Must-Have Items

[Squishy622]

It's been a while since we've talked about product recommendations.

MoMs, list your top 3 all-time favorite pieces of gear for multiples (or in general). Hopefully this helps the expecting and brand new moms!

[Squishy622]

1. Twin-Z Pillow. We used this for tandem BFing (liked it much better than Twin Breast Friend) and bottle feeding. It's perfect for setting the babies down for any length of time and now that they're closer to sitting independently it's helping with that too.

2. beachy's bottle propping bibs. These have improved our quality of life with twins in a ginormous way.

3. Fisher Price sit me ups x2. These went viral both in my BMB here and my IRL multiples group. The babies looove them.

[beachy]

Squishy622 I never understood why everyone said they were struggling with feeding both. They are seriously amazing!

[beachy]

And my top 3 are similar.

1. Twin-z pillow
2. The bottle prop bibs. And they have to be specific ones, since there's a lot out there that can suck.

My 3rd is different though:
3. Auto rocking RNPs. Seriously just buy them, and spend the extra money for the plug in auto rockers. These replaced the swing for us. Between these and the twin-z it's really all we needed the first 2 months.

[Squishy622]

Oh. Yeah. Bonus round #4 goes to the auto RnPs for sure. beachy I think I learned about those from you too. You are my gear hero.

[mrsmcsmith09]

Feb 18, 2016 8:08:10 GMT -5 beachy said:

And my top 3 are similar.

1. Twin-z pillow
2. The bottle prop bibs. And they have to be specific ones, since there's a lot out there that can suck.

My 3rd is different though:
3. Auto rocking RNPs. Seriously just buy them, and spend the extra money for the plug in auto rockers. These replaced the swing for us. Between these and the twin-z it's really all we needed the first 2 months.

What are these bottle prop bibs? I need them in my life now!

[twobananas]

Why the twin z over the my breast friend? Also, can you sit in a rocker/glider and use the twin z?

[poggipuss]

I have to disagree with the auto RNPs beachy and Squishy622, both of ours crapped out in less then a month, so we returned them and bought the RNP bassinet (we never rocked them, just used for sleeping in our bedroom) and a second swing.

My top three are:
1. Double snap and go
2. Two swings
3. Sit me up seats

Bonus must have: babywearing. Even though it's a few months before you can tandem wear (in SSCs) it was so helpful in the beginning to wear someone when they were fussy and wouldn't sleep, or for MH and I to wear them out to crowded places instead of bringing the double stroller.

[bocaburger]

poggipuss, what carriers would you recommend? I have two pouch slings (found them at a great price) and trying to decide what else to get that will last a while, give me tandem carrying options, and not cost all my money.

[poggipuss]

Feb 18, 2016 9:48:24 GMT -5 bocaburger said:

poggipuss, what carriers would you recommend? I have two pouch slings (found them at a great price) and trying to decide what else to get that will last a while, give me tandem carrying options, and not cost all my money.

We have a lillebaby complete (my husband wears this one because it's all black) and a connecta. I prefer the connecta because it's very light weight and has a narrow waist band which makes it easier for me to sit in while wearing. I tried a twingo at a local babywearing meet-up and if I didn't have two carriers already I would have gone with that. It's designed to be worn together but also comes with a second set of straps so it can be separated and worn as two separate carriers.

If you have a babywearing international chapter near you and can get to a meeting it is very helpful. The meetings are run by certified babywearing experts and they can help you find the carrier that's best for you.

Also, check out the group babywearing on a budget on Facebook. The most you can sell something for is $100 so you can get great deals on there.

[nomnom]

1. Fisher Price Newborn-to-Toddler Rocker (with plastic runners). Still the best thing ever. I use them for feeding and sleeping when babies are congested and lounging.

2. Joovy twin roo+. So east to pull carseats out of the car an snap then onto the stroller. Master R has almost grown out of his infant seat, though, so we need a new stroller soon

3. Baby gym x2. Babies seriously love these now. They buy me free time to do stuff around the house and still allow babies to move freely.

[beachy]

Feb 18, 2016 8:41:45 GMT -5 mrsmcsmith09 said:

Feb 18, 2016 8:08:10 GMT -5 beachy said:

And my top 3 are similar.

1. Twin-z pillow
2. The bottle prop bibs. And they have to be specific ones, since there's a lot out there that can suck.

My 3rd is different though:
3. Auto rocking RNPs. Seriously just buy them, and spend the extra money for the plug in auto rockers. These replaced the swing for us. Between these and the twin-z it's really all we needed the first 2 months.

What are these bottle prop bibs? I need them in my life now!

www.etsy.com/shop/BugabooBliss?ref=s2-header-shopname

[richzep]

1. Definitely the bottle propping bibs. Thanks beachy

2. Carriers. Saved my life. I used the moby wrap but any would have worked.

3. Stroller. I love having an easy to use stroller (city select). It makes getting out of the house a little less daunting.

[anakah]

1. Infant seats and the double snap n go.

2. Bouncy seats. They slept in them for the first two weeks we were home before we transitioned them to their cribs. They loved to just hang out in them too during the day.

3. Bottle warmer - I EP'd and could never get the babies to take their bottles cold.

[chicory]

OK Squishy622, richzep, beachy, or others, TTMA these bibs again. I've seen you all rave about them. At 7.5 months, is it too late to try them? My freeloader babies will not hold a bottle. WIll a prop bib help teach them at this point? They are perfectly capable, they just prefer to lay there in my arms with mouth gaping like a fish versus grabbing the thing and feeding themselves. Where do you park them when feeding? We have a twin Z but now use it mostly for sitting up. They like to be held fairly upright during feeding and they are getting pretty huge for their bouncy seats...
We do have bottle slings that hang from their infant seats, which work okay-ish. They still don't like to hold the bottle that well, and tend to make a mess especially now that they are using faster flow nipples. Plus they are getting big for the infant seats, too...

[beachy]

Feb 18, 2016 14:41:53 GMT -5 chicory said:

OK Squishy622, richzep, beachy, or others, TTMA these bibs again. I've seen you all rave about them. At 7.5 months, is it too late to try them? My freeloader babies will not hold a bottle. WIll a prop bib help teach them at this point? They are perfectly capable, they just prefer to lay there in my arms with mouth gaping like a fish versus grabbing the thing and feeding themselves. Where do you park them when feeding? We have a twin Z but now use it mostly for sitting up. They like to be held fairly upright during feeding and they are getting pretty huge for their bouncy seats...
We do have bottle slings that hang from their infant seats, which work okay-ish. They still don't like to hold the bottle that well, and tend to make a mess especially now that they are using faster flow nipples. Plus they are getting big for the infant seats, too...

Eh, I personally wouldn't pay that much for them at this point, since they'll likely be holding them soon. I still use mine occasionally for L because he gets lazy, but C always just holds hers. I either park them on the twin z for their bottles or just laying right on the floor.

[kcwalza]

1) rock n plays (if I had to do it over I'd def get the auto rocking ones)

2) fisher price sit me ups

3) twin Joovy roo stroller

Bonus # 4- twin z pillow

[thesportsgal]

@twobananas, I liked the my breast friend because we already had a boppy and I just borrowed another one so I felt like that was similar to the twin z. I liked the support of the breast friend and both babies fit on it for nursing PERFECTLY.

@feegan, Don't you just love the City Select? I love it too. And I JUST found the unicorn of strollers - the City Summit XC TRIPLE (same brand - Baby Jogger)!! It's been discontinued and I've been looking for the stroller for a year and FINALLY got a craigslist hit last week in my area. I bought it on the spot. My husband cleaned it up and has it looking brand new. I'm SO excited and can now finally think about taking all 3 of our kids to the zoo lol!

I'm SO glad everyone else used the rock n plays. I've really been beating myself up over using them, convincing myself it's the cause of their flat heads but I don't know what we would have done without them.

Mine are:

#1 - Double City Select
#2 - Snugabunnies everywhere (just a quick, easy place to set them)
#3 - Graco Space savers. I LOVE these highchairs!

[schmella]

@feegan, you use the sit me ups during baths? Like, in the tub?

[kcwalza]

@feegan, I have the double BOB too specifically for running but haven't had a chance to use it yet... Doesnt the front wheel have a pin you can move?

[schmella]

Feb 18, 2016 18:34:48 GMT -5 @feegan said:

Feb 18, 2016 18:03:47 GMT -5 schmella said:

@feegan , you use the sit me ups during baths? Like, in the tub?

Ha, no I meant to contain one while I bathe the other. Before they could sit unassisted if I needed to bathe together I would just bathe them both in an inch of water, lying down. Now that they sit I put them in a clothes basket or if MH is home to help, just in the tub with a few inches of water.

I was really looking for an excuse to buy a second. Can't justify the cost right now, but they love the one we have!

[schmella]

1) Rock N Plays: we have the auto-rockers and I avoided using this feature... didn't want to start a bad habit, ya know? And then DH had a business trip for a week and the rocking feature SAVED MY LIFE.

2) Double Snap N Go: This one time, DH took this out of my car. He never did this again. Seriously, couldn't get out of the house without this

Just to throw in something different:
3) Giant play yard: But wait, you say, I don't need this until they are mobile! Oh no, we needed this RIGHT AWAY. We have dogs. Dogs love babies, a little too much. This play yard keeps dogs and babies separate, which makes us happy, keeps the dogs from getting into trouble, and I wish we had purchased one sooner. Now we can play on the floor and not worry about someone using Sophie as a chew toy or bathing a baby with their tongue or accidentally stepping on a baby (my biggest fear)

[poggipuss]

schmella what giant play yard do you have?

[schmella]

Feb 18, 2016 22:37:40 GMT -5 poggipuss said:

schmella what giant play yard do you have?

m.bedbathandbeyond.com/m/product/north-states-superyard-colorplay-ultimate-playard/1042578253?skuId=42578253&mcid=PS_googlepla&gclid=CNOhrvaLg8sCFZCIaQodhNUNbQ

We got it as a gift, love the gate, and we can buy more pieces to make it bigger

[poggipuss]

Feb 19, 2016 0:30:01 GMT -5 schmella said:

Feb 18, 2016 22:37:40 GMT -5 poggipuss said:

schmella what giant play yard do you have?

m.bedbathandbeyond.com/m/product/north-states-superyard-colorplay-ultimate-playard/1042578253?skuId=42578253&mcid=PS_googlepla&gclid=CNOhrvaLg8sCFZCIaQodhNUNbQ

We got it as a gift, love the gate, and we can buy more pieces to make it bigger

Thanks! I think I actually have this, or at least something pretty close to it. I got it as a hand me down when I was pregnant and haven't brought it out yet.

[mrsmcsmith09]

housecarder this is the thread with the bibs

[dke2010]

Thank you for all the recommendations, ladies. It's really helpful!

[schmella]

Bump

[requiressnacks]

Ok, so these bibs are worth $20/pop?

Bib Link

[Squishy622]

Aug 30, 2016 15:52:41 GMT -5 requiressnacks said:

Ok, so these bibs are worth $20/pop?

Bib Link

They are worth like at least a hundred million/pop. Only sort of kidding.