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Every mom gets these Aiden + Anais swaddling cloths — we still have them from our kids’ baby years. For what it’s worth, I never liked swaddling our kids in them because the SwaddleMe velcro system was much better for me — maybe my sleep-addled brain just couldn’t figure out how to do a little baby burrito. In general, we love Aiden + Anais — they make great stroller blankets and things like that, and my boys still sleep with their Dream Blankets. This “metallic gold deco” set (it also comes in silver deco) is so pretty — my kids are too big to swaddle now but I kind of want to get a set anyway! I can see these working for a boy or a girl (although, really, everything can work for a boy or a girl), and there are a bunch of other cute patterns. A set of three is $49.95 at Nordstrom. 3-Pack Classic Swaddling Cloths Psst: Looking for more info about nursing clothes for working moms, or tips for pumping at the office? We’ve got them both… This post contains affiliate links and CorporetteMoms may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!
Cookie says
I don’t know what it is about swaddling blankets, but we never bought them. They certainly appeared in our home, but we never bought them.
Cornellian says
ha! Mine were multiplying for a while in the closet, as far as I can tell.
Anon says
I tell every new parent I know, there’s no need to register for newborn clothes or blankets because they will show up at your house no matter what you do. After my second kid, I donated something like 40 swaddle and crib blankets, and I never purchased a single one.
stc says
Velcro swaddlers all. the. way.
H says
+1!
AwayEmily says
+1 also! They do tend to wear out more quickly but SO WORTH IT.
PregLawyer says
I had to double swaddle my first, so swaddle blankets were absolutely necessary. We used a velcro swaddle and then a swaddle blanket on top. No busting out of that combo.
anon says
We did a swaddle blanket and a velcro swaddle over. Straightjacket for babies.
PregLawyer says
Ooh, I like the reverse combo. I’ll use that (if necessary) with #2.
Anonymous says
Oooh these are really pretty. We swaddled religiously and it worked really well for us. We saw how DD fell asleep after a nurse did it in the hospital and DH immediately looked up a YouTube video on how to do it. I’m sad the swaddle days have ended.
Unrelated – having one of those working mom days where I feel like I’m failing at everything. Was late to work as I discovered moths or carpet Beatles ate holes in 3 of my favorite winter sweaters, and then DD pooped right as we were about to leave. Can a tailor try to repair the sweaters? Holes are smaller than an eraser (but noticeable so I couldn’t wear them to work).
anon says
I think getting the holes repaired is worth a try, but the repair won’t be invisible, so it works best if the holes are in an inconspicuous spot. Hope your day improves!
Anon says
I’ve had the same problems with carpet beetles (moved into an apartment that had them and didn’t realize it until the following winter when I got my sweaters out of the bottom of my dresser and closet). There are some places that will fix this and have great reviews online but nowhere close to where I live in rural PA.
Momata says
Love the idea of a tiny Ringo (like in the old Thomas the Tank Engine stories) gnawing on your sweaters. Seriously, though – a good tailor can reweave the hole if it’s small. Hope your day improves.
AIMS says
I’ve had them repaired. Yes, it will be noticeable on some items and up close but it salvaged a lot of my faves when this happened. Be prepared for your tailor to be annoyed with you though.
Anon in NYC says
Talk to me about getting your kids to wear weather-appropriate clothing. My 2 year old has started to fight wearing coats (last year she refused to wear mittens and I’m sure it will happen this year too). She’s particularly resistant to new outerwear. Short of just physically wrestling her into the items (which I do as a last resort), any tips for making it a little easier?
AwayEmily says
Have you talked to daycare about what they do? Several times in similar situations it’s turned out that they’ve already “trained” the kid with some kind of solution at school (a song, a routine, etc) that I can appropriate for home usage.
Anon in NYC says
Oh that’s a good idea. They do go outside every day, and make the kids wear coats.
Anon says
Buy or make one of those felt cape things. Have her help pick out the pattern/color. They’re surprisingly warm (although probably not good enough if you’re spending an hour building a snowman) and serve the purpose for school dropoffs and running errands. Plus it’s way easier to deal with a carseat.
A friend of mine has MimiTens mittens for her kids, which they love, but I hesitate spending $25 on mittens since we lose probably 3 pairs each season.
Anon says
Search Etsy for “kids winter poncho” to see a bunch of ideas. You can buy them for $40-50 on Etsy, or you can find a pattern for free on Pinterest and make your own for just the cost of materials.
Anon in NYC says
Cute! I’ll have to look into a poncho.
Anonymous says
Try to give choice when you can. Do you want to put on your coat or hat first? Should Mommy put on this boot (left) or this boot (right) first?
I often sing to my kids when they have to do something they don’t want to. So when I can’t give a choice – they get a choice of song. Youngest Kid particularly hates diaper changes now so I tell him that Mommy has to change his diaper but he can pick the song that Mommy sings. Picking the song and singing it is enough of a distraction to get the task done. Sometimes I’ll purposely mess up or change the lyrics for extra distraction. If they don’t want to pick a song I just start singing something and usually they’ll demand one they want and I’ll switch to that.
Anon in NYC says
She does appreciate choices – and if I limit her choices to provide responses that I want, even better!
bluefield says
Have you tried not fighting? Barring a health risk (like frostbite), can you let your kid learn the hard way that jackets and mittens are a good thing by letting them go without and just being cold?
Lala says
+1. We live in a cold climate (MN) and this is what we do. Sometimes my almost 4 yo still refuses the winter gear, but he also runs very hot. We bring any of the gear needed in the car/to daycare so he can have it when he changes his mind.
By that age, our daycare had also taught them to “flip” the jacket on themselves, which is what finally got him to wear a coat one winter.
Redux says
+1. My 3 year old refuses to let anyone put a jacket on her. She will happily flip it on herself! She learned this at daycare around age 2 and hasn’t looked back. It’s actually really helpful!
Anon in NYC says
I should try this. I do think she runs warm (warmer than me, at least). Yesterday her teacher had to change her into her backup clothes, which was a pair of shorts, and it was sub-60. She was fighting the blanket I put on her legs but then said she was cold and wanted it. So that might work with her!
NewMomAnon says
On coats – if you’re just running from the car to a building, let her skip the coat. Have it in the car, have blankets in the car, put her in otherwise warm-ish clothes (thermal shirts, lined pants from the boys’ section, even long underwear).
For mittens – I bought kiddo’s coat several sizes too big and just let the sleeves cover her hands. But then! My brother gave her mittens with monster faces on them and I literally couldn’t get her to take her mittens off for most of one winter.
Also, mitten pro-tip; buy a bunch of pairs of those thin, knit mittens all in the same color. Then when you lose one, you’ll have a match somewhere.
for anonymous - sweaters says
Yes, a tailor can help with the sweaters. They won’t look perfect, but depending on the location of the hole, you might be able to wear them without anyone being the wiser. It’s an easy fix so it’s definitely worth a try.
Fwiw my fabulous dry cleaner- who sometimes pushes my clothes back across the counter and tells me to just try the hand wash cycle on my washing machine – says that moths really like cashmere, and the best way to protect the sweater is to dry clean it at the end of the season.
lsw says
One of our A&A swaddle blankets (the “high end” label or whatever, not the Target one) got a hole in it immediately. The Target A&A ones have actually held up better, though they are smaller and not as soft. Then one of their sleep sacks had the zipper break right away – again, not the cheaper Target A by A&A one, but the pricier one. So I love the designs but I’m not too convinced on the quality.
EB0220 says
Interesting. We have had the A&A blankets (both muslin and muslin/bamboo versions) in heavy rotation for 5+ years. The muslin are still in great shape. The bamboo have a few loose threads but otherwise in good shape, too.
bluefield says
Us too. It’s weird. We have a giraffe dream blanket that we’ve used every day for the past 2 years and it’s going strong.
lsw says
Yeah, everyone has told me they are so great so I found it really surprising to have issues with two separate things. I thought about messaging them since they’d probably do a replacement but….haven’t taken the time.
AwayEmily says
Talk to me about toy rotating. We just moved into a house where we finally have room for a little “kid area” nook off the family room. Currently she has a little table and chairs and her tent, which she loves. But she pretty much never bothers looking inside the two bins of toys that are also over there. I hear good things about toy rotating. Do I just pick 5 toys for the week and put them on a shelf? What’s worked well for you in terms of working toy rotation into your schedule and getting your kids to play independently (right now her favorite game is inviting me into the tent and then screeching NOOOO and making me leave again, which though adorable is not super fun for me)?
Anonymous says
We have a couple stand bys – like a play kitchen and chest of costumes, and then we rotate other stuff. Right now it’s lego duplo, puzzles, stuffies/puppets, doctor’s kit and 3 medium sized vehicles. I’ll swap out the duplo for wooden blocks and puzzles for trains, and stuffies for dolls in a week or so. I try for a few different types of toys – so not all building toys out at once. Depends on what’s popular with Kid in the moment. If something is super popular I’ll leave it. No strict schedule. For independent play, I find it works best if I take something out, play with Kid for 10-15 minutes and then let Kid continue while I start supper. Kid often pretends to make and feed me stuff from play kitchen while I’m cooking.
Butter says
Which tent do you have? We stopped at a Land of Nod outlet last weekend and my little went nuts over the tents in there, so much so that I contemplated bringing one home, but I’d love to find a cheaper version if possible.
AwayEmily says
The brand is Mustard Seed Toys. They also sell on Amazon. It was about $90, so about the same as the Land of Nod ones. Though it has a bottom, which I like (the LoN one does’t). We placed it over some of those foam tiles that we used when she was a baby so it’s a little more pleasant to hang out in.
It looks like there are a bunch of ones that are more like $50 on Amazon. It’s not particularly complicated construction so I bet you could pay less without sacrificing much quality.
Em says
We have the Land of Nod one with the giant cushion and I hate to say it but it’s worth it for the cushion. The tent itself is nice, but the cushion is amazing.
PregLawyer says
Land of Nod teepee with giant cushion. It’s great!
On toy bins: we have a set of toy bins as well, and it’s surprising to me how random things will make a comeback. Every now and then he digs into the bins and comes up with something he had for a while, but never played with, and then he’s got a new thing. We also are working on having him clean up more, and that means he’s getting more used to the fact that toys are going back into the bins; i.e., he needs to check the bins to find his toys.
AIMS says
Ikea has an inexpensive tent but it’s definitely not as nice as the LoN ones. But the LoN go on sale regularly. They have shaped like a British phone booth for $79 right now. I kind of want it for myself.
anon says
I have never gotten it together to formally rotate toys but I do somethings try to get a toy or activity out of the toy bin and set it in the middle of the floor. It sometimes works.
Anonymous says
I just packed away a TON of toys and it was instantly better — she could find things and actually play with them. She’s clearly growing bored after about 3 week, so it’s probably time to rotate.
I tried to group toys by idea. So she has her magnatiles out, but her blocks and duplos are packed up. She has a baby doll and accessories, but her play clothes are packed up. She has one puzzle out and two away. One “game” out. etc.
The amazing thing about this was grandparents asking for Christmas/Birthday presents and I actually had answers! I knew what she had and could give detailed responses.
Paging those interested in IVF with PGD says
For the anonymous from yesterday interested in hearing about doing IVF because she is half of a carrier couple (or anyone else in the same situation), feel free to email me at 2munchkintamer at the google mail.
Anon says
Thank you! I will shoot you a note.
4 yo boy gift ideas? says
Seeking fun birthday gift ideas for a smart, spunky, about-to-be-4 year old boy. (I feel like this was asked recently but I can’t find it.) I would love any suggestions! TIA!
NewMomAnon says
What’s your price range?
K’Nex now has sets for younger kids (I think they are called K’nex Kids) that are so cute and cool. Lego Juniors are meant for the preschool set. Peaceable Kingdom has some cool cooperative games for preschool-age kids. Dress-up costumes are a big hit with my almost 4 year old.
If you’re looking to spend more – ask kiddo’s parents if he has a scooter. That is hands down my daughter’s favorite thing in our house.
4 yo boy gift ideas? says
Thanks! Price range is $30ish or so.
anon says
+1 to Peaceable Kingdom games. We also loved Magic Labyrinth.
POSITA says
My 4 yo just got a set of walkie talkies for her birthday and she’s in love. They get played with ALL the time. She uses them in her forts, calls us from her bedroom, and takes them to the playground where she calls us or friends after she hides. There are good $25-30 dollar options on Amazon.
AwayEmily says
this is SUCH a great idea.
NewMomAnon says
Ok, talk me down from this – Chasing Fireflies sent us a catalog, and kiddo has become obsessed with the My Little Ponies Rainbow Dash costume. It’s $116, but there is a 25% off sale at the moment….but it’s still expensive for a dress-up costume (that won’t even be her Halloween costume because her dad is in charge of that). PLUS, the wig is sold out so I’d have to buy one on Amazon, and wigs are a pain, right?
I’m so close to just pulling the trigger, but I also haven’t bought myself a new suit in almost 3 years and realizing that it’s ridiculous to spend $100+ for a kid’s dress up outfit….
Anonymous says
Wait until after Halloween and buy one on sale either new or second hand. Costumes are big with our kids but the character specific ones have limited play value. We get the most value out of a pink zookeeper vest, train conductor hat and old ballet tutu, and a pirate costume. Buy an inexpensive MLP costume and buy yourself a suit,
NewMomAnon says
We have an extensive array of dress-up clothes, mostly second (or third or fourth) hand – capes and masks and tutus and construction vests (which apparently go with everything) and wings and doctor scrubs. You are right, I should wait on this and troll Goodwill for an MLP costume after Halloween.
Anonymous says
I had to LOL at construction vests going with everything – this totally happens in our house.
SC says
Agree with waiting until after Halloween. You might also check out consignment stores between Halloween and Christmas. My town’s semi-annual consignment sale is taking place during the last week of October and the first two weeks of November–I’m hoping to find some second-hand costumes after Halloween.
bluefield says
There is a rainbow dash hoodie at Target: https://www.target.com/p/girls-my-little-pony-rainbow-dash-costume-hoodie-turquoise/-/A-52358919#lnk=sametab&preselect=52340025
Will that satisfy the itch?
bluefield says
There’s also Pinkie Pie and Twilight Sparkle if you search
Maddie Ross says
Costco had them too last time I was in there.
NewMomAnon says
We have those….they get a lot of wear. But they aren’t “pretty and sparkly” like the dress from Chasing Fireflies. But she’s also 3.5, so she won’t know the difference between a $100 sparkly costume dress and a $15 secondhand costume dress.
Em says
You are probably right on this. My 4-year old niece recently decided she wanted her room to be all new pink unicorn everything (room is currently a theme leftover from her nursery that is red and black). My sister purchased some really nice custom art for the nursery and was bummed at the thought of having to get rid of it for an entirely pink bedroom, so she picked up a few pink and purple sparkly accent things and hyped up the “new pink and purple room” and my niece was ecstatic about it. Maybe the $15 secondhand dress + a sparkly plastic crown will do the trick and save you $80?
H says
Buy yourself the new suit instead. It will last much longer. It’s so not worth it to spend that much on kids dress up clothes.
avocado says
I can relate re. Chasing Fireflies. This is why I go through the mail in front of the recycling bin in the garage and most of it never makes it inside the house.
Get rid of the catalogue ASAP so she doesn’t have a chance to memorize exactly what that particular costume looks like, then get her a cheap, clearance, and/or secondhand Rainbow Dash costume. She will love it just as much. Then buy yourself a new suit.
Unless you have unlimited time and funds, do not make the mistake I have repeatedly made and decide, “I will just sew an even better costume for much less!” You will end up spending the same amount of money, if not more, and driving yourself nuts. Which reminds me that I have until Saturday night to finish the Eliza Schuyler dress I started six months ago.
NewMomAnon says
Hahahahah, omg. I could never, never make a dress like the one in Chasing Fireflies. I have some basic sewing skillz, but….no. Good luck on the Eliza Schuyler dress. Color me impressed.
avocado says
I only have basic sewing skills, which is why it turns into a nightmare every time. Sleeves are my nemesis, and guess what? Costumes always have them.
Rainbow Hair says
Assuming it’s this dress…
https://www.chasing-fireflies.com/product/my-little-pony-rainbow-dash-costume-for-girls.do?
I actually think you could DIY it pretty quickly (oh god am I the devil on your shoulder whispering “seeeeew it”?! — but you barely need to sew, if at all!)
Rainbow Tutus abound online in the $10-20 range. You can get a top with those stripes (or paint them on) like this (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MZ6L7G5?th=1&psc=1) for like $12, and then wings? I also think the separate pieces will get more use — you can use a rainbow tutu to be anything!
With the money you save, you can buy yourself 65 margaritas!
Rainbow Hair says
Hmm I’m in moderation, but there’s also this cheaper option? https://www.amazon.com/Disguise-Hasbros-Rainbow-Prestige-Costume/dp/B00JN9YRDU/
Boston Legal Eagle says
Vent/question: I am usually the one responsible for getting my son dressed in the mornings after husband feeds him breakfast and then goes to shower. It’s getting colder here, so today I put him in pants and what I thought was a nice warm sweater. I then went to get ready and I came out to find my son in a different shirt, with my husband saying he thought the other shirt + jacket would be a better outfit to keep him warm. I got PISSED. To me, that is questioning my judgment and it really hurt me. Am I overreacting or would you be upset?
AwayEmily says
I am pretty sure I’ve done this exact same thing to my husband, and he’s done it to me. He and I both struggle with this (feeling like our judgment is being questioned when the other person makes a different choice than us) and the solution we’ve come to is to consciously and deliberately try NOT to take it that way. It takes some effort to let that stuff roll off your back but it’s helped enormously.
I’ve also tried to dial way back on my own controlling aspects (ie, not getting annoyed when he gives her the avocado for breakfast that I had already planned on putting in her lunchbox), but that’s a whole other issue.
Anon says
+1. We both recognize the ongoing struggle of two different people, who naturally don’t agree on everything, trying to do what’s best for one little person. In the OP’s position, I probably would be pissed as well, but I would try (with varying degrees of success depending on the day) to keep it to myself and focus on the big picture: kiddo is dressed in weather-appropriate clothes.
NewMomAnon says
I think you need to let that go. One thing I’ve learned in divorce is that I have the power to either destabilize my kids’ world by fighting every fight with her dad, or the power to pick those fights that are super important (her health, safety, and emotional well-being) and otherwise reserve my energy to be a good parent and preserve my relationship with her other parent. I can’t do both.
If you generally feel like your husband respects you and loves you, let it go. If you feel he generally disrespects you and this is part of a pattern of disrespect, take it to counseling and make it a big important thing you do for the marriage and your kid.
SC says
“Am I overreacting or would you be upset?” Probably both. I understand being hurt and upset, especially in the moment. It s*cks to have someone undermine your judgment, especially when something has been “your” job, especially if you don’t particularly want or like that job (just guessing). But you also need to let it go, unless you feel like your husband often undermines you.
You may need to discuss with your husband why you were so angry. A while ago, DH and I had a discussion (let’s be honest, after a fight) and agreed that we want to avoid undermining each other as parents. With that as a baseline, we can now say (out of Kiddo’s earshot), “When you did such-and-such, I felt like it was undermining what I was doing as a parent,” and we can have a more productive conversation about that. We ultimately have the same goal–to support each other as parents and to raise a good kid.
anon says
Agree with all of this. This is pushing your button for a reason – is there a larger issue at play here?
Edna Mazur says
I also would be annoyed but try my best to let it go quickly. I think I’ve only redressed my kids after my husband got them dressed once (we were going somewhere extended family would be and they didn’t match) because I specifically didn’t want to undermine his parenting choices and I would be annoyed he wasn’t doing the same.
Tell him how you feel, later, when this is past and you actually are over it. He may not have been bothered if the situations were reversed and he has no way of knowing if you don’t tell him.
newly pregnant says
I posted a few weeks ago freaking out about being pregnant and now i’m really freaking out as we just found out we are having twins! we used fertility treatments, which increases the risk, but it is still only an 8% chance. i had myself slightly hyped up to think it was triplets, so twins is a relief compared to that, but still overwhelming since we live far from all of our family and my husband works a super demanding job (he will not switch jobs just because we are having kids – a) he likes it and b) he is well compensated, which we will need with twins!). Does anyone know of any good blogs or resources for twin moms? So far the thoughts going through my head include:
– we currently live in a one bedroom apartment (lease goes until next september), but we are due in June and with twins they will likely be early, so where will we live
– likely won’t be able to fly alone with the babies to visit my parents
– when my parents come to visit we can’t all fit in one car
– how on earth well i get out of the house in the morning to go to work (do i even want to go back to work? though staying home with twins i would probably still need help)
– i dont want my kids to both be forced to do the same activities, just because it is more convenient than schlepping to multiple places
any twin advice?!?! we are still way too early to begin telling people so i can’t ask any of my friends.
SC says
Congratulations! There are several moms with multiples around here who will be able to give you specific advice. For now, just breathe. You have time to figure out the answers to all these questions.
– You don’t need to rush to move before next September if you don’t want to. Babies will likely sleep in the room with you for the first few months. Really, until they can move, you don’t need that much more space for 2 than you do for 1.
– Flying solo with twins is possible but tough, but you’ll need to purchase a seat for at least one baby. It might be easier to have your mom fly to you for a while.
– You have time to look into a bigger car. Or maybe rent a large car that everyone fits in when your parents visit. Or just rent an extra car and use two when they visit.
– I have no idea how any parent, myself included, manages to get out of the house in the morning. We just do.
– You have at least a year to figure out whether you want to return to work.
– You have a long, long time to figure out activities. Remember, babies don’t do much until they’re about 6 months old. They’ll likely be 2-4 years old before you pay for activities for them. That’s a minimum of 3 years a way.
NewMomAnon says
Haha, slow down! All valid things to worry about, but most of them can wait until you have to worry about them. For instance, activities with two kids is at least a couple years away. Put that in the parking lot. Getting to work/flying/riding in cars with parents – you can figure those out as they come along, but you have nearly a year to think about them.
Many areas have a group specifically for moms of multiples (I think they are often called “Moms of Multiples”, tbh), and friends have picked up double strollers and other twin equipment from those groups. I’d ask your OB/GYN or, if you have a pediatrician picked out, ask them.
Anonymous says
When you go back to work, look into part-time daycare combined with an au-pair so you have some help in the mornings/evenings when your husband is working.
Sarabeth says
A good friend of mine lived in a one bedroom apartment with twins for their first five months. They fit minicribs into the bedroom, and set up the couch so one parent could sleep on it if necessary. You’ll want a bigger space when they get mobile, but you should be fine until next September if you don’t want to deal with breaking the lease.
For the getting-out-of-the-house question, the answer is a nanny who comes at least 30 minutes before you need to leave. For twins, a nanny is likely cheaper than double infant daycare anyway.
Buy a minivan! Or don’t – I don’t have twins, but I do have two kids and a prius, which means that we are in the same situation with my parents, who visit us frequently. It’s not a huge issue; we take public transit, or we rent a minivan while they are here.
Mrs. Jones says
Congratulations! I second the advice to breathe. Take one thing at a time. You do not need to decide most of these issues right now. I’d def consider an au pair/nanny and a minivan. Good luck!
Anonymous says
I have a twin. Growing up I my activities were not restricted based upon what my twin did. Looking back, I am happy that I was allowed to develop my own interests rather than having an obligation to bond with my twin. We have little in common. I am not always understood, but I’m accepted. In the beginning, everyone is going to compare your children (who they look like, how quickly each one reaches a milestone). But unfortunately the comparisons continue as they get older (who is the smart one, the fun one, etc). Be careful, but not only can the comparisons hurt they can perpetuate behavior by the kids as they get older.
If you are renting from a corporate landlord, often your landlord will let you move to a bigger unit.
Please do not overlook the resources you may already have for how to adjust to twins. Your friends or family that have two (or more kids) have likely encountered many of the same problems.
M says
Congratulations! Mom of twins here.
The pregnancy and first year are intense, but twins are pretty awesome and there are definite advantages once you make it through the initial tunnel.
Where are you located? In NY, there is a good class called Twiniversity (she’s also written a book). I think there is Twin Love concierge elsewhere in the country. Both help with twin specific issues including pregnancy, birth, newborn wrangling, feeding and gear.
No need to move yet, if you don’t want to. I moved when my kids were a few months old and it was a pain, but you get through it. When they are infants, you will likely room share anyway. Agreed that if you drive, you eventually might want to look into a bigger car, but not an immediate priority.
The biggest thing (and hardest) is not to compare yourself to others having singletons. It’s so frustrating to see others with easy pregnancies and glorious mat leaves. That will most likely not be you and it’s tough.
Definitely recruit help whether that is family, a night nurse, etc. I found it easier to go the nanny/in-home care route for childcare so I didn’t have to deal with getting the kids out on a daily basis, but if you find a daycare you love, i’m sure you’ll make it work (it usually involves babywearing at least one). Also the cost is typically a wash with daycare once you have two kids. And you have years before you need to worry about activities – although it is important to treat the kids as individuals and not part of a unit. I have a strong aversion to “the twins” and dressing them alike.
Finding a tribe is important. There are several of us here. I’d also suggest finding a local multiples club as it’s usually a great source for second hand gear and clothes. And there are some great social media groups too.
I understand this is all overwhelming but twins are really awesome and you’re in for a great adventure!
newly pregnant says
Thanks everyone! Not in NY – we are in the South (but used to be in NY!) Our initial plan was to space our kids out 4+ years apart, but once it took us a while to get pregnant, we figured that after one year we’d probably start trying for our second anyway, so we are trying to convince ourselves that two newborns won’t be that much harder than two under two and i will only have to be pregnant once! And at least that’s what we are pretending for now :-) . We will almost definitely go the nanny route. We have absolutely no family nearby and are fairly new in town and we will probably end up spending my entire salary on childcare. Will definitely look into the resources you suggested – anything to get a sleeping schedule down, though trying to imagine how you feed, burp, and change two solo…
Do you really need 2 of everything gear wise? I mean of course you need 2 car seats and they both need a place to sleep, but do you need 2 swings, 2 activity mats, etc.?
Any tips on the best double strollers?
Anonymous says
StrollAir Duo for stroller or Bugaboo Donkey
I did have two of most stuff but I bought different versions for variety for the babies.
If you want to babywear there is a twin carrier called the Weego you can order from Germany.
twinmom says
We liked the City Mini Double (but start with a Joovy TwinRoo for the carseat stage). As for other gear, we didn’t have two of most things, and we also found it was really easy to pick up an extra if it turned out that they both LOVED something or other.
My biggest advice is to spend liberally in the first year to make your life easier, especially if your husband won’t be able to split the work 50-50 but is well compensated. Consider a night nurse, getting a bigger apartment now so family can stay with you to help, cleaners, the best nanny you can find, etc etc. After the first year, I felt like having twins was easier than having two of different ages (now at 5 it’s so great), but that first year was very tough, and I wish I’d gotten more help for it.
Also I definitely agree with the advice to find a local moms of multiples group — they often have great used gear sales, but also, the camaraderie is amazing. One of the best parts of twins is other twin parents!
Good luck. I was REALLY scared when we found out it was twins, but I’m thrilled now.
newly pregnant says
thanks so much for the advice and support! unfortunately my mom won’t be able to come help me due to health issues, but we will definitely be getting a night nurse! All of my friends who have kids in other places have a lot of family nearby and none of twins, so I feel like while I’m sure they will be able to provide emotional support/advice, my situation will be quite different, so I really appreciate your suggestions! My husband finds out his bonus in a couple of weeks, and I guess we will be putting it to good use :-) . And I am grateful that he is well compensated, allowing me to work in a field I like (that is not well compensated) and for us to be able to afford these things because I know that many people have it harder.
Is it crazy not to find out the gender in advance? We don’t own a house and don’t plan on buying in the next year and so I figure they can share a bedroom for a while, but is there any reason we need to know in advance?
We both left straight for work after our doctors appointment this morning, so I don’t think either of us has really had a chance to fully digest the news, but I am excited! The first year sounds really hard, but then it sounds like it gets fun!
twinmom says
we found out the gender in advance because we were just done with surprises at that point! but I’ve known people with twins who didn’t find out. that said, I did have a LOT of ultrasounds so I was glad I wasn’t trying to look away from the screen the whole time. it was also useful (since we happened to have b/g twins) to keep track of which baby was which in utero — they kept switching positions and we wanted to make sure growth for both was basically steady. but really, I think whatever you want to do is fine.
Anon says
Ugh, made it to work with all of my pump parts EXCEPT any of the bottles to pump into. I’m using rubber bands to attach the horns directly into some of the Lasinoh bags, and it will be a small miracle to make it through the day without spilling milk all over myself. Wish me luck!
NewMomAnon says
If you are near a Target, you could probably run out and buy some extra bottles. I had to do that a few times. I think I also pumped into coffee mugs a few times by resting the horns in the mugs, which were on my desk. So glamorous.
Anon in NYC says
Amazon Prime Now?
Momata says
You can buy new bottles of water (vending machine?) and dump out the water and pump into those.
JP says
Yes–the bottle threads on the Medela pump parts are standard sizes. But it’s hard to tell from the vending machine which is going to be the right size. If you’re near a drugstore, you can pump into Dr Browns bottles, which are usually available at CVS and Walgreens. I kept a couple low-quality bottles in my desk drawer (plus extra pump parts) for days when I was too tired to remember.
GCA says
+1, this was my hack every time I forgot bottles or caps. Buy bottles of water, put water in your own water bottle or jug, pump into empty water bottle. Even if you have to balance the horn on the rim, it’s easier than pumping into Lansinoh bags. OR stuff the bottle with the bag like a crockpot liner; pump; remove the bag and put it in the fridge, and the bottle is still clean for when you need to pump again.
avocado says
What about running to Target for some of the Medela bags with the sticky tabs that connect right to the pump?
ElisaR says
oh man i did that a few times….. i wound up going home to get the parts since it wasn’t very far. i think i mentioned to this group once before: twice i forgot bottles altogether (i was home not at work) and didn’t notice…. pumping directly into my lap. oof.
Edna Mazur says
I totally did that (pumped onto my lap because I forgot to attach the bottles), at work, on my first day back from my first maternity leave! It is nice to know I’m not the only one.
Elevator says
My young 2 year old just started preschool this year. We’re in the suburbs and he never had the opportunity to ride an elevator. Apparently, he’s very, very afraid of it as discovered when his whole class needed to ride it. How do we help him get over this fear? Is there a Daniel tiger for this?
anon says
This is fascinating to someone who lives in an elevator apartment building. Can you go visit an elevator before the trip to try to walk him through it? Maybe go through some pictures or videos online of how an elevator works so he understands what to expect? If you google social story riding an elevator there are some resources that might be useful.
EB0220 says
What if you find a place to practice and let him press the buttons? So interesting. FWIW my 2 year old freaked out the first few times she *stood* in elevator after having been carried as a baby. She’s gotten used to it. We also live in the suburbs but frequently ride in the them in dr offices or hotels.
Apparently I live under a rock says
Today’s my daughter’s birthday and I took the day off. My younger kid is home from daycare but Birthdays girl is in school. 3 y/o and I have been rocking out to the Trolls soundtrack nonstop all day long and I am about to make it my commuting music.
ElisaR says
i love the JT and anna kendrick version of true colors!
Anon says
Um, I definitely listened to the Sing soundtrack on my way to work this morning…
anon says
What are your favorite things to buy at Trader Joe’s? I’m in a dinner rut and headed there tonight to grab easy to make dinners. Toddler is a pretty good eater (but getting pickier) so I need easy to eat ideas.
EB0220 says
Your kid probably won’t like them but I loooooove the Frozen Indian food from TJ’s.
avocado says
My picky eater likes:
Frozen mac and cheese (I reheat two packages of the “light” version with one package of the regular to feed 2 adults + 1 kid very generously)
Orange chicken
Salmon burgers (sooo good and better than all of TJ’s other frozen burger options)
Potstickers
Shu mai
Frozen fried rice (too greasy for me)
SC says
Last week, we bought one of the frozen pasta dishes (linguine with pesto and tomatoes) and added shrimp (frozen, broiled separately). The TJ’s frozen shrimp were really good quality and delicious, but if you think LO wouldn’t like it, you could add chicken instead.
We also had the Kung Pau chicken. DH and I thought it was delicious, but our toddler, who isn’t picky, kept licking it and telling us it was too spicy but then going back to it. (He had a full meal’s worth of other options because we suspected it might be too spicy for him, so it wasn’t just that he was hungry.)
AIMS says
The roasted veggie lasagna (but only good if you make in the oven, not the microwave)
Veggie gyoza (I add a salad or sautéed veggie for dinner)
Dr Praeger veggie burgers (my kid eats these as “patties” not as burgers)
Cauliflower “rice” (esp. good with an egg mixed in)
Their prepared section tomato basil soup is very good and the shelf stable version is okay in a pinch
I also always stock up on their quinoa and tiny French lentils.
Cate says
How do you mix the egg into the cauliflower rice?
AIMS says
Same as you would with fried rice; you sauté the ‘rice’ and then throw in the egg and give everything a good scramble.
Em says
We buy a lot of their gnocchi and add frozen vegetables and chicken sausage.
anonanonanon says
My son has always liked orange chicken and is a relatively picky eater. I definitely recommend it.
We like to get the frozen pizza crusts and the container of pizza sauce and a bag of shredded cheese to “make” a pizza (except the dough is already made, score!)
I always kept a bag of their frozen party meatballs around when he was that age (they’re pretty small) to serve either with pasta and red sauce or just alone with ketchup
I like their “soyaki” sauce and often microwave their frozen brown rice, cook some chicken in the instantpot with the soyaki sauce, and have chicken teriyaki. If i’m feeling fancy I’ll throw the cooked rice in the skillet with some veggies first.
Their frozen whole grain waffles are good as are the frozen silver dollar pancakes, could be used for “breakfast for dinner”
Pogo says
I realized today that I let down when I put my pump parts. It’s like my body thinks they’re also baby lol.