Seeking Advice on Best Products and Sanity Savers for Mom Expecting Twins

Suggest that she go to the North Dallas Mothers of Twins Club semi-annual sale on March 29 - www.ndmotc.org. There will be TONS of baby and kid clothing, toys, equipment - pretty much everything you need for a child (not just multiples) at great prices. If she goes there knowing what she wants and the retail price she'll be able to get really good deals. And the prices on clothing are awesome!

If she's too far along to go at the end of March maybe you could shop for her.

I found this information on www.babiesonline.com a few days ago when I was searching. It's numbers that you can call to get 2-5 times the number of baby product coupons from specific companies (baby food, diapers, etc.) Just thought it might help.

Beechnut (baby food mostly sold at Albertson's)
1-800-523-6633

Evenflo Products
Call 1-800-356-BABY for information on receiving twins-quads starter kits including disposable liners for diaper pails, bibs, and coupons for other products.

Gerber
Call 1-800-4-GERBER and ask for the Multiple Birth Program. They will send free food, coupons, feeding spoons, and more.

Johnson and Johnson
Call 1-800-526-3967 to receive your twins-quads gift packet and coupons.

Kimberly Clark - Huggies diapers
Call 1-800-544-1847 for money saving coupons and free products for twins-quads.

Mead and Johnson, makers of Enfamil Baby Formula
Call 1-800-222-9123 for information on receiving a free case of formula (for each baby twins-quads) and money saving coupons.

Proctor and Gamble - Pampers and Luvs diapers
Parents of triples or more can call 1-800-543-0480 to receive a free package of diapers for each baby

The First Years
Call 1-800-533-6708 for information on receiving twins-quads bibs and rattles.

Hope this helps!

If she doesn't want to end up having to purchase two strollers, she can look into the Graco DuoGlider double stroller. It will hold two infant seats and later can hold both babies when they're out of their infant carseats. I recommend the Graco because its not as expensive as some of the other brands and they're highly rated in safety and you can use them until your kids outgrow a stroller. They do sell these at Babies R Us, but if you want a better pattern selection and possibly a lower price, check out www.albeebaby.com (I think they offer free shipping over $100).

I also recommend the pacifier pod, the swaddle blankets, and the sleep sacks. The swaddle blankets velcro so she won't have to worry about rewrapping babies. The sleep sack eliminates the need for a blanket, but still keeps the baby warm (lessons the worrying about SIDS). The pacifier pod is just a nice convenience. I love not having to dig through my bottomless pit diaper bag to find a pacifier when my son is screaming in public...I can just grab one out of the pod.

I just had my twin girls 3 weeks ago today and all this is still so very fresh in my mind!!!! we had horrible luck at Babies R Us and JC Penney, things had to be ordered and found that things did not come in on time if they did at all, when they did they were wrong or broken it was one problem after another, we finally went to USA Baby and found everything we needed there and in stock not to mention the customer service was way beyond anything we found at the other two places. if you would like advice on things that are a must to have 2 or more of or things you can get away with just having one of feel free to email me I can not tell you how many things we took back because we realized we did not need 2 of, hope this helps a little and look forward to hearing from you.

My one and best piece of advice is about the stroller. Key word Swan double snap n' go stroller and find one located on the internet (I've never seen one available in a store). Anyway, I could not have survived the first year of my twin boys (they just turned 2 on the 16th) without this stroller. It is the best best best way to go for the first year and then she can switch to a traditional double stroller when the babies come out of their infant carriers. It is basically a frame that folds up so nice and flat for easy storage in the car and then you just snap the babies on to the frame in their infant carriers straight out of the car - no need to wake them up or change their position. I realize systems like this are already out there, but this one is different, not so bulky and heavy and it accomodates nearly every make and model of infant carrier/carseats that are made. I've seen a few other parents with twins over the last few years using it too, it really is great.

I agree with the Graco stroller. It is one of the only 2 besides the snap and go that I found to fit 2 car seats that was not a side by side. It is a great stroller. It turns very well and not too heavy to lift. I weigh about 110 pounds and can lift it with no problem. I would not recommend the Graco Twins Pack n Play since the top part holds up to 15 pounds. My twins would have out grown it in 3 weeks! I know it could support more than that, but never know! I am a first time mom with my twin boys and they have been great. I can't think of anything special I needed or wish I had for them. Oh wait I ordered these things online called Milk Maid baby bottle holder. I used these when they both needed to eat at the same time. I also heard that the Best Friends nursing pillow is a must for twins, but one of mine was in the hospital for a couple of weeks so he just got breast milk out of the bottle.

Just FYI the world does not embrace Mothers of Multiples.

Be sure to let her know that Babies R Us for sure and I think Target will give you discounts on 2nd items purchased when you let them know that you are expecting twins. This even works for big ticket items like cribs etc.

This is not specific to twins: we got a Fisher Price Soothing Motion Glider (cheapest from Walmart online) when my last baby was a newborn. It was the only way she would sleep at night. She was able to sleep 10-12 hours (without waking to nurse) by 3 months. I can imagine w/ 2, sleep would be even more illusive.