Expecting Twins - Need Advice on What to Get!

[twinmum83]

Hi everyone,

I'm excited to share that I'm expecting twins (boy and girl) and I'm starting to think about what I need to prepare for their arrival. I would love to hear from other parents of twins about what essential items I should get. Here's a list of areas I'm particularly interested in:

1. Clothing:

- How many outfits will I need for newborns? - Should I buy different sizes in advance? - Any specific brands or types of clothing you recommend?

1. Feeding:

- What kind of bottles are best for twins? - Tips for managing feeding schedules?

1. Sleeping Arrangements:

- Should I get two cribs or is a shared sleep space okay initially? - Recommendations for bassinets or co-sleepers?

1. Travel Gear:

- Best double stroller for twins? - Car seats: is it better to have convertible seats or infant-specific ones? - Any must-have travel accessories?

1. Diapering:

- How many diapers should I stock up on initially? - Do I need two changing tables? - Preferred brands for twins?

1. Miscellaneous:

- Any special toys or developmental aids that are particularly good for twins? - Tips on organizing and managing time with twins? - Any other twin-specific products or advice?

I appreciate any tips or advice you can offer, including things you wish you had known or done differently. Thank you so much for your help!

Clothes and nappies are dependent on whether you go full term or not. My DD's b/g twins were three pounders. My friend's were 7 and 8 lbs. Just get a supply of newborn size baby grows and nappies and if they come early they'll probably be in neonatal care for a while and you'll have time to get the really tiny sizes.

They slept apart while they were tiny and once they were walking decided to sleep together. They had regular bottles, but had a preference for one brand that they were given in hospital so buy the bare minimum until you know what they like. No fancy pushchair was necessary as one that folded small for the car was the most useful. They had newborn car seats as they were so tiny and needed special inserts so they could fit in safely. They had the same toys as singletons.

@twinmum83 Mum of a singleton here but not much of this is twin-specific.

1. Clothing - how many clothes depends how often you want to wash. Like above I'd suggest getting 0-3m and then buying smaller tiny baby / newborn / preemie sizes if needed.
2. Feeding - babies need to be fed on demand, not a schedule. If they are bottle-fed in the hospital they may have a preference for whatever brand the hospital use.
3. Some twins sleep better together (co-bedding). Loved out 'Next2me' co-sleeper. Just follow the same safe-sleep advice as with singletons
4. Travel - if you're bottle feeding, I believe there are Nuby 'hot-cold' flasks for bottle feeders that are useful for making bottles on the go.
5. Nappies - like clothing, you'll need a size suitable for your babies which might vary if they are premature or full term. Definitely don't need two changing tables as you're unlikely to be changing them both at exactly the same time. Might be worth getting a second changing mat so if there is a poo emergency and someone else does need to change 1 twin at exactly the same time you're changing the other they can put the mat on the floor and do it for example.
6. Twins play with the same toys - though I'd suggest getting a larger playmat just for more space for them both. Your twins are individuals, so very likely will have different sleep / feeding needs, so I'd try to embrace that. Young children need to feed on demand, and 'wake windows' are bollocks so I'd embrace completely avoiding trying to impose a schedule until they are down to max 3 naps where things might begin to have a bit more predictability :)

@twinmum83 congratulations on your twins. My twins have just turned 11months now and they was born two months prem they was born at 3.9lbs and 4.1lbs so they was small.
I brought all newborn and 0-3 months but was a bit big for them so just brought a few not many prem clothes as they will soon grow out of them.
nappies I got size one but again coz they was so small I had to end up stocking up on size 0 still they grew a bit.
feeding wise I brought a double feeding pillow life saver as they can both lay on it and have bottles but I think mine at the start was wanting a bottle every 2-3hrs. Plus with the pillow they can have their sleeps in it aswell.
I got a tommie tippee set bottles and sterilizer started with the small bottles then moved on the the big bottles when they was drinking more but go with when they want bottles.
sleeping wise they shared a cot as when they was in nicu they was in the same cot so until they got too big the shared. Car seats we brought joie spin 360 but they was to small for them so had to buy smaller ones till they got big enough for the other ones and I went with the Ted and Fred tandam buggy so much easier going in and out of shops you can changed the seats around so they can face each other or have the both facing outwards and it is so light and folds down small.
with the toys I got a few to start with like soft ones and I got mirror thing so they can see their self which was funny the first time. But as they got bigger brought more like rattles and stuff like that but a play mat is good.
they do have their own little personality’s but when they first recognize each other for the first time it will melt your heart. it’s all fun and games when they start learning to crawl and walk mine are at that stage and it’s like one hose one way the other goes the other way lol.

Hi!
I’m also expecting twins due in November - watching this thread with interest :)

Congratulations my twins are 9 now so baby days are long behind me. Buy as many safe spaces to put them down as you can fit in. Twins are a logistical challenge. Even just transporting them from one room to another. Going to the kitchen for a cup of tea? With a singleton you can do it one handed with twins you really want somewhere you can safely pop them down. Moses baskets are great for the early days. Travel costs too but challenging for your back.

Sorry just to answer your diapering question. One change table but some where safe and large enough to put two babies down. That way you can swap them over easily. It is challenging to pick up and put down a baby one handed whilst holding another baby.

Awww, congrats on your twins!! (And good luck )

Clothes - I'd definitely buy some 0-3 months because you're going to use that eventually even if they are small. If babies are measuring small/ coming early, then you can add some tiny baby sizes but I'd wait till nearer the birth. We had one very small twin (5lb) and my husband did a quick run for extra baby grows while we were in the hospital.

No advice on bottles as I bf mine.

Sleeping - they were happy sharing (so cute). We actually had one cot upstairs in our bedroom and one cot downstairs in the lounge that we used for naps in the early weeks so we could keep a close eye on them.

Stroller - depends on if you need it to be light/ foldable to go in a car. We had a Mountain Buggy Duet which is amazing for town living, super manoeuvrable and not much wider than a regular buggy. But it's heavy so I wouldn't recommend it for car use so much.

Diapers - you can buy them anywhere, I wouldn't worry, just get them when you know the size. Changing table - one is fine plus a mat. You're never going to change both at once!

One thing I do recommend is two baby bouncers. We used them for naps and as a queuing system when one baby was waiting for a feed. Feed one, rock one, and switch.

My biggest tip is that whatever schedule/ on demand you go with, do it with both. If you feed one, feed the other even if it means half-waking them. Especially at night. Maximise your sleep, you are going to need it!!

I have twins and when thinking about what to buy, a good rule is 'if I only buy one, what will the other one be doing when they are using it' so 2 bouncers definitely, one changing mat, one baby bath as you can only do one at at time etc.

They can't share a next to me or Moses basket but they can share a cot/cot bed. Mine shared until they were 1.

There are lots of really good twin groups on fb if you have a look, you'll get some good advice on there from people who have been through it. Best of luck x