Preparing the Nursery for Twins without Paying Double

Do you remember the old Wrigley's Doublemint Gum commercials? Sure you do. If you are in your 30s and up, it's likely you saw a myriad of happy, identical twins that enjoyed popping a stick of Doublemint gum at the same time. I loved those commercials growing up and always thought how cool it would be to have an identical twin. Oh the tricks we would play on our parents. Oh the things we would get away with as kids, lol.

Years later when I became a mother, I simply could not fathom how challenging it would be to raise 2 babies at the exact same time. An abundance of questions poured into my mind: How would I prepare the nursery for twins? What kind of crib(s) would I get? How could I save money? And how long would it take before I go completely insane? Lots of mothers with multiples have asked the same question, which is why I have consulted with many moms with multiples and conducted in-depth research on how to prepare the nursery for Twins and not pay through the nose. So here goes...

1. One Room or Two: Ask yourself if the twins will be sharing a room or having separate nurseries. Generally if you're on a budget, one room would save you money and space. Two nurseries will obviously require 2 cribs and possibly double the nursery furniture. If you?re concerned about making space in the nursery, the following tips will give you some solutions.

2. Crib or Cribs: There are twin cribs available that will help you save space, but can get very expensive. You can also buy a regular sized crib and purchase a divider, but there are serious safety hazards you are risking. Much like the crib bumper controversy, dividers can become a suffocation or strangulation hazard, and/or increase the chance of SIDS. Although your twins may sleep better next to each other (after all, they've been sharing the same womb), research indicates twins that co-sleep together can be dangerous.

Now if you decide to get two different cribs, here's a way to save space and costs without paying double. There are lots of mini cribs available now that convert to twin/toddler beds, ranging from $139 and up. Typically, reasonably priced, regular sized cribs should be about $300. If you buy 2 convertible mini cribs, it would be less than what you would spend on a regular sized crib, converts to a toddler/twin size bed, and can be easily moved in case one of the twins is sick.

Double Up On Storage: No matter how hard you try, you will be overwhelmed with double the baby supplies, clothing, gifts and more. Especially if you are working with limited space, you want to maximize the use of every inch of space. Invest in nursery storage furniture, such as double dressers, shelves, hanging organizers, closet organizers, bookcases, toy boxes, storage baskets, everything. The great thing is, you can keep these storage pieces way beyond the nursery years and can even place them throughout your home.

4. Go Neutral: If you are having a boy and girl, buying neutral clothing will help stretch that dollar. Of course you can always add pinks, blue, or any color of that nature, but having the ability to interchange neutral pieces of clothing will help save on storage, space and money.

5. Buy in Bulk: It will be more money up front, but you can save A LOT of money with buying diapers, wipes, etc., in bulk. You can try Costco, wholesale stores and even buy online.

6. Nursing vs Bottlefeeding: Depending on your situation, nursing is always healthier and less expensive even if you don't have twins. You don't have to worry about buying formula, bottles, sanitizing them, etc. But if you prefer to bottle feed your twins, buying formula in bulk will save you lots of money.

And there you have it folks. Wise advice from moms with multiples and the experts. If you would like more information on topics like this, check back soon in our Ideas and Advice section for more information on preparing for multiples.