As the mother of 2-year old triplets, I can attest to the usefulness of each of the items on this gift list, and I guarantee that any mother of infant triplets will be thrilled to receive any of these products or services this holiday season. Remember, mothers of triplets (especially infant triplets) are inordinately busy. When it comes to buying gifts for mothers of infant triplets, any item that will make mom’s life easier will be a winner!
1. Triple Decker Stroller (www.doubledeckerstroller.com). This stroller is essential during the triplets’ first year when they are using infant car seats. The Triple Decker Stroller accommodates three infant car seats in a lightweight frame that folds and fits in the car! The all terrain tires coupled with the inline, single width design make this triplet stroller extremely maneuverable. The Triple Decker Stroller is also popular in the resale market, so owners can generally recoup at least half of their initial monetary outlay by selling their used stroller on auction or sale sites like EBay (www.ebay.com) or CraigsList (www.craigslist.com) or through Triplet parent groups like Triplet Connection (www.tripletconnection.org) or Mothers of Supertwins/MOST (http://www.mostonline.org).
2. Bottle Nanny Bottle Propper (www.babydoodads.com). No matter how much the mother of triplet infants wants to hold each baby while feeding them, if they are bottle fed, there comes a time when speed, convenience and sanity will out win the nurturing instinct. I refer to this as the Triplet Mom’s Survival Tactic. Feeding is a time when this tactic often comes into play as Mom realizes that bottle feeding the triplets at the same time with bottle proppers is a brilliant idea. I have tried several bottle proppers, and I highly recommend the Bottle Nanny. Mom can simply connect the Bottle Nannies to the triplets’ stroller, car seats or high chairs, and all three babies can eat at the same time. Bottle propping cuts feeding time for triplets to one-third the time required to feed individually, and when you are feeding triplets, that time really adds up. Mom now has more time to spend cuddling or playing with the triplets between feedings.
3. Miracle Blanket Swaddling Blanket (www.miracleblanket.com). There is much controversy in the world of parenting authorities today about swaddling babies, but it has been my experience that swaddling during the first six months provides infants a much needed sense of security and helps them sleep better. If the triplet mother you are buying a gift for supports swaddling, then I highly recommend these blankets. They are lightweight, so the triplets will not overheat (a known factor in increasing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Additionally, there are no buttons, snaps or ties that could become choking hazards.
4. “Raising Multiple Birth Children, A Parents’ Survival Guide” by William and Sheila Laut (www.amazon.com). This book is vital for all expecting or new mothers of triplets. Chapters like “Congratulations, and Fasten Your Seat Belt!” and “Will They Ever Sleep through the Night? – The First Six Months” provide essential advice and support for all mothers embarking on the unique journey of raising triplets. This book also includes tips on everything from saving time to saving money and provides countless resources for discounts, support and recommended reading.
5. Pampered Chef Quick Stir Pitcher – 1 Gallon Size (www.pamperedchef.com). For mothers who bottle feed their triplet infants, mixing formula is a monumental task (i.e., powdered formula does not dissolve easily into water). Preparing batches of formula in bulk is the only way to stay ahead of infant triplets’ feeding schedules. This pitcher is a lifesaver when it comes to the tedious and time consuming task of preparing powdered formula. Simply pour in the measured water and powdered formula, push down the plunger on the pitcher a few times, and voila, the formula is completely mixed.
6. Freebies, Coupons and Discounts. One of the most comprehensive and up-to-date lists of freebies and discounts offered to mothers of infant triplets is available at the Mothers of Supertwins web site (http://www.mostonline.org). Mothers of infant triplets have an exorbitant amount of costs when they prepare for their babies’ birth and when they bring their triplets home from the hospital. Every cost is multiplied by three at one time! These discounts are incredibly useful to mothers of triplets but finding the time to contact each company that offers a freebie or discount is nearly impossible. A thoughtful, inexpensive gift entails contacting each company via phone or mail (based on each company’s individual program requirements) for Mom. As an alternative, write, print and copy a generic letter for Mom to send to just the companies whose offers interest her. Either way, the time spent in compiling the list of companies and contact methods along with writing a letter or the time spent simply doing all the legwork for her will be greatly appreciated and remembered for a very long time.
7. “Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child” by Marc Weissbluth, M.D. (www.amazon.com). Mothers of infant triplets are extremely sleep deprived. Understanding the sleep patterns of infants and learning to get triplets with unique sleeping patterns on a common sleep schedule takes patience and determination. Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child” helps the mother of infant triplets set realistic expectations for her babies and develop a plan to successfully put triplets on the same sleep schedule.
8. Gift Certificate to Wal-Mart, Target, a Local Grocery Store or Superstore. The cost for diapers, wipes, formula and other baby supplies during triplets’ first year is mind-boggling. While a gift certificate to one of these stores may not appear to be the most glamorous present, it certainly will be one of the most appreciated. It is always painful for a mother of infant triplets to hear the total upon completing the check out process at one of these stores. I have wondered on countless occasions how a few large boxes of diapers and several packages of wipes could cost so much. Triplets go through approximately 2 large boxes of diapers a week, which comes to over $50 per week. During their first year, triplets can easily consume a large can of powdered formula each day. A large 27 oz. can costs approximately $26.00. Multiply that by 7 days in a week, and that is $182 per week on formula alone! Did I mention that triplets are expensive? Gift certificates are always a great gift for mothers of infant triplets.
9. Baby Einstein Movies (www.babyeinstein.com). These movies are mesmerizing to infants. Several are made specifically for a baby’s first year including “Baby Bach” and “Baby Mozart” (two of my triplets’ favorites during their first year). Thanks to these movies, my husband and I were able to sit down and eat dinner for a half hour each evening without any crying babies! These movies provided a much needed break for me, and they provided stimulating visual imagery as well as an introduction to classical music for my triplets.
10. Runabout Triple Stroller from Berg Designs (http://www.berdesign.net). If the triplets are nearing their first birthday or getting too big for their infant car seats, then it is time for Mom to upgrade to a new stroller that can accommodate growing triplets. The Runabout Triple Stroller receives positive reviews on functionality and maneuverability from me and other triplet mothers (www.tripletconnection.org has many posts with opinions about this stroller). You can push it with one finger and even run with it when pushing 3 toddlers. The downside is this stroller is not visually appealing; however the pros outweigh the cons. Most importantly, this stroller is still easy to push when the triplets get bigger (over 30 lbs.). That cannot be said for most other inline triple strollers. Additionally, the seats are roomy, and you can buy accessories like a basket, sun canopy, sun shield side panels and a rain cover. If Mom’s car is small, then the car carrier is a great option for transporting the Runabout Triple Stroller. The telescoping handle bar can be pushed down, and the seats and front wheel are easily removable for transporting if Mom prefers that option.
Buying a gift for the Mother of infant triplets is a unique experience, but just follow these gift ideas from an experienced triplet mother, and you are sure to please!
Reference:
- www.tripletconnection.org Official web site for the Triplet Connection www.mostonline.org Official web site for the Mothers of Supertwins
