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Multiple births

A perfect twin present for newborns and their mum?

32 replies

littletime · 22/01/2013 21:04

I am looking to get a friend present for their twins, sex unknown to me, I was thinking about a baby carrier (like the baby bjorn but for two) worry that this might only be useful for a short time (3/4 months at a guess?)
Can all mums of twins tell me what their perfect present to help me choose?
Thanks!

OP posts:
rubbishonlineshopper · 22/01/2013 21:13

I have b/g twins. A friend bought me two cotton blankets from the white company and they were the best present. I used them to swaddle when they were really little, then every single day when we went out. I loved them, they washed really nicely and could be doubled over if chilly. I'm not sure about the twin carrier - not all babies like being in a carrier for a start, and it will be back breaking after a few months...

Hth!

TiggerWearsATriteSmile · 22/01/2013 21:28

I wouldn't get the carrier.
I used to carry one and take the single buggy when they were small. I can't imagine the double carrier getting much use.

Honestly, I wouldn't get anything special for a newborn.
The time passes quickly and we didn't get out much anyway.

Do they have room and are they outdoorsy people?
I think this would be a brilliant gift that would get loads of use when they are bigger.


Twin Wagon

DigestivesWithCheese · 23/01/2013 05:18

If you have the time - food! Grin We've had lots of lovely presents for our twins but my absolute favourite was the ten tubs of spag Bol sauce - all in microwavable containers, ready to go in the freezer so we could use as needed.'

An absolute lifesaver in the days after we came home from hospital. The fact that someone had taken the time to cook for us meant a lot more than some of the more expensive gifts. The same friend left some homemade soup in our porch the other day and again, it was one of the best surprises I've had.

If you don't feel like cooking, I second the 'nice blankets' idea.

gardenpixies32 · 23/01/2013 09:26

I second the food idea. DP and I rarely get a warm meal in the evenings, we are just too tired to bother cooking.

The sling is something I would personally not use and far too heavy & awkward to carry 2 babies in.

Aspiemum2 · 23/01/2013 09:29

Yes to food or any help tbh. The first weeks are so draining and I'd have given anything for someone to do some ironing or bring some meals.
My favourite gift was probably the fisher price baby gym, got the most use anyway as the twins loved it Smile

ceeveebee · 23/01/2013 09:42

The twin baby carriers are pretty useless IMO - I couldn't carry them both while recovering from c section and then they got too big for it

Best things for me at that age were giant playmat and bouncy chairs for them, cleaner for us! Or some kind of home delivery of food would be good.

ClairesTravellingCircus · 23/01/2013 12:49

I second the food idea (a few friends came to visit bringing lunch and cleaning up after them: priceless!)

Baby bouncers are also great, mine lived in them until they started moving

MiddleAgeMiddleEngland · 23/01/2013 16:41

My twins are older now, but I do remember the exhaustion that multiple babies bring. Any offers of food, shopping, or general help around the house will be most welcome. Maybe you could make some 'vouchers' as a present and enclose with a card.

The large gooey chocolate cake (with instructions to eat it all ourselves and not give to visitors) was fantastic!

Visitors who just want to sit and cuddle the babies aren't so welcome as those who get the hoover out or arrive with ready meal. One of my friends would come and just mind them for half an hour while I had a shower and hair wash.

If you want to get an actual, physical present, it might be good to let your friend know, and ask her to choose something a bit later on. We were given lots of things we never used when they were newborn.

littletime · 23/01/2013 20:23

Thank you all so much....I am already giving my time, helping with the older ds etc and have promised to help every Friday when she has no other help.
So I will think again as the baby carrier sling thing isn't a favourite. But I do want it to be extra special. I was thinking about making car seat swaddling blankets as they're so cosy in cold weather....

OP posts:
yousankmybattleship · 23/01/2013 20:27

You sound like a great friend! If you can find one an extra large play mat would be a great. I had to have my twins on two separate mats and would have loved a bigger one where they could have wriggled around together. Oh and your company - it can be really hard getting out and about with newborn twins. Definitely not the sling though!

TwelveLeggedWalk · 23/01/2013 20:28

What a lovely friend you sound little!

If you're thinking along hte idea of car-seat blankets, I've raved about these before, but one of the best things I bought my twins were these fleece wraps they go in the buggy or in the car seat - and they're a good safety feature in the car because whereas a thick padded suit on the baby will crush and the belt will tighten up, you feed the belt through these. They come in lots of funky colours, and you can use htem to pop the babies down on the floor too.

Food and help was an absolute lifesaver for sure.

Tigger we were given one of htose wagons for their first birthday, they're hilarious!

fraktion · 23/01/2013 20:32

If you did get a sling don't get a baby Bjorn - get something like a Manducca which lasts for ages. Or a stretchy wrap that you can nestle both in together.

An extra large playmat is a great idea.

DoingTheSwanThing · 23/01/2013 20:38

Another vote for food!
My friend made blankets too, which were extra lovely for being hand made.
Whatever you do, don't buy a twintrexx (and I'd avoid the other twin crotch danglers carriers too). Fwiw if you're keen on a carrier I regularly carry both my 6 month olds simultaneously in a woven wrap (and other combinations). She might appreciate a stretchy wrap - much less of a learning curve, pop in, pop out... Pop both in together while tiny! Life saver in my book :)

DoingTheSwanThing · 23/01/2013 20:43

X post... Typing one-fingered while feeding as usual!

Randomkath · 23/01/2013 20:58

Would also recommend the fleece wraps - one of the most useful, pracitcal things we had. With twins anything that saves time is great, especially when trying to leave the house! We put them in the pram carrycots and was great to be able to just pop babies in and wrap round rather than faff about with pram suits or jackets. When you go inside you can unwrap and leave babies to sleep undisturbed without overheating. Also, they are nice and padded to lay babies down on on the floor when out at groups and things and unable to hold both babies.

nonpractisingVirgin · 23/01/2013 21:02

Agree totally with food or even just eat vouchers. Mine loved their baby swing which was a lifesaver to keep one occupied while I was feeding the other. Not sure if that would be a bit pricy though?

ceeveebee · 23/01/2013 21:09

The playmat we had looks like its discontinued but this one is about the same size
www.mothercare.com/Mothercare-Safari-Jumbo-Playmat/455153,default,pd.html

littletime · 23/01/2013 22:11

Oo what's a woven wrap? As a mum of two, but both singles (is that what they're called!) I had a baby bjorn and loved it so I honestly haven't got a clue.
Extra large play mat, brilliant. Maybe if they're not too pricey I can do carrier and play mat. Another couple are keen to share a present so we could get both? Maybe?
Do you have a link for your carrier?
Thank you all!

OP posts:
DoingTheSwanThing · 23/01/2013 23:11

This is how I usually do it.
A wrap is basically a long bit of cloth. Moby I think is probably the best known wrap but that is a "stretchy". They're good beginner wraps because they're easy to pre-tie and bit more forgiving of tying imperfections but not so supportive. Wovens have no stretch along the length but generally some diagonal stretch. They're the most versatile option for birth right up to preschool. Soooo many options though, a site like thebabywearer.com will explain far better than I could (and is likely to tempt with many beautiful thingsEnvy)
Sorry for derailing!

Teds77 · 24/01/2013 00:38

Food is always good Grin and if you're not a cook or baker we got a couple of lovely tins of biscuits. Think one was Daylesford and I still remember how good they were!

Other thought is a version of something that is nice but is really a bit pricey if you need two. I love my cuddledry apron towels (and some smaller Mothercare ones we were also bought) and our Sophie the Giraffe teethers are popular too. However things like this are a bit hard to justify buying yourself so were lovely gifts.

ceeveebee · 24/01/2013 00:56

Hmm I wouldn't buy a wrap. Think that would be something that she may want to try out herself at a sling library as it looks pretty tricky to me. I don't know a single twin mum who uses a wrap and I know about 30 through multiples club

Athrawes · 24/01/2013 01:47

A handheld Dyson. They won't be babies forever!

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fraktion · 24/01/2013 14:20

Really ceevee? Every twin mum I know has a wrap and most put both in when tiny. It's also useful to carry one in plus one in arms plus a hand free.

Manduca

I have an Ergo but there are issues with unsafe fakes.

ceeveebee · 24/01/2013 15:36

Yep really, don't know anyone with a wrap.
Lots of people have ergo / beko / mei tai things so can carry one each but I seriously have never met a twin mum with a wrap. Its pram city round here

TwelveLeggedWalk · 24/01/2013 17:58

I don't know any double sling users here either - wouldn't have worked for my two I dont think as they liked very different sling positions and also puked for Britain

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