Baby kit - what do you really need two of?

[kicksandgiggles]

I'm 13+4 weeks pregnant with MCDA twins, and making lists of stuff we need to buy for the babies. I have a DS, and we kept everything of his, so we aren't starting from scratch.

Money is about to be really tight due to changing work circumstances (for DH, plus me stopping work soon for a few years), plus the unexpected (but fantastic!) revelation that we're having two babies instead of one. So I'm trying not to spend money on kit unless it's really needed - especially as we're already going to have to get a bigger car.

I'd really appreciate your advice about what kit you really needed two of, and what you could get away with sharing - and any other advice about areas where we can save!

[NigellasDealer]

i think you could use one cot for a few months. in fact apart from a double buggy and two car seats, i cannot think of anything you really need two of tbh.

[5madthings]

Car seats!
I guess to begin with they can share a cot etc, you will need plenty of vests and babygrows.

Snowsuits/blankets depending on when due.

Blankets and sheets for cot or grobags.

Bottles? If not bfeeding.

[kicksandgiggles]

Thanks, Nigella. What about moses baskets, bath supports, bouncer seats, highchairs, that kind of thing?

[kicksandgiggles]

Oh, that's a good point madthings. How many vests/babygrows would you say you needed? I've got all my son's clothes, but don't think it's enough for two of them.

[NigellasDealer]

ok we had two moses baskets, one baby bath, two bouncy chairs and two highchairs now i think of it.... sorry dim and distant past!
and yes get some bottles in in case breastfeeding does not work out.

[NigellasDealer]

but to be honest the moses baskets were a waste of money really, they soon just moved into one big cot together.

[kicksandgiggles]

I've got a few bottles and will get more later if needed, but am going to try to EBF (eek!).

I also meant to ask, is it worth getting one of these feeding cushions?: www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/sp+harmony-duo-twin-feeding-cushion-in-breastfeeding-underwear-and-products+b1046

[isitme1]

K+t
I know you od ante natal thread [waves]
I dont think the pillow thingy is a good idea. I would feed them in their bouncers together so you are getting double use and saving some money they are pretty expensive the pillow thingy. Obv your choice someone with more experience may come along. As my ds2 and dc3 will be 13months apart if needs be will feed like I mentioned

[NigellasDealer]

if you are going to EBF, a good cushion would be well worth it - that one looks very useful indeed.
bit pricey though! save on not bothering with the moses baskets maybe?

[kicksandgiggles]

Hi isitme! I am trying to breastfeed them, so can't do that in their bouncers! The rugby ball hold worked best for me with DS, so I am well used to that, and I just stacked normal cushions next to me for him, but I don't think that would work so well with two feeding in tandem. The twin cushion thing looks amazing, and I can get 20 percent off with my TAMBA membership, but I don't want to spend so much if it's not going to be used.

[kicksandgiggles]

Nigellas, the thing is I've already got one moses basket, and the cot is a cot bed so it would be tricky to fit into our bedroom. I may pick up another moses basket secondhand (and replace the mattress). I do have a few bits to sell though, like my birth pool (which I definitely won't be able to use this time!), so might be able to justify a splurge on the cushion if it's worth it.

[isitme1]

Ooooh sorry I forgot (blaming pregnancy brain) im pretty useless at bf. Ds1 was allergic. Ds2 wasnt interested as his first feed was a bottle while I was in hdu very ill. Hmmm yup could work out
could you get one like that of eBay x

[NigellasDealer]

good idea then kicks, I could have done with that cushion when mine were born! would definitely say it looks useful.

[NigellasDealer]

and maybe one of those triangular ones for behind you?

[kicksandgiggles]

This one seems to have a back bit. I wish I knew someone who had one so I could try it out before buying!

[neversleepagain]

Things we had doubles/many of...

Cots (mine would disturb each other so slept in separate cots from 6 weeks). One was given to us and one second hand.
Bouncy chairs (one was given to us and one second hand)
Double steriliser (we used two Milton cold water tubs)
Double bottles (mine only had 4 each and we found this enough)
Lots of vests and sleepsuits (each baby had 7 vests and 7 sleepsuits)
Lots (and lots) and muslins (24 in total)
Two carseats
Double buggy
Two highchairs (went for cheap Ikea ones but only bought this at 5 months)
Two plastic bath supports

It is possible to do things cheaply, take anything people offer and try to buy second hand. We only spent 45 on cots in total.

Things I would have found a waste of money personally as we never used or needed them were moses baskets, bumbo seats, baby carriers (carrying them for 7.5 months was enough for me), baby bath, all singing and dancing swinging chair, 2 play mats (one is enough, they can both lay under it).

[SoonToBeSix]

My Brest friend twin is the best feeding pillow . It's expensive though so try eBay.

[sweetfluffybunnies]

Hi kicks, congratulations on the twins!

I breastfed my twins until they were 10 months old, takes commitment and patience - not sure if i could have done it for so long if I'd had a toddler as well. I used a v-shaped cushion on top of pillows so that i could feed both babies at once, otherwise you'd be feeding non-stop, but i think the one you linked to is very expensive - look on amazon, I just found one by Slumberdown for £9.90, not quite the same but I think it would do the job.

We had two moses baskets, two high chairs, two cots etc but we were lucky in that we were given lots of hand -me-downs and second hand bits. Obviously the babies can share a cot initially, but you will need a second one eventually. And two bouncy chairs is a must!

I would also say don't waste money on a posh double pram or the like - a double buggy like a Mclaren is much more practical for getting in and out of cars and so on.

Clothes-wise, again people were very kind and gave us loads of stuff, but i would say you probably need maybe 5-6 babygros and vests per baby if you are willing to wash every couple of days. And of course a mountain of nappies!!

[kicksandgiggles]

Thanks all, very helpful suggestions. Please keep them coming!

[TarkaTheOtter]

One of the mums at our bfing group used the harmony duo to feed her twins at the same time and thought it was brilliant.

[andadietcoke]

I have a harmony duo - whereabouts are you?! I bottle fed though and barely used it. It was easier to prop them up against a (very solid Tempur) pillow facing me. I can feed them in their bouncy chairs now but couldn't then. Car seats are also good as they're propped up a bit.

We have two Sleepyheads, car seats and bases, bouncy chairs, jumperoos, baby bjorns. We have six gro bags, but four would be okay I think. 20 vests, 20 babygros. Two pram suits.

Get a big play mat that doesn't have an arch - we have a tiny love one (after a ridiculously expensive M&P one).

[Linguaphile]

We had/have two of the following:

• Vibrating bouncers
  
• Door bouncers
  
• High chairs (the Summer Infant booster kind on Amazon have been fab, good for saving space/money)
  
• Car seats
  
• Sleeping bags (4 would be nice, we just have 2)
  
• Dummies
  
• Sophie giraffe
  
• Snow suits
  
• Towels
  
• Cots and least 4 cot sheets
  
• BABY CARRIERS. Total life saver. Check out a sling library to see options (I like my Connectas as they're much better for your back and baby's anatomy than many narrow-seated high street carriers, and you can wear them tandem style as well--I do all the time and it's soooo much easier than muddling about with the double buggy for quick outings!)
  

Didn't need two of:

• Bath sponge (this was a great little buy, first just stuck it in the sink for baths, now it's a head support for both girls as they lay in the bath with their feet pointing either direction)
  
• Moses baskets (pram cots work, or just put both babies in one cot to start)
  
• most toys
  
• nappy bag
  
• furniture like wardrobe, chest of drawers, changing station, glider
  
• play mats
  
• every single outfit--different can be nice
  
• sterilisers (the cold water tablets work great and are less bulky)
  
• cots, at the beginning

[Coveredinweetabix]

I don't have twins but a lady from my NCT group did for her second pregnancy (so not the one we met through NCT for) &, other than a double pushchair, another highchair & cot, I'm not sure she bought much as, those of us who weren't due with our seconds around the same time, just lent dvverything... bouncy chairs, jumperoos, walkers, clothes etc ... as did other friends from baby groups etc

[Twicethehugs]

Apart from borrowing/getting second hand to save money, I found a tandem breastfeeding cushion essential - bought a second hand ez2nurse from eBay (if you have a local twins club, get in touch with them as someone might be selling one or other useful bits). Also a double pushchair, we bought one where the seats lay completely flat so they were in that from the start and should last until we don't need another. It wasn't that cheap but I did quite a bit of research as know a few people who have gone through several double buggies which is even more expensive! The babies could share a cot to start with. I think other things depend e.g. We had one playmat, one swing, one bouncy chair and I moved them round things for variety. We didn't have door bouncers/ jumparoos. Ours loved bumbos and were in them for ages including eating in them for quite a while as were quite small babies. Come to think of it they were about 5 lb when born (at 38 weeks) and it took a while before they were in 0-3 month clothes, you might well need some early baby clothes (again can usually pick up second hand/free). If you're on Facebook there might be a local 'free to collect' /free cycle site where people will pass on baby bits.

[twintense]

I had the harmony pillow for breastfeeding my DTs but didn't really get on with it. I would recommend trying it out if you can because I think it really depends on your body shape (although you may not be able to predict what that may be after delivery! )

I found piles of pillows either side worked best for me for tandem feeling though I didn't always manage when I was on my own.

I bought mine second hand then resold so wasn't a waste of money.

With hindsight one moses basket would have been enough for us. They slept together in one then shared a cotbed until 6 months.

Good luck with the breastfeeding, we're still going at 13 months, it's beem tough at times but I'm so glad to have got this far.