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Original poster

Mums of twins - what was the most useful thing you bought

29 replies

Josie5 · 21/01/2015 21:52

My sis in law is pregnant with twins - bit of a shock/ surprise etc as has an 8 year old. I want to get them so things that will help, any advice/ tips good stuff to buy for them thanks

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MrsIcarus2 · 21/01/2015 21:55

Feeding pillow was used many times a day, two bouncy chairs, poncho-style towels for bath time (useful from about 7/8mths) and Aquapod duo for the bath.

neversleepagain · 21/01/2015 22:04

For myself, dry shampoo, tinted moisturiser, decent hand cream. Offers from friends to bring round cooked meals (the best thing by far).

For the twins, Baby Bjorn Bouncers.

RosinaCopper · 21/01/2015 22:27

2 bouncy chairs, 2 change mats

Aquapod duo was great (Mothercare don't sell them any more, but you can still get them on Ebay).

Also loved my Morrck baby hoodies, which made taking them out and about easy in the early days. And a buggy that I could clip both car seats into (a friend with same age twins as mine had lots of faff getting hers out of car seats and into buggy, then same in reverse on the school run with our older children).

It is a shock, but twins are amazing!

Original poster
Josie5 · 22/01/2015 06:55

Thanks ladies great tips

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stirrupleathers · 22/01/2015 07:09

One of those electric swing chairs. I could feed/change one whilst the other enjoyed the chair best thing ever!! :)

ireallydontlikemonday · 22/01/2015 11:54

Fisher price baby to toddler chairs were a godsend. They are much more substantial than a bouncer and you can feed them in them (bottles), they can sleep in them and they vibrate.

If FF enough bottles / teats to only have to wash them once a day.

Artandco · 22/01/2015 11:57

Rosina - x2 changing mats? Surely you can only change one at a time with one set of hands?

I recommend:

  • baby bug in a rug ( blanket thing for car seat/ sling/ pram)
  • merino kids sleeping bags
  • sheepskin rug
Doublethecuddles · 22/01/2015 12:50

A mamas and papas bath that baby could lie in while I dried the other. A double playmat which they could fit on.
For DH and I a home cooked meal and an extra pair of hands.

SunnyBaudelaire · 22/01/2015 12:51

2 bouncy chairs and a double buggy ofc.
if i was doing it again I would get those feeding pillows.

NetballHoop · 22/01/2015 12:53

Double Mountain Buggy, but they are not cheap.

FreeButtonBee · 22/01/2015 12:56

bugaboo donkey

extra large play mat

white co sleeping bags - they are the smallest ones I've found and have extra poppers under the arms to make them super snug on teeny newborn twins

breastfeeding pillow - used for the entire year and I could not have breastfed them for so long without it.

more an organization thing but order nappies and wipes from amazon delivery - at least 300 nappies at a time and 12 packs of wipes. So much cheaper and convenient (if you have storage) than getting them in the weekly shop.

DoingTheSwanThing · 22/01/2015 12:57

Slings (several!) and massive twin-specific feeding cushion.
Also chocolate hobnobs and a good insulated mug. And Netflix. :)

neversleepagain · 22/01/2015 13:00

Art, two changing mats are invaluable with twins. You can have one upstairs and one downstairs. Sometimes they both need changing at the same time and that means dh or whoever is with you can change one while you change the other.

Do you have twins?

SunnyBaudelaire · 22/01/2015 13:03

oh a sling and a single buggy was v handy too

Tftpoo · 22/01/2015 13:05

Definitely agree on twin size breastfeeding pillow and a sling. I had a Babasling - clingy twin slept in there whilst I fed/changed slightly less clingy twin! For mum, hand cream and chocolate (I couldn't have gotten through all the night feeds without Wispas). I wouldn't have been without my two baby bean bags - they were perfect for sleeping on during the day (unlike bouncy chairs) which meant I didn't have to leave one twin downstairs whilst I took the other one to bed.

FreeButtonBee · 22/01/2015 13:06

oh yes, slings. Life saver for the first six months. I had the close caboo ones and they were amazing.

kerpob · 22/01/2015 13:11

The electric swing chairs are a lifesaver. Instep Nipper double buggy and cheap single buggy. Lots of M&S ready meals.

Artandco · 22/01/2015 13:15

Never - had 3 year old, 2 year old, 1 year old, newborn twins living here a year ( younger x3 sil children - she was ill). Never really thought of changing x2 at once. Either one at time in same room as other 4, or if dh here they were entertaining x4 others/ busy. Just tag teamed so all changed one after the other. One changed whilst one fed for example

WillowKnicks · 22/01/2015 13:36

Congratulations to your SIL.

2 sterilisers & 2 sets of bottles (obviously not, if bf)

As posters said above, a pram with clip on car seats & a swing, so one could be soothed in that, if the other needed lots of attention.

I got some little polar fleece capes that were great to just whip off or on in the pram, so they weren't disturbed when they were asleep.

When they get a bit older, the highchairs that clip on to a table are invaluable when eating out, as many restaurants only have 1 highchair or the others may be taken.

But THE most invaluable things I ever had were my wrist straps! How I would have got 1 toddler unstrapped & out of the car, without the other doing a runner or some other mischief, I honestly don't know.

WillowKnicks · 22/01/2015 13:40

Congratulations to your SIL.

2 sterilisers & 2 sets of bottles (obviously not, if bf)

As posters said above, a pram with clip on car seats & a swing, so one could be soothed in that, if the other needed lots of attention.

I got some little polar fleece capes that were great to just whip off or on in the pram, so they weren't disturbed when they were asleep.

When they get a bit older, the highchairs that clip on to a table are invaluable when eating out, as many restaurants only have 1 highchair or the others may be taken.

But THE most invaluable things I ever had were my wrist straps! How I would have got 1 toddler unstrapped & out of the car, without the other doing a runner or some other mischief, I honestly don't know.

WillowKnicks · 22/01/2015 13:42

oops did a twin post Blush

Doublethecuddles · 22/01/2015 17:11

Help your SIL to get out to a local coffee shop. In the early days I really appreciated going out for coffee or lunch. It made me realise life carried on!
I bought a sling and never found a use for it

Original poster
Josie5 · 22/01/2015 22:29

Thanks so much ladies, unfortunately they live in Asia so I won't be able to offer much practical support but you've given me loads of ideas I love the sound of the bean bags - and wrist straps!!

OP posts:
RosinaCopper · 25/01/2015 17:55

Sorry - coming back to this after a few days away from this thread.

ArtandCo 2 changing mats so that I could lie the dts side by side when I was changing a nappy and tbh as time went on they got very synchronised with bowel movements (they still are aged 4, in fact they usually need a wee at the same time, too!)

Actually, mine were delivered at 34 weeks and before I got my twin pram I'd carry the bigger one in a baby carrier and put the smaller one in the car seat wheels that I had from DC1. (Looking at the little tikes now, it's hard to believe that dt2 was too small to be put in a baby carrier when he was first out of hospital!)

arghhelpme · 25/01/2015 20:33

Harmony duo feeding cushion, only way I can tandem feed comfortably.

I'd recommend a pushchair that car seats can go straight onto too esp if she has to do a school run by car. I have a babyjogger city mini double gt and find it a nightmare trying to get my eldest kids to school as have to put carrycots on buggy then twins in and out of the car seats.

Have given up on the double for now and got a cheap wrap sling from ebay and a single cybex buggy with car seat adaptors to make short trips out easier.

Best thing which is free if you have the time is as much support you can give her as possible. I live up a flight of stairs and find it so hard carrying car seats ×2 plus changing bag and the rest of all my stuff down the stairs and across the road to my car luckily I have family who come and help most days and seriously think I would have had a mental break down by now without help and support from others.

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