Gear – Twinning at MotherHood

Do I need two of everything?

Posted on August 7, 2016 by Wendy Posted in Gear .

Shopping for twins – do you really need double?

Having twins is daunting, and not just because carrying twins is hard or because having two babies to care for is difficult. It’s also expensive! How do you know what you need right now and what you can buy later? How many of each thing do you REALLY need? Do you need the most expensive version or will a less pricy version work just as well?

I had the pleasure of shopping with a twin mom-to-be last month and I kept a mental journal of things to remember so that I could share them with you. Here goes!

YOU NEED TWO (or more) OF THESE THINGS

Want to sleep? Get a Rock and Play, or 2!

Rock ‘n Play – This is one of the most important and essential things that you’ll need, and you’ll need two of them. For the first several months, or even half a year (or more), the babies won’t spend much time in their crib/s (see below); they will sleep in these suckers. These are lightweight, portable, rockable, and magical. When they’re tiny, tiny babies you use these types of inserts to keep them from puddling in the bottom. Seriously, get these. Two of them.

Rock ‘n Play all the way!

See that crib in the background where no one is sleeping? Yep. Rock ‘n Play is the way to go.

The must have blankets – Aden and Anais

Aden and Anais blankets – These are pretty expensive considering that they’re just blankets, but they’re worth it. They come in various sizes but the larger ones are more versatile. You can and will use them for everything! They can be used as a swaddle, a “laying on blanket”, a nursing cover, a spit up rag and as, well, a blanket. They’re soft, lightweight and easy to stuff in a diaper bag. Now that my guys are older I use them when we have picnics outside. We had a ton of different blankets and these are by far the most useful. Notice they are in literally every. single. picture.

Activity Saucers

Activity Saucers – We called these command centers and you definitely need two – and get two that are different. Once your twins are able to sit up on their own you can keep them active in these bad boys for long enough to actually get some stuff done around the house, or read a chapter in a book. Then swap out who’s in which and you get another 10-15 minutes! They take up a lot of space but they’re totally worth it. My guys LOVED THEM.

Infantino Sash Mei Tai Carrier

Baby Carriers – You could get by with only having one baby carrier, but I found it nice to have 2 so that my husband could also wear a baby. We would use them on walks around the neighborhood or in places where a stroller was impractical, like at the beach or on a hike. I had 2 different kinds because babies and parents had different preferences for fit, etc. (For more info on Baby Carriers see my previous post)

High Chairs

High Chairs – You need two of these but there’s no need to get the super pricey ones. What you want to look for are high chairs where 1) the cushion/fabric part comes off easily for washing, 2) there is a removable top tray for easy washing, and 3) the footprint of the chair isn’t too big. This is especially important if you have limited space in your kitchen.

Changing Table pad – Get at least 2 of these. One to go on your changing table and one to go in whatever room you will be spending most of your time. And get used to changing diapers on the floor. It’s just so much easier.

Diaper Disposal – Unless your nursery is right off of your living room you’ll need one of these for the living area and one for the nursery. We have this kind and we like it. It does require special bags but I think most of them do.

Car mirrors – When my friend took me to start my baby registry she told me that I needed car mirrors to see the babies. I scanned one on to the registry and was ready to move on. “Are you planning on choosing a favorite and only checking on that one?”, she said. So unless you have a favorite you’re willing to admit to you need 2 of these.

Notebooks – Please make sure you have 2 small notebooks, one for each baby. When you get home from the hospital you have to keep track of how much each baby eats and when, how many wet diapers each baby has and how many soiled diapers they have. It seems straightforward but when it’s 2 in the morning and you can’t remember which baby you just changed and who you just feed…..just trust me. Get 2 notebooks in different colors and write their name on the front. You’re welcome. Also get 1000 pencils (not pens).

ONLY GET ONE OF THESE AND SAVE ALL THE MONEY!

Tiny baby in a huge crib

Cribs – I had to look carefully through all of my old pictures to find even one picture of one of them in a crib, because they were never, ever in it. Eventually you’re going to need two, but save your money upfront because you’re only going to need one (or none) for the first 6 months at least. Did I mention the Rock ‘n Play?

Baby Swing

Swing and Bouncy Chair – Both of these are great tools for soothing and rocking your babies, BUT you really only need one of each. In my case, Z preferred the swing but liked the bouncy chair for a change, and Ro hated them both (he only ever wanted to be in the Rock and Play on vibrate). Save your money, get one of each and if they both happen to love the swing and hate the bouncy chair you can always get another swing. And unless you have money to burn don’t bother to get one of these fancy baby swing things that looks like a space ship and mimics 32 different types of motion. Every baby I’ve ever met is perfectly happy in one of these suckers.

Bouncy Chair

Pack and Play – This was one of the first things I got when I found out I was pregnant with twins and I got the twin version, which is bigger and had 2 bassinets on top. My thought was that we could use that when we went to visit grandparents. Full disclosure – I never used the bassinets because they always slept in the Rock and Plays, which traveled with us everywhere (did I mention that they’re very portable?). BUT, I used the Pack and Play a ton when they got older and I was glad that it was extra big so that they both could play in it comfortably. Pack and Plays have wheels so they’re somewhat mobile, but they’re heavy and don’t navigate standard doorways well. I would often take ours our in the backyard through the sliding glass doors and have the boys plays in it while I swam in the pool or worked in the garden. Now, we use it as the time out area. Scott calls it “the penalty box”.

Baby play mat

Play Mat – They really only use these when they’re too little to crawl around, which means you can easily fit two babies on one of these mats. Take the money you’d spend on this and buy yourself a nice bottle of wine.

Changing table – I don’t think this needs to be said, but you can only wipe one butt at a time so there’s no need for 2 changing tables. Just make sure you get extra changing table pads and you’re good.

Also, try to avoid falling in to the trap of “I have twins thus everything they have must be the same”. Variety is good, and your babies will have their own preferences, so try out different things.

Baby Wearing – what worked for me

Posted on July 2, 2016 by Wendy Posted in Gear .

Baby wearing with a K’Tan

I have always loved watching mamas walk around wearing their little tiny babies next to their chest. Those babies look so snuggly and comfortable all tucked in tight. I have a vivid memory of my best friend strolling around the neighborhood pushing her wide-eyed 3 year old in the stroller with her newborn daughter cradled in a bright tribal ring sling, contentedly and discreetly nursing. So when I found out I was expecting twins I was super excited about wearing TWO little babies snuggled up to my chest!

Reality check – that is MUCH harder than it looks. I never was able to wear both of my babies at once. See, the problem was getting them both in the carrier at the same time. You either need two people or a very specific kind of talent to get both babies properly positioned, lifted and strapped in safely at the same time. And you can’t drop either of them, not even once. I once had to wear one of those convertible dresses in my sisters wedding and I couldn’t even keep my boobs from falling out, and those are attached to me. So you can understand why I was hesitant to try and secure my precious newborns. That being said, I did baby wear but I only wore one baby at a time. This worked out for us, more or less, mainly because Z-bone loved to be held and snuggled and would sleep for hours and hours if he was in a sling on my chest but Ro-$ HATED to be confined. He always hated swaddles and blankets and socks and slings and anything that kept him from being the wild baby that he is. So I would put Z in the carrier and put Ro in the swing (or bouncy seat) and then I could have 5 minutes to do the dishes, or rinse bottles, or feed the dog. There was a period of time where I wore Z all the time, because it was the only time he would sleep. He would fuss and fuss but as soon as I popped him in the K’tan he was out. I also would baby wear on those rare occasions when I went out or when we went to the airport. So, I’m going to tell you about the carriers that I liked and the ones that just didn’t work for me. This would also be relevant for singleton moms since I never wore my babies at the same time.

Carrier Reviews – the good the bad and the impossible

There are a ton of excellent videos and “how-to’s” out there that can help you to master the basics of baby wearing. I’m just going to tell you about my experience with several different carriers. I’m not terribly coordinated so keep that in mind!! There are also lots of local baby wearing groups that will let you try on (and exchange) different carriers as well as help you figure out the proper placement of your baby. If possible, try on a few different carriers but keep in mind that it’s a whole different ballgame when you’re trying to put a screaming, wiggly baby (or babies) into one of these contraptions! Ease of operation is key.

K’tan

The K’tan – This was by far my favorite of the carriers that I used. It’s basically 2 thick cloth straps connected by a ring of fabric. You twist or crisscross the straps in different ways to put your baby in different positions. There’s also a separate piece of cloth that you use to secure the baby once it’s positioned. I felt like this carrier was very secure and that I had a lot of flexibility about where I could position my baby. I usually carried him diagonally against my chest. When they’re older this can also be used in a supported hip carry, which is nice. I also liked that there weren’t any long straps that dragged on the ground when I was trying to put it on. (Don’t examine my technique too closely in the picture – I was still in the process of figuring how to do it correctly!)

Infantino Sash Mei Tai Carrier

The Infantino Sash Mei Tai Carrier – I liked this one for when the boys were older. You tie it snuggly around your waist and then place the baby against your chest, raising the carrier up against them. Then you take another pair of straps and cross them over your shoulders and behind your back and then bring them forward and tie them securely across the baby. I used this one all the time when we were traveling or when I was out shopping with the babies. It doesn’t have a hard frame so it was easy to shove into the diaper bag or a suitcase. The main thing that I didn’t like is that the long straps drag on the ground when you’re putting it on. This one is good because it’s easy to position the baby with their head facing your chest or with them facing out so they can look around.

The Moby – I tried it twice, watched all of the videos on how to use it, but never felt comfortable with it so I sold it when they were 2 months old. It felt like an origami baby carrier, or convertible dress (see above). Kudos to you ninja mamas who are able to work this thing! Some people love it and it’s very affordable so if you can find someone to let you practice with it you may find that it works for you. Or, if you’re good with convertible dresses this may be right up your alley!

Mamaway Baby Sling Carrier (Ring Sling) – I didn’t own one of these but I borrowed one from a friend for a few weeks to try it out. It was awesome! By the time I used it my guys were almost too heavy for me to carry so I never bought one, but if I have another baby I will definitely get one of these. It was super easy to put on and the baby felt very secure and seemed really comfortable. One of the great things about this one is that you can use it for newborns (like a pouch) and for older kids in a supported hip carry. Plus, the hippie in me really loves all of the bright, fun designs available from Mamaway.

Beco Gemini – I never tried this one myself but my other BFF tried a million carriers and and once she found this she raved about it so much that I have to include it. She said

“This carrier was amazing! No need for the newborn insert because when he was in he was nice and snug. One snap and that was it!”

Remember, there are a huge range of carriers to choose from so be sure to do your homework. Plus, what works for one mom may not work for another so always try them out first if you can. Finally, you can usually find carriers at your local consignment shop, so be sure to check there and save yourself some money!

Napping in the Ktan carrier

Do you have a carrier that you love? Were you able to effectively baby wear your twins? Tell me about it in the comments!

Ktan napping

They see us strollin’, they hatin’

Posted on June 23, 2016 by Wendy Posted in Gear .

Babies require a lot of stuff; an overwhelming amount of stuff in fact. And there are an overwhelming number of options to choose from. When I was pregnant, a friend with kids took me to Babies R’ Us and went through the store with me to help me figure out what I would need. Even with her help I had a complete breakdown in the stroller aisle. Side by side or front and back???!?!? Strollers were my breaking point, so I’m here for you with stroller advice.

Graco Fold Duo Click and Connect Stroller and car seats (shown here with Great Aunt V)

We ended up going for the Graco Fold Duo Click Connect stroller and car seat combo (above). This model is great because the car seats click directly into the stroller so there’s no need to transfer your newborns from their car seat into a stroller seat. And, when they’ve outgrown their car seats the stroller has regular seats – no need to buy another stroller. The seats sit up and recline so the babies can lie down and nap or sit up and look around. I wanted a side-by-side stroller so that they could both see out the front and so that they could sit next to each other and talk. Even though it’s a side by side it steers really easily, fits through every door we encountered and is well made and sturdy. There are some cons, however, so I’ll list out both pros and cons.

Pros:

It fit through all doors without difficulty.
Sturdy and well made.
Easy to push and steer.
Nice looking stroller.
Very reasonably priced.
The clip and connect functionality is really the only way to go.

Cons:

It’s very heavy. Like, really really heavy. And it’s a difficult size and shape to lift so I had quite a bit of trouble getting it in and out of my car. Because of this I never really took it anywhere if I could help it. Of course, when your twins are little you’re not really going anywhere any way.
The clip and connect didn’t always seem to clip on well or easily. It would usually take me 3 or 4 tries to clip in the second seat. This is pretty nerve wracking for an overwhelmed, exhausted new mom.
It was really hard for me to open the stroller. Even after 9 months I wasn’t sure why it would open sometimes and not others. This is a big deal if you’re standing in a hot parking lot with your babies in the car.

Full disclosure: I sold this stroller (and the car seats) as soon as the boys outgrew the car seats and could sit up by themselves. My friend had given us jogging stroller (below) and once I tried that sucker I never looked back.

Also, the car seats from Graco (that go with the stroller) are excellent. I loved them. You can get them in 30 or 40 (which refers to the lbs of the baby) – we got them in 40. Originally ours matched our stroller but our car – which had the car seats installed – was stolen the day before I gave birth. We got the same car seats but not in the same color. *sad face*

Graco car seats

If I had to do it over again I would get something like this
Snap and Connect Stroller Frame. Maybe not that exact make and model but something similar. I have a friend that has one of these and it is just so much easier! It’s smaller and lighter (and cheaper!) and more manageable in general. Especially if you plan to be out and about this is the way to go. Like I said before, the clip and click is vital but when you’re trying to carry around 2 babies and all of their stuff (and your stuff) you don’t need a 50 lb stroller to weigh you down as well.

Now that my guys are older we have 2 strollers that we use. We use this Mini City Jogger for around the neighborhood and this Maclaren for traveling.

City Mini Double Jogging Stroller

The City Mini (above) is perfect for walking around the neighborhood and going to the park. And just to be clear – it has never (let me repeat that – never) been out jogging. It’s easy to steer and push and super easy to get the boys in and out of – which is important. My BFF gave us this one and that girl knows her strollers! It might be worthwhile to wait for a price cut on this bad boy as it’s pretty expensive. The 2 things I don’t like about it- 1) It doesn’t have a cup holder for me and 2) the straps are hard to adjust. Other than that it’s pretty perfect.

Maclaren umbrella

The Maclaren (above) is a total dream. It’s light, it folds up tight, is easy to set up and is excellent for travel. We’ve taking it on several cross country flights and it pretty much lives in the car with us. Honestly, once your kids are old enough to not need infant car seats you have to get this stroller. The only problem with it is that it doesn’t have a lot of “cargo space” so be sure to get a mom clip. Another alternative to the Maclaren would be this one – 16 lbs people!! It’s only 16 lbs! I’ve never used it, but for 16 lbs I’d be willing to try.

We strollin, they hatin

Do you have a twin stroller that you love? Tell me about it in the comments!