Expecting Twins? 15 Must-Have Items for your Registry

I’m a twin fanatic! My best friend growing up was a twin, my high school crush & college sweetheart was a twin, I studied the psychosocial and emotional development of twins in grad school, and have provided care for…umpteen number of twins as a professional, including the two I’m caring for now.

Twins are fascinating to me; however, if you’re a mother of twins, you might say, “Yeah, I love my twins, but they keep me uber busy”, or if you’re expecting twins you may be wondering what exactly you’re getting yourself into (and potentially wondering if you can get a redo).

Have no fear, the twin master is here! 

Not only do I LOVE twins, but I also have a super high chance of having twins. Twins run on both sides of my family, I’m in my thirties, AND I’m undergoing fertility treatments so, according to statistics…I’m having twins.

This has got me thinking of what my “dream registry” for twins would include and I’m happy to share:

1. Orbit baby Double Helix Stroller/Carseat: Chic, modern, clean, functional

2. Stokke Sleep Basinettes: They start small for your newborns so they can easily fit into the master bedroom or other “nook” of the house or nursery

…but they grow with your child/ren, too! They convert from basinettes to cribs, to toddler beds, to a full size kid’s bed.

3. Two 4Moms Mamaroos: When you’re a mom of twins, you need lots (I mean, lots) of places to set your babies. Rockers, swings, cribs, carriers, etc…but the Mamaroo is not just another place to set baby. It rocks, swings, swivels, with the touch of a hand (or toe) and lulls baby gently to sleep.

4. Baby K’tan Twin Carrier and a Happy Baby Wrap

5. Two Keekaroo Peanut Changers, Height Right Seats and Cafe Boosters.

6. Two PateMM Pads

NOTE: As a twin mom you can never have too many places to change a baby. Keep a Keekaroo Peanut Changer in the nursery/playroom and/or the main living area. Keep a PateMM pad in the car AND a diaper bag.

7. 50 Rumparooz Cloth Diapers and 10 wet bags: If the average person spends $3000 on diapers for a singleton, that’s $6000 for twins so…I’ll go with 50 cloth diapers that’ll take me from NB-3y and only spend $1000

Photo credit: Gilt.com

8. Kiinde Twist and Store Feeding System

9. 4 EzPz Fun Mats: 2 for my house, 2 for grandma’s house

10. 4 Mimijumi Bottles, 6 5Phases Bottles, and 2 Pacific BabyWorld Bottles

11. MimoBaby Smart Monitor and bottle warmer: this monitor actually signals the bottle warmer to heat up with the babies start to wake up. You’re welcome. 

12. Simple Wishes Hands-free Pumping Bra & Freemies!: Functionality during pumping, but also a way to save every precious ounce is vital to mom’s survival. Get the Freemies and get some milksavers.

13. So-Ro Twin Rocker: Again, never enough places to place a baby when you have two.

14. My Brestfriend Nursing Pillow (for twins)

15. Table for Two Feeding Pillow (buytablefortwo.com)

Need I say more?

Obviously you should also register for all the other necessities, swaddle blankets, infant care kits, thermometers, breast pumps, humidifiers, clothing, etc., but these are in my opinion the things one does NOT forget when they’re expecting twins!

Also, when you have twins, triplets, quads, quints…anything other than a singleton, organization is your friend. Channel your inner pre-k teacher and create a designated space for everything. Label, color code, and sort to your heart’s desire. 

What would you add to this list?

From Wine Bottles to Baby Bottles

Several words in your vocabulary as a woman change meaning when you become a mom and a few phrases get misinterpreted. Wine becomes whine. When your husband says, “Baby, the waitress brought our change,” you hear, “the baby needs to be changed”. Shopping rows of wine bottles at the liquor store has been replaced by browsing your local baby store for the perfect bottle. But, your lil’ bambino is totally worth the changes!

With all of the options out there for baby bottles, finding the perfect one for your baby can be overwhelming! At shopwholeheart.com we offer 3 bottles. That’s it; just 3. We only offer three because we have browsed the aisles, shopped the expos, attended conventions, read the reviews, and ultimately decided that the three bottles we hold in our selection are THE three best bottles on the market.

We proudly introduce you to…

The Mimijumi “very hungry” bottle and “not so hungry” bottle. These BPA free bottles are designed to mimic the breast to prevent nipple confusion and help baby transition smoothly between breast and bottle. This bottle is also super easy to assemble because it only has two parts! There’s no insert or outer sleeve, no gas preventing tubes, no adaptors, etc. Just bottle (with an easy to hold shape) and a nipple that snaps on. It’s dishwasher safe, nontoxic, prevents gas and colic, and is FABULOUS. Is it worth the price? Um…yeah! You will love it and only need 2-3 bottles per kiddo.

Mamachi. No, I’m not suggesting a new sushi roll. The Mamachi is the newest, and the creme de la creme, of baby bottles. I discovered this lil gem walking through the ABC Baby and Kids Expo in Vegas this past year. I wasn’t in the market for new bottles because I thought I’d already found the best that was out there, but I was wrong! The team behind the Mamachi stopped me and asked me to feel the bottle. “Feel it?”, I asked. Well, once I touched this bottle I knew why they wanted me to touch it, lol. It genuinely feels like the female breast! Soft, squishy, maleable, ha ha. I can see how a little baby would be drawn to it and adjust easily to the Mamachi when mama can’t be around.

The Mamachi is the ONLY 100% Silicone Bottle in the world! Made of food grade silicone this plastic free bottle is free of harmful BPA and Phthalates.

• BPA Free (zero detection of endocrine disrupting BPA) and pthalates
• Highest grade silicone
• Anti-colic
• Wide neck for easy cleaning
• Microwave/Dishwasher Safe
• 5oz / 160ml or 9oz
• Shaped like the breast

The 5 Phases. I LOVE the 5 Phases bottle because it’s a glass bottle without the added fear of breaking a bottle. The glass part holds the milk and allows you to feed baby without fear of BPA, toxins, pthalates, etc. Glass is the safest way to heat milk and truth be told, the only surefire way to protect your baby from toxins brought on by plastics. The glass gets inserted into a no-slip silicone sleeve. If the bottle is dropped, it’s protected by the silicone and is unlikely to break. Even if it did break, the glass is contained in the silicone sleeve! The 5Phases bottles comes with individual bottles, or you can order a starter kit that comes with 1 fully assembled bottle, 2 additional glass inserts, and extra silicone nipples.

Check out the rest of our feeding products including:

• The EzPz Fun Mat
• Squooshi Reusable Food Pouches
• Keekaroo Height Right High Chairs
• Keekaroo Booster Seats
• AhGoo Baby Bibs
• Keep Leaf Lunch Bags, reusable sandwich wraps, reusable baggies
• Kiinde Twist and Store Milk Storage Starter Kits

 

What bottle did you use with your kiddo? Which of these would you like to try?

Infant Sleep: Dos and Don’ts

As a new parent (or parent again), the common worry is not being able to get enough sleep. Sleep is crucial! I typically get 9-11 hours of sleep a night (no, I’m not joking); however, I recently started caring for 2 newborn twins a few nights a week, which sparked a desire to share the dos and don’t of infant sleep with you all. 

First thing’s first- do NOT expect your babies to “sleep through the night” or even sleep longer than 3 hours, the first few weeks, or even months. Babies need food! Their only job right now is to grow, which means they need to eat and sleep; that’s it.

What do I do?

1. Create appropriate daytime and nightime environments

Daytime: open the blinds to let natural light in, go about your business talking, cooking, doing laundry, etc., and keep feeding ’round the clock (on demand)

Nighttime: the nursery or bedroom should be DARK, warm, and have a white noise machine on full blast (this recreates the sounds of the womb)

2. Swaddle tight!

I personally love Woombie swaddles and Mod S’wads. If you have a Summer Infant Swaddle or Swaddle Pod be aware that the velcro is loud and likely to wake baby during nighttime changing. Also, the fit of these swaddles can be poor so you may need to double swaddle by using a breathable blanket first.

3. Feed before they’re hungry

Yes, you’re tired and you’re hoping they’ll sleep 4 hours…let’s be real, you’re hoping they’ll sleep 8 hours; however, if you don’t feed them every 2 hours (newborns) or every 3 hours (if that’s their schedule), you’ll be sorry. They will wake up MAD and you won’t be ready with a warm bottle or they could have difficulty latchingbecause they’re so pissed off.

4. Nighttime is business time

We all love babies (if you don’t, get the hell off my blog, lol), but it’s important not to interract too much at night. Keep stimulation to a minimum. Pick up, feed, burp, change, swaddle, put down. Repeat a few hours later.

NOTE: “Sleeping through the night” is technically 5 hours so pat yourself on the back when they reach that long between feeds. They’ll eventually do 10-12, but only when they’re no longer infants.

 What DON’T I do?

Don’t pick them up everytime they grunt or fuss; this doesn’t mean they’re awake. Babies are still learning how to sleep and it ain’t always pretty. They tend to channel their inner “Master P” (uhh, uhhh, na na na na)

Don’t fall asleep with them in a chair or on a couch (SIDS risk)

Don’t stare at the monitor all night! In fact, get rid of the monitor. You will hear your baby when they really need you. You’re feeding them in a few hours anyway.

Don’t lose sleep over SIDS; just follow the rules and then go to bed. A breastfed, swaddled tight, baby on their back in an EMPTY crib will be fine.

Don’t be afraid to put them in the swing or bouncer overnight as long as they’re not chin-to chest.

My favorite gear for infant sleep?

Woombie

Hats

Zipper footie pajamas

Mimo Baby Smart Monitor

4Moms Rockaroo or Mamaroo

Gas free bottle like a Mimijumi

Cloth diapers (WAY more absorbant)

Crane Humidifier (infants are nasal breathers)

Sleep train: Wait until they’re 10-14lbs or 2 months+, gradually increase feeds by 20% and begin to space out more time between feeds.

Need a sleep coach? Whole Heart has the best Sleep Coach in Austin! Click here to get in touch with her.

Christmas Gift Guide: Babies, Moms, Tots

For Christmas this year I’ll be getting a nephew! I’ll also have an 18 month old niece to play Santa to. This got me thinkin’…what are the perfect gifts for babies, moms, and tots?

For lil bambinos (aka “babies” for y’all southern folk)…

Rompers, footies, and ‘jammers from Baby Soy organic clothing

Patterned soft blocks

Musical Farmyard Learning Cube

Thermal Baby Bottle by Pacific Baby:

This is the world’s first thermal baby bottle that keeps milk (or other liquids) hot or colf for up to 7 hours! This is perfect for travelers, babies on-the-go, or late night feedings at the bedside. It’s not just for babies either! Kiddos from birth to 5 years old will love this easy to grip, nontoxic, dishwasher safe 7oz to 9oz bottle/sip cup. It’s free from BPA, PVC, pthalates, and any other yucky stuff we don’t want our precious ones consuming.

Swaddle blankets that double as nursing covers and sun shields

Hungry Pelican

Receiving Blankets (perfect to monogram)

Keekaroo Peanut Changer, Booster Seat or High Chair

 Only the best baby bottle on the market! The innovative nipple design replicates a mother’s breast, creating a natural feeding and latching experience for a happier and healthier bottle fed baby. Bold colors and soft textures are combined to give the Mimijumi bottle a distinctive, eye-catching appearance. All mimijumi bottles are BPA and latex free, and exceed US safety standards.

• Easy to open
• Easy to clean
• Integrated venting prevents colic
• Screw on one-piece nipple
• Skid-free base
• Top rack dishwasher-safe
• BPA-, and latex- free
• Exceeds US safety standards

Mushroom Nursery Humidifier

Hape Play Cube

Woombie Swaddle Sacks

Hats, mittens, booties

For the tots and other wee ones…

Plush Rocking Horse

Stacking Train or Train Set

Shape Sorters

Discovery Space Center

Pacific Baby Natural Bamboo Feeding: Picture filling this BPA free, nontoxic, bamboo feeding bowl filled with hot oatmeal Christmas morning, sprinkled with cinnamon, sugar, and candied cranberries! Or, top their bamboo plates with pumpkin pancakes and fresh maple syrup after discovering what Santa brought. Pacific Baby, Inc., natural bamboo, eco-friendly feeding products include bowl, cup, plates, and utensils are biodegradable, machine washable, and durable.

Toddler Scoot Around

Dress-up clothes

Grand Piano

Growth Ruler by White Loft

Fold and Go Castles, Dollhouses, or Barns

Goldieblox & Her Spinning Machine 

Pretend Kitchen or Master Workbench

Christmas Cookie Set

Nesting & Sorting ABC Cubes

Fill & Spill Set

Monster Bowling Game

Adorable Animal Humidifier

Magnetic Toys

Puzzles

Pacific Play Tents: Over 50 different kinds of play tents, tunnels, teepees, parachutes and cabanas! There’s even a super cool space tunnel tent for your lil’ explorer. Pacific Play Tents offer hours of imaginary play time and they offer free shipping on orders over $50. Get a teepee or camo tent for the backyard and host a campout, fill a pop up tent with stuffed animals and books for a reading corner, or use the tents below for pretend play in the playroom. Kiddos love spaces that are all their own and these play tents provide just that!

For moms-to-be, new moms, or veteran moms…

Spa day! You can’t go wrong with a spa day or spa certificate. I love Lake Austin Spa and Milk & Honey Spa!

Kendra Scott jewelry

PJs or Nightgown

Lalabu Soothe Shirt

Air Purifier or Humidifier (for more sleep!)

Pottery Barn potpurri or Reed Difusers (mission fig rocks my world)

The Knock Nanny

I’m obsessed with the Tiffany Blue Hunter boots!

Boots! Uggs or Hunter boots

Worry-Free Bath Products by Original Sprout

City Mini Baby Jogger

Tiffany & Co. (you can never go wrong with a gift that comes in a robin’s egg blue bag or box)

Scarves, boot socks, or gloves

Travel coffee mug

Fleece or knit throws

Stocking Stuffers!

Don’t forget the stockings! My mother asked me this year if she (aka “Santa”) needed to do stockings, “Chelsea, you’re almost 32 years old, do I still need to do a stocking?” My reply, “Um? Yeah!”

• Neat Cheeks stevia sweetened face wipes
• Napinol Nursery Therapies
• Ringley Teethers
• Organic cotton baby Buddies
• Sleep Sheep
• Pacifiers
• Miracle Detangler
• Tooth Tissues
• Babyganics Hand Sanitizer
• Hair bows and accessories
• Wysi Wipes

Many (if not all) of the above gifts can be found at shopwholeheart.com!

Enter below to WIN a Cossettie Shopping Cart & High Chair Cover and Cossettie Portable Changing Mat!

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