This is the *one* item I tell every twin parent to get

I thought I was prepared before giving birth to my twins. I had done all the research , read all the blog posts and Reddit threads, and had gone deep into twin parenting forums. Armed with everything I learned , I bought all the items I thought I needed before my twins arrived: a double bassinet for them to sleep together but apart, bottles so my husband could help with night feedings, a little contraption for them to sit together so someone could feed them at the same time, a breastfeeding pillow specially designed for twins and all the cute adorable onesies you could imagine (jelly + peanut butter and BFFS included).

But I didn’t buy the TwinZ pillow. I skipped the one pillow everyone talked about because I thought we could live without it. It looked big and we were soon going to be five humans and two dogs in a tiny NYC apartment that was already overflowing with baby and toddler stuff.

I like to admit my mistakes, and this time I was very wrong. So wrong that I ended up ordering the pillow in the middle of the night, frustrated that it was impossible to keep the babies contained as I pumped while my husband ran down the stairs to retrieve more bottles.

There is a very good reason why every single parent of twins swears by this pillow and it’s simple: It’s amazing.

Created by a twin mom who couldn’t find a pillow that would help her feed her two babies at the same time, the TwinZ pillow became a hit with parents across the country years later when it appeared on Shark Tank . Unsurprisingly, four investors made an offer. The brand’s website is filled with letters from twin parents thanking them for inventing this.

So what makes the Twin Z pillow so great?

It’s a perfect place to safely rest your babies, allowing one parent to feed at the same time. You can also use it as a breastfeeding pillow, making holding two tiny babies comfortable and manageable. As they grow, you can use it to practice tummy time or plop them in there to play while you change one, or pour yourself some much-needed coffee.

Once they start sitting up, you can help them practice by placing them in the hole of the pillow. If they tumble over—which they always do—they won’t come crashing straight to the floor. Once they can hold their bottles, they can lie together while they eat, maybe even holding hands. And eventually, when it’s time for them to watch some shows on TV, they can lounge together.

I have so many photos of my twins lounging in their TwinZ pillow; I can even see how fast they are growing just by comparing to where they used to fit in it (because they do grow so fast).

Even better? The cover is machine-washable (babies make messes, twin parents don’t have time for complicated cleaning instructions), easy to remove and put back on, foam-free and hypoallergenic with no chemicals added and no toxic smell.

Learn from my mistake! If you are expecting twins (or know someone who is) get this pillow right now, it was a game-changer for our family.