This contest is now closed. The winner has been notified. Sorry if it wasn’t you.
When we began to work out the details of this giveaway with Brica, the makers of these elegant baby items, we were a little embarrassed about asking them to double up the prize package. But they graciously agreed to make it twin friendly — and everyone else who enters is welcome to give the extra items to a friend.
Behold the prize package! The items in this photograph will be sent to the winner, plus an extra set when appropriate.
2 BRICA Fold ‘n Go Travel Bassinets: This bassinet weighs less than 3 pounds and it’s the only travel bassinet to meet strict ASTM bassinet safety standards. It has a steel frame with the Safe-T-Lock system, sets up and folds down in seconds, and has a carry handle when folded. The mattress is removable and includes one fitted sheet. It’s easy for everyday use at home, too. For newborn through 15 lbs. or when baby begins to turn over.
2 extra fitted sheets (each bassinet comes w/ one)
2 Fold ‘n Go Booster Seats: These are lightweight, easy to pop up and fold down, have stain-resistant fabric and are a cinch to transport. They fit into an overnight bag. For ages 6 months and up.
2 BRICA Snack Pods: The dual-compartment pod attaches easily to almost any car seat or stroller.
2 BRICA Clip-on Wipes Case, plus 3 refills (for each): This easily attaches to any bag or stroller for quick access to antimicrobial wipes.
2 BRICA Baby In-Sight Mirror This wide-angle, shatter-resistant mirror is crash tested to the same standard as car seats. A 2011 Cribsie Award winner.
2 BRICA UV Alert Shades: The color indicator on the shade turns blue when UV rays are present. The shades help filter both UVA and UVB rays. They can stay down or retract.
To enter this random drawing, comment below with your best advice for a new twin mom. On Friday, July 22, 2011, we will select a winner. Please feel free to share this giveaway on your twin mom forums (although we realize that reduces your own chances of winning). U.S. Residents only.
Get them on a schedule. Once they are both on the same schedule it seems soo much easier! I got my twins on a schedule and stuck to it and they do soo great when on it!
Don’t feel like you have to be super mom (though you already are for raising twins!)
Wow what a giveaway!
My best advice is to accept any help people offer. If it is cooking a meal, watching the babies for a few hours while you go out or whatever. My mom and aunt (from Alabama) came and helped and they were such angels at that time. Man!!
Just know that is will get better! People are still telling me that now and my little ones are 1 now. Lol. Oh yes and take lots of pictures it will go by fast! (I didn’t believe that when people were saying it to me but it did!) And keep them on a schedule!! That is something I did that I am SO glad I have done especially after hearing from other parents who didn’t.
~Blessings!
Don’t turn down any offer of help!
My advice would be: remember to laugh at the crazy days when you feel like nothing is going as planned. Laughter helps everything feel a bit less chaotic!
Don’t think that you have to follow every piece of advise that is given to you. Whatever you do is what is right for your unique family. There is no such thing as perfect, so just breathe you’ll be great.
As hard as it is, give them a little individual time each day. Feeding them, while bathing them, or even just some eye contact.
Use recieving blankets as burp cloths! Love and embrace their differences. Enjoy those special little moments you have with each of them. They know when their diaper is off
(not really), but they do have really good aim and will poop and pee on you and all of their surroundings. The biggest thing is to relax. There will be stressful times, but if you remind yourself to relax and take care of business without stressing about it everyone will be happier. Oh yeah…you will become a pro at diaper changes (picture the Nascar pit crews!) I find its a good time to sing to them or just talk to them individually.
Take lots of pictures, it flies by so fast!
Get a sharpie – and label everything…. makes it easy for dad to jump in and help.
Just remember how rare it is that anyone has enough money saved up that they feel they can afford to have kids. Your life will change (for the better!) and you will adapt. Everything will soon be fine and you will find your way in the world of mothering twins.
It’s so tempting to hog those little bundles to yourself, especially those first few weeks, but accept all the help that’s offered. The nurses in the hospital, family, hubby, and friends are all there to help, so let them!! There will be plenty of years for you to play supermom!!
Expect ANYTHING! Be flexible! And ask for help if you feel you can’t cope. Allow hubby to help- in his own way- even if its not your way. Enjoy them- they really grow quickly. And trust your instincts- do what feels right to you- we feed our little girls on demand and no problems yet- now 29weeks! Get out of the house as often as possible!
NEVER forget to take time for yourself. No matter how busy you are you need to take 10 minutes to breathe!
Take time out for you, especially when things seem overwhelming. Call in help from a friend so you can recharge.
My best advice for a new mom is to ask for help. I think it would be nearly impossible to do everything yourself (single parents are my new heroes), and most people seem to want to help, but just don’t know what they can do.
Pick a schedule that works for you and stick with it. Otherwise, you’ll never be able to eat, sleep, or take a shower again!
Loss the baby weight slowly. I spent way to much time stressing about fitting into my pre-baby jeans. Just buy new ones if you don’t want to keep wearing the maternity ones. It will make you feel better about yourself.
Sleep whenever you possibly can! If both babies fall asleep at the same time, drop whatever you’re doing (I’ve left the table just as dinner was hitting it because I saw a precious window of opportunity) and go to sleep. You never know when you’ll get another chance!
my best friend recently had twin girls, and i visited her with my 3-month-old right after they were born. my best rookie mom advice to her at the time was do whatever you need to do to survive those first few months, and nothing else. just survive!!!
The number one tip for new parents of twins – accept help! Although, I see that has mentioned many times already, so I will add:
- get a front/back stroller
- don’t be afraid to have them in the same room (they won’t wake eachother up)
- if you breast-feed don’t be afraid to supplement with formula so you can get some sleep
- get a double boppy if you plan on breastfeeding
- get two baby bjorns & two backpacks; one for you, one for your husband
Double the trouble means double the fun!!
Best advice I can give is to join your local moms of multiples club! Its a great resource for everything twins related. Obviously you can make friends with other twin moms who understand the challenges of raising twins. But there are lots of other benefits as well! My local chapter has a very active message board where I can post questions and research twin related topics. Each year, most twin clubs offer a baby gear and clothing sale where you can sell your gently used items and score great deals on the things you need. Last, they also offer plenty of play groups and planned outings both with and without kids. A twin club is a great help to every mom of twins
Unsettled baby? This WORKS!
Learn the 4 S’s.
1. Swaddle
2. Suck (pacifier, finger…whatever works!)
3. Swing (swing baby in your arms side to side & try holding baby
with it’s belly on your forearm, palm up, with head towards your hand, that way you can help hold the pacifier in)
4. Shhhhhhh (maintain a constant shhhhooshing from your own mouth)
My advice is to get an Itzbeen baby care timer. You can easily keep track of when baby was fed, diaper changes, etc. It’s great!
accept offers of help from family and friends,its so nice when they bring over a meal or offer to do some laundry
My advice would be to always remain positive, even though at times you will question your ability to care for two babies at the same time and wonder if your cut out for this job, since motherhood is a lot of work. Two is always better than one…consider your twins a blessing and while they certainly will be a handful, imagine having double the fun watching them grow with each day that passes. Some people are only ever blessed with one child, if that, so the miracle of two is something that you should relish and focus when things get tough.
I would think you need to get them on a good schedule as quickly as possible!
Miracle blankets are a must for swaddling.
Congratulations on twins! You are doubly lucky.
That being said, just realize that even though they both might be in matching outfits, their personalities will be quite a bit different. There will be an older child complex, and a younger child complex. They will cry at different times (or yes, sometimes even at the same time), they will sleep differently, learn different things at different times, and show you how two identical little people can turn out so individualistic.
Do what comes naturally to you, take it in stride, and once you get to know them then you will be a pro at juggling the two of them at one time. You’ll be the envy of all the mom’s on the block!
Good luck, and enjoy!
Enjoy their twin language – it’s amazing to watch/hear language develop at astonishingly young ages with twins. Twins are amazing!
Having twins is a true blessing. I had someone say to me at the store “wow, double trouble. I’m glad it’s you and not me!” All I could do was politely smile and walk away thinking yes….so glad it is me!! My twins are my first children. Everyone asks how do you do it? I answer back with “lots of love. I don’t know what it’s like to just have one, nor would i want to. Two is all I know.” All the advice I can give is to enjoy every moment. Fill those moments with love, lots of hugs and kisses, and time to just sit back, relax and take it all in. It all goes fast.
[...] so much to BRICA for sponsoring this giveaway for our readers. We really liked the first year essentials you gave our twin mama last [...]