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!

When I had my first set of twins we bought one cot (17mo and still share), 1 bouncer, 1 swing, a double stroller, gdiapers (passed down and new ones. Saves money in long run).

Just a tip; when buying toys buy from charity shops (and steralise them ) because I think they're just as good as brand new ones without the price tag. Same for clothese (just washed really well!) - I'm starting to think like DH!! [blushes]

I had a harmony bf cushion and an inflatable one but found piles of normal pillows much more useful.

Apart from car and buggy, the thing I couldn't do without doubling up is bouncy chairs - actually we've got 3 they are so useful.

I had the twin Z bf was a god send. I'm still tandem feeding to this day! :)

Also we found a snuggle nest & an Arm Reach twin co-sleeper to be great. DH never felt safe bed sharing so to make him feel safe and to respect his fears we used the bed nest and then the co-sleeper when they grew too big :)

I had a v-shaped beanbag for feeding which was brilliant as it moulded more to the shape of their body than a pillow or my blow-up ez2nurse pillow.
We had 2 Moses baskets, 2 bumbos, 2 bouncy chairs and 2 high chairs.
If you have any double doorways it's worth having 2 door bouncers for your entertainment!

Instead of Moses baskets I had a cot in the living room to save babies being poked. The girl twins shared until they were 8 months and moved into Seperate cots in their room but the boys were separated early as one has health problems so I ended up with both. Cot beds in my room.

Bouncy chair each too. I invested in the infant to toddler ones as then lasted.

Buggy - can totally recommend the baby jogger city mini, wish i had got it from birth but had 4 on a buggy to start!

Congratulations! Twins are amazing (but exhausting!)

Has anyone said changing mats yet? I had 2 so they could lie side by side.

I EBF and didn't have buy a pillow, but was given a singleton baby one that a friend didn't use this one I think which was useful on the rare occasions I fed them together (but I mostly fed each on demand which meant I spent a lot of time feeding in the early weeks, but gave me a bit of one to one time with each of them and I didn't use the pillow then)

I didn't have a moses basket, but had my two in the same cot across ways in sleeping bags and then on a diagonal when they got a bit bigger.

If you're using sleeping bags, definitely 4 needed in case of illness / leaks.

I thought of you last night when I was doing bottles! We have two sterilisers. One of the big tommee tippee steam sterilisers, and a microwave steriliser that holds 4 bottles and which we take away with us. If you do ff, definitely worth considering.

www.babyandtoddlerworld.co.uk/tippitoes-baby-bath-support?utm_source=Google%2BShopping&utm_medium=Google&gclid=CNb6x93fj70CFaQfwwoda7oAzg

Two of these oil the wheels of bath time! Didn't really use one Moses basket, let alone two. If you get two cots, put one in the kitchen or living room for early months to give you somewhere to put one baby down. And i also dodnt get on with special breast freding pillow altjough some people swear by them! Good luck!

Thank you - all very helpful! I am stalking things on ebay and planning to go to a twins club nearly new sale next weekend.

Hi Kicks
Our ID boys are nearly 6m old & we have double pram & 2 car seats. our boys also sleep in separate swing cribs in our room & will be moving to their cotbeds in their own room next month. We bought things like cribs, rocker chairs, play mats, toys before they arrived but since then we've seen the light & started buying things from members of our local twin club. We've bought their cotbeds (but bought new mattresses) for a steal, Bumbos for a fiver each, a play ring for a tenner & the boys swimming wetsuits for a few pounds. Its made such a difference & everything has been v well looked after.
its silly things we now need two of. Each DTS has decided that they both love the same teether toy so we've got duplicates there. I'd also agree with buying more than 2 grobags & having them share a playgym - tho we do also have a separate play mat.
Oh, and massive congrats! Having twins is amazing!!!!!
Cx

BF pillow was a lifesaver for me - i used it right until I stopped feeding at 51 weeks!

I didn't bother with moses baskets; just used the buggy with the carrycots as beds when downstairs and put them in the same cot upstairs from day one. I got a second cot at 3 months when they started annoying each other (mine were never cuddly babies!)

One thing you might need to think about is small baby clothes. My pair were 6lb each but in tiny baby stuff for a good month, and newborn lasted for 3 months! If your son was a good size, might be worth getting some small baby stuff to get you going.

Also see if there is a twins network in your area; you can get loads of stuff for a bargain there. Mine has a facebook group which is excellent value.

I used one bath support and had the other one on the floor beside me and then swapped until they could sit up in bath chairs (around 5.5 months)

That's a good point about getting some small clothes. My son was 8 lbs 14 oz, so pretty much in 0-3 months straight away!

There is a twins club nearby, which I'm planning to get involved with, and they're having a nearly new sale next weekend, so I'll definitely check that out.

I've not had twins but I think the pillow would be worth a splurge on since you'll probably want all the help you can get with BFing, and if it's one where they can be propped up together as well that would be good especially when they get to the age to want to see what is going on but can't yet sit up (or you could get two bumbos! :))