Planning vs Reality
You can plan all you want but babies are notoriously unpredictable
During the pregnancy, the parents-to-be had set up their gift registry based on online recommendations from parents of multiples. In addition, my wife went crazy at Target and Amazon buying things she believed were essential (and cute).
Finally, I scoured garage sales to gathering gently used baby stuff. We had an abundance of hand-me-down clothes from friends, so the focus was on newborn hardware.
What we passed over were items from the registry in quantities we thought were sufficient. Once the babies arrived, however, our assumptions and reality diverged.
The Logistics of Triplets
It was our assumption that the key to raising triplets would involve creating routines and organizing everything. What took us by surprise was the role of logistics.
The effort of moving the babies and their accessories was not on our radar.
A prime example is the Boppy. These are useful in multiple rooms, as well as handy when visiting the grandparents. Moving around one Boppy is manageable with a singleton but becomes burdensome when multiplied by three.
Underestimated Items
- Baby bottles
- We started with bottles from the gift registry, hand-me-downs from friends and additional bottles picked up at garage sales. It was not enough.
Reality is that you need enough bottles to at least get through an entire day (see Bottles & Diapers), plus a supply at the grandparent’s house so bottles don’t need to be transported.
- We started with bottles from the gift registry, hand-me-downs from friends and additional bottles picked up at garage sales. It was not enough.
- Pack n’ play cribs
- We planned on a couple portable cribs at the grandparent’s house for nap time. Think triplets will always want to sleep together was probably a fantasy.
Most likely we will want them napping in separate rooms to avoid waking each other. Also, nobody thought about their parents using portable cribs to visit friends.
- We planned on a couple portable cribs at the grandparent’s house for nap time. Think triplets will always want to sleep together was probably a fantasy.
- Next stage toys
- In the Midwest, there is a season for garage sales. Because of the cost of buying everything in triplicate, picking up gently used toys just makes sense.
Development phases change quickly. Babies are happy with simple toys one day and want something more engaging the next. You can placate a singleton, but when triplets are bored with the current selection you will pay anything for the next great distraction.
Things like baby bouncers, Bumbo seats and electronic infant toys are plentiful at garage sales. If those sales are seasonal, you’ll need to shop ahead.
- In the Midwest, there is a season for garage sales. Because of the cost of buying everything in triplicate, picking up gently used toys just makes sense.
- Burp cloths
- It’s mainly a laundry thing but at nine weeks old we were STILL buying more burp cloths. As the babies eat more, the mess grows and the burp cloths fill up more quickly.
- It’s mainly a laundry thing but at nine weeks old we were STILL buying more burp cloths. As the babies eat more, the mess grows and the burp cloths fill up more quickly.
- Batteries
- Experienced parents understand this all too well, even with singletons. EVERYTHING uses batteries now, and when you need them you NEED THEM. Go to Costco and buy two big packs of AA and AAA batteries.
- Experienced parents understand this all too well, even with singletons. EVERYTHING uses batteries now, and when you need them you NEED THEM. Go to Costco and buy two big packs of AA and AAA batteries.
- Rechargable electronics
- When buying an essential item that’s rechargeable, like a sound machine, consider picking up two.
Rechargeable is great for saving money on batteries but does take time to recharge. Colicky babies are 24/7 and will not wait while you plug in the white noise generator for a few hours.
- When buying an essential item that’s rechargeable, like a sound machine, consider picking up two.
- Receiving blankets
- Take every receiving blanket you can from the hospital (heck, take everything not nailed down and then do it again each time they restock your room).
It’s difficult to anticipate what blanket or swaddle is going to work best for you. Having a few different styles of blankets allows you to experiment.
- Take every receiving blanket you can from the hospital (heck, take everything not nailed down and then do it again each time they restock your room).