The Baby Registry
Building a baby registry as a single gay dad expecting twins via surrogacy. What you actually need, what you don't, and what nobody tells you.
Nobody tells you how strange it is to build a baby registry when your babies are being carried by someone else, in another country, and you're not sure exactly when they'll arrive. You stand in the store with a scanner and you try to imagine a life you haven't lived yet.
The Practical Reality of Twins
Two of everything. That's the first thing you learn. Two cribs, two car seats, two bouncers. The list doubles and the budget doubles with it.
But not everything needs to be doubled. You don't need two of every toy. You don't need two of every outfit in every size. You need two of the things that matter — the things they'll use simultaneously, the things that keep them safe.
What Actually Matters
A good double stroller. This is the most important purchase you'll make. Get the best one you can afford. You will use it every day for years.
A white noise machine. Two, actually. Sleep is survival with twins and anything that helps them sleep helps you survive.
A feeding pillow designed for twins. The logistics of feeding two babies simultaneously are real and the right equipment makes them manageable.
The World Is Theirs
A real dad's guide to traveling with kids — blowouts, layovers, and all. Free instant download.
What You Don't Need
Everything that looks clever in the store and collects dust at home. The wipe warmer. The elaborate mobile. The seventeen different types of pacifiers. Start simple. Add what you need as you learn what your specific babies need.
And don't buy too many newborn clothes. Twins are often small at birth and grow fast. You'll be in 0-3 months before you know it.
The Emotional Part
Building the registry was one of the most hopeful things I did during the surrogacy process. It was an act of faith — a declaration that I believed they were coming.
Every item I added was a small commitment. A promise. I'm ready. I'm waiting. I'm building a home for you.
Joseph Tito
Creator of The Dad Diaries. Gay dad of twins. Writing about fatherhood, surrogacy, and the beautiful mess of real life.