Buying guide
What to buy for twins
Not everything is bought twice. What you double – car seats, sleeping spaces –, what you share, how quantities change and why you prepare earlier.
In short
- You double what relates to safety and sleep – two car seats, two separate sleeping spaces, a mattress of the right size for each.
- You do not double what is used in turn – the baby bath, changing table, monitor, most toys.
- Consumables and clothes grow by almost two times, but stockpiling still makes no sense.
- Prepare earlier. Twins are often born early, and the bag and car seats need to be ready in good time.
When you find out there are two, the first reaction is usually arithmetic: everything times two. Fortunately it is not quite like that. What relates to safety and sleep is doubled. What is used in turn is not. And consumables grow a lot, but stockpiling does not solve it.
What you double
| What | Why |
|---|---|
| Car seat | Each child gets their own seat. First check whether two fit in your car |
| Sleeping space and mattress | Each baby sleeps on their own surface |
| Sleeping bags | Two for each, so you have one in the wash |
| Clothes | Almost double, but buy by size, not for a whole year |
For sleep, the rule is the same as for a single baby, just twice: each baby in their own space, on their back, on a firm mattress, with nothing soft. Two cots or two Moses baskets, side by side, in your room. See how to choose a cot.
What you do not double
- The baby bath and the changing table – you wash and change them in turn.
- The monitor, if they sleep in the same room.
- Most toys and books.
- The baby care kit – one, with what is needed for two. See the baby care kit.
What changes in quantities
- Nappies: around 16–20 a day in the first weeks, for both. Still no big stockpiles: twins are often born smaller and may need different sizes. See how to choose nappies.
- Feeding: more bottles, if you use formula or expressed milk, and often a double electric pump. See bottles, breast pump and sterilizer.
- Laundry: more fitted sheets and muslin squares, because they are washed more often.
What is worth adding
- A twin nursing pillow, if you want to breastfeed them at the same time. A lactation consultant can help you with positions.
- A tracking system – an app or a notebook – for feeds, nappies and medicines. With two children and short nights, you will not remember who ate last.
- Organised help for the first weeks. See the first weeks at home.
Getting around
The twin pushchair is chosen first with a tape measure: the lift door, the door of the building, the boot. Both must be able to lie flat from birth. All of it, in detail, in pushchair for twins or close siblings.
Check the car too: do two car seats fit on the back seat, with room left for an adult or for luggage?
The calendar
Twins are often born early. Move the whole shopping calendar forward by a few weeks: car seats fitted, sleeping spaces ready and the hospital bag packed around week 30–32. Ask your doctor what is right for your pregnancy.
Our recommendation
Double the car seats and the sleeping spaces, do not double what is used in turn. Choose the pushchair according to your own doors and boot, prepare everything a few weeks earlier and organise help for the first weeks. For the rest – clothes, nappies, toys – buy as you see what is missing.
Frequently asked questions
Can twins sleep in the same cot?
The safe sleep recommendation is that each baby has their own sleeping space, a firm, flat surface just for them. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend that twins sleep together in the same cot. Two cots or two Moses baskets, placed side by side, in the parents’ room.
When should the shopping for twins be ready?
Earlier than for a single baby. Twins are often born early, so plan to have the car seats fitted, the sleeping spaces ready and the hospital bag packed around week 30–32. Ask the doctor who is following your pregnancy what timeline suits you.
Which pushchair should I choose for twins?
A double pushchair in which both can lie flat from birth – two carrycots or two fully reclining seats. The choice between side-by-side and tandem is made first by the width of your doors, the lift and the boot. Details in the guide to the pushchair for twins.
Think it could help someone else?
Send the guide to your partner or to a friend who is expecting a baby.