Twin Baby Gear

Shortly after the shock of "We have twins on the way" wears off comes the "oh-my-goodness, how are we ever going to afford all this" panic. Thank goodness you don't have to be ready to pay their college tuition anytime soon . . . so you can put that on the back burner for a little while.

But contrary to what you may initially think, you won't need two of everything. There are some items where one is more than enough.

Usually a child’s ‘that’s mine, mine, mine’ mentality doesn’t begin until after they are 6 months old or so which allows you to have them share (at least some things) from birth until then. One big ticket item that can be shared until your babies are able to roll over (at about 2 months or so) is a crib. They are, after all, use to being near each other. (After your babies are able to roll over it is not safe for them to share a crib.)

An easy way to look at the situation is to break it down. Is this an item the baby will be using independent of a caretaker or will the caretaker be using the item with the child. For example, your babies will sleep in their beds, independent of you, so they will each need one. But you can only change one baby at a time. So you only need one changing table. Here is a list of items you will probably only need one of:

• Diaper Pail
• Changing Table and Toiletries (lotions, creams, and powders)
• Diaper Bag
• Double or Twin Stroller (many strollers will accommodate travel system car seats)
• Crib (for the first two, maybe three months)
• Playard or Playpen

With some items it will depend on how you use them. For instance, if you put one baby in the walker, ExerSauser, jumper, or swing while you are bathing or changing the other and that’s really the only time it is used it would be senseless to have two. However if your babies just love this item, one won’t be enough.

Most parents will agree there are some things you'll simply need two to survive. Baby bouncers, one of the most fabulous inventions known to parentdom, are one of those things. These fabulous little contraptions can be used for all sorts of things. You can feed in them, entertain in them, and your babies can sleep in them. They are almost as good as another set of hands. Each of your babies will need one of these.

Although not complete, here is a list of some of the items you will definitely need two of:

• Baby Bouncer
• Car Seats
• Walkers
• Bath Seats
• Highchairs
• All sorts of little items too numerous to list