Building Your Registry - Twins

Having twins (or even higher order multiples) is a whole different ball game than having a singleton. Taking care of two babies at the same time does not double the workload, it increases it exponentially. In order to combat that, there are some items I recommend specifically to twin parents to make their lives easier.

Feeding Pillows

The most popular feeding assistance tool is the Twin-Z pillow and for good reason. It can be used in a variety of different positions and is adaptable for breastfeeding directly or bottle feeding. Getting a Twin-Z is my number one recommendation for twin parents, and my second recommendation is getting a second cover for it so you can use it while washing the other. There is also the My Breast Friend twin pillow, which some moms prefer for tandem feeding, however it is not as easy to use for bottle feeding like the Twin-Z is. Another option for twins is the Table for Two, though I find this to be particularly expensive for what it is while also being not as versatile. It also doesn't lend as well to use for newborns.

Bottle Washer

For singletons, I generally don't recommend a bottle washer. However, for twins I am supportive of anything that is going to make life a little bit easier. The number of bottles twins go through is astounding and having to wash each one (and all the little parts!) is something there simply isn't time for. That being said, I highly recommend the Momcozy (or similarly shaped machines) because it can wash eight bottles (depending on the size) simultaneously compared to the Baby Brezza's maximum of four.

Carriers

Babywearing is a great skill to become comfortable with when you have twins. There are many tandem twin carriers (Weego is the most popular for newborns and the TwinGo is better once they're bigger) and twin wraps for you to wear both babies at the same time, but it can also be enormously helpful to have a singleton carrier and/or wrap as well. Sometimes just one baby will need to be worn while the other is content to play or sleep, or you can wear one baby while changing or feeding the other. Having a variety of options for different ages and stages, and getting comfortable putting on and wearing those options, is the key to success.

Bassinets

Twin bassinets, in my opinion, are not worth it because they are large. It's nice in theory to have your babies right next to each other (while also following safe sleep guidelines of each baby having their own sleep space), however to put two bassinets together like this makes the object itself take up far too much room and be unwieldy to handle. They require a lot of space in your house, which makes them less versatile and therefore less useful. My recommendation is to get two regular single bassinets, that way your babies can be side by side, or you can move one around the house and use it as a safe 'parking spot' for one twin while you are doing something with the other.

Swings

Generally, I am not a huge fan of electronic swings for babies. They are not safe for sleep, and do often lull babies to sleep, making them a dangerous temptation. And containers of any kind cut into floor time, which is the best place for your baby to learn new skills. However with twins, especially if one parent is often going to be solo with both babies, they can massively helpful when both babies want to be soothed at the same time. Lots of families swear by the Mamaroo, with all it's variations and settings, but across all babies I've found most prefer just a regular old back and forth swing. Just make sure whatever you use that your baby is strapped in properly and to monitor them while it's in use.

When to Buy Doubles

Contrary to some thought, you don't need two of everything for twins. There are the important and obvious things, like you'll need two cribs, two high chairs, and two car seats, but most things they can share or take turns. You don't need two baby baths, for example, because it's safest and easiest to bathe them one at a time. For containers, such as swings, activity tables, bouncers, and seats, they are often used with twins as a space to put one baby down while you are helping the other, so having doubles takes up money and physical space unnecessarily. There are also products that one baby will like, but the other may hate, so a good general rule of thumb for larger purchases is to start with one, and if you feel you need a second after using it for a while, then pick up another.

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