What clothes to buy for twins?

[LP18413]

Twins due around September/October and was thinking I should probably start buying some bits and pieces so that I'm well prepared, but I haven't got a clue what to get!

I have a DS already and was well prepared for his birth; first size baby grows, vests, hats, etc. and easy to go shopping on the high street for other bits if it turned out he was bigger/smaller than first though.

But with twins I don't know whether I need to stock up on some premature baby clothes in case they come early, or go to term and are tiny anyway, (it won't be as easy to go and grab some of these from the local supermarket if they are needed.).
What if I do and end up with 2 relatively big twins and I'm stuck with a load of tiny clothes I don't need?

What are essential items? And any advice on where is best to buy them would be fab.

TIA.

I'm at 33 weeks and I still haven't bought loads because of the risk of them coming early or being too small for newborn stuff. I bought some plain white vests and baby grows from sainsburys in up to 6 llbs but haven't opened them so I can return them if needed. Personally I'd leave it a bit longer if I was you for anything size related or that might be the wrong season if yours go to term but you could get basics like socks, hats etc now if you really want to get something.

Those who have actually given birth may say differently.

My sister has twins. my mum was sure that they would be very early so bought and knitted a few small items. DN and DN arrived close to due date both weighing around 7lb! I think my sister donated the small clothes to the prem baby unit and maybe kept the odd thing for dolls. She herself did not buy anything in the prem sizes in part because DM had already done so, in part because she did not want to tempt fate and in part because the hospital her twins were born in was very close to some decent shops so she decided it would be easy for her DH to pick some stuff up if necessary.

I think it is probably worth getting one set of cheap tiny babygros and vests. Depends how easy it is for your DP or family to pop up and buy you stuff at short notice.

Most of the twins that I know were 5-6lbs at birth if that helps? Mine wore newborn and early baby for the first three months then 0-3 months after that. I wouldn't bother buying the 5lb size unless you think they'll arrive before 36 weeks.

Mine were 4lb 11 and 5 lb 10 at 36+2, they were both in tiny baby for first 2 wks and smaller one an extra 2 wks. same with nappies, we started with pampers micro (think they're called) both in them for 2wks then because of the amount of size 1 we had they had to move up.

My dtds were 3 and 4lb. Nothing fitted them! Had to get them small baby vests and baby grows, plus lots of people knitted furiously for cardies and hats! If they are in nicu they will lend clothes until you get your own if need be. Tesco do small baby range. They were also in micro nappies for a while. Good luck

Meant tiny baby range!

Mine were 6 and 4 lb but we're so long they were in ordinary newborn. But baggy!

Mine were 6lb4 and 5lb13 at 38 weeks but both lost a fair bit so were in small baby stuff for a good month or so. Newborn looked massive on them!

I had 6lb and nearly 7lb babies and tiny baby size was perfect for quite a while, they sell them quite cheaply in sainsburys just plain white ones so I'd get a few of those. I got through 8 baby gros in my 3 day hospital stay. The babies wore little knitted cardigans all the time as they had a bit of trouble keeping warm and a few little hats too. White was good as it could all be washed together so messing around with sorting and people love buying baby clothes!

Very helpful ideas. Thanks guys! I'm thinking if they are super tiny I'll just tie knots in the feet of the baby grows! Hehe!!

One thing I noticed, mine hated being dressed in the early weeks which I have heard is typical for early babies (they were born at 36+5 so normal for twins but early from a baby's POV). Mothercare do these little vests that look like little old man vests, i.e. it has shoulder straps not a full front/arm. They were really helpful.

We bought newborn sizes as our were predicted to be on the large side. DS barely squeezed into them for more than a couple of weeks as he was 9 lb 2. DD was much smaller than we'd been told at 5 lb 10 so DH did a quick run to Mothercare for tiny baby clothes.

It worked quite well in the end. We didn't have too much tiny size but enough and plenty of newborn for DD when she grew. For about six months we were even able to have hand me downs for her from her brother.

I guess it depends on how accessible shops are for you to an extent.

Mine were just over 4lb so the newborn stuff was mostly too big. I got small baby stuff, just vests and sleepsuits mostly. I didn't bother with actual clothes until they could fit into the mountain of 0-3 stuff we had been given.

Nappies that don't leak we're the biggest problem.

This is really helpful reading. I have a friend expecting dts but she's unlikely to go beyond 34 weeks. She's got loads of clothes from her previous child (born at term) and am now feeling justified in getting a few 'attractive' (not plain white) babygros in tiny baby size. Boots do some lovely ones.

Asda does a really good range of prem baby clothes (I buy them for DDs dollies!), in a few different sizes too. They're usually pretty good about you returning things that aren't used but they're cheap enough that even if you wanted to buy a couple of 'just in case' babygros / vests up front and wash so they're ready etc, it wouldn't be the end of the world if you ended up not using.