When becoming a parent, there are so many product options out there, it can be overwhelming. Whether you are a first time parent or repeat parent, new items are designed and released on a regular basis and it is important to sort through all your needs and find what will benefit your family most. Believe me, I am a total researcher when it comes to all the things we would utilize. Especially after we found out I was pregnant with twins, I knew it was key to find high quality products which would last us a long time, especially with double use. One of my priorities was to have products which would adapt for a single child, should we ever have more children down the road. Additionally, with twins, there are some products which we needed double of. I'll specify which items that applies to.
With that said, I'll jump right in! Here is my 100% non-bias, non-sponsored list of baby product recommendations:
Hatch Baby Grow Smart Changing Pad and Scale: We love this because it serves multiple functions, looks classy, and takes up an efficient amount of space. It's primary function is to act as a changing pad; it is sturdy, it doesn't slip while free-standing on top of a dresser or changing table, it has small side rims to keep baby contained while you change them (never leave them unattended of course), and my favorite part - it's hard foamy material wipes clean! Easy maintenance and efficiency has become one of our top priorities with newborns because time is very limited. And believe me, spills happen often on a changing pad, it is just bound to happen. I don't see it any other way. It's other function is that it acts as a scale; this is perfect for anyone who would like to track your baby's weight gain. This is especially useful immediately after birth to make sure babies are gaining the weight needed through their feedings, even more necessary for twins, since they are often born underweight. (We were lucky to make it all the way to full term with our twins weighing 6 lb, 9 oz and 6 lb, 7 oz at birth.) This way you can feel confident about your baby's weight without having to make a special trip to weigh in at the pediatrician's office or lactation consultant's office. The other plus of this product, is that is coincides with an app; Hatch Grow, which allows you to input and track baby’s diaper changes, feedings, sleep schedule, weight measurements, and even breast-pumping times. I have tried many different baby tracking apps and this is by far my favorite - very user-friendly, and allows for two different babies (as many other apps can only track one baby).
Skip Hop 3-Stage Bath Tub: This is a very good way to contain your baby in a safe space and bathe them without having to bend over to a bath-tub (much better for a recovering mama). It also grows with baby with it's ability to function in 3-stages, so you don't have to worry about them outgrowing the space for some time. For twins, we only bought one tub and just bathe them separately. Once they are big enough to sit up we will have them in our actual bath tub at the same time, but that will be several months. This is a comforting way to introduce them to the feeling of sitting in warm water, while is a safe, soft mesh seat. Our girls both like it and stay calm during baths in this tub.
Nuna Pipa Lite LX car seats: We LOVE these car seats. These are something that you'll obviously need two of, if you're having twins. We specifically chose the Nuna Pipa Lite LX seats because of three primary reasons; 1 - the seats are high quality, 2 - they are lighter than the average seat (important since we are carrying and transporting two babies), and 3 - they come with a foldout magnetic cover (meaning we don't have to carry around an extra basket to cover them from the sun or wind). The magnetic cover comes with this seat, as well as with the nuna pipa carseat. It does not come with the nuna pipa lite (there are 3 models). We chose the “nicest one” since there are two babies and a splurge is worth it in this area, since it's one of our most used items. They also seamlessly pop into our “Bugaboo Donkey 2” twin stroller, with an adapter.
Bugaboo Donkey 2 Twin Stroller/Pram: This was by far our most researched product. It's an investment, but well worth it, since it lasts a long time. and grows with the kids. With twins, there are not nearly as many options stroller options, especially if you are like me and want to see them at the same time sitting side-by-side. This stroller comes with 2 bassinets (which can be used for night sleep as well), it comes with 2 upright seats for when they begin to sit up, and the whole stroller converts from a double to single or can be used for kids of different ages. There are multiple options for car seat adapters; our Nuna car seats were compatible with a Maxi Cosi branded adapter.
Freshly Picked Classic Diaper Bag: This bag was honestly a bit of a gift for myself. If you must carry around diapers as a mom, why not carry them with style? This bag is high quality, classy, and utilizes it's space very efficiently. People ask me all the time, if our diaper bag is massive with twins. Nope, it is normal sized! Yes, we do pack in more diapers, more clothing, and more milk, but other than that it's about the same as any diaper bag. For a list of what we carry, check out my blog on "What's in my twin diaper bag"!
