Double Trouble: Do Twins Need Two of Everything?

You are having twins…congratulations! You are probably overwhelmed and scared and nervous about everything from labor and delivery to financial strain and house organization. We get it. Let us help with one of those worries.

Many parents of twins think they need to buy two of everything, which will wreck the budget and your house. They worry about their kids not having access to things at every given moment and about fights breaking out over toys. Really, there are only a handful of items that you need to buy for each child. We’ll go over those in the list below.

One thing to remember: twins learn to share early on in life, and that is not a bad thing!

Do Twins Parents Need to Buy Two of Everything?

The answer is no, twin families do not need to buy two over everything! Here are the items we suggest getting in double (BOGO sales will become your best friend).

Car seats: This is fairly self-explanatory. Each child will need a safe way to be transported. Using age-appropriate car seats is the law, and you will not be able to leave the hospital unless you have them.
Cribs: Babies need their own sleep spaces, so whether you are using cribs, bassinettes, or pack-n-plays, each child will need his or her own space. This follows the guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Of course, you’ll also need multiple sets of appropriate sheets for the sleep spaces.
High chairs: Unless you stagger feeding times with your kids, you will likely need two high chairs. Pro tip: if you have limited space for bulking high chairs, buy the kind that attaches directly onto the table to the kitchen chairs you already have.
Adapted Items: Some items are adapted for two babies, and they might be worth it for your family. For example, instead of two strollers, you will likely need a twin stroller. While totally optional, many twin moms benefit from the My Brest Friend Twin Nursing Pillow and the Table for Two Twins Feeding System.
Optional: Some families find that having individual rockers, gliders, and/or play gyms is helpful. By no means are these necessities, but if you have the space and money and they make your life as a parent easier, go for it.
Other: The following items are things you will need a lot of, even if the twins share: pacifiers, bottles, clothes, diapers, wipes, towels, formula (optional), blankets, burb cloths, lotion, and body wash and shampoo. Unless your twins have different sensitivities, your twins should be able to share these items, but you will go through them faster than families with singletons.

When buying these items, be careful what you buy secondhand. There are hundreds of twin mom and moms of multiples pages on Facebook that allow parents to sell items they no longer need to other parents who are looking for deals. In most cases, this is a great way to keep costs down. However, some items, like car seats, are not recommended for secondhand use.

Other Resources for Twin Parents

Twin parenting is not for the faint of heart. If you need some additional resources, check out these tools from Twiniversity:

Good luck, twin parents! Being a twin is incredibly special, and being a parent to twins is a real privilege. There are a lot of people making comments about raising twins as if it’s a curse, but don’t let their ignorance make you fret. Parenting twins might be twice as much work, but there’s also twice as much love.