Your first inclination when you find out that you are expecting twins might be to buy multiples of everything.  However, just like with a singleton, not every baby product is a necessity. If you are short on space or want to stick to a moderate baby gear budget, consider only buying the essentials.  Babies, even two of them, don’t really need a lot of stuff. Here are the seven items* I think are essential to thrive with multiples.

Double Stroller- Let's be honest...you probably aren't going to get out much at first. But when you do, having a narrow stroller that is compatible with your infant car seat is a must.  This stroller fits down the crowded store aisles and fits through any door without assistance.              
Shown here: Graco Ready2Grow Click Connect Double Stroller

Video Baby Monitor- A video monitor is a must with twins. You will want to be able to see which twin is crying and which is sleeping without actually going into their nursery. Look for a model that is compatible with multiple cameras and allows you to toggle back and forth between camera views.
Shown here: Motorola 5” Video Baby Monitor

Twin Carrier- When your babies outnumber you, a carrier made for twins is essential.  As much as you will want to carry your sweet babies around all day, there will be times when you will need to tend to other things. Carriers can be expensive, and not all mamas and babies enjoy them. But with such a wide variety of carriers available, you will surely find one you like. It’s a good idea to borrow one from a friend or a local baby wearing group until you find the right fit for you.        
Shown here: Twingaroo Carrier

Feeding Pillow- If you are breastfeeding, you might want a double pillow that allows for simultaneous nursing. But for bottle feeding, I prefer two separate pillows. These are also another great place to put a baby down, useful for tummy time, and can serve to support a baby learning to sit up.        
Shown here: Boppy Notebook Print

Bouncer- As a pump and bottle feed momma, I wouldn't have been able to feed my twins alone without these. Once they were able,  I sat each baby in a bouncer on the floor facing me.  I was then able to hold a bottle in each hand and feed both babies simultaneously. Talk about a game changer!  When it's not feeding time, these chairs are a great place to put one baby down while you tend to the other one.    
Shown here: Fisher-Price Geo Meadow

Big Diaper Bag-  When you finally work up the courage to leave the house with your babies, you are going to need to take along some stuff. A big bag to contain it all is so helpful. You will need double the clothes, diapers, and bottles (if bottle-feeding).  Also look for a bag with lots of pockets to help you stay organized and find what you need quickly.    
Shown here: Skip Hop Forma

Bassinet on Wheels - If you would like your baby to bunk in your room at first, these are a great option.  They allow you to easily move babies around without waking them.  I used to push these beds all around my house so my babies could rest while I did all the other things I needed to do.
Shown here: Simmons Kids

Twins come with twice the love, but not necessarily twice the stuff. Consider your lifestyle, budget and this list, and you will have everything you need for your twins and nothing you don’t.

Some of the links below are affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you use the link to purchase the item. 
*This is not an endorsement of a specific product, just sharing the things that worked for me.

Most parents agree that they don't want their house overrun with toys. This is especially true with parents of multiples who want to avoid the "you need two of everything" trap. In my house, a good twin toy has to be sturdy and well made. It seems that my twins are able to work together to destroy many toys, that a singleton can't. The toys must also be able to accommodate two or more kids playing together to help avoid tantrums that arise from taking turns. These 6 toys meet those criteria and are toys that actually get played with in my home.*

1. Activity Cubes
This activity cube is made of wood and very durable. It also grows well with children from infancy to toddlerhood. The cube has multiple sides allowing children to play simultaneously.  (pictured here: B Toys Zany Zoo Activity Cube)

2. Books
I will always believe that books make a great gift. I especially like to gift my twins with books about being a twin! (pictured here: One of Two)

3. Play Kitchen 
Play kitchens are so wonderful because they encourage imaginative play. This particular model is wide enough to accommodate two chefs, and has plenty of storage for all your play kitchen needs. (pictured here: KidKraft Vintage Play Kitchen)

4. Easel 
This two sided easel is perfect for your budding artists. In addition to building creativity, there are many developmental benefit to working on a vertical surface like an easel. (pictured here: KidKraft Deluxe Wooden Easel)

5. Musical Instruments
Kids love to make noise, at least mine do! With this toy, there is a chance that the noise can become music. (pictured here: Melissa and Doug Band in a Box)

6. Mini Trampoline
While this toy needs to be used one at a time, it is useful and entertaining. When the weather doesn't cooperate, burn some energy inside. (pictured here: Little Tikes Trampoline)

Some of the links below are affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you use the link to purchase the item. 
*Not an endorsement, just what has worked for us!

I am all for breastfeeding. I am amazed by the life-saving power of breast milk, that I have witnessed first hand. I know that breast milk is both nutrition and medicine especially for the tiniest of babies. I understand why it is referred to as liquid gold. And yet somehow this description falls short when you are agonizing over every single ounce. So you would probably assume that I breastfed my twins…well not exactly.
I fell into a gray area when it came to breastfeeding, I was an exclusive pumper. Perhaps it was my own insecurity, but I never felt like I should say I breastfed without a long clarifying statement. My twins were born at 28 weeks. Much too small and fragile to eat by mouth, let alone to latch and suck. So like many preemie mommas, I started pumping. I wasn’t sure that I would be able to produce any milk after such a traumatic and early birth, but I had to try. The NICU staff that were caring for my twins stressed the importance of every drop. They said my preemies needed more calories and nutrients to help them grow quickly. Breast milk was one of the best ways to help reduce the risk of NEC, build immunity, and prevent infection.
After a day or two, it finally started to work. It went from, “I think there might be something in the bottle,” to a full ounce, then two. Those sweet nurses cheered over any amount of milk I was able to express, which was promptly walked down the hall to the NICU.
Soon the day came when I was ready to leave the hospital, but my babies were not. It is a heart-wrenching experience to leave the hospital no longer pregnant, but without a baby. I had to rely on the nurses to tell me how my babies were doing, to show me how to care for them, and to give me permission to hold them. But the one thing that only I could provide was breast milk. I felt like I couldn’t do much for my babies while they were in the NICU, but I could pump. So that’s what I did.
Each morning I drove to the NICU with a cooler packed full of milk. It certainly wasn’t easy. I was setting alarms and waking up multiple times a night to pump for 30 minutes and fill those tiny hospital-supplied bottles with milk. I bought another freezer to store all the bottles until they were needed at the hospital. I thought I would continue to pump until they were released from the hospital. And two months later when they were, I didn’t quit. When one of my twins was diagnosed with an intolerance to dairy, I was advised to cut all the common food allergens from my diet if I was going to continue to feed them breast milk. I drastically changed my diet and eliminated dairy, tree nuts, soy, and shellfish.
For 15 months, pumping for my twins was a huge part of my life. I pumped inside, I pumped outside. I pumped in the car, while washing bottles, and while feeding babies. I pumped with clogged milk ducts. I even was able to pump while sleeping. Pumping was important to me; it made me feel like a mother. When I had very little to give my preemies in the NICU, pumping for them gave me a sense of purpose. When I had very little control over their care and their health, I felt empowered by my ability to provide something they needed. When I felt like my body had failed in growing my babies to term, I felt it redeemed itself by producing a perfect food for them. So even though it was hard and time-consuming, I never gave up.
Did I breastfeed my twins? Well not in its purest form. What ended up being true for us was not the picture of a mother with her child at her breast. It was a compromise. The process was vastly different, but the end results essentially the same. So this month as we celebrate breastfeeding and raise awareness of its benefits, remember the exclusive pumpers. We want to be seen. We want to join in on the stories and perspectives of nourishing our children. And we want to share our stories, just as soon as we find an outlet to plug in our breast pumps!