[Bumblebee]

We're expecting twins in February and I'm just looking for advice. What is the best piece of advice you have to give? What are some of the baby items that you could NOT have lived without?

Thanks,
bumblebee

[luvmy5kids]

Hi Bumblebee!

A double Stroller is an absolute MUST! I recommend the back to back, not the side to side. It is so much easier to work around stores and sidewalks!

Best of luck-
Danielle
mama to 5

[sp4home]

Hi- I recommend the Graco travel system. The infant car seats are very easy to use and they are easy to snap in and out of the car seat base. The Graco double stroller will accept both car seats as long as it has the rear seat tray. I agree with the above post that the 'one behind the other' double stroller is easier to use than the doublewide type. I also purchased a "snap N go" single stroller base unit for when I had just one baby with me.

I really used the quilted car seat covers to shield the babies from the cold weather. They have a flap that can cover the baby's face, or it can be left open. It attaches with elastic to the car seat, and it won't blow off in the wind like a blanket might do.

I could go on and on about products, but the above were my favorites and most useful to us.

Best wishes, Sherri

[Bumblebee]

sp4home~

We have already invested in the Graco Duo Glider and I'm just waiting for the first time we can take them walking!

I would love to hear about any other products that you would recommend for twins!! We're probably going to be registering soon and I'm trying to compile a list of necessities. Thanks!

bumblebee

[sp4home]

Hi- Here are a few more items that I really liked for multiples.

A foam crib divider. This separates one standard crib into two spaces. This allows you to look into the babies at one glance, lets the babies be near each other and IMO lets the babies get used to a crib mattress and a crib invironment from the start. When they learn to roll, I move them into their own cribs. The transition goes smoothly because they are used to being in a crib. Here is a website to view a divider. http://www.doubleblessings.com/blankets.html#divider

I used clear silicone baby bottle nipples for one child, and brown latex nipples for the other child. This way I could tell at a glance which bottle belonged to which baby. If baby #1 needed a bottle, my hubby would know which bottle to get from the fridge. BTW- My personal preference is disposable bottles.

I would color co-ordinate the color of the bottle to the color of clothes that the baby was wearing that day. Green outfit, green bottle etc. This was over-kill I know, but it was extremely helpful at Church because they may not know which baby had the clear nipples.

I never purchased exact outfits, but I very often purchased co-ordinating outfits. I had two boys and I would buy one outfit in green, one in blue (for example). This way I could use the outfits for a future child without repeating exact outfits. Also, if you ever decide to sell the outfits you can sell them individually or as twin sets.

I have a nursery monitor with a camera and portable monitor. You can clip the monitor onto your waistband and when the baby cries you can SEE as well as hear which baby it is and what they need.

There are many accesories for the Graco system. A few of my favorites are: The bug net (be sure to get the one for the double stroller). This is nice in the summer for keeping flies and mosqitoes away. The rain/wind shield. I don't take walks in the rain, but this nice for keeping the cold winter air from blowing directly onto the kids during winter walks. I also like the "Bundle Me BIG". It comes in "Original" which is for winter weather and "Lite" for spring/fall weather. They do sale a smaller "Bundle Me" but you will only get a few months use out of it. The Big version (ages 0-3) will get you through two (and sometimes three) winters. Here is a website for the Bundle Me Big http://www.globalmart.com/page/b/bun_original_b.htm

Just for fun I enjoyed the Baby Name Poll at babycenter.com. My poll is: http://www.babycenter.com/babypoll/5gSg You can email your friends and family and they can vote for their favorite names. Don't for get to send an adoption announcement to the White House.

I am looking forward to hearing what other mom's liked most.

Sherri

[luvmy5kids]

Wow Sherri!

Thanks for all the information. You sound really organized with your babies- you have to be with twins to keep your sanity! How old are your children?

Take care,
Danielle
mama to 5

[sp4home]

Hi-

We have a foster home for 'medical needs' infants. I get many preemies, multiples with low birth weights, physical handicaps/delays, mental delays, and babies that require physical therapy. But my specialty is infants with cardiology issues. We are on baby #23 (which is child #84, we used to take all ages but now only take medical infants).

We have had three sets of twins, and we have had four occasions where the babies were within one month age of each other (by coincidence) so it was just like twins. All had medical needs. Also by coincidence they have all been boys!

We have completed one (special needs, foster care) adoption in 2001. We are in the process of (special needs, foster care) adoption number two. He is 13 months old now. He started at 3 pounds. He spent his first five weeks in the NICU, then came directly to our home.

Sherri

[luvmy5kids]

Dear Sherri-

Bless your Dear Heart! How wonderful for you and your children. One of our children, Bailey, passed away in March due to complications from a CHD called tetralogy of the Fallot with Pulmonary Atresia. She was also born addicted to crack/cocaine and had FAS. We brought our sweet baby girl home from the hospital also, we miss her terribly. She was 5 months old when she bravely earned her wings.

My twins and my 3 year old (blood siblings) were also born exposed to crack- not addicted, thank the Lord! They are a real joy and have been so healing to my heart. None of them have any medical issues, another PTL! We also have a ten-year-old (going on 40!, LOL) that we adopted when he was eight.

It was nice hearing about your family- thank you for sharing. Good luck with your upcoming adoption!

Many heart hugs,
Danielle
mamto 5

[My PoohBear]

I know this is a twin thread but I hope you all don't mind me asking a few questions. My husband and I are considering newborns/infants with special needs. How did you decide to take care of babies with special needs? I'm afraid it will be more than my husband or I can handle. From what I've read they require so much extra everything (i.e. attention, medial needs). We all know babies regardless of their health require a lot of attention. I think my heart is leaning towards adopting a special needs babies but I'm not sure my husband would be. I will be quitting my job and working part-time from home when we do adopt. Even still this affects everyone in your family. We currently have no children. Any advise or help would be greatly appreciated.

[sp4home]

Hi- I did not "intend" to care for medically challenged infants, it just ended up that way. We took in a foster child, age 2, that had a laundry list of medical needs and through caring for her (and a ton of educational classes) I have become a specialized foster home. She had a heart attack at age 4 and a stroke at age 5, she has been stable now for a year. BTW- We adopted that child.

Because I had cared for her, they placed a similar infant in our home... then another... then another... They slowly became younger and younger, and had more and more medical issues.

These babies do require extra everything. I am a stay-at-home mom and that seems to work well for us because of the number of medical appointments that we have to attend for the babies. We live out in the country in Iowa and I have to travel an hour to Omaha to see the specialists. A working parent could do it, it would just be more difficult to schedule appointments etc. Most of our babies require PT three times a day. Some of our preemies eat every 1-2 hours. By being a SAH mom, I can make sure that these things get done properly.

The stresses of a special needs child are quite high, on you (mentally and physically), your marriage, your family, finances, everything. But, the rewards are ten-fold. Every achievement is monumental. When my first born bio-son took his first steps I was so proud and so thrilled... but when our Kristen took her first steps at age 4, I was moved to tears.

We once had a mentally delayed child. He never had a "bad" attitude or a bad day. He held no grudges. He never knew what a stranger was, everyone was his friend. He was always happy. All he knew was love. Perhaps it is not him, but us, that has the mental handicap.

I highly encourage you to think it over, do some research, talk to parents first hand, consider what you are willing to deal with. Some aparents can handle a physically challenged child, some a mentally challenged child, some aparents can handle a monderately challenged child, and some a profoundly challenged child. There is such a wide range in the definition of "special needs". Pray about it.

It is manageable, it is very rewarding, and God never gives you more than you can handle. **Although I wonder sometimes! Sherri winks and grins**

Sherri

[motherat15]

im 15 and the mother of twin girls

[luvmy5kids]

Dear Mother at 15,

Wow- you have a little challenge ahead of you raising twins! I am in my late twenties and I find it challenging on some days. Please feel free to post anytime with any questions, or if you just want to vent or talk. Do you have a support system set up to help you? It sounds like you are a very blessed young woman with two beautiful daughters to share your life with.

Take care,
Danielle
mama to 5

[leeniepooh]

Not exactly a product but this was my very favorite item to have on hand when my triplets came home from the hospital. I hired a nanny who spent the night for the first six months (she left during the day). This was the best thing I could have done. I was able to enjoy and care for my children during the day without being out- of-my-mind exhausted.

[withopenarms]

Bless all of you foster parents.. We are foster parents in Washington and receive very few calls and are very close to adopting.

We have really strong feelings we might get twins. Wow Bless all you that can and do raise more then one

To the mother of twins at 15
How in the world do you do it?

God has Blessed you twice as nice

[Nissa]

I am the mother of b/g twins just 3 months old and I could not live with out my swings. They have loved them from day one and it gives me a reprieve so I can get things done without having to chase my 2 year old away from them.

I also agree with the nanny idea. I cannot afford one myself but a girl from my church comes over 3 days a week to play with my son and help out with the twins and house work as she is needed.
She has been a god send.

Lots of Happiness
Nissa