Twice as many newborns means twice as much stuff on your registry, right? Not necessarily. While you’ll undoubtedly need two or more of some items depending on how many babies you have (especially the basics like bottles, pacifiers, and diapers), there’s no need to dedicate an entire room of your home to baby gear or rent out a storage unit for all of the things you think you’ll need. That’s why we put together this baby registry guide for twins and multiples.
This list includes lots of baby must-haves as you prepare for the arrival of your sweet bundles of joy.
Nursery
Graco Pack ‘n Play Twin Bassinet Playard
This is a great option if you’re looking for a more affordable twin bassinet for those first few months while babies are sleeping in the same room as mom and dad. The top bassinet is removable, while the lower portion can be used as a safe play space for those later months. There’s plenty of room for both babies to sleep and play comfortably! This registry item is meant to grow with your littles. So, you can initially use it as a bassinet for your newborns, and then once they’re sleeping in their own cribs it can be used for a playard for the next couple years as a way to allow them to play while being contained in a safe place.
Here’s another good playard choice for parents of multiples. The Room² Playard from Joovy. With nearly 10 square feet of space, baby will have more space to play and sleep. The extra-large mesh windows also provide excellent visibility in and out of the Room² while baby is content in a spacious playard. And with a removable changing table and bassinet with optional divider for twins, the Twin Nursery Center is perfect for everyone — especially families with twins. This playard also grows with your multiples — from newborns sleeping in the bassinet to older babies and toddlers using it as a play area.
Halo Twin Bassinest Swivel Sleeper Luxe Series
Any new parent will tell you having your baby nearby at night is a must. This bedside bassinet is a favorite among new parents because it allows your baby to sleep near you for the first four months of their lives, but in a secure location separate from the bed. And this version made specifically for twins lets them do so in their own defined sleep spaces. The 360-degree swivel feature makes it easy to move the bassinet closer to you for late-night feedings or is you’re re recovering from a C-section and away from your bed so you can get up easily. It also features soothing sounds and vibrations to help lull your babies to sleep, a floor light, and a caddy, as well as two sheets and two waterproof mattress pads.
Carter’s by DaVinci Colby 4-in-1 Convertible Crib with Trundle Drawer
Price and design put this crib at the top of our twin registry wishlist. With the option to eventually convert to a toddler bed, purchasing two of these won’t put too big of a dent into your wallet when compared to other similarly-styled crib options. We also love the built-in storage drawer underneath, perfect for all the extra blankets, bedding, and more that you’ll need for two babies. The manufacturer recommends that parents stop using this as a crib when their child begins to climb or reaches a height of 35 inches and convert it to the toddler bed option until they reach 50 pounds. After that, it can be converted to a full-size bed that can withstand a weight of 500 pounds and presumedly be used for many years to come.
Baby Relax Hadley Double Rocker
This glider is worth the splurge if you have room for it in your nursery, as you’ll be sure to use it with your twins for years. Standard rockers and gliders don’t comfortably accommodate two babies and parents, but this one does. It’s the perfect size for tandem feeding, bedtime routines, and storytimes. This is definitely a luxury item, though, and if needed you could get by with a standard glider like the Storkcraft Premium Hoop Glider and Ottoman.
Summer Infant Wide View 2.0 DUO Monitor System
Keeping tabs on two babies in two cribs, possibly in two rooms, can be overwhelming. But this monitor system makes that aspect of parenting a breeze. The Wide View 2.0 DUO features two-way communication and remote-controlled zoom lets you talk to and monitor your babies without disturbing them in the nursery. And you can choose the 8-second auto-rotation to switch between rooms or cribs so you don’t have to keep flipping between views. This is a great way to monitor your babes from the time their newborns to when they transition out of your room into their own nursery and until you deem them old enough to not need your watchful eye 24/7.
This is a cute way to track your babies’ growth month by month throughout their first year, and it’s large enough for two babies.
Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Twin
This parenting book is a must-read resource for expectant parents of twins. Written by a renowned pediatrician, it can help you better understand infant sleep and the biological rhythms that play a significant role in establishing healthy sleep habits (for the babies and you). It’s a useful guide through your little ones’ first few years of life. If you’re expecting more than two babies, check out When You’re Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads.
Gear & Travel
A baby carrier that is comfortable, can accommodate newborns, and — most importantly — easy to put on is crucial for all new parents, but especially for parents of twins. The Weego is specially designed to be used for twins from birth, and it’s easy to put on without any help. This is a great option for twin parents, especially for those first few months of life for your little ones. It can be used for the first 5-6 months, or until a max joined weight of 33 pounds is met.
The TwinGo Original is a great option for parents of older twin babies or two children of different ages that want a structured carrier. This gives wearers the ability to carry two children simultaneously or divide the TwinGo so both mom and dad can each carry one child. Plus, its ergonomic inward-facing position is healthy for your baby’s hip development and enables you to comfortably carry the added weight of two. Add-on accessories allow the carrier to be used from early infancy through your child’s toddler years. The minimum weight requirements for this carrier are 7-10 ponds with the infant insert attached and 10 pounds as a single carrier, and the maximum weight threshold is 45 pounds as a single carrier and 70 pounds combined as a dual carrier
Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 DoubleStroller
Finding a double stroller that can accommodate twins is no simple task. If you don’t need the double car seat option, this stroller from Baby Jogger is a good choice. You have the option to add on two infant car seats (sold separately) that create a bassinet for each baby to use until they are big enough to sit upright in the stroller seats. This double stroller isn’t cheap, but it’s at a good price point compared to others with a similar twin-focused design, and it’s one you can use for years from infancy through early childhood. Plus, it features great suspension for maneuverability and an easy fold. For a less expensive, but still twin-friendly, option, check out Baby Jogger’s City Tour 2 Double Stroller.
Buggy Bench Shopping Cart Seat Carrier
Designed by a mom of twins who wanted to make shopping with two easier, the Buggy Bench offers a second seat in your shopping cart to accommodate twins or two children of different ages. The best part? It’s easy to attach and store. Buggy Bench is recommended for children ages 8 months to 4 years old, and it’s designed to support a child up to 40 pounds.
Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat
Twins are often born prematurely, so you’ll want to pick an infant car seat that accommodates smaller babies. The KeyFit 30 is a good choice. It’s extremely easy to install and works for babies that weigh 4 pounds and up, giving you peace of mind that your little one will be safe and secure in the car. Possibly the best part? It’s compatible with a wide variety of strollers, so you’ll be able to create your own travel system. The rear-facing KeyFit® 30 clicks in and out of a stay-in-car base and compatible strollers to carry infants from 4-30 pounds and up to 30 inches in height.
Space is limited with multiples, especially in the car. But two or even three Clek Fllo car seats can fit across the backseat of most cars. It comes equipped with a removable newborn insert that accommodates babies 5 pounds or more in the rear-facing position and up to 64 pounds in the front-facing position. This car seat uses “energy-absorbing crumple technology” to direct force away from your child in the event of a crash, sending it through collapsable aluminum honeycomb-shaped cores in the seat’s base. When used with the brand’s infant insert (sold separately), it can accommodate a child with a minimum weight of 5 pounds and minimum height of 19 inches. The recommended specs for the rear-facing position without the infant insert is for children who are 25-43 inches tall, weigh 14-50 pounds, and are able to sit upright unassisted. It’s recommended that parents place children in the front-facing position when they are 30-49 inches tall and weigh 22-65 pounds. The recommended age for this transition is 2+ years with a 1 year in age minimum.
Now, this is a registry item you’ll probably only need one of. (But if you can splurge for two, go for it!) A swing is nice to have on-hand in case your babies prefer constant movement. This option from Graco is simple, compact, and comes with six different sway speed, vibration, and sound options. The weight limit for this swing is 5.5-30 pounds, so from the newborn stage until they’re under a year, depending on your child’s weight. It’s a higher-priced item, but speaking form personal experience, it’s godsend during those newborn months and worth every cent.
Feeding
This nursing pillow was literally made for parents of twins. Its design facilitates tandem breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, as well as side-by-side tummy time. It also offers back support, which is crucial for any new parent who is feeding a baby every couple of hours. This item was made for feeding your multiples and practicing tummy time, but after that stage of life has passed it can be used like any other pillow your kids will love to tumble on.
Playtime
This bouncer seat is worth doubling up on. These seats are a comfy, safe spot for your twins to relax while you’re getting things done or need a break. They’re compact and won’t take up too much space, and for the price point, it’s affordable to buy one for each baby. This bouncer can be used from birth until your child can sit up unassisted.
Skip Hop DOUBLEPLAY Reversible Playmat
This oversized foam mat is ideal for multiples because it’s large enough to contain two active babies. And when it’s not in use, it rolls up tight so it can be quickly tucked away. The best part? There’s no age limit for this item. Your babes are sure to enjoy it for the months and possibly years to come!
It’s probably best to only buy one activity gym for your littles, so it’s worth making it a good one. Designed by child development experts, this Play Gym offers five different play zones and is large enough to entertain two babies simultaneously from ages 0+. It also converts into a fort, which will entertain them for years to come.
Continue learning about how to build the best baby registry here.
