liked! Good luck!
It is so confusing trying to figure out what exactly you will need! With my first I had so much stuff I didn’t use, it was crazy! You could seriously survive with having a few basic items. The things I couldn’t live without the first few weeks: diapers and wipes (we had a diaper genie and ended up just using a trash can with a grocery bag in it and took it out daily), a few sleepers, gowns and onesies (I didn’t know what we were having and if your family is anything like mine, you will be inundated with clothes….but I saw purple clothes X a lot on your list and thought that was cute!), a food source (I nursed but I still had a pump and bottles available in case we needed them…the hospital will give you various formula samples if you just want to have a little bit on hand) and somewhere for the babes to sleep. Both of my boys slept in our room in a bassinet when they came home from the hospital. There was not one “accessory” that we couldn’t have lived without. I do agree with previous posts about getting a good thermometer (I would suggest a good temperal one) and preparing meals ahead. That was a lifesaver for us, I had meals in the freezer ready to go so that all we had to do was take something out in the morning and I could pop it in the oven/crockpot and have a good supper. I also agree that the Graco Snugride is a great carseat! Also you will want a nice comfy spot to rock the girls. I had a lovely Lazy Boy rocker recliner that we spent many hours in! If you can buy second hand from someone you know, go for it! My sister-in-law and I had babies opposite each other (one of us had a baby every year from 2005 – 2009) and we shared a lot of the big equipment and that was great!
You should definately go to Babies-r-us and check out things though and see how they work, how it feels to push a certain stroller, etc just to see if you like them. We took a two hour drive to Des Moines to do this and it was priceless. I didn’t register there, but I got an idea of what I wanted and what I liked! Good luck!
If you breastfeed then you probably don’t need a diaper genie because breastfed poop doesn’t stink, but formula fed poop does.
Get at least 4 pairs of infant gloves, babies scratch themselves all the time!
In a swing & bouncer (I would get one of each so that you have a place to put each twin) get the ones that have a weight limit of 25 lbs (not 15 lbs), my 14 month old is still only 20 lbs and I just sold our swing & bouncer that he still could have used, but he was tired of them.
I have heard from “multiples” moms that twins can share a crib for the first 3 months.
Don’t buy tons of cutesy outfits for the first 6 months, your babies will live in sleepers for that time. Just buy a few for when you have company, get pictures done, etc.
Get pictures done! At least for newborn, 6 month & 1 year. We had our sons done every 3 months for the first year and he looks SO different in every picture! It’s not just a saying, babies do really grow fast!
Splurge on a good thermometer, when you have those nights when nothing calms your baby, you’ll want to check the temp just to make sure they’re not sick. And have back-up batteries, they die quickly.
We never used receiving blankets.
That’s all I can think of for now, the Graco Snugride is a great carseat though! Good luck with your twins! (:
I breast fed and I LOVED the boppy. I used grocery bags instead of a diaper genie. I use a dresser instead of a changing table, the table is great until the kid learns to scoot around and then it is useless as a storage space. But I could not live with out my changing dresser. My kids loved their swings and bouncers. If I were having twins I would start with 1 of each until I knew what they liked because they take up a lot of room. Oh the best thing in the world for us was an exersaucer. They are great because they are somewhat portable and kept my kids entertained. I never used bibs with my kids until they started feeding themselves, and even still (they are 1 and 2) its almost not worth it because they still make such a big mess i have to wash everything anyway.
Diaper genies don’t work nearly as well as a walmart bag: put the diaper in, twist the bag, and double it over itself so that the diaper is wrapped in two layers of plastic bag. Just make sure and take the trash out at least every other day. Its a lot cheaper too.
I found that I ended up with way too many crib sheets and receiving blankets – you really only need a few of each.
I loved having a pack and play, so I could leave the baby alone to use the restroom, bathe, etc. while my husband was at work. The bassinet insert was nice since I had a c-section leaning into a deep playpen wasn’t an option.
For a baby monitor, look for one that plugs into the wall with a rechargeable battery so that you can move into another room with it, but won’t need to keep buying new batteries.
I didn’t use the swing much after my son was 4 months old, my niece who is 2 still uses hers.
If you have a big freezer, it would be nice to go ahead and fix (or buy) one extra meal a week until they are born, and put it away with heating directions. If you have 2-3 weeks of meals ready to go it will make life much easier as you are recuperating and getting used to a lack of sleep, etc. Even if you have family coming to help, the meals will be good to have after they leave. (And then you won’t spend a massive amount of money all at once on quick easy meals.)
I wouldn’t even pretend to give you advise on “must-haves”… been many years since I’ve had to use those things…. BUT have you ever been to http://designhermomma.com/
She is doing a give away every weekend of baby things.. wonderful stuff.. some of it very expensive… go over & take a look
I wouldn’t even pretend to give you advise on “must-haves”… been many years since I’ve had to use those things…. BUT have you ever been to http://designhermomma.com/
She is doing a give away every weekend of baby things.. wonderful stuff.. some of it very expensive… go over & take a look