My SIL is pregnant with twins -- a boy and a girl. They're both weighing in at almost 6 pounds now, they've settled into the pelvis, and they're both sitting up. So they've scheduled a C-section for 3 weeks from now. They have a 5yo boy and I have a 5yo girl, so we're pretty good in the leftover clothes department. And they've also got car seats, double stroller, etc. etc. etc. So what are some practical ideas for a gift? My mother asked them what they needed and they said they had gotten everything already (hand-me-downs from friends and family). Since things are always different than you expect, what are some things they might not have thought of that would be especially helpful with twins?

Thanks a bunch!!

I am serious about this one!!

A gift certificate for a cleaning service to come in!! I didn't get one when the twins were little, but I was seriously ill & in the hospital when they were 15 mos old. When I came home the house was a disaster. DH said not to worry, HA! Anyways his office usually gives flowers when to a family member who is in the hospital. Well one of the female staff said, forget the flowers, we're getting her a cleaning service. I was pretty out of it still, but as I recall there were two women & they said they were ours for most of the day to do anything on the list they showed us. WOW!! I honestly appreciated that gift so much! The other nice thing is that I am REALLY awful at asking for help. Well these ladies were already paid & they were so nice. They got laundry started while they did other cleaning & put the laundry in the dryer & then folded it & put it in the laundry baskets. It was so much easier to keep up with the housework, when I was starting with a clean house & the laundry done versus the catastrophe I came home to. The house had been very clean & caught up until I became suddenly ill.

Oh something else that would be awesome is to offer a prepared dinner one night a week (or more!). Where your SIL knows she'll be getting a casserole or whatever for dinner. Hey even better....you could have a casserole party for her where other family & friends each take a night & or each make a freezer friendly casserole to go into their freezer. You'll have to check on your SIL's available freezer space.

Two biggest issues...keeping up with the housework & meals!!

Hope that helps!

I would second and third Kerri's suggestions! and if you were offering me help today I'd say yes - and my babies ar ealmost 9 mo. old.

Ditto the other mamas. Even though my twins are almost 15 months old I still can't manage to clean my house and half the time I have trouble finding the time to eat let alone prepare a meal.

If you want to think ahead, to when the twins are feeding from a highcahir, one of my favorite twins items are the Fisher Price Healthy Care Booster Seats (times two). I love mine and I have to feed the twins at the same time or they flip out. Those big high chairs take up way to much space in the kitchen and these are easy to unhook and throw in the car if your having a meal somewhere else. Easy to clean up and way sturdy. Lots of raves on Amazon.com.

http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=2001&e=detail&site=us&pid=27475&selcat=bgboost