(Part 3) 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.

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.

Bottle cleaning brush:

http://www.amazon.ca/OXO-Good-Grips-Bottle-Brush/dp/B00004OCLJ

Drying rack:

http://www.oxo.com/p-1033-bottle-drying-rack.aspx

And just wash them by hand after every feeding.

Someone will probably chime in with something like "but it's not STERILE and my babies will DIE", and my rebuttal is: no they won't.

You're probably getting the bottles CLEANER than a dishwasher since you don't let milk/formula dry in them (DON'T leave them for a day, you get dried milk in corners), and you're actually scrubbing them instead of just spraying water around and hoping some of it goes in the bottle.

16 bottles is plenty, since you'll be washing them after each feeding and they'll be dry for the next one.

If you haven't figured it out yet, the nipples can't really be machine washed anyway (they can, but then they degrade VERY quickly) so you're hand-washing something regardless. Might as well do them all. You can still run the bottles through the dishwasher on occasion if you feel like it.

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.

We bought two of these to go across our fireplace and TV stand. They worked great.

https://www.amazon.com/North-States-Superyard-Metal-Gate/dp/B000U5FOT2

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)

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

The Story of Life by Chris Simpsons.

I haven’t read it yet but,

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/076118564X/ref=pd_aw_fbt_14_img_2_nodl?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=4PWRQTS7WPAY7PX66CHW

If “lots and lots of pillows” and “build a pillow fort” haven’t worked for you, there are specially shaped body pillows for pregnant women. Expensive, but some swear by them. Here’s an example:

https://www.amazon.com/Leachco-Snoogle-Total-Pillow-Ivory/dp/B0000635WI