What Do I Actually Need Two of If I'm Having Twins? (2024)

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You've just found out you're having twins. If you're anything like us, once the news lands, you take a few moments to be in shock and electrified disbelief. Sure, a handful of friends and family members joked to us that it might be twins–I am, afterall, a twin (fraternal, if you're wondering)–but that didn't automatically mean I was going to have twins myself. Each of my sisters had had single babies. And that was the plan for us; one baby.

And then, at 10.5 weeks along, we went for an ultrasound for fun because I didn't want to wait until I was 20 weeks along to see our baby. We already knew we were having only one–the testing we'd done to check for the possibility of chromosomal abnormalities, and also the likelihood of twins–had definitively told us with a more-than 99 percent accuracy there was only one fetus in my womb.

But that ultrasound technologist saw them both instantly. And everything changed. We immediately jumped into planning mode because we realized there was no more time to be dawdling or dilly dallying–especially when, statistically, twins arrive early.

Pivoting to plan for twins instead of a single baby changed many of the ideas we'd settled on, including several of the items we'd added to our baby registry.

Luckily, we found out we were expecting twins before we bought everything we needed for the nursery–but we were less than two weeks out from buying everything when we got the news and had already narrowed down some of our nursery picks. Pivoting to plan for twins instead of a single baby changed many of the ideas we'd settled on, including several of the items we'd added to our baby registry.

What do you actually need two of when planning to welcome twins? Let's take a look at the must-haves versus what comes down to each parent's personal preference.

Better Double-Up

Car seats and bases

Whether your twins are ready to come home immediately or need to stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for a while to put on weight, there's no getting around it–you'll need two car seats (with bases) to get your little ones safely home from the hospital. Even if your babies are ready to come home on separate days (ours came home two weeks apart; I always assumed they'd come home together like me and my twin did!), you'll eventually be taking them to the doctor or to see friends or family together, so you'll need to invest in two car seats with bases.

Pacifiers and soother clips

You'll want to double up on soothers and straps. It also doesn't hurt to have a few different styles of pacifiers, as every baby is different in what they prefer. Our twins stuck with the same kind they had in the NICU for the most part, but we still used two different kinds. This way, there was always one available for each baby, even when the others were being sterilized, because no matter how fast your sterilizing cycle is, it's never fast enough for a crying baby who is on the brink of waking their sibling who just finally fell asleep.

Clothing, including Preemie sizes

Of course, having two babies requires double the amount of clothing; everything from sleepers, to onesies, to shirts, pants, and socks. And speaking of socks, Kushies are, hands-down, the best socks for newborns, especially those born premature or with a lower birth weight; they are the only socks that didn't constantly fall off our babies' feet.

Kushies are, hands-down, the best socks for newborns, especially those born premature or with a lower birth weight; they are the only socks that didn't constantly fall off our babies' feet.

Keep in mind, you may need Preemie-sized clothing. This was something I didn't plan for, despite knowing they were likely going to be early. I assumed I could find this in-store, but none of the local big-name shops had Preemie sizes on-hand. The smallest I could get was Newborn, and our twins were born at 4 lb., 13 oz. and 3 lb., 7 oz. They were swimming in something sized Newborn. By the time Preemie items would have shipped to me, my twins wouldn't need them for much longer, so it didn't make sense to order anything. Luckily, my sister, who works in a NICU, had planned ahead and bought us a few preemie-sized sleepers, outfits, and Kushies socks, and it was enough to get us through the first couple of months, when they'd finally grown into Newborn sizes.

Bibs, burping cloths, and muslin blankets

As a first-time mom, I didn't know what to expect with feeding twins (how do you even feed two babies at the same time?!). I figured we could get by with the bibs, burping cloths, and muslin blankets we'd been gifted, but I quickly found myself buying extras to ensure we didn't run out between laundry sessions (even with doing a load of laundry a day, we went through them fast with two babies). Depending on how early your twins are born, their digestive systems could still be developing, and with that, comes acid reflux issues. Our twins were born 6.5 weeks early, so for those first few months, we were going through bibs, cloths, and blankets much more quickly, and we needed the extra ones on-hand at a moment's notice.

Diapers

Whether you're opting for cloth or disposable diapers, you'll need to double-up in this department. Bear in mind that if your twins arrive early, you may need Preemie size diapers, too. If your babies need to stay in the NICU, the hospital should supply the diapers during their stay (at least, ours did), and if you have the room to do so, I'd suggest having a mini store of diapers in your basem*nt or a nearby closet, so you can easily keep track of your supply. If you're going with disposable diapers, we found it best (and most economical) to do a subscription service because you do not want to be in a situation where you realize you've run out. If you're going with cloth diapers, I might suggest buying a few more than you think you might need, as the early days are a blur and laundry may fall by the wayside until it absolutely must be done.

Diaper pail, bags, and odor control

It's great at blocking out all the unwanted odors that come with twin territory and holds days' worth of diapers, making dual diaper changes a smooth operation.

While the pail supports singular snap and seal bags, we found these continual roll refills worked best for us. When planning for how many refills you'll need, keep in mind that their estimate of a "one-year supply" would only last six months, since you're dealing with double the diapers. Lastly, you'll want to keep those change table odors at bay because a) your nose will thank you and b) your babies don't want to be sleeping in a stinky environment, and who can blame them?! Our diaper pail had a slot to slide these Arm & Hammer baking soda cartridges into the lid, and they did a wonderful job at keeping the nursery fresh, no matter how many diapers we stuffed in there.

Changing supplies

Like diapers, you'll go through twice as many changing supplies with twins. You may want to set up a mini store in your nursery closet or wherever works for you, so that your changing station is always well-stocked with the essentials–wipes, vaseline or some sort of barrier to protect baby's sensitive skin, baby powder, and zinc cream to help prevent diaper rash.

Training potties and seats

When your twins are learning how to go–and they gotta go now!–it's best to have one available for each twin. They might be okay with sharing their potties, but then you're not scrambling if they both tell you urgently that they have to go at the exact same time.

Bottles, collars, and tips

Whether you're planning to breastfeed or bottle-feed, it's a good idea to have at least two sets of bottles on-hand per baby. Some babies take to the breast immediately; others have latching issues or needs that require them to be bottle-fed at least some of the time. In our case, our babies weren't putting on weight and their feeds had to be supplemented with formula, so they would get a mix of pumped milk mixed with formula in every bottle. You'll want to make sure you have enough bottles for the current feed for each baby, even if there is a set being sterilized or drying in the cupboard at the same time.

Nursing pillow and covers

...it's so helpful to have two single Boppy-style pillows available for other caregivers to help support each baby while feeding.

But if you're in a situation where you need to feed (breastfeed or bottle-feed) both babies' separately, it's so helpful to have two single Boppy-style pillows available for other caregivers to help support each baby while feeding. Whether you opt for a double pillow or single pillows, it's a good idea to double-down on the covers, so that you always have one in use and a clean one waiting in the wings for when the other needs to be washed unexpectedly.

Bottle warmers

While it's possible to get by with just one bottle warmer, we found life much easier with dual bottle warmers because that way, you aren't waiting in line to heat up a bottle for each baby when they're hungry. You may find it handy to have one warmer in your kitchen and the other warmer in your nursery. We liked having both in the kitchen. Whichever you end up going with, keep in mind that some styles, like Dr. Brown's or Philips, need water in the warmer. Others, like the ones offered by Medela, don't require water for the warming cycle.

Breastmilk and/or formula and storage bags

Everyone has a personal preference when it comes to how they'd like to feed their twins (fed is best, no matter how it's achieved!). If your plan is to solely formula feed, you'll obviously need to double-up on formula. If you plan is to solely breastfeed, I would still plan to have a few containers of formula in the house because every person is different with how (or if) their milk supply comes in and how much they can produce. You can try your hardest and sometimes still not be able to produce enough milk for two babies, even with a supply in the freezer, and that's through no fault of your own. But if that moment should come, you don't want to be without formula for your hungry little ones.

For me, that moment came at 2:00 in the morning after a few days of intense cluster feeding for both babies, so we were thankful for the stash of formula we had waiting in the basem*nt...

For me, that moment came at 2:00 in the morning after a few days of intense cluster feeding for both babies, so we were thankful for the stash of formula we had waiting in the basem*nt (especially, since it was virtually impossible to find formula at that time due to the shortage and recall issues that were going on). For those planning to breastfeed, you'll want to have plenty of breastmilk storage bags on hand. We like these ones, so you can easily label and keep track of milliliters/ounces pumped and how long each batch is good for.

High chairs, Table-for-Two, booster seats, and feeding bibs

This one falls under Dealer's Choice. You could get two high chairs or booster seats, or you can get by with one. I know people who have fed twins one at a time with a single high chair and it's doable. I, personally, prefer to have two chairs. I like to multi-task for meals because even though you're feeding two at once, I find it goes more quickly to do both at the same time. Alternatively, the Table for Two is one unit with two seats for twins, so you can do a dual feed with a different footprint than individual chairs. Again, I prefer two chairs to one in this case because I'm able to rock one chair with my foot, if needed, while feeding the other baby who remains stationary. When it comes to feeding bibs, it's nice to have a set of silicone ones (for easy wipe-downs) with the built-in tray to catch whatever your babies drop.

Bowls, plates, spoons, and sippy cups

Life is easier having double the silicone bowls, plates, and spoons. If you have limited cupboard space but find you have time to wash everything between feeding the twins, all the power to you, but I'd recommend just doubling up on these, so that you have enough to get through a day's worth of meals. By the time your twins graduate to sippy cups, I'd definitely double-up on these, so you don't run out throughout the day. The investment is worth the time you'll save not having to wash them a few times a day.

Toothbrushes, toiletries, and baby care essentials

Once your babies' teeth start coming in (as early as three or four months, though some don't start teething until closer to seven or eight months), you'll want to have a toothbrush or a silicone finger brush to gently clean each baby's gums before bedtime. While you will go through twice the amount of baby toothpaste (we like this fluoride-free one), you use so little at first that it lasts a long time. When it comes to other baby care essentials, we found we preferred a nail buffer to a classic nail trimmer in the early days (so long, fears of accidentally nipping baby's delicate skin with the clippers!), but did like having a set of clippers on-hand to use on their toenails once they turned one-year-old and their toenails started growing more quickly. Other care items, like a thermometer, hairbrush, baby-safe tweezers, ear picker, or nasal cleaners, we only needed one of and could sanitize between uses as needed.

Baby monitors

In the early days, while the twins were sleeping in the same room as us, one monitor was enough because we were either awake with them, or sleeping within arm's reach of their bassinets. But as soon as we had them set up in separate cribs in their own room, we needed two monitors to keep tabs on them.

Pain relief management (teethers, cool packs, and medications)

With double the teeth coming in, you'll go through double the pain, so you'll want to have twice as many teethers as you would with a single baby. And while every baby will be different in how much cutting a tooth bothers them, you'll go through about twice as much pain relief medication. Bumps, bruises, and fevers are less likely to be overlapping, so you can probably get by with just one cool gel pack. Ours came in a three-pack and we've never needed them all at once.

Rocking chairs

One of my biggest pieces of advice is to double-down on infant rocking chairs. While you can't let them sleep in the chairs unsupervised, these chairs were life-savers in the first few months while our twins couldn't lift their own neck or support their own weight. If you need a few minutes to grab a quick bite to eat or fold the seemingly-never-ending pile of itty-bitty laundry, your babies can be buckled into their little rockers, and you can use both feet to rock the chairs while using both hands to speed-fold or eat. It sounds like the ultimate form of multi-tasking–and I guess it is–but it's really just the first of oh-so-many things you learn how to do at the same time as a parent of, or caregiver to, twins.

Swings and gliders

In our case, we had one swing and one glider, and they were very helpful during the early months with twins. Get two swings, two gliders, or one of each. Whatever you do, you will not be disappointed when they are the only thing that will help lull your babies to sleep.

Exersaucers, bouncers, and jumpers

As your babies get older and can hold up their heads but can't quite navigate the world around themselves, you'll want something to keep your twins entertained–and busy–for short stretches, so you can get crucial things done around the house, like laundry, dishes, a quick snack to keep you going until their naptime. Exersaucers were a huge help for us at this stage. I initially figured they could share one while the other used the playmat, but then I soon realized that wasn't going to fly (they both wanted to be busy at their stations at the same time), so we got a second one, and they were a lifesaver. Definitely worth temporarily losing the real estate in the living room if you have room to accommodate two playards for a few months.

Definitely worth temporarily losing the real estate in the living room if you have room to accommodate two playards for a few months.

Then, when they were a bit more stable, we introduced them to their Jolly Jumpers, and they absolutely loved them. They'd spend a few chunks of time a day hopping and dancing to music in them, while we got caught up on folding laundry, emptying the dishwasher, or prepping their next bottles.

Playards

If you need to quickly run to the bathroom, put on a load of laundry, or just sit for a few minutes without chasing dual babies, you'll want to put your children down into a safe spot without having to go through the ritual of strapping them into their high chairs or rocking chairs. Depending on how much space you have, this could be in their cribs in the nursery, or it could be in a playard in the living room.

In the early days, when they aren't mobile, one playard will do the trick...

In the early days, when they aren't mobile, one playard will do the trick, but once they're older and can wiggle around, you might consider two playards to keep them separated because your babies could unintentionally scratch each other, accidentally poke each other's eyeballs, or even bite each other's fingers while you run to the other room for a minute.

Baby carriers

There will be times when you want to be able to walk around, hands-free, with your little ones, so you can get things done around the house. Or maybe you're going somewhere that you would rather not bring a stroller but want to baby wear. In these cases, two baby carriers or baby wearing devices could come in handy.

You may want to test out a single carrier on your twins to make sure they like the carrier before you invest in two of them...

You may want to test out a single carrier on your twins to make sure they like the carrier before you invest in two of them because the last thing you want is to end up with two carriers that are sitting in the closet unused because your babies didn't like a particular style.

Cribs and bedding

Once your babies are in their own room (or rooms) with their own cribs, you'll want them each to have their own separate sleeping area. The same goes for their own crib mattresses, leak-resistant mattress covers (you'll want two for each baby, so you aren't waiting on laundry when it's bedtime), and crib sheets. For crib sheets, it doesn't hurt to have three per baby–one that's in the laundry, one that's clean and currenlty being used, and one for just in case of that 2:00 a.m. accident when you want to be able to get them back into a fresh bed as quickly as possible (read this article on quick crib changes to set yourself up for success).

Swaddles and sleep sacks

Until your twins are old enough to sleep with a blanket (usually around one year old), you'll likely use some combination of swaddles and/or sleep sacks, so you'll want to double-up on these.

It's nice to have three sleep sacks per baby, at least until they're about a year old...

It's nice to have three sleep sacks per baby, at least until they're about a year old–one that's in the laundry, one that's clean and currently being used, and one for just in case of an accident after you've just grabbed the back-up.

Hampers

I initially thought we'd only need one hamper for the twins, but I've realized I like having two on the go at all times; one that is always used for dirty laundry and one that is always available for clean laundry because I don't always have time to fold what's clean before I need the dryer to be free. This way, I can throw all of their clean stuff into the second hamper and fold it when I have time later in the day and not have to worry about the load of laundry that I would eventually forget has been sitting in the washer all day.

Winter gear

Depending on where you live and how cold your winters get, you might need to invest in a pair of winter car seat covers. You'll also want to source some snowsuits (with hand and feet covers), toques, and scarves if your twins will be old enough to be going out and experiencing all winter has to offer.

One and Done

Stroller

One double stroller is the way to go. Ideally, something with extra cargo space that will grow with your little ones. You'll want to consider your needs and lifestyle (and the size of your vehicle's trunk or cargo area) before landing on the one that's the best fit for you. Will you be going for multiple daily walks, or do you just need something to get you to the doctor's office or grocery store real quick? (Read this article on the best strollers for twins.)

Diaper bag

You'll only need one diaper bag, but you'll want to make sure it's equipped to meet your needs, with plenty of organization and space for double the supplies. We went with a backpack-style bag because with twins, both hands tend to be full at all times and you don't want to be juggling your diaper bag on top of everything else.

Changing table and dresser

You can get by with just one diaper-changing table (though some will argue the merit of having a station on each floor of your house, we preferred having one master set-up in the nursery with everything we needed, including the wipes dispenser, in one spot). Because we suddenly had to fit two cribs into the nursery, we saved space by buying a double-duty changing table with a built-in dresser that holds all their onesies, sleepers, and seasonal outfits. The changing area is removable for when they're out of diapers, giving you even more bang for your buck.

Changing pad and cover

You'll only need one changing pad for your changing station, BUT you will probably want dual covers for the pad. That way, you can easily throw a fresh cover on it while the other one is in the wash.

Bathtub

This one depends on personal preference. We opted to go with one bathtub and bathe one baby at a time because one wriggling, wet baby is enough to keep track of. You may prefer to go with one or even two separate bath seats for the tub, depending on what logistically works for your set-up. Either way, you'll end up going through twice the baby body wash, bubble bath, and lotion for after-bath massages.

Humidifier, fan, and blackout curtains

Unless you have your twins in separate bedrooms, you can get by with one humidifier, one fan, and one set of blackout curtains. These were initially things I had in the "Nice to Have But Don't Need to Have" category.

...once summertime hit, I found that combining our blackout curtains in the nursery with a humidifier and a fan made such a difference with keeping the nursery several degrees cooler.

But once summertime hit, I found that combining our blackout curtains in the nursery with a humidifier and a fan (not blowing air directly on the babies) made such a difference with keeping the nursery several degrees cooler. I now can't imagine not having these things working together to keep their room comfortable.

Sound machine

One sound machine should do the trick, unless you plan on having your twins in separate bedrooms once they're in their own cribs. Some baby monitors have a built-in sound machine feature, which is nice.

Breast pump and accessories

If you want to keep your supply steady while maximizing your time, your best bet is a double electric breast pump...

If your babies need to spend time in the NICU, your hospital may provide pumps while you're there, but you may need to bring your own accessories (bottles with lids and/or tips, tubing, and flanges) for the pump. If your own pumping kit doesn't come with a cooler to transport your milk, you'll want to make sure you have one available with an ice pack, so you can pump and safely transport your milk, wherever you may be. One pumping-related item I WOULD double-up on would be lanolin cream, so you can stash a tube with your pumping kit and another one in your changing station or diaper bag, so that you're never without it.

Sterilizer and steam sterilizer bags

You can get by with one sterilizer if you have the counterspace. If you prefer to use microwave steam sterilizer bags instead, you'll want to buy a few packs (Dr. Brown's, Medela, or Munchkin offer these) because while they can be reused a certain number of times, you don't want to run out at an inconvenient time (like, say, the 3:00 a.m. feed).

Bottle Drying Rack

You can get by with one bottle drying rack. Because we had so many bottles in rotation with our twins, we kept a sterilized storage container inside the pantry (away from our pets' curious noses), so that once bottles had finished drying on the rack in the cupboard, they could be moved into the pantry "holding area" and stay sterile until they were needed later in the day.

Bassinet

You could go either way on this one. Some people prefer having a separate bassinet for each twin in the early days, when you have them sleeping in the room beside you. Others like the idea of having a bassinet made specifically for twins, like the Joovy Room2 Playard, for which you can add an accessory called the Twin Nursery Center Bassinet Playpen.

This accessory, in my opinion, is a must-have for this playard during those early days at home with your newborn twins.

This accessory, in my opinion, is a must-have for this playard during those early days at home with your newborn twins. It has an optional divider, so your babies can sleep in separate sections or snugly side by side, and it also has a diaper changing pad incorporated into the design for those late-night changings. Whether you go with one bassinet or two, for the accompanying mattress cover and sheets, you'll want to have back-ups on-hand, if possible, so that if any accidents happen or the day gets away from you (trust me, it will), you aren't waiting on laundry to be done before you can put your babies down to sleep.

Bookshelf

You may read to your children throughout the day or as part of their bedtime routine. We were gifted tons of books, which was wonderful, but they take up a lot of space. We have one bookshelf in the nursery for bedtime books. As the twins got older, we put a second shelf in their main play area, and we rotate books in and out to keep things fresh, but you could easily get by with just one bookshelf.

Chair for the nursery

If you have the space in your twins' nursery, you might want to include a chair for overnight feeds and snuggles or storytime with your little ones. We opted for a chair-and-a-half, so both parents can settle in side-by-side with a baby for the bedtime routine.

Milestone blanket or cards

While it's not a necessity, if you want to look back on the early days with your twins and compare how they've grown as the months go by, a twin-specific milestone blanket can help you do this. They're bigger, to allow room to lay both babies on it, and you can personalize them based on many things (colours, patterns or themes, even the names of each baby–if you're that organized). Alternatively, you could buy a singleton baby milestone blanket and do separate photos with each twin, if you want them to be solo in the photos. Milestone cards are another option that allow you to snap a quick photo with a month-marker and might require less wrangling of wriggling babies. No matter which route you choose, you could get by with just one blanket or set of milestone cards.

Sit-me-up chairs

A sit-me-up chair is handy when your little ones are on the cusp of being able to sit up but still need that extra bit of help supporting themselves. You could get by with one sit-me-up chair, but we found it easier to have two, so that they could both be in their chairs and have a snack or play with the toy bar and work up their neck strength while we threw the laundry in the dryer or sterilized bottles.

Blender or food processor

Once your babies start solids, you'll want to have a reliable blender or food processor if you're planning to make any baby food. At the beginning, it was absolutely quicker and easier to buy ready-made jars or pouches of baby food. Once the twins were older and could go longer between meals, we began experimenting with making our own food. The Baby Brezza food processor is a time-saver because it can both process and steam food in the same unit. Plus, once you no longer need it for pureeing baby food, you'll still get use out of it if you switch it over to daily smoothie duty.

The Baby Brezza food processor is a time-saver because it can both process and steam food in the same unit.

For teething popsicles, I prefer Ninja's personal smoothie blender because the individual cups are the perfect size for creating a dozen baby-sized popsicles.

Play mats or tummy time mirrors

Tummy time with two little ones is twice as cute and also takes up twice as much space. You don't NEED a playmat to do tummy time–your little ones could each lie in a caregiver's lap or use a Boppy pillow to gain strength, but if you want a playmat, you should consider the benefits of one larger-sized playmat vs. two smaller single-sized playmats. We liked having one bigger mat because it saved space compared to having two separate mats in our living room, while still giving the twins enough room to do tummy time on their own or interact together on the mat.

We liked having one bigger mat because it saved space compared to having two separate mats in our living room...

Baby-safe mirrors are also a great way to get your little ones doing tummy time. Having just one worked in our case because it was wide enough, and double-sided, so they could each use it at the same time.

Nightlight

Depending on which baby monitor you go with, you may have a built-in nightlight for your twins' nursery. Our monitors came with dimmable nightlights, but I liked the idea of having a standalone nightlight for the aesthetics of the room–it's the cutest little crescent moon with lights that look like stars when it's turned on. It was handy having a separate light in the early days that we could switch on and off without using the baby monitor app.

Are you a seasoned twin parent? What items did you find you absolutely needed two of? Were there certain things you found you could easily get by with only one of? Let us know in the comments section below!