Questions from a twin mom-to-be

[JanineRivera]

HI Ladies,

We are expecting twin girls in Sept. and have lots of questions I am hoping you seasoned Mom's can answer.  We also have a toddler so some of these questions are for Mom's with a toddler and twin babies.

Has anyone fit 3 car seats in the back of a Mazda station wagon?  

Did you get a triple stroller?  If so, what kind?

Did you need two swings and two bouncers or did you just rotate the babies between one of each?

Anyone use a sidecar co-sleeper?  If so, what kind and for how long?  

Anyone use a crib with the side down for co-sleeping?

That is all for now.  I am sure I will come up with more.  Thank you for taking the time to read and respond.  I am trying to figure some of these things early on so I can feel somewhat prepared:)

Smiles,

Janine

[Smurfette2]

Originally Posted by JanineRivera 

HI Ladies,

We are expecting twin girls in Sept. and have lots of questions I am hoping you seasoned Mom's can answer.  We also have a toddler so some of these questions are for Mom's with a toddler and twin babies.

Has anyone fit 3 car seats in the back of a Mazda station wagon?  

Did you get a triple stroller?  If so, what kind?

Did you need two swings and two bouncers or did you just rotate the babies between one of each?

Anyone use a sidecar co-sleeper?  If so, what kind and for how long?  

Anyone use a crib with the side down for co-sleeping?

That is all for now.  I am sure I will come up with more.  Thank you for taking the time to read and respond.  I am trying to figure some of these things early on so I can feel somewhat prepared:)

Smiles,

Janine

Congratulations! :)

2 infant carriers and a booster might fit.

2 rear facing carseats and a full sized booster may not fit.

We have a BMW and with the 2 rear facing carseats I BARELY can fit

between them. It's better in DH's Silverado Extended Cab but it's still a

snug fit. The carseats were designed to sit in the "bucket" of the rear

seat so scooting them over makes them tip over a bit. We're a family

of 5 (2 adults, 1 teen, 2 newbies) and we usually end up taking 2 cars

or someone plays backseat driver with the twins. It sucks.

I have a double, side-by-side Euro stroller/pram that I have grown to

love. Most double strollers don't accommodate newborns or infants

that can't hold up their heads. I didn't think it would be an issue but

it has been, mainly because we have preemies.

I received every single thing on my baby registry at Target - no kidding!

And I received duplicates of everything else. I took a lot of stuff back

thinking I'll only need ONE of each. I was wrong. I had to go out and

buy another swing, changer, playpen and bassinet. They will share

a crib and a stroller.

I have the co-sleeper bassinet that up until Monday they were able

to share. I was also given a cocoon hammock but it's a single and

we have a problem with our cat jumping in there with one of the

twins so we don't use it much. My girls mostly sleep in their Moses

baskets right beside me. I try to put them back in their crib at nite

so they can get used to being in their room. The co-sleeper is great.

Mines has adjustable heights (we have a really high bed) but it doesn't

exactly sit flush with our mattress so we leave it against the wall.

Our twins don't show much interest in their bouncers right now.

They just discovered their mobiles and wall art. Mostly I sit them in

their boppy's to encourage the strengthening of their neck muscles.

I think my biggest challenge has been resuming work. I work from

home and found it nearly impossible to find time to get anything

done. I'm really behind so I put myself on p/t status and will only

work 2 dedicated days a week - the days my housekeeper comes

in.

Feel free to ask away - the Moms here are pretty rad and very

frank in regards to what worked for them and helping you find a

viable solution to your twin problems of the day! Good luck! Take

it easy and rest up. :)

[ShanaV]

Originally Posted by JanineRivera 

Did you need two swings and two bouncers or did you just rotate the babies between one of each?

Anyone use a sidecar co-sleeper?  If so, what kind and for how long?  

Anyone use a crib with the side down for co-sleeping?

I'll share my experience with these items:

Two swings were necessary for us. If you have the space, do it. Buy them used off craigslist or borrow them, cus they're pricey new.

We had two bouncer seats given to us, but the babies didn't really like them. When they were small enough to fit in them they were at a stage where they hated being lied down (had to be held most of the time), then when they were ok being put down, they had pretty much outgrown them. But lots of babies like bouncy seats. So I'd get two if you could. Again, used, or as gifts. 

We started out with an original size arm's reach co-sleeper. Hardly used it. Hated hoisting the baby/ies from the cosleeper up to me to nurse. (Even when they're 5 or 6 lbs, hoisting in the middle of the night is not fun for me.) This full size cosleeper is nearly as big as a crib anyway. And the "mini" size could fit one baby, not two, so I don't see a point.

Sidecarred crib is the best option for us. No hoisting babies. Just roll over to nurse. Or slide the baby around. Google "How we sidecarred our crib" for detailed instructions. We also have a foam "bed bridge" from bed bath & beyond that fills in the crack b/t the mattresses ($15). That makes it one smooth surface to lie on. 

[SashaBreeze]

Two swings would have been nice but we made do with one.  Invest in two wraps/slings though.  One of my twins will NOT tolerate sharing the wrap carrier with his brother. 

We have a crib side car style to our crib.  This was new for us because we always brought our babies straight to the bed with us but then the boys were born premature and I was concerned our bed would be too soft for them.  So we bought a crib and converted it.  For the most part when they first came home they ended up in bed with me anyway, lol, but now that they are older it just works out better for them to be in the crib instead and their older sis in bed on the other side of me.

[mamalovex3]

We have one swing but I would have two if I could!  I would start with one and see how your babies like it.  My older son never liked the swing but both our girls love it, so you never know.  We received two bouncy seats as gifts, they have come in pretty handy!  They weren't into the bouncy seats at first but now they like them :)

[SunshineH]

I had 1 swing, 1 bumbo, 2 exersaucers, 2 bouncy seats.  They both did not love the swing, so 1 was fine. Many times I'd haul baby equipment in the bathroom to take a shower.  :)  We used a pack-n-play (shared) next to our bed for a while until they started waking each other up with kicking and moving around, then went to 2 pack-n-plays in our room and then eventually 2 cribs. It was a trick getting the closet open for a while! I also had a 2 yo when they were born - did not have a triple stroller though. I used a double stroller and wore a twin a lot of the time.

[mumm]

1 swing, 2 bouncy seats, no bumbos.  I used a wrap for them both during the witching hour(s) and could not have lived without an ergo, which I used on my back at a very young age.  (Like, as soon as they had head control.  It worked fine but I know it made some people nervous.)

We had these great high chairs that we used like bouncy seats.  We called them the safe seats since it kept them (mostly) out of harms way from older sibs.  The chairs could be close to the floor, or up at table height, they reclined, etc.  And we got them free.  They were amazing.

I've never used a crib near the master bed.  We just put two queen sized mattresses together for sleeping on and had a pack and play.

Good luck.

[TheGirls]

We have twins and a 2.5 yo. 

The carseat thing depends on your car and your seats.  If you have the right seats you can usually get a 3-across, but it may not work with the seats you have now.  And it may not work with two infant carriers because they tend to be bigger than convertibles.  I have all three of mine RF in the same row of my minivan, but it is bigger than the backseat of my old Mazda Protege - I couldn't have done it there.  I'd go ask in the family safety section or over at car-seat.org for specific recommendations for your car/carseats

For DD (our toddler) I did the side-carred crib with a side removed thing. It worked fine, though she rarely slept there.  Now we have a twin bed and a queen pushed up against each other to make room for all of us. 

For baby stuff, it's going to depend on the babies.  Two swings is fabulous for us, but our bouncy has rarely been used.  I'd get one of each and plan to borrow another if you need to.  We also have one bumbo and wish we had two.  Two wraps was essential, I can wear both when needed or either one while the other is being fed, etc. 

For strollers until this week I've used a double.  I wear one baby and push the other baby and toddler in the stroller.  I just got a triple jogger (BeBeLove) and it has been fun so far, but I couldn't have used it until very recently because it doesn't lay flat for a newborn.  It's also too wide to go through doors so I can't use it in some circumstances.  I still use my double + wear one solution frequently, but the triple is nice for walking to the park or exercise walking. 

[JanineRivera]

I just wanted to thank you all for responding ... it has been so helpful to hear from seasoned twin moms!!  

I too, was thinking that a double stroller would be sufficient since I really enjoying having baby in a carrier.  I never thought of the fact that I would need to slings/wraps.  I have an ergo, a moby wrap, and a bjorn and may have another Ergo being given to us.  I think that should suffice, right?

I like the idea of having one swing and one bouncer to begin with and then borrow another if it seems necessary ... it so true that you don't if the babies will even like being in either one!!

I also think that using a crib sidecarred from the get-go is a good suggestion.  I am starting to wonder if I will even use that since with my first dd we just had her in bed with us from the beginning.  I just don't see how we can have two babies and a toddler in bed with us though (my 2.5 yr old comes into our bed at some point most every night).  We are looking into an Eastern King; anyone happy with this size bed?

Thanks again and keep the answers coming.

Smiles,

Janine

[TheGirls]

A double stroller is definitely sufficient.  In many circumstances it is more convenient than a triple.

As for the carriers, it depends a bit on what you do for babywearing.  Personally I like to have a wrap or MeiTai for younger back carries (before the head control required by the Ergo).  I also liked having two moby-type wraps (I made my own) so both DP and I could wear one when the babies were little.

For double-wearing, both babes can go in the Moby at first.  Once they get too heavy for that (around 9lbs each for mine, which was 2 months old), you have to either only wear one (put the other in the stroller) or wear them front & back.   Some folks like to do two in separate ring slings or pouch slings, one on each shoulder. 

We can *almost* fit everyone in a King bed.  It works for a short time but is not very comfortable.  None of us are small people though. I have an aunt & uncle who coslept with two children until they were like 8 and 5 in a regular double bed though.  So it depends on your comfort level with crowdedness in bed!

[Spring Lily]

Stroller: depends on how old your toddler will be and how much he/she likes to walk. My oldest was just over 2 but liked to walk everywhere, so I didn't get a triple stroller. I got a double and kept a carrier in the stroller basket, so when my toddler wanted to ride I just wore one baby. Worked well, and we still do that occassionally now, 2.5 yrs later!

Gear: we had 2 swings, 2 bouncers, and used both constantly. We borrowed the extra swing & bouncer from friends, but you can also check your local twin club to see if they have a loaner program. My club loans out those things and also various baby carriers.

Sleeping: we started out with a double co-sleeper, and that lasted for 5 months or so. Then we dropped our bed to the floor (took out the bedframe) and I had them in the bed with me for about a year after that. After that we started needing more space so we took the side off of the crib and strapped the crib to our bed. It would have been too hard to co-sleep with the crib railing in the way like that.

[mamalovex3]

I never got the hang of wearing both babies at once, but I often wear one and have one in the stroller when we go out. 

We have a king size bed and my husband felt very crowded after about 2 months so we added another mattress for him.  He sleeps on a queen and I'm on the king with babies on either side.  Everyone has lots of room!

 

[babygrey]

I have newbie twins and a toddler. TBH, like lots have said the wait and see approach is working best for me. 

I have one swing and one I could borrow if I wanted, except that neither of my babes like the swing anyway

I have WAY more than 2 bouncers. I have one or two in every room LOL. Seriously, tho, they are a necessity for me in keeping the toddler from trying to pick up the babies all the time and give me the option to set one down quick and safe should I need to save the toddler from toddler drama. 

The stroller- Valco makes a double stroller with a toddler seat attachment that I dream about. However, a double isn't even in my budget right now. Luckily, both of my twins fit in my single stroller and I've been wearing toddler DD. This is actually working really well for us right now because toddler feels special because she'd rather be worn than strolled and it, since you can't see I have two babies in the stroller, completely cuts out the inevitable "OMGZ, you have twins! you have your hands so full har har..." comments from strangers and the resulting delay every.five.seconds.  Now, it is only going to work for a few more months, but it might be an option for you while and then you can test drive the options. 

For wearing, I am actually most comfy with the twins together in my Maya ring. That said, that's coming quickly to an end as they get bigger- but I'm planning to borrow another ring sling and wear each crisscross (I don't love tied wraps, tho, so ymmv)

Edited by babygrey - 5/1/11 at 11:40pm