Creating a Baby Registry for Multiples – Do You Need Two (or More!) of Everything?

Creating a baby registry can be a daunting task for any expecting mother – and when you’re having twins or triplets (or more!), it can seem that much more stressful…inevitably, you ask yourself if you really need two (or three or more…) of everything, and do you really have the space for all the STUFF that multiple babies seem to require?!  I remember feeling excited to start my registry, with visions of pink and blue and everything CUTE swirling in my brain.  Never mind that I couldn’t tell you the difference between a bouncer and a jumperoo and I had no idea what a receiving blanket was.  I was confident that it would all make sense once I got to the baby store.  Ha!  I was so completely overwhelmed by the choices (how many different brands of bottles could there be and which was the best?!), that I nearly had a complete panic attack in the store and left with only a couple of rattles on my registry.  Every decision seemed monumental – although in hindsight, I should not have agonized as I did over all the small things.

Since joining MMLV, I’ve realized I’m not the only mom to stress over creating a registry for twins!  One of the most popular questions from our expecting mom guests and members is “What do I register for and do I need two of everything?”  While this is in no means a complete list of registry items, here are some guidelines – purely based on my personal experience and opinions I’ve collected from other MoMs (Moms of Multiples) in our group.

WHAT YOU’LL WANT TWO (OR MORE) OF:

Car seats

Bouncers

Activity Mats – 2 different ones for variety

Cribs

Changing Tables – one for their bedroom and one for downstairs

Rock n Plays – not a necessity, but they are a great alternative to a bassinet for the first few months, especially for babies that prefer to be on an incline.  My youngest slept in one exclusively for the first 4 months.

Pack n Plays – they may both fit into one at first, but eventually you’ll need two, especially for when you travel

Boppy pillows – it’s nice to have one on each floor of your house so you don’t have to run up and down the stairs when you need to nurse.  You can also choose to register for a twin nursing pillow if you plan to nurse your babies at the same time

Highchairs/Booster seats – we used booster seats once our twins outgrew their highchairs, but even before this we kept a set at my parents’ house for when we visited

Sleepsacks or SwaddleMe blankets – minimum of two per baby

Crib sheets – minimum of two per crib

Pacifiers – these have a way of mysteriously disappearing, so I would start with at least 3-4 per baby.  We kept one in each of their car seats, backups in the diaper bag, and 2 in their cribs. Soothies is a popular brand, since it’s what is used in hospitals.  Gumdrop pacifiers have an identical shape and are also a good choice, but you might want to consider a few different types, since not all babies like the same ones!

Bottles – enough to cover at least a few feedings per day for each baby, so you’re not constantly washing bottles.

 

WHAT YOU CAN GET ONE OF TO START – Save gift cards in case you need to purchase a 2nd of any of these items!

Swing

Jumperoo

Stationary Activity Center – not a necessity, in my opinion, especially if space is limited.

Infant bath tub – you won’t likely ever need a 2nd one since you probably won’t bathe them at the same time until they outgrow the tub

Baby Carrier

Bumbo seat – my kids never liked them, but some parents swear by them, so it might be a good idea to get one to try it out

 

You’ll also definitely need a double stroller. Most MoMs that I know ultimately end up with more than one!  A popular option is to get a Double Snap n Go that accommodates 2 infant car seats and a side by side for when the babies are a bit older.  You could also get a Double Stroller Travel System that comes with car seats, but also functions as a front-back stroller on its own.  There are so many options these days!  Try to find something that isn’t too heavy, that opens and folds easily, and that has a good size storage basket to hold your diaper bag and/or the many other items you’ll need just to take a walk around the block! 🙂

And don’t forget to register for the simple things – diapers and wipes!  You’ll be changing more diapers than you can count soon!

Any additional questions? Feel free to reach out to us!  You can contact us through our website by clicking on “Contact” at the top of the home page, or through our public Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/momlv?ref=bookmarks