CONGRATS!!!! Do you have other children?
What can you expect? TO BE EXHAUSTED!!! LOL
I had 3 older kids (oldest had just turned 7) when my twins were born 6 weeks early.
Here is what I have learned:
- You don't need two of everything, but some things you do...I would not get two swings, bouncy chairs and exersaucers just yet. Save for it (or ask for Gift cards at your shower) My twins hated the exersaucers, but loved the swings and bouncy chairs.
- If you have space, forget the bassinet and use a crib for both of them. I kept mine together until they were about 6 months old and rolling over each other.
- We never used a changing table. Just the floor and a blanket.
- Stock up on diapers and wipes now. We went with Huggies Supreme and sensitive wipes. I had 1400 diapers when the boys were born and they lasted us only TWO MONTHS!! That is ALOT of diapers! LOL
- Get all the freebies you can and two of everything. When you register at the hospital, get 2 diaper bags. They only gave me one, then I asked for another one since it is twins. They loaded me up with stuff. At the ped appts, ask for free Infant Tylenol samples, etc..
- Twin proof EVERYTHING. My identical twin boys are 19 months old and are into EVERYTHING. They will come up with ideas you could never prepare for. My twins have been able to climb EVERY single gate they have at ToysRus. Every one of them. One of my twins has even had a tooth knocked out of their mouths because I could not get to them fast enough. We have named them Seek and Destroy. The basic plug covers do not work for us. We have to get the expensive ones that you have to push down 3 buttons and pull on. The boys have worked to gether in breaking the drawer latches on 3 cabinets already. Just think that nothing is baby proofed, it is just a help to stop them long enough to get to them.
- And the number one thing I have learned... when people offer help TAKE THEM UP ON IT. And don't just say, Yeah I will call you. Schedule it right then and there. The biggest help in the beginning was a friend who came over for an hour a week to fold and put away all the clothes I had washed and dried an piled up in a corner of the house. I just did not have the time to fold and put away. I would lay out the clothes that would wrinkle though. My friend thought it was no big deal, but made such a difference.
- Depending on if you have other kids or not, I LOVED the Double Snap and Go stroller. You can get it for $50 or so off ebay. It works with the infant car seats. It was the only way I could get out on my own. If you have other kids, I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend a triple stroller. I just bought a triple jogger off Ebay. I really regret not getting it 18 months ago. It is the bEST thing I have ever bought. If you need any suggestions, please feel free to email me. I have researched SOOO many strollers. Once they are out of car seats, I would recommend the Jeep double Side By Side stroller for $80 at Toys R Us. It is an umbrella type stroller. I LOVE IT. I had the Graco Duoglider and it was killing my back. I use this one at the mall, to go into stores. I have the triple jogger to go on bike paths and fast walking. My email is zookeeper2five@gmail.com
I had a 2 yr old, a 5 yr old and a 7 yr old when the twins were born. Then we moved 1300 miles when they were 4 months old. Things are just now starting to ease up on us. They have learned to climb out of the crib so two days ago we put them in the twin beds. UGH. Just ugh! I hope it settles down soon. They tire me out!
Anyways, just work on getting through 10 minutes at a time. It DOES get easier. You WILL get to sleep through the night (eventually). Just enjoy them because they grow up SO fast!