Having one baby is hard work, we all know that. The thing is, unless you have a multiple birth (or children very close in age) you don’t realise just how tiring and relentless (although extremely rewarding!) looking after two or more tiny tots can be.
So, as always, we have a wealth of top tips to help if you have your own, or nanny for, twins or triplets:
- Routine is king. This, of course, applies in theory to all babies. You’ll find it is much more necessary with twins. Make sure you put the babies down to sleep at the same time, and try to feed them at the same time (or one straight after the other). Even of one cries for food whilst the other is sleeping, in the first couple of months it can really help to wake the other one to feed as well.
- Togetherness. If possible, keep your babies together, whether this is in the same cot or just in the same room. Twin babies are almost always comforted by knowing the other one is nearby, and having physical contact with each other. They’ve had nine months of sharing everything, so it would be a massive adjustment for them to then spend a lot of time, or sleep, without the other.
- Support system. It’s important to get as much help as you can as a parent of twins. If your partner has returned to work and you find yourself alone and incredibly stressed, pull in your support network. Ask relatives and friends or regular baby-sitters to provide relief, if you haven’ got a nanny. Remember that it will be easier for anyone to help you if you suggest specific tasks, such as feeding or bathing one of the babies, taking them out for a stroll, shopping, cleaning the kitchen, or preparing a meal.
- Get some ‘me’ time. It’s important to have a little bit of time each day, if possible, to relax. Even if it’s a 20 minute bath when your partner gets home from work, or half an hour of reading before you go to sleep. It’s a fact that stress and anxiety are more common in parents of twins, so making sure you grab a few golden moments of time for yourself is key.
For more help and information on twins and multiple births visit Twins Trust | Twins Trust – We support twins, triplets and more…
Obviously we are not alone!! Everytime I am out with my twins (boy and girl)..soooo many people stop us and ask to look at our twins..my hubnasd and I are thinking we should charge people a viewing fee ! Like others who have also committed..we have been asked so many times the following..1) Are they identical? We get asked this from even the smartest people..or so we thought they were smart our twins are a boy and a girl and we dress them in sex appropriate clothing so how can they be identical?? But like others..we politely respond by saying no they are not identical .they are a boy and a girl 2) You must be done having children.. We reply yes..but I think the next time I am asked, I may say no, that we want more children to see how they will respond!3) When is your hubnasd getting fixed like the breastfeeding post..that is a little personal don’t you think!!4) Are you breastfeeding Again a personal question..yet the nonverbal expression of disappointment when I reply with a firm no..are you kidding! Followed with I would like to start a blog on why bottle feeding is better than breast feeding! I also have a two year old who was breast fed, yet the logistics of breastfeeding twins is impossible!!