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You know your friend or family member is expecting a new bundle of joy, and then BAM! you find out that they are expecting twins! What are you to do? What can you get them? Obviously that single stroller and car seat set is out of the question, as is that lovely teeny tiny diaper bag.

Finding out a loved one is going to be having not one, but two or more little ones in the house is daunting, and you aren't even the one having them! Many people will say that the best thing to give a new parent is baby-sitting, so that they can have a break. I disagree. Most new parents are not comfortable leaving their small child, much less small multiple (who often will come home with some special need) to a person who is not used to handling more than one baby at a time.

Then again, a lot of people will choose clothing or toys. Again, not the best idea. With twins or multiples, by the time they are a year old, they will have at least a couple dozen outfits that never get worn and toys that never get played with given from well meaning friends and family.

From experience, what is the No. 1 best gift for parents of multiples? Diapers. Baby wipes. Diaper Rash Ointment. These are things that are always being used, and will be needed. My twins (and mind you, I have two sets) go through almost 200 diapers a week. The bill for that stands at around $50 to $65 in a single week's time. When you consider for a singleton who will use around 30-50 diapers a week and will cost about $15, you can see where the gift of diapers would be always welcomed!

Another great gift is anything that will soothe the babies and let mom and dad put them down for a few minutes, but don't buy into hype. Your friend will not need five different types of seating in double for the babies. Usually 2 bouncy chairs that vibrate, and 2 swings with adjustable speed work perfectly. The bouncy chairs will also double as high chairs whenever the babies are too small to sit in a real one, but still are on solid food.

But say you want to offer your friend a service? Go clean her house, mow her lawn, or clean out the car, or bring the family dinner. Seriously. A new mother will be protective of her little ones, and she can probably handle them just fine on her own, if only someone else would take some of the physical load of cleaning and cooking off of her. And trust me, she will remember you coming to clean for her long after she forgets the matching booties that you bought that got shoved into the bottom of a drawer!

Remember though, the best gift you can give your loved one expecting multiples is your support and friendship!

Learn more about this author, Desi Phillips.
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