New vs Used

[mustloveerica]

My mom and I are going to a huge moms of multiples consignment sale this weekend. TTMA things I should buy new vs things I can/should get second hand. Like I assume new car seats are the way to go but used pack n plays are great?

Also TTMA things I absolutely need two of. Do I need two pack n plays or can they share? Can I rotate babies between 1 swing and 1 bouncer or do I need 2 of each?

Thanks in advance! I need any and all advice I can get :-)

[nomnom]

The only things I wouldn't get used are car seats and crib mattresses. Everything else should be fine used if you're willing to clean it up a bit.

The only things I got two of right away were cribs and car seats. I would also recommend two reclined or reclining seats with stiff back supports and two baby gyms with the crossed frame thingy that holds toys. Those things gave me enough time to run to the bathroom or grab a snack.

I had a bouncer and a rocker seat (not a rock n play and not a swing). I later got a second rocker seat and didn't use the bouncer much until they were older. Since the bouncer didn't have a stiff back support, I think it pushed their chins too close to their chests. I think everything else we tried one at a time. My kids didn't like the swing; it didn't swing enough. The didn't like the vibrating thing on the bouncer or their rocker seats.

Favorite rocker seat: www.diapers.com/p/fisher-price-infant-to-toddler-rocker-lizzards-20740?site=CA&sku=FS-289&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc_D&utm_campaign=GooglePLA&utm_content=pla&ca_sku=FS-289&ca_gpa=pla&ca_kw=&cvosrc=cse.google.FS-289&cvo_crid=50039666857

[anakah]

We got two cribs, two carseats, two high chairs, and two bouncy seats so we had somewhere to set the babies down. We skipped the swing due to space and only had one playgym. We figured if we were sitting around constantly wishing we had something then we could always go get it then. If you don't know you are missing something, why clutter/complicate your life...

We were lucky to be gifted with a lot of our gear at our baby shower. Our cribs were hand me down and I'd be ok with used bouncy seats/high chairs/exersaucers/strollers. I'd absolutely get new crib mattresses and car seats though.

[twobananas]

I only have one of everything for the most part. If push came to shove, I'd love another bouncy seat so we could each bounce them during dinner and not have to hold one (their witching hour), but baby stuff is only used for such a short time frame we can survive without. Twin specific stuff - I love my double snap and go. I am looking for a used double umbrella stroller for when they grow out of their bucket seats and I want another lightweight stroller to replace the snap and go. Consignment stores are also great places to pick up booster seats, I'd recommend getting some with trays (or you can go the high chair route but those take up a lot is space!). I have a used car seat, but I got it from a friend so it's someone I trust. I only have one pack and play and it's working great so far when we travel.

[schmella]

Oh you are going to get such a variety of responses on this.

As far as used v new, I think the consensus you'll find is carseats and mattresses should be new- BUT, and this is totally a personal decision, I would consider a used carseat ONLY from someone I know. (So not at a resale, but if you have a good friend offer one up, I'd jump on it myself). Mine were born end of October in the Midwest, so we only took them to the doctor and, MIL's apartment twice, and to the store once a month or so by the time they hit 7m. By then they were so heavy the infant seats were no longer practical and we got our convertible seats (which I would never buy used because of the lifespan of the product- they will be using these seats until they are like 10). We got 7m of use out of our infant seats- they are in pristine condition and don't expire until 2020. I think singletons use them a lot longer because of the convenience, but with 2 it just sucked to lug them both around!

At a twin sale, I would focus on twin specific products: double strollers, double PnP if you are looking for it, Twingo/Weego/Twin trexx if you see or want one, a double frame stroller, a Table for 2 is like striking gold. If they have a presale, GO. If they open at 8am, try your best to be in line when the doors open. Or maybe your twin sales aren't as crazy as they are around here!

We had a double PnP which got very little use- the double bassinet is one piece, so whenever one moved, they woke the other. NBD, because I can just use it as a PnP now, right? I never use it. I actually bought a second, very basic PnP last week and it is half the size (folded up) of the double (which isn't bigger when opened). I'm not a fan of the twin PnP- I got it used for $50, which makes it ok to me

They shared a playmat/gym thing. We had 2 swing/bouncer combo things, 2 RnPs (my refluxy babies!), 2 highchairs, 2 carseats, 2 boppies (I didn't know the newborn loungers existed- I wrapped ours with a muslin swaddle to create a shallower "seat" and achieved the same results but we can still use them at 10m), and 2 Fisher Price Sit Me Up seats that I cannot recommend enough- I much prefer these to the "posture" seats like the bumbo for so many reasons but I won't bore anyone here. Twins tend to be smaller and meet some milestones later, and the Sit Me Ups were perfect when we needed to start solids but they weren't big enough/strong enough for their highchairs.

There are a few older posts on what to buy 2 of, I'll try to find/bump them

[mustloveerica]

So I don't really think I'll use a pack n play at home. I don't have a huge living room so I don't really see the need to fill it with a pack n play. Right now the plan is both babies will sleep in 1 crib (is that ok? Or should they be separate?) and we will build the second crib later on. But my mom will be watching them twice a week so I assume they will sleep in a pack n play at her house. She doesn't have room for two cribs so I'm hoping they can share until they're old enough to just nap on the floor or the bed. Is that reasonable?

[mustloveerica]

I also really apologize if these questions have been asked a million times. Tapatalk is not search friendly!

[requiressnacks]

mustloveerica, I am getting 2 used cribs, many used stationary things (swings, jumperoo, etc.) and 4 carseat bases (from a close friend).

I figure, I am going to register for a lot of the stuff new and use my used things as backups(things for grandmas house, etc.) I also have very kind friends who are done having kids who are more than happy to unload their gear on me.

A multiples consignment sale sounds amazing though!

[piccyami]

I'm headed to my local multiples consignment sale in a little over a week. I'm planning on showing up a little before they say I can shop (pregnant members get to shop early) even though I'm not looking for much. I mostly want a double snap'n go and a couple more play gyms for our 2-story house.

We bought the cribs, mattresses, and car seats new. We were given sit-me-ups, high chairs, a bouncer, and (in a very round-a-bout way) a swing new. We have borrowed a swing, a bouncer, a baby bathtub, and two car seat bases from my sister (I know they haven't had accidents). I also bought a walker, a jumperoo, and play gyms from a neighbor.

We also have a pack-n-play from when my nephew was born. We'll end up needing another for travel, but I'm not sure if we'll just borrow one or buy one at the consignment sale.

So, basically, we have 2 of most everything, but we didn't set out to do that. We were planning on one of most everything until we found out their preferences, but friends and family have been awesome. We'll see if we really need everything we have.

[schmella]

Aug 30, 2016 9:59:46 GMT -5 mustloveerica said:

But my mom will be watching them twice a week so I assume they will sleep in a pack n play at her house. She doesn't have room for two cribs so I'm hoping they can share until they're old enough to just nap on the floor or the bed. Is that reasonable?

I don't see any reason they can't share a PnP to start. But you'll probably need something else for naps at your moms at some point- at 10m naptime is frequently a battle no matter what, and separate containment is a must.

But you have plenty of time to figure that all out, so I wouldn't worry about that just yet!

[mustloveerica]

Thanks for the info everyone! I am armed with a list to take to the sale!

We have a decent sized family. However for our wedding we got hardly anything that we actually registered for and none of the big stuff at all, mostly just random junk that I didn't really want. Soooo I'm assuming the same will happen for the baby shower. I want to at least buy 1 of everything I want. If I happen to get multiples of something at my shower either go to moms or I can return them for useful cash.

[schmella]

Aug 30, 2016 15:20:48 GMT -5 mustloveerica said:

Thanks for the info everyone! I am armed with a list to take to the sale!

We have a decent sized family. However for our wedding we got hardly anything that we actually registered for and none of the big stuff at all, mostly just random junk that I didn't really want. Soooo I'm assuming the same will happen for the baby shower. I want to at least buy 1 of everything I want. If I happen to get multiples of something at my shower either go to moms or I can return them for useful cash.

I'll say that I found for babies most people do not have a clue where to even start and are way more excited to buy you things than a wedding registry. You'll still get random crap and tons of clothing, and a few thing you will think are ridiculous and then end up being invaluable or treasured, but I had people stick pretty closely to my baby registry.

[nomnom]

@wineandcupcakes My family got crabby that I didn't tell them the sex of the babies until the shower, but all gifts were neutral and from my list.

[piccyami]

@wineandcupcakes, Everyone knew we were having 1 of each, so the big stuff we were given was GN and from my list. There were still a lot of outfits because nobody seems to be able to resist baby clothes. But everything else was mostly neutral.

[dream2be3]

Aug 31, 2016 13:16:34 GMT -5 @wineandcupcakes said:

Aug 31, 2016 13:04:00 GMT -5 nomnom said:

@wineandcupcakes My family got crabby that I didn't tell them the sex of the babies until the shower, but all gifts were neutral and from my list.

Success!!!

I just feel like the purpose of a shower is to help the family with needed items - especially with twins!! Knowing sexes is just too tempting when you see all of the adorable outfits! If things continue to progress and I have a shower, I'm following your lead!

I couldn't agree more! That's probably the biggest reason I am keeping the sexes a secret. Granted no one has mentioned throwing me a shower so this may be a moot point. My mom told me early on that if someone offered to host a shower I should do it AFTER the babies are born because people want to buy gender specific stuff and see the babies. Um, no thank you.

[schmella]

Aug 31, 2016 13:46:20 GMT -5 dream2be3 said:

Aug 31, 2016 13:16:34 GMT -5 @wineandcupcakes said:

Success!!!

I just feel like the purpose of a shower is to help the family with needed items - especially with twins!! Knowing sexes is just too tempting when you see all of the adorable outfits! If things continue to progress and I have a shower, I'm following your lead!

I couldn't agree more! That's probably the biggest reason I am keeping the sexes a secret. Granted no one has mentioned throwing me a shower so this may be a moot point. My mom told me early on that if someone offered to host a shower I should do it AFTER the babies are born because people want to buy gender specific stuff and see the babies. Um, no thank you.

Ok so I actually had 3 showers- 2 before and 1 when they were 3 months old. The last one was a lot of fun and we got a lot of great gifts that we wouldn't have known we needed. It was later because it was out of town and I was travel restricted- so all the friends and family out of state got to meet the babies too! I probably enjoyed it more than the ones when I was 30 weeks pregnant!

[robertjane33]

Just FYI - we did pretty much the same as what people said here. New car seats, new cribs. One set up for when they came home, the second when they started waking each other up (around 4 months for ours, older for others).

I would say that we need two pack and plays now at 20 months. They will no longer just stay put on the floor to sleep, but aren't old enough to sleep in beds. The PnPs allow them to nap at the grandparents.