Twin pushchairs/cots/etc

RLV · Post by **RLV** » Sun Jul 06, 2003 2:34 pm

Hiya twin pregnancy buddies (& Jules/Nicky of course!!) Just wondered if anyone can recommend a good twin pushchair (preferably a side by side one which will fit through my front door (29"))!! Also, are you planning on sleeping your babies together in one cot at first or seperately in 2 moses baskets??? I thought 2 moses baskets would be easier then they can be downstairs during day and carried up at night with us - but will babies settle ok being seperate? By the way, I had a growth scan this week (24 weeks) and both my babies are doing well, although one has overtook the other slightly now in size. I talked to my consultant and he said he is willing to do a c.section for me! Good news! I'm now feeling quite 'disabled' with my bump - struggling to bend down etc - can't believe I've got to carry on growing for another 12 weeks or so yet (hopefully)! I've put on about 2 stone 2 lbs and my waist measures a wopping 51"!!! Hope you are all well. Take care everyone, Luv Rachel X

Jules R · Post by **Jules R** » Sun Jul 06, 2003 6:43 pm

Hi Rachel! Sounds like you're doing a good job of growing those babies and good news about the c-section. I don't think either of my pushchairs would go through your door - I think they may be just over 29". I have a Graco Duosport, which we've had from birth and was lovely and light after my caesarean. Recently we got a light 3-wheeler, an Out 'n' About Instep Nipper Double. It's really easy to push now they're heavier and just fits through my front door. I know there is a narrower buggy than my 2 but can't remember the make (it might be Mamas and Papas). You could try asking at www.twinsclub.co.uk on the Multiples Matters forum. My two were in separate cots from the start and always slept fine. We didn't have moses baskets 'cos I didn't want the added expense (and we had 2 free cots). During the day they just slept on a padded mat on the floor and always slept really soundly. All the best. Jules

NickyJ · Post by **NickyJ** » Mon Jul 07, 2003 5:34 am

Hi Rachel + Massive Bump!!! Sounds like you really are getting on well with the pg, and the next few weeks will just fly by. We bought a Maclaren OPus duo, not sure how wide it is but it does fit through most doors and is actually really good for taller people...I am 5'11''. I was advised to push them all around the shops for at least 3 minutes before you make your mind up and although I did feel like a prat it made sure I did pick one that was easy to maneouvre for me. Again Jules's advice about trying the twin site for advice is really good as they have all been trying the latest models and they also give you great advice where to get multiple buys cheap. We got our next stage car seats through the Kiddicare website and the more you buy the cheaper it gets...we saved about £80...it all adds up so quick. We chose to get moses baskets as we have two cats and also as Rebecca and Ross were so small when we got them home we knew we would get a lot of use out of them. They were in them for about 4 months so were brilliant. We did try them in the same cot to start with...but Ross is a wriggler so it was seperate cots for them mind you at every scan they did seem to be beating each other up!! we also used grobags as soon as they were big enough and they worked really well for us. Good news on the c-section and don't worry about the different weights, my two have always been completely different weights and are about 5lb difference now after all they are two seperate little people. Just keep those feet up and start to enjoy the end part if you can, remember if anything happend now they will be fine..you've past the magical 28 weeks and it is the last time you will get some peace for a while, get pampered and if you need a laugh...I always found walking round M&S a good laugh (if your waters break in Markies they give you a load of gifts or vouchers seemingly and as I looked like I was about to drop anyminute from 26 weeks it used to entertain me no end watching the nervous shops assistants following me round!!!) Pamper yourself and take care Nicky

Sarah R · Post by **Sarah R** » Mon Jul 07, 2003 8:09 am

Hi Rachel Check out the Tamba magazine and the twinsclub.co.uk pages - both great places to get info. We've got an Aria (which I love) and a Nipper @ grandma's. a+b were in baskets for the first 6 weeks in our room, then went into their own cots in their room, no problem at all. They spent their downstairs time in their lay-flat baby seats - which they stopped using at 7 months when A climed out of hers. I'm selling some of their early stuff, so if you're in/near essex, let me know. S

maggie · Post by **maggie** » Mon Jul 07, 2003 9:38 am

Hi Rachel, You're doing so well, not long now. Before you know it you'll have forgotten all about how big you were and enjoying your new babies. I have a Maclaren OPus duo as well and think it's great. It fits through our front door, most other doorways and we can shimmy it through our doorways inside the house if necessary. We also have an Instep nipper which is a 3 wheeler (which we bought about a month or so later) to go on walks in the woods and stuff which is really light. I keep my Maclaren in the car and use it for shopping etc, and the 3-wheeler stays in the garage. The 3-wheeler is a little more bulky with the wheels on so not as convenient as the maclaren to pop in and out of the car and it is a little wider than the maclaren as well. You can pick up the Maclaren opus duo from Kiddicare.com for £99, its normally over £200 in the shops. The 3-wheeler is much more expensive at nearly £300, I couldn't find it cheap anywhere. We use the britax rock-a-tot deluxe infant carrier car seats. I also got them cheaper on the internet. I got mine from babycare-direct.co.uk and they have some in last years fabrics for about £50 so if you're not too bothered about that then you can get them for a bargain too. If you order a lot of stuff from babycare-direct, phone them, they might give you a discount depending on how much you spend. I know you weren't asking about the car seats but they are such a bargain that I love sharing. If you join TAMBA you get a discount at Mothercare. Mothercare don't usually advertise this and when I aksed them they didn't know, I had to tell them and they went away and asked someone. I can't remember if it is 5 or 10% but you have to spend over a certain amount first. We bought our cots and matresses from them in the sale and saved some more with this discount. Our babies slept in their cots from the first night home. They shared a cot for about the first 7 weeks but then we had to move them into separate cots because they liked having their arms free and would hit eachother in the face. Down stairs we put our babies in mamas and papas recliner rocker chairs, they recline completely flat and sit upright as well, mine still use theirs and will be for quite some time I think. Check out your local independant baby shop, they are usually pretty good about offering discount to people buying for twins. My two were similar weights throughout the early part of my pregnancy but towards the end they differed quite alot and when they were born at 36.5 weeks my boy weighed 5lb 14oz and my girl weighed 7lb 4oz and are both doing great. Like Nicky said, they are two completely different people. Well, better go as I've gone on far too much. Good luck and take it easy. Maggie.

RLV · Post by **RLV** » Mon Jul 07, 2003 8:11 pm

Hi girls Just a quickie to say thank you to all of you for your advice and comments - it's great to hear from people which have 'been there and done it'! Luv Rachel X