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Doubling Up

Do You Need Two of Everything?

By Debra Weaver

"Since most families with multiples need to watch their budgets a little more, and may be crowded for space, save your money for the essentials like sleepers, diapers, wipes, bottles, formula and such," says Gulyn. "You really need two car seats, highchairs and a double stroller. But one bathtub, one changing table and one swing will usually be enough."

As far as feeding goes, "I'd like to encourage all moms to nurse – it has been great and makes life much easier," says Jenny Weismann, mother of twins, Henry and Charlie, and a public relations executive in Minneapolis, Minn. "Buy a nursing pillow like the EZ to Nurse. Both could be on it at the same time and it keeps naptime and bedtime much easier."

But Weismann did need two of some items. "We definitely needed two slings," she says. "It worked very well to carry them in slings all the time. Or we could put one baby in a sling and carry the other if only one adult was home. We only needed one swing and one bouncy seat, but because our home has two levels, we had a changing table on each floor, along with a Diaper Genie. Two double strollers, at least. One to keep in the car and one to have at home for walks. Spend the money there, for strollers get lots of use. Make sure to get something light because two toddlers and a stroller are heavy!"

What about dressing twins alike? "Sometimes we dress them alike, but only if the outfits are gifts," says Gulyn. "Otherwise it's fun to dress them similarly, same theme, but different color. Mainly – you must be practical, and you are lucky if they are both wearing something that fits and is clean!"

"We generally don't buy two of everything because we like the idea that each of our girls [has her] own wants and needs and favorite toys," says Parmet. "We usually don't dress them alike either – maybe in complimenting outfits on special occasions." But the Weismann family takes a different approach. "We do dress them alike often," says Weismann. "They seem to like wearing the same or similar items.

Want to see more?

• Family Energy Magazine
• Two at Once: Pregnancy With Twins
• Two At Once: Becoming a Parent of Twins
• Talk about it!