Those of you with twins: What was the most useful/appreciated gift you received following their birth?

[notnowbernard]

Or what would you have found really useful?

I am looking for ideas!

Thanks

[victoriagirl]

Would have found a voucher for a cleaning service or nanny agency for a few hours respite great!! Or even a 'do it yourself' style coupon offering your friend/family member cleaning/babysitting. I definitely would have taken them up on it and anyone who visited and offered their services was gladly accepted! Did find store gift vouchers really useful as got given so many clothes that it was just a waste sometimes. Plus toys/clothes for when they are bigger becuase you get given so many less by then (but only worth while if the person has storage- if not, its just another thing to find somewher to store). My personal favourite was a really big keepsake box for all their special bits and pieces. Someone also gave me nappies, which was helpful.

[hattyyellow]

As Victoria says clothes for when they are older or slightly more expensive items like grobags/snowsuits etc - buying two is expensive when things are £20 upwards.

Something for the mum too if you can stretch to it- a lovely neighbour left a neal's yard new mums kit on my doorstep and I was so touched I still think of her - just being able to take a brief break and have a lovely bath with arnica in to help my poor battered new mums body was bliss!

Food for the fridge or freezer, it's so hard to find the time to cook/eat well - a lovely stew or casserole or a chocolate cake!

[kateri]

Cooked meals! Definitely.

[glamourbadger]

Cooked meals from the freezer, I appreciated this more than anything when my twins came home. Or cake .

[dsrplus8]

mega box filled with nappies, wipes ,cotton wool,bibs ect,and battery baby swing-bloody great 4 soothing 2 at a time when youe only one pair of hands(one in swing,one in arms). mega tip 4 twins babydan playpen can withstand twin abuse,is really sturdy and u can wash the mat at bottom.when ur 2 get to big it can b used as fireguard or room divider or a saftey gate. get one asap

[notnowbernard]

Thanks!

Colleague is expecting twins in December. Love the Neal's Yard idea, she would love something like that

Was thinking of getting some 'boring' but essential items (nappies, wipes etc)

[Neenztwinz]

Sleeping bags were good presents. I could not have coped without my vibrating recliners (bouncy chairs) so make sure she has two of those.

[luckylady74]

The very large homemade carrot cake that I ate all by myself in hospital.
The detailed reports on my eldest ds as I was missing seeing him when I was in hospital.
Anything that holds a baby - bouncy chair, door bouncer, those things that look like stationary baby walkers.
sleeping bags as it's really expensive to buy 2 sets. - TKmax had lovely ones in when I was there last week.
Tiny baby clothes if they're prem as most people buy 0-3 months.
Nice pyjamas for mum - I spent a lot of time in mine and was up in the night a lot!

[luckylady74]

bath baby holding things - you can't hold 2 babies at once. I had lovely plastic ones from John Lewis that they lay down in and had suckers on the base - much better than a baby bath as they could both fit in the normal bath.

[notnowbernard]

Pyjamas for her is a great idea. Thanks!

[Kal01]

a double breast pump (medela) from a fellow mum of twins who quite understandably couldn't face breastfeeding - it has been used everyday. A friend of mine bought hers from the US for alot less cash

[lindseyfox]

for our friend whose just had twins I gave them a voucher for me to night nanny one night for them (i night nanny anyway). although i would have done it anyway if they asked they never would so this was a well recieved gift.

[kathryn2804]

Meals for the freezer is a brilliant idea. i was so greatful when someone cooked, or even ordered a pizza!

[Anifrangapani]

Didn't have twins but the best post birth present was M&S Ready Meals and people popping in to do the washing up, not just to hold the baby (my sil was fab on both counts)

[Shiner]

I was really glad of all cakes that came my way. Fortunately DH kept buying two at a time...

We were really pleased to be given two sweet sleeping bags for the twins, size 6months;

A big cushion for my back so breastfeeding was more comfortable;

A new warm dressing gown, for when up in the night. I got a long white cotton wrap gown, which didn't show the sick instantly, but washed well;

Oddly enough, we were glad for all packs of nappies that came our way, since we got through them super quickly and the local shop kept selling out (it was a pain to trudge round the shops trying to find one that had supplies of the newborn/tiny baby size);

all tiny baby clothes, since we got through more than we expected and many we were given were for old/bigger babies. Ours were premature, and so pretty small.