Baby Dudes and Divas

Twins?  Congratulations!  That means double the pleasure, double the fun!  And double the cost of most of the baby gear you need.  But what is more adorable than two precious little bundles of glee?  You may have to buy double most things, like baby clothes, cribs, and other items, but at least you can put both of the babies in the same stroller.  Whoever invented the double stroller did the parents of twins (or of two babies close together) a huge favor!

There are many things to consider when picking out a stroller, and choosing a double one will add to that list a little more.  I have listed five general considerations in no particular order.

1.  Strollers have various convenience features that you will want to consider.  One of them is the ease with which you can fold it down and put it back up.  If that is a hassle, then you should look for another one – especially with twins in tow.

Other convenience features are things like cup holders, snack trays for the babies, a place to put bags if you are shopping, a rain and/or sun hood, and others.  Think about which ones would be important to you in the places where you are likely to be going.

2.  Safety is a huge issue.  Make sure the stroller is stable and will not tip over easily if a wheel is up on the curb, or a diaper bag hung over the handles.

A five-point harness is best if the babies will be in the stroller a lot.  If you will be using it only occasionally, a three-point harness will do.

Look for anything that might pinch or poke the babies as they get bigger and begin investigating.

3.  Another feature, which could go under the convenience feature, but might be more of a necessity than a convenience since you are dealing with two babies, is a travel system. That is the ability to snap the car seat into the stroller instead of having to unbuckle and buckle the babies from one seat to another.  Graco puts out a nice double stroller with this feature.  It seats the babies one behind the other.

Another one is called a Snap and Go by Baby Trend.  This is more of a frame to snap the car seats onto.  It fits most car seats, but you would definitely want to check out yours specifically.  The frame is lightweight and easy to fold down.

The sit and stand stroller is meant more for two children of different ages.  The older one can stand behind while the younger ones sits.  It’s lighter weight than the other double strollers, but not ideal for twins.

There are also side-by-side sport strollers.  They are available in different weights and sturdiness, from clips to fasten umbrella strollers together, to sturdier models to go jogging with.

And there are some other, more unique styles made by Phil and Ted’s, Eddie Bauer, and Peg Perego.   Look carefully.  Some of them look like the baby behind or underneath will not have anything to look at but the back of the other one.

4.  Another feature to consider is the durability of the wheels and the height of the handles. Larger wheels, and springs or shocks will give a smoother ride.  And you should test drive it through the store to check out the maneuverability.

Are the handles the right height for you?  If not, are they adjustable?  You don’t want to have to bend over to push it, or reach up too high and put a strain on your shoulders.

5.  And of course, there is the price consideration.  That will be determined by your list of priorities and ability to pay.  If you are going to be spending a lot of time with your babies in the stroller, it might be worth more to you to go for the convenience features you want.  Shop around because finding the right double stroller is a big investment and you want to do it right the first time.

You have the most beautiful baby in the world.  There has never been another one born with such precious little features, such a cute shaped little head, such soft skin, and such adorable little fingers and toes.  I know what you’re thinking.

Only the best for my baby.  She is so perfect, how can she ever do anything wrong?  He’s so precious, we’re going to have the best relationship ever.  I can’t wait to get home and bathe and cuddle and feed and…wait a minute…what am I going to dress her in?  We had a baby shower, but how many gorgeous little pink dresses can one baby wear? I need baby stuff!   I need sleepers, blankets, bottles, formula, a crib, car seat, diaper genie, pack-n-play, changing table, stroller, something to bathe her in, a rocking chair, dresser, monitor, pacifiers, and what if he gets sick?…Oh!  What have we done!?

Relax.  Everything you need is available at department stores, discount stores, second hand stores, baby stores, grocery stores, and online.  And you don’t need all of those things immediately.  So the baby shower didn’t give quite the variety you were hoping for.  True, it’s going to cost you some money, but it can be stretched out over time.

Start by prioritizing.  Make a list of all the things you need.  Then put them in order of importance.  For example, most hospitals won’t even let you take the baby home without an approved car seat.  That’s a must.  If you’re not going to breast feed, bottles and formula are a must.  Some sleepers and a few blankets are a must if it’s wintertime.  If it’s hot, then some onesies are the best option.  If it’s really hot, just a diaper will do.  Everything else can wait.  Even a crib, if necessary.

You can put up with the inconvenience and bad smell of diapers in a trashcan for a few weeks until you can afford a diaper genie.  You won’t be spending the night away from home for a while, so the pack-n-play can wait too.

The crib is pretty important, but many babies have spent their first few nights in a chair turned around against the wall.  Just make sure it’s firm so there is no chance of suffocation.

Bathe the baby in the kitchen sink until you can get a baby bathtub or a bath seat.  A changing table is nice, but the bed works, too.

Get a pacifier only if you have a fussy baby that needs the extra sucking action to get him or her calmed down.

Monitors are nice, and can really help mom and dad get a good night’s sleep.  However, I had never even heard of such a thing when I had my babies so I can testify that they are not essential unless your baby is at high risk of a serious health condition.

You will need a stroller, but carrying the baby in your arms is such a natural bonding experience, I suggest using the stroller only when you’re out for a long time and your arms and back are getting tired.

As your baby grows, the clothing issue becomes more important.  Shoes are not necessary at first, but will become so.  Quite often there will be a friend or relative who is willing and happy to pass on the outgrown clothes of their kids.  You can watch for sales and find quality used clothing stores.  But don’t feel like you have to rush out and buy a whole wardrobe of baby items.  When that happens, the baby often outgrows half of the clothes before ever wearing them.

Now, as for the rocking chair, that would be almost at the top of my priority list.  Put it just below the car seat and formula.  Although, I hope the formula won’t have to even be on your list.  My point is, rocking your baby can be such a sweet experience.  I rocked my babies to sleep until they got big enough to fight it.  When rocking them became a chore instead of a joy, I just put them in the crib for naptime and bedtime.  I decided if they were going to scream and fight sleep they may as well do it in bed instead of on my lap.  Soon they learned to go to sleep quietly.  But I will forever cherish the memories of the first few months (or perhaps just weeks) of rocking them to sleep.

So, prioritizing your list of baby stuff will help your budget and give you peace of mind.  Millions of people have babies and take perfectly good care of them.  You can too.