When I found out I was pregnant with my second son after having my first about three months prior, I was honestly scared. I thought I needed seconds of everything, but I didn’t. It is my list of the necessary items that you do need when you have Irish Twins.

What are Irish Twins?

Irish twins are when you deliver two children within the same calendar year or within twelve months of each other. For example, in my situation, I gave birth to one baby in January of 2016 and another in December of the same year.

Irish twins are not technically twins, meaning two infants born from the same gestational period. It’s an informal way to classify siblings that are born close together.

Irish Twins Necessities:

There are a lot of things you don’t need two of with Irish twins or your second child. Your oldest will have likely outgrown some items such as the bouncer and exersaucer by the time the second baby is born. However, here is a list of 9 things you definitely will need two of with Irish Twins I found out:

1. 1. Car Seats– I recommend using the infant car seat that snaps in a stroller for the newborn one and your oldest I would invest in a convertible one. It will prevent you from having to get another car seat at around the age of two as a convertible one will grow with him/her until they are around the age of 5-7. Some car seats these days even convert into a booster seat so they last through even that stage too.
   2. Cribs – You most definitely will need another crib or sleeping area for the newborn. It could even be a pack-and-play.
   3. Loads of diapers and wipes
      1. It would be a great time to have a diaper party since you probably already had a baby shower with your first child. You would not want to have another baby shower unless the second child was of the opposite gender.
      2. Thinking about using cloth diapers, then please see (Cloth Diapers 101)
         
   4. Bottles and sippy cups unless you are planning on nursing both at the same time. You will need some bottles and sippy cups. Regardless you will need sippy cups for when your oldest switches to milk. You may also need new nipples for your bottles. It is always better to have a backup in case of an emergency.
   5. Nursing pillow, regardless if you are breastfeeding. It helped me so much to protect my incision of my c-section while having a bouncing toddler and newborn.
   6. Large diaper bag – I tried so many bags, and I always came back to the Jansport Backpack. That way, I could put it on my back and go. Especially since I always needed two arms free and sometimes had been wearing Luke (my youngest). 
      
   7. Double stroller – This was a tough choice, and I have tried several. I had to have the jogging one where they were side by side, but I also had to have the inline one. Well, I didn’t love either of them after using them for some time, so here is why:
      1. The inline stroller is very long, and it made it very difficult getting it into my SUV at the time. It was easier to get indoors at the Mall, though.
      2. Both strollers must-have metal frames and metal tire rims because I didn’t want the plastic to break down. It made it a challenge when searching.
      3. The jogging stroller was boxier, and it was easier to get in the SUV, however, I could barely put anything else back there. It was awesome when taking the boys for walks or going to the park.
         
   8. A sling, wrap, or baby carrier – I had several slings, but never felt comfortable with them. I ended up getting a Moby Wrap, which I loved until my kids got a little bigger. Then I loved the LilleBaby and ErgoBaby Carriers. It allowed me to be handsfree to clean or grocery shopping, and so much more! It is an absolute necessity. If you would like to read more on baby wearing while pregnant I wrote a whole thing especially on that because it was such a life saver.
   9. A distraction – I recommend you find something that can hold your older child’s attention with limited effort on your part. Whether it’s a Baby Einstein DVD or a noisy, flashy toy… let go of your high standards for a few minutes a day when you need to. There will be times when your newborn needs you, and the older child is not napping, eating, or otherwise engaged in an activity. Having a backup plan, when needed can help save your day.
   10. Sense of Humor- Be prepared for the comments. “You do understand how this happened, right?” “Is that even possible?” “We have the wrong birthday for your youngest.” You will also sometimes find yourself with two screaming babies on your hands and no way to remedy everything at once. Your house will likely suffer for a while, but no one is judging you.

If people want to gift you, these are the items I recommend:

1. Frozen Meals that way you can just thaw them out and then just pop them in the oven and dinner is served
2. Did I mention diapers and wipes? You need a lot or investing in some good cloth diapers is not a bad idea at all.
3. Self-care time (babysitting time) is enormously needed. It is not easy having twins or Irish twins. You will need some time for yourself to unwind. That could be just to go for a walk, take a shower without a crying child trying to hop in, or going to the grocery store without a meltdown from a toddler.

Things that are not necessary for Irish twins right away:

1. Highchair– You can wait till your child’s first birthday or pick up a booster seat, which is cheaper than a highchair. I would recommend checking out Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace for a gently used one.
2. Toys – You don’t need many toys for the first year—just a few since they are on the floor, mostly doing tummy time. After the first year, you can get these items as kids become more mobile. These will help to keep them safe and build leg strength.
   1. Exercauser
   2. Walker
   3. Bouncer

Take a deep breath.  Soak in all that beautiful baby essence and laugh.  These days will go by all too fast. Trust me! I know this is hard to do because I struggled with it myself.

These are the things I learned that are necessary. Do you have more tips and tricks? Please add them in the comments as I would love to know what helped you.

Sincerely,