You don’t need 2 of everything…
Twins can get quite expensive… after all, you’re basically buying double of everything. But are there things that you can live without 2 of? Sure! What are they? Well that depends on you. As a general rule, start with buying 1 of most things, and as you go along, you’ll find out what you can’t live without 2 of.
1. Diaper changing table. I’ve never met anyone who needed to change 2 babies at the exact same time. Well, yes, your twins will have many times when they both need a diaper, but I’m pretty sure you’ll only want to change 1 at a time anyway.
2. Dresser. Unless you have boy/girl twins, your twins will be sharing clothes. But even if they’re not, this will save space and time. (Putting laundry away). So make things easy and keep clothes, diapers, and other items together.
3. Crib/Cradle. This one is not as definite. Although we only needed 1 crib for 9 months, some babies need to be separated much earlier, some even from birth. If money is a problem, buy a crib divider. This will at least help when they start to roll.
4. Diaper bag. Again, this one might be a no-brainer, but you’ll have enough things to pack in the car. So lighten your load and consolidate. If there are things that have to be divided, use a diaper bag with more than 1 compartment. (I.e. One is allergic to something…)
5. Swing/Bouncy chair. I put these together, because generally, you shouldn’t need 2 swings and 2 bouncy chairs. However, I bought 1 of each, which was great when I couldn’t hold either one, and they both needed rocking. Plus, we found that each baby had a different preference.
6. Play mat/gym. Not only do you probably not need 2, but also this can be the time to start teaching sharing. Besides, for the time frame that they’ll use these, they’ll be too young to understand. You’ll probably have many other toys (or a swing or a bouncy chair) to interest the other in. You may just want to see if they’re even interested before you invest in 2.
7. Baby bath. When they get older and start bathing together, you might need 2 toddler bath seats. But you probably won’t be bathing 2 infants at the same time. The bathtubs are really only made for 1 baby anyway, so 1 tub should suffice.
8. Hygiene/Medicine supplies. Hairbrushes, nail clippers, medicinal droppers, thermometers, etc. are all things that you should never need 2 of. Although it’s cute to let them have everything of their own, chances are you’ll mix them up at some point (your supplies and/or your babies).
9. Stroller. This one is also debatable, especially if you’re a runner. I didn’t get into jogging until my girls were over a year, which is when I got my 2nd stroller. I love them both now (a tandem and a jogger) because they both get plenty of use. But see how much you can’t live without it before you spend the extra money.
10. Boppy Pillow. I can’t imagine that you’ll ever need 2… since it will mostly be used for feeding. I did also use mine as a head prop when they were little.
There are probably many more things that you only need 1 of, at least for part of the time. But the one thing that you’ll always need 2 of is car seats. And although I survived with only 1, 2 high chairs will make things much easier. And if you find that you just can’t live without 2 of something, you can always save money by buying used.