I get asked ALL.THE.TIME how do I survive twins, or told how my hands must be full. And while pregnant I read a ton of blogs with titles like "surviving twins" "getting through the first year with twins" but here is the truth, you adapt and learn just as quickly as you would if you had one or ten babies. People are always willing to help you, you learn to say yes often and it all becomes normal to you.There is just double the stuff and diapers. But I did put in some work with my babies to get them on the same feeding and sleeping schedules. Like a lot of work! I would wake up one of the twins if the other woke up to eat, I make them nap at the same time and they go to bed at the same time.
I read babywise ( I had also nannied many families who followed the babywise method) and grew up with one of the co-authors sons in church-who side note is also our pediatrician! I did and do modify it though because hello twins!! But from day one in the hospital I started these two on the eat-awake-sleep schedule during the day and worked on getting them sleeping through the night. B and E started sleeping 5-6 hour stretches by six weeks and would go no shorter than eight hours by 10 weeks. So if you are desperate and ready I highly recommend trying it. It is some serious work but clearly worth it.
But the real MVPs here are without a doubt are Rock n plays, swings, bumbos, the twin-z nursing pillow and ergo carriers. I couldn't have live without any of those during those first few months and still use some today to help make my days easier.
Here are my top must haves for twins:
First up is the Rock 'n' play, guys E literally slept in this for naps until she was like 7 or 8 months old. this bad boy makes them feel snuggled, sits them up just a smidge so if they have any tummy issues it helps a ton and it vibrates! I got one and then quickly realized we needed a second. Game changer.
A swing is 100% guaranteed necessary for one baby but even more so if you have other children in the house. Every baby loves them and they are off the floor and safe. Who wouldn't love that. This is the one we have and loved it.
We also had a mamaroo but E didn't like it so we only used it for B. Still on the list though because it was so much more of a space saver.
The Twin Z pillow is my all time must have. They slept in it forever, it's amazing the support it gives you while breastfeeding, you can feed them both bottles at the time easily, double tummy time and it's the perfect place for sitting up practice. I gave one to my sister in law for her twins and she always tells people she wishes she had known about it while nursing her two older kiddos years ago.
This stroller is incredible. It folds seamlessly, fits in every trunk like a dream and is lightweight. We have the chicco key fit 30 seats and they fit right into this stroller with the seats folded down without any adaptors or extra pieces which is key with twins. less stuff and easy.
Which brings me to my next item(s): these seats are the best. They have an amazing safety rating, lightweight, infant inserts come with it and they are a great price for what you get,
Carriers will be such a life saver with twins, we love our ergos. They are usable for so long because they hold up 45lbs, so you wont regret spending the money on these.
When my twins were tiny I loved my wrap carrier, I truly regret not putting them in it at the same time. So I highly suggest trying it with your twins. I have a moby brand which is great but they are LOOOONG, some of my friends love the solly wrap so I am linking that one HERE
Bumbos!!! We got some with trays and because my two are on the smaller side they still uses them as highchairs. They are so portable and easy to clean.
Last but not least are the velcro swaddles, these are magic! I transitioned my twins out of them by getting the swaddle sleep sacks once they started rolling and giving them an arm and then eventually both arms out. MAGIC!! No joke, it was easy and cheap because I only bought two types of swaddles. Here are a few of my favorite sleep sacks and swaddles
Swaddles:
swaddle sleep sacks:
sleep sacks for summer:
My twins shared a pack 'n' play until they started rolling over in the night, they started out in a double bassinet pack n play until they got too long for it, moved to just the pack n play and then eventually their own cribs. I found that they slept better together because they would find comfort in being close and read that twins do better together. In fact research shows twins when sleeping together have increased oxygen levels then when apart. So freaking cute, right? I also never took the crying twin out of the room while the other slept, they slept and still sleep through each other all the time.
While this post is geared more towards twin any one of these items can be used for a singleton baby. I am keeping all of my stuff for the next baby which will hopefully be just one :) Hope you found this helpful, these are all great items to help start your registry or if you need a twin gift for a friend!
No comments:
Post a Comment