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Babies, in general, require a lot of belongings. Twins need almost twice as many things. Whether you're buying things new or sourcing items second-hand, the costs can add up quite quickly. If you have any family or friends who recently welcomed a baby, they may give you some gently used items, which can help as you collect things and get ready to welcome your twins.
When you're buying two of most items, taking the time to find things that are gently used can save you quite a bit of money. And while you're planning what you will need as a parent of twins, there will be certain items you want to buy new because you have a certain look or idea in mind (maybe you want everything to be matching), and that's okay, too.
Babies grow so quickly that new things are often still very gently used by the time they outgrow or no longer need them. If you have the time to do some research and don't have a preference if your twins have matching stuff, you could find some of the things you'll need in almost-new condition for a discounted price.
Keep in mind, anything you consider buying second-hand should be inspected to make sure it's in good working order and that it's still safe for your babies. See if it includes the user manual, if needed, and, of course, be sure to wash or sterilize anything before using it with your own twins.
Things to buy new
Car seats and bases
For twins who have outgrown their infant car seats and graduated to convertible seats, I would suggest buying these new because they use the seats for a much longer period. You have more time to get your return-on-investment and you can also be sure the seats won't expire while your twins are using them (most convertible car seats have an expiration date ranging from six to 10 years from the date of manufacture, with the exact expiration varying among each make and model; the more babies the car seats go through, the less likely you might be to have the accompanying instruction manual or to know when they expire or whether they've been in an accident).
For infant car seats, I would also suggest buying new because you never know if they've been thrown-up in, if they're missing any inserts or pieces, or if they've been recalled. If you are given gently used ones or decide to buy second-hand ones, be sure to check the expiration date from the manufacturer for the specific make and model number and confirm with the previous owner that they've never been involved in a car accident.
We really liked Chicco's rear-facing KeyFit 30 infant car seat and base. They worked perfecty for our premature twins, who were born six weeks early. The click and connect bases made it super easy to pop the seats into and out of the car with the touch of a single button, and the seats were compatible with the stroller wagon we used for pediatrician appointments.
Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat & Base
This is the Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat and Base. It's a rear-facing seat for infants ranging from four to 30 pounds. The click and connect bases allow you to easily remove the seats with the press of a single button.
Breast pump and accessories
Depending on where you live, these items aren't technically allowed to be sold in used condition because of the potential biohazard issues related to the personal / intimate nature of their purpose. If you have health coverage, you may be able to save a part of the cost or possibly have a pump covered in full, depending on where you live and what your plan is. If you don't have coverage, these are still worth investing in. I really liked Medela's Freestyle Hands-Free Breast Pump. The pump is very portable and gives you the freedom of moving around the house and multi-tasking while pumping, which is a huge time-saver when you could be pumping fairly frequently.
Medela Freestyle Hands-Free Breast Pump
This is the Medela Freestyle hands-free breast pump. It will allow you to maximize your time while pumping.
Bottles, collars, and tips
While you may be able to find a set of bottles used, bottle tips wear down fairly quickly, especially when you're using them twice as often with dual babies. If you prefer not to buy a full new set of bottles, tips, and the collars to hold the tips in place, you may want to at least buy new tips, so you don't have to worry about wear and tear when feeding your twins.
We started off with a set of Medela's slow flow bottles and Philips' Avent anti-colic bottles, so that we had variety in case they didn't take to one of the types of bottles. They did well with both kinds.
Medela Slow Flow Feeding & Storage Bottles
These are Medela's Slow Flow Feeding & Storage Bottles. They hold five ounces of fluid and have a silicone tip. They also come with lids and caps for leak-proof storage in the fridge.
When it was time to size up to the larger-ounce bottles and faster flow tips, we went with another set of Philips bottles, which was part of a strategy of being able to distinguish whose bottle was whose.
Philips AVENT 4-Ounce Anti-Colic Baby Bottles
These are Philips' Avent Anti-Colic Baby Bottles. They hold four ounces of fluid and are designed to reduce feeding issues for your baby (colic, gas, and reflux).
Breastmilk and/or formula storage bags
You would likely be buying these new, but there's a chance you could find storage bags second-hand that are actually still new but were leftover stock that never got opened or used.
Baby carriers
It's best to buy these new if you're planning to baby wear. That way, you don't have to research model numbers and safety recalls, and you can be sure the closures are tight and secure for your precious cargo.
Bassinet and mattress cover, cribs, and crib mattresses
Whether it's from teething, spit-ups, or overnight accidents, bassinets and cribs–and their mattresses–can be a playground for bacteria, even if you're on top of wiping them down, so it's a good idea to invest in new ones for your twins.
We chose to go with the Graco Solano 4-in-1 Convertible Crib, which has a built-in drawer underneath that is handy for seasonal clothes and bedding. My sister, who also has twins, loved this crib for her babies, too, because this crib grows with your children as they transition from newborns to toddlers.
Graco Solano 4-in-1 Convertible Crib
The Graco Solano 4-in-1 Convertible Crib has a built-in drawer that is handy for seasonal clothes. This crib will grow with your babies as they transition from newborns to toddlers.
Baby monitors
When I think of how many hours our baby monitors have logged so far, I think I'd just buy these new. If you do decide to buy them used, check for wear and tear on cables (cats or dogs may like to chew cords) and that nothing has needed to be repaired.
We have two of the Nanit Pro smart baby monitors and flex stands. We absolutely love them. You can set up the app to show you side by side live views of each crib, and you can add their names, so you can easily see who's who without trying to remember which pajamas they wore to bed that night.
Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor & Flex Stand
This is the Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor & Flex Stand. In addition to a live feed of your baby, it shows you real-time temperature and humidity levels, and has a built-in sound machine and night light.
Plus, these monitors give you real-time room stats, like temperature and humidity level, at a glance, and they have a built-in white noise machine with different soundscapes and a built-in, dimmable night light.
Playards
Due to the chance of safety recalls, potential bacteria lingering in the mattress or material along the top or side of the playards, or the fact that little teeth could have chewed the mesh while they were bored, I would buy these new. If you do decide to buy them used, check the make and model to ensure they haven't been recalled.
Vitamin D drops
You would buy new unless a friend or family member gifted you drops that they had recently purchased but didn't finish. Of course, you'll want to check the expiration date.
Pain relief management
Because of wear and tear from sharp, little teeth, you may want to buy new teethers. Ice or gel packs could be found gently used, as long as there are no teeth puncture marks.
Toothbrushes, toiletries, and baby care essentials
Because of the personal hygienic nature, I would buy these items new. This way, you can also decide which toothbrush each baby gets in a way that will be easy for you to remember whose is whose.
Hamper
You could easily use an existing hamper you own for all that teeny tiny laundry. If you want the hamper to match your nursery decor, then you might want to buy this new.
Bathtub and bath toys
I wouldn't want to worry about how things were cleaned or stored and the chance of mold growth, so I would go with new items in this case.
The Fisher-Price Rinse N Grow Tub was our go-to bathtub from when they were newborns.
Fisher-Price Rinse N Grow Tub
This tub has a newborn sling that can be adjusted as your babies grow and it can be used without the sling once they can sit unassisted.
It has a newborn sling that can be adjusted as they grow, and we're still using it now, without the sling, and they're almost two years old.
Changing supplies
You'd likely buy these new, unless someone you know gives you recent "leftovers" of things like baby powder, Vaseline, and/or zinc cream to help prevent diaper rash.
Diapers
You would buy these new, unless you're choosing to go with reusable cloth diapers, in which case, you can find these used and give them a wash.
Stroller
Depending on which double-stroller you go with, you will use it for so long, I would personally just get a new one. Used double-strollers can also be harder to come by than single strollers.
We love the StrollAir Twin Way double stroller. It's grown with our babies since we brought them home from the hospital, folds down quite compactly in very few steps, and is easy to load into and out of a vehicle with just one person.
StrollAir Twin Way
This is the StrollAir Twin Way. It's our pick for best all-around stroller for twins. Durable, stylish, ready to grow with your babies.
Pacifiers and soother clips
These are easy enough to sterilize if you are gifted used ones, but they may have logged many hours with the previous baby, so I would probably just buy new ones instead of worrying about wear and tear on the used ones.
We loved the Philips Avent Soothie pacifiers. They were great for color-coding between our twins (we just bought a pack of each color we wanted), and they seemed to stay put compared to the other ones we tried, which often had to be retrieved speedily before any babies got super upset, only to spit them out again almost instantly.
Philips AVENT Soothie 0-3 Months Pacifier
This four-pack of pacifiers will stock your living room, nursery, and diaper bag. Available in multiple colors, you can assign a hue to each baby.
Bella Tunno Silicone Infant Pacifier Clip Set
This is the pacifier clip set by Bella Tunno. The bright colors stimulate baby's sensory development and the textures soothe your newborn's gums.
Diaper pail
For twins, I would go with a new one unless you can find a very specific one used and this is only because it is much more heavy-duty, has a larger capacity than the other pails I've seen, is better at odor control, and is more study, so won't be knocked over if one of your twins is trying to play with it while you're changing the other twin. It's the Munchkin Step Diaper Pail Powered by Arm & Hammer. It's magical, and you must have it in your nursery.
Munchkin Step Diaper Pail
This is the Munchkin Step Diaper Pail. It's our pick for the best bin for disposable diapers. It has a huge capacity and is a wonder at containing all the odors you don't want wafting throughout your home.
Blender or food processor
If you're planning to make food for your twins, the blender or processor will likely log many hours; enough that it's likely worth investing in a new one that you know won't be burnt-out from steady use.
Rocker chairs
Depending on which ones you decide to go with (and their weight threshold), these could be worth buying new because your twins could get many years of use out of them (i.e., if you buy these used, they may have seen many hard miles from the previous owners).
Humidifier, fan, and blackout curtains
For peace of mind on how often the humidifier was cleaned, I would personally just invest in a new one. The Frida Baby Cool Mist 3-in-1 Humidifier helps babies breathe easier by preventing stuffy noses during drier seasons, like our winters, so they can sleep more soundly through the night. While it has a built-in night light that ranges through the colors of the rainbow (and it does look really cool as it fades through the hues), we keep it turned off, so it's not a distraction at bedtime (you can read more about this in our article on how to successfully sleep train your twins).
Frida Baby Cool Mist 3-in-1 Humidifier
This is the Frida Baby Cool Mist 3-in-1 Humidifier. It helps babies breathe easier by preventing stuffy noses, so they can sleep more soundly through the night.
Used fans are likely being sold because they don't work well or sound rickety, so I'd consider a new one, unless you have an extra one kicking around, like we did. If you want your curtains to match specific nursery decor or need particular sizing for your window or room set-up, you'll likely want to buy these new.
Clothing
There might be specific outfits you'll want to buy new for your babies, like "coming home from the hospital" or birth announcement ensembles. Beyond this, you can find a lot of great deals on second-hand items or may be given wardrobe essentials by friends or family.
One essential apparel item I recommend making sure any twin parents have is Kushies socks. They're the only ones that actually stay on teeny-tiny baby feet, especially the itty-bitty ones that premature babies tend to have. You can read all about why we love these socks, here.
Kushies
Kushies are the very best socks for newborn or premature twin babies. They're comfortable, cute, and actually stay on tiny newborn feet, so you don't lose one everywhere you go.
Milestone blanket or cards
If you want a blanket personalized with your twins' names, then you'd go with a new one. If you want a blanket or cards but don't mind doing separate photos, you could find a second-hand blanket or cards that aren't twin-specific. I liked having a twin-specific blanket, since it had room to lay both babies on their respective sides, but we didn't have names narrowed down and solidified until they were born, so we got one without names and just remembered that Baby A went on the left and Baby B went on the right every time we took photos.
Nightlight
If you think you'll need a standalone nightlight, you can likely find one pretty inexpensively. If you're considering buying a newer humidifier or baby monitor, some models have nightlights built into them. I really liked this nightlight by NoJo and wanted it to be an element in our twins' nursery. The gentle glow provided enough light in the moments when we needed it without being disturbing or stimulating to our tired babies.
NoJo Moon Shaped Lighted Nursery Decor
This is NoJo's Moon Shaped Lighted Nursery Decor. Its sweet moon shape with delicate circular lights adds a sense of calm and quiet ambiance to any baby's room.
Things to buy used
Bibs, burping cloths, and muslin blankets
These can certainly be used second-hand, but be sure to give them a wash. You might need to purchase a few extra, depending on how many you are given or find used versus how many you will need for twins. If your babies have reflux issues, you will want to have even more on-hand for those surprise spit-ups.
My favorite burp cloths were the extra ones we bought after realizing how much reflux would play a role in those first few months with our newborns. These ones by Keababies are so soft, have the sweetest patterns, are super absorbent and are the perfect size for throwing over your shoulder or tucking underneath a bottle to protect your little one's neck folds from any unintentional spills.
Keababies 5-Pack Muslin Bamboo Burp Cloths
These muslin burp cloths are 70 percent viscose derived from bamboo and 30 percent cotton. With eight layers of fabric, they are ultra absorbent and incredibly soft.
Crib bedding, swaddles, and sleep sacks
These are okay to find second-hand. Check for wear and tear from tiny teeth on any zippers or closures before washing them up.
If youdo decide to buy these new, I highly recommend the Nested Bean Zen weighted sleep sacks for babies aged 6-15 months. The small weight on the chest of the sleep sack mimics the sensation and comfort of a parent's hand gently resting on their chest. This helps to prevent their startle reflex from waking them up throughout the night.
Nested Bean Zen Weighted Sleep Sack
This is the Nested Bean Zen weighted sleep sack. It's designed to help prevent wake-ups during sleep regressions and help your baby learn to self-soothe.
This sack has a two-way zipper, which makes for easier, quieter changes overnight that are less likely to wake your sleeping babies. And the adjustable snaps at the shoulder mean the sleep sack will grow with your baby.
And then once they outgrow the Nested Bean Zen Sleep Sack, the Baby Beekeeper Infant Wearable Blanket by Burt's Bees is a great choice. It's rated for 12-18 months (22 to 28 pounds; our twins are still wearing them at 22 months' old because they're still under the maximum weight threshold.
Burt's Bees Baby Beekeeper Infant Wearable Blanket
This is the Burt's Bees Baby Beekeeper Infant Wearable Blanket. The interior zipper guard and zipper pull cover help prevent your baby from pulling at or trying to chew the zipper when they get bored.
The interior zipper guard and zipper pull cover on the Baby Beekeeper help prevent your toddler from pulling at or trying to chew the zipper when they get bored. I know someone whose baby got their front tooth stuck right through the middle hole on the pull tab of a different brand of sleep sack. The zipper guard that is included on the Burt's Bees sleep sacks prevent this from happening.
Training potties and seats
These can be purchased used; just be sure to sterilize them. Or, if the idea of buying used training potties doesn't appeal to you, obviously, you can buy these new.
Our twins really liked the BabyBjörn potty chairs. They have splash guards incorporated into the seat to keep messes to a minimum while they're figuring out how to go on-demand.
BabyBjörn Potty Chair
This is the Babybjörn Potty Chair. It has a splash guard incorporated into the seat to help prevent messes during the training process. You can get multiple colors if you want to color-code potties to your twins.
Nursing pillow and covers
These can be previously used; just be sure to give the cover a wash. And if there's not a back-up cover with the one you find, you might consider buying a second cover to have washed and waiting in the wings in case of any unanticipated spit-up incidents, so you aren't having to wait on laundry in that moment of mayhem.
There are benefits to having a twin pillow for tandem feeding. I liked the Twin Z Pillow for the early days of nursing.
Twin Z Nursing Pillow
The Twin Z Nursing Pillow is our pick as the best nursing pillow for tandem feeding your twins.
But having two separate Boppy-style pillows also has its merits. The single pillows were handy for a parent or caregiver to bottle feed a baby on their own right from the get-go, too.
Boppy Nursing Pillow
Boppy Pillows are so handy if you need to feed both babies' separately. Each caregiver can then use a pillow to help support each baby while feeding.
Bottle warmers and sterilizers and/or steam sterilizer bags
If you buy this used, check that the heating element is clean and doesn't have any burnt-on residue from previous use. And while you're at it, are you buying one or two bottle warmers? I suggest two. You can read my reasoning in our extensive article that outlines what items you should consider getting two of if you're having twins. You may also be able to find sterilizer bags second-hand that are new but were leftover stock that never got opened or used.
High chairs, Table-for-Two, booster seats, and feeding bibs
Make sure these have the proper harnesses to keep your babies safe and give everything a wipe-down. For easy cleaning, you might want to consider silicone bibs for mealtimes.
Bowls, plates, spoons, sippy cups
If you're buying these second-hand, be sure to check for wear and tear from little chompers and leaks from well-loved sippy cups.
Sit-me-up chairs, swings and gliders, and exersaucers, bouncers, and jumpers
These are each used for such a relatively short period of time that you can likely find used ones in great shape for a fraction of the price. Just be sure to check for any recalls on items you're planning to purchase second-hand and check for wear and tear on power cables.
Fisher Price Sit-Me-Up Floor Seat
This is the Fisher Price Sit-Me-UP floor seat. It's a portable chair that supports your infant and helps them sit up. It has a wide, sturdy base and folds flat for easy storage and / or travel.
Winter gear
Depending on where you live, when your babies are born, and your lifestyle, you may need to invest in snowsuits for your twins. For the first year or two, these seem to be pretty infrequently used items, so you can probably track down nearly new winter gear for a pretty decent price.
Jolly Jumper Deluxe Sneak-a-Peek Car Seat Cover
These fleece-lined car seat covers are cozy during winter's frigid temperatures. An elasticized trim means these covers fit most infant car seats.
Diaper bag
You can certainly buy this used. I would suggest looking for a backpack-style bag, since you will probably have both hands full with your twins (and all their belongings) at most times.
Changing table and/or dresser
Make sure whichever changing set-up you go with has a safety strap to help keep your wiggly babies in place.
Changing pad and cover
Measure the changing pad to be sure it will fit into the space on your changing table (most are a standard size but some are different, and you don't want to figure that out after-the-fact).
Sound machine
You could find one second-hand, or if you have an old phone laying around, connect it to Wi-Fi and have it play white noise.
Bookshelf
Whether you find this used, have an extra one on-hand, or end up buying it new, double-check the sizing against where you want to place it in the nursery or play area.
Chair for the nursery
If you opt for a chair in your nursery, you might be able to find a second-hand option that fits your needs. Be sure to measure that it'll fit where you're planning to put it. We bought a chair-and-a-half, so both parents could sit side by side and each hold a twin during storytime, and we do not regret this decision.
Play mats or tummy time mirrors
Just give them a wipedown and make sure that none of the accessories have been chewed to the point that they're sharp and have become a hazard for your twins.
Things to ponder
As soon as you add the word "baby" into the mix, you know you're dealing with a barrage of belongings and skyrocketing prices. Turn that baby into twins, and you may be wondering where you're going to put everything and how you're going to bankroll your bundles of joy. There are certain items you'll want to buy new. Others can be sourced second-hand.
Babies grow so fast and are into the next size or developmental stage in what feels like mere weeks, sometimes. For this reason, new things are usually still very gently used by the time babies outgrow them. Remember, though, to thoroughly inspect anything you are going to buy used to make sure it's in good working order and is safe for your twins. Try to track down the user manual, if needed, and, of course, be sure to wash or sterilize anything before using it with your own children.
What were your top favorite things you purchased new for your twins? Did you have any favorite finds when looking for second-hand items? Let us know in the Comments section below.
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