Newborn Baby Essentials (Twin Edition!!)

This post contains affiliate links. If a purchase is made by clicking on a link, I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you. 

‍

First, let me start with congratulations on being pregnant/welcoming your bundle(s) of joy into the world! If you are like me, you may be overwhelmed with all the things for baby out there, and don’t have the finances or space to buy excess baby stuff. In all reality, you don’t need EVERYTHING. A lot of baby products out there, although maybe nice, are marketed toward us mamas, when in reality baby will be just fine without it- like wipe warmers…not necessary. Convenience and efficiency for both mama and baby are important.

‍

I am going to avoid the obvious essentials such as baby clothes, diapers, wipes, pacifiers, etc. The list below are items that helped me as a first-time mom, and having two babies at the same time. 

‍

‍

FEEDING

‍

Haakaa silicone breast pump 

I use the Haakaa almost exclusively when I am collecting breast milk. I received a Medela breast pump through my medical insurance, but to be honest it is kind of a nuisance to use. I like the Medela, no complaints but I don’t like using it because I have to be still for 20 minutes, and can’t hold my babies, plus the disassembling and washing of the parts isn’t convenient. I am a very busy lady and with newborn twins, it can be really challenging to pump when it is just me at home with them. I love that I can be fully mobile with the Haakaa. What do I mean by that? The suction is so strong, I can wear it in the shower (water just flows right over it, plus I am extra careful) and I can walk around the house doing chores with them on. I can even wear them when holding one of the babies. I can collect anywhere from 4-5oz from each breast with the Haakaa before or after a feeding. The optimal time to use the Haakaa is after breastfeeding, to ensure the babies have already eaten. I also love that they are super easy to clean - just one part. Also, I don’t have to be plugged into an outlet either.

‍

My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow for Twins

Trying to breastfeed even one baby can be hard to coordinate, let alone two! I love the My Brest Friend pillow because it makes breastfeeding so much easier and the babies are secure in one place. Trying to prop up baby with pillows and get them in the right position is difficult, so the nursing pillow is a must. I tandem feed the babies whenever possible, and this pillow makes it so easy. It has a pouch which I use to hold my breast pads. (you can use this also for snacks). This pillow also helps relieve back/neck discomfort since the pillow is raised, you don’t have to hunch your back. 

‍

Washable Breastfeeding Pads

I like that these breastfeeding pads are reusable and highly absorbent. I never have milk leak through my shirt. I took the removable padding out of my nursing bras and slipped these in-they keep my nipples from showing through my shirts, and catch any leaking milk that might come before/after a feeding. These are soft and comfortable. 

‍

SLEEPING

‍

Graco Pack and Play (with infant bassinet) 

I am going to be completely honest here- we decided against buying cribs to save money so I bought two pack-n-plays for our babies to sleep overnight in. I bought each pack-n-play a mattress so our babies would be extra comfortable. Our babies are under 15 lbs, which Graco recommends is the limit for the bassinet insert. Once they are over 15 lbs, we can lower them into the bottom section. I also didn’t want to buy two large cribs because we are limited in space. We currently have both pack-n-plays in our bedroom. We have moved around our furniture, in our home and the pack-n-plays can move easily because they are lightweight and have wheels. I love that the pack-n-plays are great for traveling, and can pack up neatly. Am I against baby cribs? Of course not! I just chose pack-n-plays because it works for us right now. 

‍

Swaddle blankets/Swaddles

Newborns have the Moro reflex, a startle reflex that makes them feel as if they are falling. In the womb, babies are snug and secure, so naturally, they like to be bundled when they sleep. In the first few weeks when we had our babies home, I used the Keababies sleep swaddles, and these were nice because they were so tight. I liked the ease of the velcro straps. Once the babies were a little over a month old, I switched to swaddle blankets by Mudpie. These are easy to use, and they are a little bit looser because our babies like to manage to get their arms out above their heads when they sleep. 

‍

DIAPERING

‍

Portable Diaper Caddy Organizer 

When creating my baby registry, I envisioned what diaper changes would look like. I imagined we would have a changing table in their bedroom with a cute changing station… Hello reality, in the middle of the night, I want to get the diaper change done as quickly as possible, so being able to change the diaper without leaving my bedroom is a huge plus. We keep the diaper caddy by our bedside, and it stores our diapers, wipes, baby powder, and changing mats. Extremely convenient for us, especially as we are sleep-deprived, we need ease and convenience. The nice thing about this caddy is you can take it anywhere, in any room, in the trunk, etc. Also, it is so cute! 

‍

Soiled Diaper Bag Dispenser Set 

These are actually for doggy bags but work great to wrap up dirty diapers when you are on the go. We have had to change a few diapers in the car before, so being able to wrap them has helped the car from smelling bad. These are important too if you are somewhere where there isn't a close trash can around and you have to store the dirty diaper in the diaper bag. 

‍

BATHING

‍

Baby Nail Trimmer Electric

Whenever I have to trim my cat’s nails, it is always a big ordeal. Mr. Bailey does not want his nails trimmed and shows me by squirming and trying to jump out of my arms. Cat’s nails are delicate, so how much more than a baby’s nails? I did not want to risk accidentally snipping their skin or cutting the nail down too far, plus it can be uncomfortable for a baby to get their nails trimmed. I love the electric nail trimmer because I can trim my babies’ nails whenever! When they are nursing, sleeping, or awake, it doesn’t upset them at all. The trimmer is quiet and gentle so it won’t startle them. The babies don’t mind their nails getting trimmed at all! 

‍

CLEANING

‍

Philips AVENT Premium Baby Bottle Sterilizer (with Dryer)

The first three months of a baby’s life are especially important for sterilizing their baby bottles, pump parts, and pacifiers. A baby bottle sterilizer is a great way to ensure that at every feed, no bacteria is lingering inside the bottles. To use the sterilizer, quickly wash the bottles/parts with soap and water and then place them inside the sterilizer with distilled water. In about 10 minutes, the bottles are cleaned and dry for the next use. This is a great way to have clean bottles ready than having to wait 2-3 hours for the dishwasher to be done. 

‍

TRANSPORTING

‍

Twin carrier or baby carrier 

(I am wearing them both now as I am writing this). I have the Weego twin carrier and it is a lifesaver! Worth every penny to be able to have both hands free and to wear both my babies at the same time. I love that both babies are in front of me. I have talked with some older moms, and they mentioned when their twins were young, the only twin carriers around were with one pouch in the front, and another pouch in the back. Weego also has single carriers too. My Weego carrier makes it to where I can wear both babies while doing some light cooking, cleaning, folding laundry, reading, and even napping. Just sitting on the couch it is nice to wear both of them and know that they are secure and won’t fall or that my arms won’t get tired. I love that the babies can be close to me, after all, they spent 9 months in my womb! Babies thrive with physical touch and being close to their mamas. I am glad I can bond with them and still get some chores done. Our babies love the carrier, and they often fall asleep when they are in it. 

‍

Enjoy your little one! 

‍

Sincerely,

‍

The Merry Madden blog