Newborn Twin Essentials: What to Buy Two Of, What to Share, and What to Skip
Finding out you're expecting twins usually brings one question to the surface almost immediately: do I have to buy two of everything?
The short answer is no — but the nuance matters a lot. Buy two of the same things and you'll have a cluttered house and an emptied budget before your babies even arrive. There are things that are hyped, things you have to wait and see, and things you can’t live without.
This is the list I wish I'd had. The actual one, from someone who has done it.
What you genuinely need two (or more) of for twins
These are the items where having one for each baby is either a safety requirement or a practical non-negotiable.
Car seats. The only true non-negotiable.
Safe sleep spaces. Safe sleep guidelines recommend each baby has their own sleep space. In the early weeks this can be two bassinets, two bedside sleepers, or a single cot where they can safely co-bed (many twins sleep together in the early months — worth researching for your situation). By around 3–4 months most parents move to separate spaces.
Bottles and feeding equipment. If you're bottle feeding, combination feeding, or expressing, you'll want enough bottles and teats to get through a full day without washing up between every feed. Two sets of six is a reasonable starting point (seems like a lot but it saves from having to clean each time you feed).
Dummies, if you use them. Not a safety item but a sanity one. When one falls behind the couch at 2am you'll want a backup within reach for each baby.
Swaddles or sleep sacks. You'll go through these fast — aim for at least three per baby so you can stay on top of washing without running out.
Nappies and wipes. Seriously, just buy bulk or jump on a subscription as least for the first few months.
Bathing equipment. A baby bath support is a personal preference and it depends if you’re on your own, but we found these helped in the early stages. Having face cloths and towels in abundance also helped.
What you only need one of
This is where most twin checklists go wrong, and where the "twin tax" really adds up if you're not careful.
A change table or station. One set-up is enough. You'll develop a rhythm of changing one baby, then the other. Some twin parents set up a second portable changing mat in another room for convenience, but it's a want, not a need.
A baby monitor. A wide-angle camera or a split-screen model covers both babies. No need for two units.
A white noise machine. If you're setting both babies up in the same room (most twin parents do), one machine covers both. If they're in separate rooms, you can use a phone app in the second room until you decide it's worth buying a second unit.
Play mat. One extra-wide mat is enough. They'll be next to each other anyway.
A baby lounger. Often times one twin will have a preference. You can move babies around from one bouncer, to a lounger, to being held, etc. You don’t need two of these as most likely, babies will want something different.
Twin specific items
There are a handful of items where buying the twin version outright is far better value — financially and practically — than buying two of the singleton equivalent.
A double pram. This is your most significant purchase and the one worth spending on. A good side-by-side or tandem pram is your lifeline for the first two years. Research the options specific to your lifestyle — side-by-side prams are generally easier to manage day-to-day, tandem prams fit through standard doorways more easily. Either way, don't buy two single prams.
A twin nursing pillow. If you plan to breastfeed or tandem feed, a twin-specific feeding pillow (like the Twin Z or My Brest Friend Twin) is one of the best investments you'll make. It positions both babies at once, takes the weight off your arms and back, and can also double as a lounger. Buy this before birth — you'll want it from day one.
A twin feeding pillow that doubles as a support seat. The Twin Z in particular functions as a lounger and a hands-free bottle feeding support, which means you can feed both babies simultaneously even without a second person. For solo parents or anyone with limited support, this is worth its weight in gold.
A twin carrier. I considered one of these but didn’t opt for one in the end. I did fine with holding babies or having one in one carrier and the other in the pram. Again, this is personal preference. If you can, have a search on Marketplace for a second-hand one if you want to try it out.
What to think twice about buying
This is the category that saves you the most money. Items people routinely overbuy for twins:
Two bouncers and two swings. Twins often have completely different preferences — one will love the bouncer, one won't touch it. Buy one of each, see what lands, and only add a second if both babies want the same thing.
Full wardrobes in every size. Twins often arrive early and can be different sizes from birth. Buy a small number of items in each size — especially newborn and 00 — and top up as you go. You'll always be able to get more nappies and onesies; you can't return twelve sets of matching outfits you never used.
Two nursing chairs. You'll most likely feed both babies at the same time (that's the goal), so you'll be in one chair. One good feeding chair matters; two is unnecessary.
A note on budgets
The twin tax is real, but it's mostly self-inflicted. The items where you should genuinely spend — a good double pram, a quality twin nursing pillow, solid sleep spaces — are the ones that directly affect your daily quality of life and your babies' safety. Everything else can be bought second-hand, received as gifts, or added later once you know what you actually need.
If you want to get the full essentials list in one place — categorised by need and with specific product recommendations — The Twin Guide covers this off in a clear, printable checklist.
Frequently asked questions about newborn twin essentials
Do you need two of everything for twins? No. The items you need two of are car seats, safe sleep spaces, and feeding equipment. Most other items — prams, change tables, baby baths, monitors, bouncers — only require one, or a twin-specific version that covers both babies. Buying two of everything is one of the most common and expensive twin preparation mistakes.
What is the single most important thing to buy for newborn twins? After car seats (non-negotiable), a good double pram is the most important purchase. It's the item you'll use every single day and the one that most affects your independence and mobility as a twin parent. It's worth spending more here and saving elsewhere.
Do twins need to sleep in separate cots from birth? Not necessarily. Many newborn twins safely share a cot in the early weeks, with guidelines recommending they sleep on their backs without bedding between them. Most parents transition to separate sleep spaces between 2 and 4 months, or earlier if one baby starts to disturb the other. Current safe sleep guidance is worth reviewing with your midwife or paediatrician.
What is a twin nursing pillow and do I need one? A twin nursing pillow is a large, curved pillow designed to support two babies at breast height simultaneously, allowing you to tandem feed. If you plan to breastfeed twins, it's close to essential. The Twin Z and My Brest Friend Twin are the most widely used options in Australia. If you're not planning to breastfeed, a twin pillow still functions well as a lounger and hands-free bottle feeding support.
How much does it cost to prepare for twins? Costs vary significantly depending on what you already own, what you receive as gifts, and how much you buy new versus second-hand. The big-ticket items — a double pram, two car seats, and two sleep spaces — are the core budget. Most other twin essentials can be kept minimal and added to over time. Starting lean is almost always the right call.