LIZZIE BELL, MBA
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Mom of Twins: My Favorite Baby Products Ages 0-6 Months

10/29/2020

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As a new mom of twins, I've had to make a lot of brand decisions. It's been an exciting adventure to research and test out baby products -- after all, I have two very different babies to shop for, so I can test out each item on not one but two babies!

There have been some definite hits in our house and what I consider the best baby products for ages 0-6 months. I'm hopeful that the following items will help others. I purchased these items myself (and many others) but am linking to them through the Amazon Affiliate Program which may send me a check one day if enough folks buy the items that I recommend. But you can trust me!
Twin Stroller:
  • It's a big decision, but we are finding that we made the right one with our twin stroller. We enjoy having the babies side-by-side instead of one in front of the other. That way they can see ahead equally. The Bumbleride Indie Twin stroller fits through most standard doorways as well. And for us the best feature is how high the stroller handle can go (46" or so) since some of the competitors' only go to 42" high max. Their rain cover is great for any wind.
  • ​We got the Nuna Pipa carseats, but we would NOT recommend them as they do not fit in our car (Toyota Sienna) safely and also are quite heavy.
Baby Furniture:
  • We LOVE this Newton Baby mattress and sheets - so much relief to know that they're breathable once baby starts to roll.
  • Ofie Mats -- I put three of these together in our living room - they are so easy to clean and soft to play on with babies.
  • For twins, we used and loved the Table For Two which is like a little car seat in their nursery to put them down to rest, for relux after eating, or even to feed them the bottles at the same time; it also comes in a Table for One baby! Definitely worth the investment as it's easy to use and supports baby well!
  • Our #1 favorite toy is this Baby Swing - it lulled them to sleep, and it allowed us to focus more on one baby if the other needed to rest. An absolute must!
  • As baby gets closer to 5-6 months, we love this Sit Me Up floor seat to get them part of the action!
  • These colorful hampers are so useful to toss in baby books and toys!
  • We got the Infant Optics baby monitor which works great and allows you to sleep with it all night by your side. The only challenge is the cameras only work with one monitor but it is portable in case you need it upstairs and downstairs.
  • For our sound machine, we use the Hatch Rest+ Baby Sound Machine - they say that babies like the white noise/TV sound the best with the color red being the most sleep-inducing.​
  • We didn't splurge for a Baby Bjourn, but we did try a couple of bouncers and found that this Lion Around baby bouncer is the most popular in our house - great for kicking, discovery, and for rest bits between rolling around on tbe floor with their Farmstand Activity Mat!
Baby Diapers & Care:
  • Medical Grade Vaseline -- they use this in the NICU, and I swear by it!
  • Alcohol Prep Pads - use for sterilizing the rectal thermometer (rectal is still recommended as most accurate by pediatricians, something I didn't know!)
  • Aquaphor Baby - this is great for everything from dry skin to contact rash. You can also use breastmilk if you have extra supply!
  • WaterWipes unscented baby wipes are really awesome and soft - we use these as well as the Seventh Generation wipes, sometimes with a wipe warmer!
  • Bath thermometer - we love using this bath in the sink, and the ducky thermometer helps us keep it the right temperature always. Speaking of which, this bath is the best one out there.
  • We love Sensi-Care for any diaper rashes, but luckily there haven't been many!
  • This diaper caddy organizer has been wonderful, especially with multiple sizes needed.
  • We love the Keekaroo diaper changer - it's easy to clean and put anywhere. A must!
Baby Feeding:
  • Medela Symphony pump - I rented this professional pump monthly from M&M Medical Supply - in my opinion it's not worth using a cheaper pump. I also recommend these duckbill valves which work more reliably!
  • Dr. Brown's 3 Piece Bottle Brush - even if you don't use the Dr. Brown bottles, these brushes are fantastic! We also love the Dr. Brown's formula mixing pitcher - makes multiple bottles! Since formula is only good for 24 hours, write the time you mixed it with a dry erase marker.
  • ​To boost lactation and breastmilk production, try this Milk Maid tea and Lactation Cookies.
  • Formula: use what's right for you, but we really love this gentle Earth's Best formula!
  • Drool bibs are essential for messy eaters! These patterns are so beautiful.
  • Don't forget this bottle sterilizer: with twins, we ended up getting two of these - they've been so helpful and reliable. They recommend you sterilize each item used once a day. I use it for pump parts, bottles, binkies, it's wonderful! Best of all, there's no dropping in the dishwasher!
  • If you need to bring cold bottles anywhere, try this Packit Freezable Lunch Bag (I got the Hobo version in black and white which isn't available currently) - freeze in between trips!
Baby Bath Time & Grooming:
  • Baby Nail Scissors - these are the best that I've found, and we tried a bunch!
  • ​Wooden Brush: Hip Peas -- this brush is perfect for sweeping baby's hair after bath
  • Cradle Cap/Dandruff Care -- I only had to use this one time and the dandruff never came back!
  • We use two each of these baby hooded towels for drying off! They wash well.
Baby Books:
  • Since little babies can only see high contrast, I recommend this awesome book where Baby Sees Colors - it is still a hit months later.
  • I can't recommend this under the sea baby book highly enough - it crinkles and is well written and just an all around amazing find!
  • Curious George is an absolute FAVORITE in our house - this book comes with a puppet!
  • Brown Bear, Brown Bear: I've read this to them multiple times a day!
  • ​Goodnight Moon: we read this every day for night time and the first nap - my only question is, as they age will they understand what a telephone is now that we only have smart phones?
  • And if it starts to snow, read them the book Snow -- a big hit!
Baby Toys & Games:
  • This boppin' birdie plays bells and attaches to any car seat and can also be dangled during doctors' appointments to keep their attention away from any scary shots! The bird is magical!!!!
  • ​For 6 months, start introducing them to different colors and textures with this sassy stacks stacking rings set; I love how different it is from the smooth rainbow rings of our youth!
  • If you need to have baby sit at a table, these toys suction to the table and provide fun play!
  • The SmartNoggin rattle toy is fun on the run - it lights up and there's a mirror too!
  • Definitely get this Manhattan Toy Winkel rattle - great for teething, rolling, grasping!
  • Babies love looking in the mirror - try this tummy time floor mirror. It's great!
  • As babies learn to reach and grab, we highly recommend this play mat and activity gym. Plus the farmstand is so cute!
  • I bring this fairly quiet sound machine with me for doctor's appointments to help distract and please the little ones.
Baby Clothes:
  • ​For sleeping, I highly recommend a sleep sack such as the Halo until they're ready to be unswaddled. Then we transitioned to the Woolino 4 Season Baby Sleepsack -- I love it because it regulates their temperature so you don't have to worry! I ended up rotating two Woolinos each, and washing on delicates then air drying. It lasts up to 2 years so a good value.
  • Many babies like ours don't love when the onesie goes over their head. You can actually pull up a onesie from their feet to their head. But our preference are the Moon and Back Hanna Andersson onesies that are kimono style and snap without having to lift anything over baby.
Baby Winter Clothes:
  • Zutano Cozie Fleece Trapper Hat - this hat will stay on baby and keep them warm! And we love the Zutano booties as well in cotton and fleece!
  • Zutano cozie elf suits are perfect for stroller because they're thin but warm. For a bit more warmth, we use the LL Bean bear bunting and in snow the LL Bean lightweight down.
  • As the wind blows, we use a clear rain shield for the stroller (get one that is made for your stroller), but these car seat canopy covers are wonderful and plush for cooler weather!
Baby Summer Clothes:
  • I tried a bunch of hats and sunglasses, and the only one that babies both liked is this sun hat!
  • We put this mosquito net over the stroller for our daily walks.
Miscellaneous Good Stuff to Have!
  • Nest Thermostat Sensor - Put these in the babies' room if you have a Nest thermostat, and you're sure to have the perfect temperature there for them to sleep in (68-72 degrees is recommended.)
  • The Sleepeasy Solution is a wonderful read regarding getting babies to sleep well!
  • Get a door silencer for your nursery door - it works magic - don't wake a sleeping baby :)
  • Having a baby scale at home reduces time at the pediatrician!
  • We love this little green frog lovie blanket - don't use it in the crib, but it's great for the stroller or car seat or during play!
  • A label maker is fantastic and will make you feel so organized, especially with baby twins! You can also label baby bottles or medicine using these stickers.
  • Don't forget a twins on board bumper sticker for your car!
  • On the go anti-microbial pacifier holders really worked for us in the early days.
  • If you don't want to wander too far from the nursery, I recommend this amazing mini fridge that you can store things like formula pitchers and bottles. 
  • As they drift off to sleep, this Baby Einstein soother really helped get them to dreamland with its musical lullabies.
  • And if you're inclined, I really love filling out this Baby Book! It's not too overwhelming.
Congratulations, new parents! I'll be updating this list with any new finds that we enjoy and also creating new "best of" lists as the babies get older. Please contact me if you have any questions or suggestions!
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