And Baby Makes.... Four?!

You just found out you were pregnant. What a wonderful feeling. Then the doctor delivers the news. "Your having twins!" Now at that moment you have two options. You either cry or, well.. probably just cry. Either way you go, tears are sure to fall, but not to worry. Once the initial shock of having more than one child goes away, a whole new fear arises. How do I prepare for two babies??? This is where I come in and hopefully, with a few helpful hints, give you some insight as to what to expect.

When preparing for multiples, you want to make sure you have enough items to make it through at least the first two months. Diapers are your biggest item. When buying or receiving diapers, the key is to get a variety of sizes. My suggestion would be to gather sizes preemie to size 1. If you stockpile just one size, you run the risk of your babies growing out of them before you use them all and trust me, they grow like a weed.

The next item on your growing list of baby essentials would be onesies and sleepers. When dealing with two infants, the chances of a constant outfit change are increased. So at least for the first few months, you want to keep them in clothes that are quick and easy to get them into. Now I know how it is with a new bundle of joy. You want to dress them up and show them off. I completely understand. However, if you want to keep your nerves down to a minimal level, keeping things simple and hassle free will be the way to go. You can find plenty of cute onesies that when coupled with a pair of elastic band pants, make the perfect outfit.

For the grand finale, bottles. This is actually the one thing that can vary for everyone. I chose to bottle feed, but if you choose to breastfeed, then you might not need as many. However, if planning to bottle feed is the route you take, make sure you have at least 20 five oz bottles washed and sterilized before your babies come home. This will cut out any extra work upon your arrival home and trust me, you will go through almost all 20 within a single day before too long. I also recommend buying nipples in different flow sizes. Some babies require the slow leak nipples while others seem to be small vikings and cannot seem to eat fast enough! Below is a small diagram depicting each item and what I go through on average in a single day.

No matter how much advice you receive or how many books you read, the best kept secrets to raising twins are still left unanswered. Only you can find the easiest way to care for them. It's like getting thrown into a swimming pool. You either sink or swim, but with time, patience and planning, you will make it through alive.