It seems like so many of my friends are pregnant with their first child, (Congrats Sandy, Lindsay, Melissa, Emily, Jennie, Caitlin, Cambria, and Annie!) so I wanted to share our favorites with them and any of the other expecting moms that may happen upon this post. Are any of your favorites on our lists? What items have become your favorites?
1 Month Favorites:
Pamper's Swaddlers: These were the diapers used in the hospital and we liked the little stripe on the front that changed colors when wet. We found it very helpful for FTP, especially dads. Plus, we found these to be the least expensive of our 2 favorite types of diapers when we purchased a case online from amazon mom and every penny counts when you have twins!
Halo Sleepsacks: When your mom is a mother baby nurse you know how to swaddle from an early age. My sister and I used to swaddle our dolls! Despite being so tiny, our little twinkies busted out of their swaddles like little hulks and then proceeded to smack themselves and each other in their sleep which woke everybody up. This nifty little invention kept them swaddled and got us all an extra hour of sleep on the very first night we used them. Plus, many twins and preemies benefit from being swaddled and this makes it super easy if you didn't grow up practicing your swaddling skills.
Boppy Loungers: The twins had (and still do) have issues with spitting up. During the first two months, they'd spit up like crazy if you laid them flat. These little pillows were lifesavers and worked better than the regular boppy to keep their tiny little bodies on an incline.
Mamaroo Swing: Our babies LOVE motion and this futuristic little swing was supposed to mimic mom's natural movement. It is pretty pricey and was a splurge item on our registry but totally worth every penny.
Carter's Gowns & Onesies: We loved the quality of the Carter's onuses and the gowns were a must for making the many, many, many diaper changes quick and easy. Additionally, the twins weighed only 5lb 13oz when we left the hospital and didn't fit into the newborn sleepers very well.
2 Month Favorites:
Happiest Baby on the Block CD: Right around this time our sweet sleepy little babies started losing their marbles left and right. Desperate for some quiet, I tried to reread portions of the Happiest Baby on the Block book. God Bless the 5 S techniques and this CD. The twins LOVE track 1 which is described as a "noisy hairdryer" but sounds like your hairdryer is filled with pebbles and makes you want to bang your head against the wall. Amazingly enough, it calms the twins almost instantly so you learn to love it quickly. It also has some great tracks to boost and maintain sleep. The twins have been sleeping to track 4 since we got the CD. It makes nap time so much easier because they associate the sound with sleeping and thanks to the magic of mp3s, I also have this CD on my phone so it's always with us.
Carter's Zip-Up Sleep & Plays: All of a sudden my tiny little babies' feet were sticking out of their gowns (When did they get so big!?!) so we needed to find a new favorite outfit. Sleep & plays are almost as quick and easy as the gowns and come in some really cute patterns. We hate the terry and snap versions (all those snaps x2???) but LOVE the cotton and fleece zippered ones.
Lucie's List: A newsletter for new and expert moms written by a woman with a fabulous sense of humor. I'm not sure how she timed her emails perfectly but they always arrived when I needed it most and made me laugh when all I wanted to do was have a nervous breakdown. Plus, it's totally FREE!
Dr. Brown's Bottles: Around 2.5 months my supply dried up. I tried it all: herbs, oats, barley, staying hydrated, even prescription antacids that were supposed to boost supply...no luck. With no time to do anything other than nurse and pump, I was ready to give it up as well. Lucas never got the hang of it due to being tongue tied and having to cope with Laryngomalacia but he took to these like a champ.
Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment: Love this stuff! It's great for everything from dry skin patches to red bottoms to scratches. Plus they send coupons to moms of multiples!
3 Month Favorites:
Rattles: The twins are starting to grip things and the slender handle on these rattles works well for their clumsy fingers. Plus they are paint and BPA free so no worrying when they put them into their mouths.
Infant to Toddler Rocker: They love to sit in these chairs, play with their taggies or rattles, and watch Baby Einstein/animated movies. So cute.
Taggies: They love to play with these and I couldn't resist this cute pair on Etsy.
Tummy Cruiser Prop & Play Mat: This has been a lifesaver when it comes to tummy time! They hated tummy time at first, especially Lucas. This little mat has a pillow we use to prop under their arms some of the time and has things for them to look at and reach for. It has definitely made tummy time much happier.
Lavender Bath Soap: Love that baby smell and this nice scent isn't too strong and helps get them nice and relaxed for bed time.
Primo Infant Bath Seat: We got these little seats so the twins could enjoy tub time together. So cute to watch them kick their little feet and play footsie with each other. Plus there's no mesh or foam so they are super easy to clean.
Munchkin Nursery Projector & Sound System: We just tried this and Leighton is a huge fan of it. We've just started the early phases of sleep training and have been working on self soothing for naps. They love to look up at the patterns turning on the ceiling as they fall asleep and I'm sure this little device has saved the twins and their momma lots of tears.
