Checklist

Preparing for Your Multiples' Arrival

a New Parents Checklist

Preparing for multiples can be a daunting task! Here is a list of essentials organized by category to help you in your task. Because multiples typically arrive early, and mothers are often put on bedrest the last few weeks of their pregnancy, it is recommended that you have your preparations made well before your expected due date!

Nursery

Furniture

__ 2 Cribs and Mattresses
(tip: you can put both babies in the same crib for a while, or use a pack 'n play)
__ Changing Table
(tip: if you have a multiple level house, put a changing table on each story. This will save a lot of time and energy running up and down the stairs.)
__ Dresser
__ Changing Pad and cover
__ Rocking Chair or Glider
(tip: if you plan on nursing your multiples, you will probably use a couch or the floor since the twin nursing pillow is too large to use in a rocker.)

Bedding/Room Decor

__ 2 Sheets per Crib (or 2 ultimate crib sheets)
__ 2 Mattress Pads per crib (waterproof ones are the best)
(tip: if your babies spit up a lot laying down, use sheet savers to minimize changing sheets)
__ 4-6 Receiving Blankets per child
(tip: Miracle Blankets will keep your baby wrapped secure, and are great for fussy babies. Hospital blankets are the perfect size for receiving blankets too.)
__ Crib Mobile (not essential - but fun!)
__ Storage (wicker baskets, storage bins, hanging closet organizer, etc.)

Equipment

__ Car Seats for each child
__ Bouncy Seats for each child
(tip: get the vibrating ones! I also really liked the kick 'n play bouncy seats - they had a lot of fun kickin' and playin' when they got older!)
__ Double Stroller
(tip: it's good to have a stroller like the DuoGlider that you can clip the car seats into - it makes it a lot easier to transport babies when they're little)
__ Swing
(tip: two swings are nice, but take up a lot of room and you really won't use them after the first 3 months. I had a large swing and a travel swing which was a lot smaller, and this worked really well. Plus, I could take the travel swing and easily move it to different places in the house, and it was a lot cheaper than buying 2 large swings).
__ Activity Gym
__ Highchairs (one for each child)
(tip: you can wait to get these until your children are about 6 months or when you decide to start solids)
__ Play Yard (Pack 'n play)
__ Baby Monitor
(tip: if your house is small enough, you really don't need this - believe me, you'll hear them crying (and you won't hear all the little noises all night)!
__ Cool Mist Humidifier
__ Baby Carrier
(tip: fussy babies really like being carried in a sling)
__ Exersaucers (don't need until 5 or 6 months - it's nice to have 2 so that they can play at the same time, and you can switch them after they get bored with one)
__ Rattles (Tiny Love, Lamaze, Discovery toys are great)

Infant Care

Feeding Supplies

__ Twin Nursing Pillow (if breastfeeding)
__ Lanolin (if breastfeeding)
(tip: you are getting double duty and this really helps soothe the soreness)
__ Breastpump
(tip: A double electric such as Medela Pump in Style or Ameda Purely Yours are best, and you just won't have time to manually pump. If you have to pump a lot because your babies are preemies, you will probably have to rent a hospital grade pump because you will be pumping every 3 hours. They run about $60-70/month, and you can rent them from City Drug and Once Upon a Child in Fort Collins).
__ Milk Storage Bags
__ 6-10 Bottles and Nipples per baby (if bottle feeding)
__ Bottle Sterilizer
__ Bottle Warmer
__ Bottle Brush
__ Burping Cloths (lots and lots of burp cloths!)
__ 8-12 Bibs per baby
(tip: we used bibs all day long because our babies spit up a lot, this saved us a lot of outfit changes!)

Baby Care

__ Digital Thermometer
__ Baby Tylenol
__ Nail Clippers
(tip: don't cut their nails with the clippers until they're about 2 months old - just use the file until then. If they keep cutting themselves, you may want to consider putting baby mittens on their hands.)
__ Baby Wash
__ Bathtub
__ Hooded Bath Towels (2 per baby)
__ Washcloths (6 per baby)
__ Comb or Brush

Diapering Supplies

__ Newborn Diapers (or several diaper sizes)
(tip: twins use 650 diapers/month and triplets use 1000/month initially!)
__ Diaper Pail
(tip: if you have multiple changing stations, get a diaper pail for each one)
__ Diaper Bag
(tip: a backpack works best, then you have both hands free)
__ Wipes
__ Diaper Rash Ointment

Apparel (per baby)

__ 8-10 Onesies
(tip: you may not use these if it's winter)
__ 5-10 Sleepers
(tip: you may need more if it's winter because you can use them in the day and at night)
__ 2-3 Newborn Hats
__ 5-8 Pairs of Socks
__ 3-5 Outfits

Remember - a great place to buy baby equipment and apparel is at the multiple's garage sale!

Top 5 things for surviving the first 3 months:

1. Vibrating bouncy seats

2. Twin nursing pillow

3. Mother or mother-in-law

4. Double or Triple Stroller

5. Swings