(Part 2) Top products from r/parentsofmultiples

On the advice of friends, I got a Pack and Play to use as a cosleeper, as well as an extra one for the living area. I'm getting two cribs that can convert to toddler beds, but we plan to only set up one at first. My ideal set up would be to have a non-mini Arm's reach cosleeper in the bedroom, but I haven't yet found one at reasonable price.

Some babies love swings and others dislike them, so I'm starting with one swing, a rock n play, and a vibrator/bouncer and I'm going to see which item is most popular. I've been told that all of those can cause head deformities if the babies are in them for too long, so I have two maya wraps, two slings, and an ergo so we wear them.

I went with the Chicco keyfit car seat wise since it had the highest rating on consumer reports and, after playing with what friends had, I liked it the best. The chicco cortina together is very nice and I loved it when I tried it out, but it wouldn't fit in my car, so I found a used Snap N Go for $25 instead. I decided to get that style instead of the side-by-side because I've heard of people having problems fitting the side-by-side in small doorways.

In addition to the double stroller, I also got a Chicco keyfit caddy because I plan on wear one baby and push the other around.

I decided to get the car seat strollers for when they are young because I want to make things as simple as possible when I'm still new to this whole parenting thing. I also want to try out a single versus a double stroller since I know people who prefer each, and the frame strollers are small enough that I can fit both in my car.

I've been using craigslist, a local message board, and Mothers of Multiples consignment sales to get good deals on a lot of items, so in the end, I expect to spend less on my strollers than many people pay for one new one. I'm buying the crib and carseat new, and I've gotten a few other items as gifts, but everything else is used because I'd rather be overstocked and try out items than find myself lacking something useful later.

As far as books go, I highly recommend When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets and Quads because of its scientific, fact filled approach. Mothering Multiples for breast feeding techniques. I'd also recommend going to your library and checking out various books on raising twins. I can't remember all of the books I found helpful because I read so many. For general child care, Happiest Baby on the Block is a must read (or see, there's a DVD). My friend who had a premature baby said that this book saved her life. At first she thought her daughter just didn't like being swaddled, but it turned out that you are supposed to swaddle premature babies differently than full term ones. Now that her daughter is properly swaddled, she's much calmer. That book also inspired me to spend the money on a sleep sheep which is currently kidnapped by a friend.

Another thing that you may want to consider is cloth diapering. I've attended a few Mother of Multiples groups, and cloth diapering has been repeated many times as a way to save money on diapers. Even though I live in a small town, there are local stores and groups for parents to share techniques and tips on cloth diapering. Mine are due to November, so I haven't personally tried it out, but on the advice of other multiple members, I have a bunch of premature diapers for when they are newborn, and a growing collection of cloth (bought used to save money) for once they are bigger. Since I'm having two boys, I'm also making/buying cloth wipes so I can avoid pee mishaps during changing time. You can also buy wash cloths in bulk that perform a similar function, but I've priced making my own or buying used as cheaper.

Congrats!

Great advice: Raising Twins: Parenting Multiples from Pregnancy Through the School Years

Humorous and comforting: The Doctor and the Stork: A Memoir of Modern Medical Babymaking

Really helpful: Twins: A Practical Guide to Parenting Multiples from Conception to Preschool

First of all, this book was great at the pregnancy and labor/delivery aspect of multiple-dom. It prepared you for the fact you may spend time in the NICU and had good info about nutrition and eating, including recipes.

We had the twins in the same crib for about the first 4 months. They really started to get cramped in there by that age. The transition to separate cribs went fine as they still share a bedroom.

We had one swing and that seemed to be enough. You just never know if 0, 1, or both children will even like it. Our first born hated it but the twins seemed to enjoy it, but only if they were in the mood. Definitely get 2 bouncy seats. Those can come in handy when trying to feed two at the same time.

I don't really have good product recommendations. We got a lot of hand-me-down items and went garage sale shopping.

I'm a Dad, and my friend suggested Dad's Expecting Too! for me. It was broken down in to quick time-frames and was most valuable for the period leading up to and including childbirth. I had never had a close family member go through it before, so I was completely in the dark. The problem with most dad books, that I found anyway, was that many of them were too campy. Some either went the "snowflake" route: "daddy's have feelings too," and others were too "HEY BRO ITS A BABY, TIME TO STEP UP."

This one was a good balance. Though I took issue with how the book tended to treat expecting mothers as being made of fragile glass, both physically and mentally. Every woman is different, I suppose. I did love how it included personal anecdotes from actual readers of the book that were submitted over time. Those real bits were the gems.

Random enough, somebody shared this book in my local Buy Nothing group on FB this week. Might be just what you’re looking for.

Experimenting with Babies: 50 Amazing Science Projects You Can Perform on Your Kid https://www.amazon.com/dp/0399162461/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_rfJRDbR3FKY4Z

FWIW - I have not read the book so I’m not endorsing it or experiments on your children. 😄

I hear ya on the assembly-line approach. It can be pretty joyless. I enjoyed Ready or Not Here We Come by Elizabeth Lyons. It's been 5 years since I read it, but I recall that it was practical advice delivered with humor. Don't worry, you're not scarring them and there will be plenty of cuddles once they're out of the eat/poop/sleep stage. And babies definitely don't need a nightly bath. Don't kill yourself trying to do that every day.

My BFF had an issue with cats sleeping in her daughter's crib. This solved it and will totally thwart your escape artist.

Crib Tent Link

I'll definitely check that one out. Hoping This one helps too

It's not for everyone, but I've been loosely following The Baby Sleep Solution (http://www.amazon.com/The-Baby-Sleep-Solution-Program/dp/0399532919). It moves to a large feed every four hours and an eat-play-sleep cycle that may be helpful, especially if they need to get out of a snack-mode. My boys are 22 weeks this week and we've been using that schedule since 16 weeks when we felt like it was a mess of short naps and snacks.

https://www.amazon.com/Those-Darn-Squirrels-Adam-Rubin/dp/0547576811/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497557602&sr=8-1&keywords=those+darn+squirrels
https://www.amazon.com/Dragons-Love-Tacos-Adam-Rubin/dp/0803736800/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497557623&sr=8-1&keywords=dragons+love+tacos
https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Pizza-Party-Adam-Rubin/dp/0803739478/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497557643&sr=8-1&keywords=secret+pizza+party

Basically these guys have our number. That are clever books that don't get old very quickly. Press here is also very good, though they have destroyed it like so many books before.

I loved The Contented Little Baby Book when mine were new.
I used all of their tables as a guide for my own. My GGGs were always scheduled. Eight years later they will sleep nearly 7-7.

http://www.amazon.com/Experimenting-Babies-Amazing-Science-Projects/dp/0399162461

This was a fun book and explains a lot about development. It helped my husband bond a bit more when he felt like there wasn't much he could do.

We feed ours in this:
https://www.amazon.com/PILLOW-Twin-Breastfeeding-Bottlefeeding-Support/dp/B007VF57C8
I did all night feedings by myself when my husband went back to work. Feed them at the same time in the pillow, in the bed, on the floor, wherever. That pillow is the best thing we own.

I had one biter and one victim, and we read "Teeth Are Not For Biting" every night before bed for months. Also keeping a really close eye on them when they were playing close. My biter usually attacked when his brother was really getting in his personal space and he couldn't take it anymore. So as much as I could, I would move biter away to give him space and remove the bite temptation.

But really, they just outgrow it.

Link to the book, super cheap, good for very little kids... https://amzn.com/1575421283

My friend gave my this book [My Babies, My Twins Big Brother] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/1523609354/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_KPE4AbDM0YSA2) and it really helped him understand and prepare him. (They also a sister version)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007VF57C8/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1451835322&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=twin+z+nursing+pillow&dpPl=1&dpID=51dpEC0c9nL&ref=plSrch


This is how they fit just sitting on it now:

http://imgur.com/d4HNweG

Similar to the "three carseat" problem, you need to get booster seats that are narrower.

There's a whole genre of ones like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Graco-Folding-Backless-Booster-McKenna/dp/B07N3CTGLP/

These are literally nothing but pieces of foam. They elevate the child, but the car's seat belts are doing the work. They work fine.

Separate from your original question but I suggest talking to the doctor about the constipation and getting months past it before even attempting potty training. She could be stool withholding, it can be a long process (not especially difficult) to sort out.

This is a very quick and informative read, also available on Kindle.

Stool Withholding: What To Do When Your Child Won't Poo! (UK/Europe Edition) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1500382469/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_KEuyDb3RC3E8A

I know you don't have a ton of spare time to read up on this but when I was a nanny for children with similar issues, I had a ton of luck with 1-2-3 Magic. I first learned of it when my mom actually used it on my twin brothers when they got so defiant she was having trouble getting them out the door to school andher towork. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1889140430?pc_redir=1413880689&robot_redir=1

The Story of Life by Chris Simpsons.

Seriously. Best. Investment. Ever.

Let me preface by they do nap in toddler beds at my moms 3-4x a week, so I know they are capable of staying on their cribs when we turn them into toddler beds. However, my husband and I have demanding work and travel schedules plus a 4 year old that wanders into our bed by midnight each night. The idea of all 5 of us fighting for space and sleep in our bed every night is scary, we do intend on taking down the tents and transitioning into toddler beds by the time they’re 3 (Aug) or potty trained... which ever comes first....


tent cribs