Can't find any cute Castor and Pollux stuff

April 14, 2007 11:14 AM

What silly gift to give an expectant mother who will be having identical twins?

My friend just found out she is having identical twins. As of yet, they do not know if they are boys or girls, but that really does not matter for my purposes. I will be lavishing her with multiple sets of onesies and outfits and two-of-everything everythings when the time comes. For right now I want to get her a little gift that is silly and possibly kitschy and congratulatory. I would prefer it be something for her and not necessarily for the children.

This is her first pregnancy, by the way.

posted by oflinkey to human relations (28 comments total)

A foot massage. Gift certificates for free babysitting. Temporary tattoos for the kids ("#1", "#2").
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 11:17 AM on April 14, 2007

Two peas in a pod onesies. Looks like they have bibs and stuff too. Since you want to get something for her, maybe the tote bag?

As a twin, I would suggest NOT getting matching clothes in general though. See how their personalities are...
posted by k8t at 11:20 AM on April 14, 2007

Two identical rubber devil duckies.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 11:22 AM on April 14, 2007

Another twin here who concurs with k8t. Granted we had no idea what we were wearing as infants, but I'm glad my parents recognized us as individuals from day one and treated us as such.
posted by ericb at 11:28 AM on April 14, 2007

Thing One and Thing Two t-shirt. I agree with the massage/pedicure suggestions. For closer to the birth, you could spring for a diaper service. That would be dreamy.
posted by cocoagirl at 11:31 AM on April 14, 2007 [2 favorites has favorites]

As a twin, I would suggest NOT getting matching clothes in general though. See how their personalities are...

Newborns aren't going to have an opinion on this. And, speaking for myself and my wife, parents of twins think dressing them in matching sets is awesome, at least early on.

But we're looking for something for the mother. Unfortunately I have no suggestions since I have no idea what your friend would think is silly and kitschy.
posted by DU at 11:32 AM on April 14, 2007

I'm intrigued. How can the friend know the twins will be identical (for which the chance is only 1 in 250) but not their gender?

That's an aside, though. Like others, I'd recommend a gift voucher for a pampering session.
posted by Lionel d'Lion at 11:40 AM on April 14, 2007

FWIW, the French word for binoculars, jumelles, is the same as the French word for female twins. Not sure how a gift of a pair of binoculars would be received, but it's certainly different!
posted by emtanner at 11:43 AM on April 14, 2007

This is seriously goofy, but maybe you could get her a twin set -- as in a tank and cardigan that match? If you can find a set that is whimsical rather than staid and matronly, all the better. (Oddly, Amazon turns up several twin sets for nursing moms, but that might be a little too weird.)
posted by brina at 11:55 AM on April 14, 2007

How about a Minnesota Twins hat or jersey? Go Twinkies!
posted by GaelFC at 12:00 PM on April 14, 2007

I'm intrigued. How can the friend know the twins will be identical (for which the chance is only 1 in 250) but not their gender?

Because identical twins often share the same placenta and this can be seen on ultrasound.

How about Wrigley's Doublemint gum? And flipflops? Some cute Haviaanas or something. I lived in flip-flops when I was pregnant.
posted by LoriFLA at 12:02 PM on April 14, 2007

When my friend had twin girls, I found two tacky t-shirts in the Target baby section that said "I Blame My Sister." She didn't hit me, so I assume she thought they were mildly amusing. You could get or make something similar (both genders!) for not very much, I'm sure.
posted by pinky at 12:18 PM on April 14, 2007

My wife loved her "Who's Your Daddy?" fitted t-shirt when she was pregnant.
posted by man on the run at 12:22 PM on April 14, 2007

I loved the seussland shopping site ... I may have to buy myself a tee. They also have separate Thing One and Thing Two shirts (for when the little monsters are born).
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 12:41 PM on April 14, 2007

Celebrity Baby Blog has a really good list of funky and fun maternity clothes.
posted by k8t at 12:49 PM on April 14, 2007

How about a DVD?
posted by gfrobe at 1:10 PM on April 14, 2007

I got a customized Minnesota Twins T-Shirt with the couple's last name and the number 2 on it. Someone else found matching "Wonder Twin Powers Activate" outifts for the babies.
posted by Frank Grimes at 1:18 PM on April 14, 2007

Name tags.
posted by gimonca at 1:35 PM on April 14, 2007

A charm bracelet with two bottle charms.
posted by sLevi at 2:18 PM on April 14, 2007

I always give the Beatles White album and a bottle of wine, no matter what...
posted by FergieBelle at 2:44 PM on April 14, 2007

How 'bout this Wry Baby set?
posted by echolalia67 at 4:05 PM on April 14, 2007

I'm stepmother to a set of twins (non-identical now that they're older) and I always give quirky toddler survival kits to my friends. They contain a selection of the following; asprin (the largest carton you can find), ear-plugs, anti-stress aromatherapy products, Valerian sleepy-tea, bottle of booze with "In case of emergency" sticker, velcro, bandaids, large box of chocolate also with "In case of emergency" sticker, CD of relaxing New Age meditation music, joke book etc etc. Throw everything in a nice gift box or bag and label it "Baby Survival Kit".

In the case of twins, I would include a huge box of stickers and a marker (so that she can tell them apart) and, depending on your friends sense of humour, identical bottles of booze with a teat affixed to the top of each one.

A couple of friends who have been on the receiving end of these have later told me that the booze, the chocolates and the anti-stress products were very welcome.
posted by ninazer0 at 4:07 PM on April 14, 2007 [2 favorites has favorites]

Oh, and the Wry Baby Safe Baby Pregnancy Tips and Safe Baby Handling Tips books are pretty damn funny.
posted by echolalia67 at 4:11 PM on April 14, 2007

Sleeping pills and earplugs?
posted by Ziggurat at 5:02 PM on April 14, 2007

a spa gift certificate combined with a babysitting voucher. and the #1 and #2 tatoos are a brillant idea.
posted by enaira at 7:22 PM on April 14, 2007

My sister had identical twins a year ago. I am not near her, but the things she treasured most were time and help. As she gets farther along in the pregnancy, it might get harder for her to clean, or do basic things around the house, so if she wouldn't be offended, that might be a good gift, having someone else clean her house. (Though I know it's not kitschy!)

Also, for the babies, matching shirts for the girls that say "I'm the favorite."
posted by bilabial at 7:14 AM on April 15, 2007

A bunch of tasteless temporary tattoos to put on the babies so she, and the rest of her helpers, can tell them apart at first. Putting a tattoo on a baby butt to be found at the next diaper change is comedy gold.
posted by Foam Pants at 4:58 PM on April 15, 2007

I'm intrigued. How can the friend know the twins will be identical (for which the chance is only 1 in 250) but not their gender?

Maybe she just chose not to be told that information.
posted by hmca at 5:17 PM on April 18, 2007