5 Things To Buy In Bulk When You're Having Multiples

Posted by Julixa Newman on 1/1/2012 to Preparing For Multiples

Speaking as a parent of multiples, buying certain items in bulk can really save you some dough. By doing the math and calculating how much each individual item costs, we can learn to save hundreds of dollars over the course of a year. Here are 5 items that every new parent of multiples should consider buying in bulk. While it doesn't only need to be done at a warehouse store like Costco or Sam's Club, the yearly fee is only $50 or so, and that fee pays for itself with the bulk discounts if you choose to go that route.

Diapers!

We all knew this was going to be the first item on the list, but make sure that you don't stock up only on one size. Having newborn diapers is a must in the beginning, but once your little love bugs start eating you'll soon have to go on to the next level. There is a rule of thumb that I always follow: you should expect to go through 24 diapers a day with twins, and 36 diapers a day with triplets until they are at least 3 months old. A great way to have a good amount of diapers by the time your babies arrive is to ask the person hosting the baby shower to state in the invitation that the admission fee to your party is one pack of diapers (cloth or disposable). This works every time! Just make sure you set aside space to store them!

Here a wipe, there a wipe.

Wipes are always needed. Even when your children are out of diapers, you will find that it is always a great idea to store some wipes in the car, in your purse and even in the bottom of the stroller! I always tell expecting parents of multiples to buy the “sensitive or perfume free” wipes first and to gradually test other brands out. Once you know that your babies are not allergic you can buy your preferred brand by bulk! A great tip is to make sure that the brand that you are buying in bulk comes in resealable packages. This way you don't have to purchase the plastic holders for them (plus they're a lot lighter to carry around this way!).

Cloth is king!

If your children are anything like mine, chances are that you'll have a projectile spitter-upper! A wonderful item to always have around are burp cloths. Many people also purchase cloth diapers to use as burp cloths too. Remember to always place a cloth near you when feeding. Unfortunately babies give no warning signs when they're about to drown you in spit-up. I always found that the tri-fold cloth diapers worked best for me. I could always fold them and put one on my shoulder while I fed. You will need plenty, as these things soon become the most popular item in each laundry load!

Feeding supplies!

It might be a no-brainer that you will use up a lot of bottles and/or milk storage bags during the first year, but keep in mind that you should only get a handful of small bottles. Once they start drinking more than 4-6 ounces a day (it comes faster than you think), you'll be glad I reminded you of this. If you're nursing, make sure to check the reviews on the breast pump that you will be using. Many of these pumps require that you change the filter regularly. Many new mothers find this out the hard way and have to rush to the store to replace them at the most inconvenient times!

Sucker, anyone?

I can't stress enough the importance of bulking up on pacifiers if your multiples end up using them. I can say that I have easily lost approximately 200 of these things since our twins were born. They fall behind the beds, they drop from the car when you open doors, and the dog steals a few for his/her own personal enjoyment. Newborns love to suck, and you don't want to find yourself with a crying baby who needs that one pacifier that you can't find looking under all the beds at 3 am. Multiply this by 2 or 3 and you have a perfect recipe for insanity. Never forget to read the packaging to ensure that you are getting the appropriate size for their age.

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