Managing multiples? No problem. With this list of 100 of the best parenting tips for moms of multiples, you’re bound to find a plethora of new tricks that make life easier.
Stocking a Nursery
Two of everything or just one? When it comes to caring for your babies what do you need to double up on and what can you live without? Check out these tips for stocking a nursery for two.
- The Twin Source suggests having a twin bed or loveseat to rest on after you feed the babies.
- You’ll need about 1 ½ times as many clothing items since the babies can share clothing, blankets and more. Check out the shopping list on Talk About Twins.
- One baby monitor is all that you need as long as you keep both babies in the same nursery, recommends Stuff for Multiples.
- According to Bella Online, one large clothes hamper is a necessity since the baby-sized ones will be too small to deal with all of the dirty clothes.
- Buying diapers and other things in bulk will be cheaper and save you time shopping, indicates Baby Zone.
- Don’t forget to ask friends and family that are getting rid of baby furniture and supplies to see if you can buy or borrow stuff, suggests Twin Pregnancy and Beyond.
- Raising Twins recommends investing in two bouncy seats that you can use for relaxing, feeding and other times when you need to put the babies down.
- One swing will probably be sufficient since you can rotate the babies through different toys like the swing, floor gym and the bouncy seat, explains Live Strong.
- You only need one changing table unless your home is larger than 2000 square feet; then you may benefit from having a second one in the family room, according to Pregnancy and Baby.
- Stock up on items like baby ointment, breastfeeding supplies and bottles and diapers so you won’t have to run to the store all the time with twins, says Mammamoiselle.
Baby Gear and Clothes
Shopping for the perfect double stroller? Looking for coordinated clothing? Check out these tips for what you need, what you don’t and where you can find things specifically geared towards moms of multiples.
- Contrary to popular belief, you do not need multiples of everything, explains Blog Her.
- Find adorable clothing meant for twins on Just Multiples.
- From shirts to pacifiers, you can find funny twin apparel at Trends in Twos.
- You can buy matching clothes for twins with one boy and one girl on Best Dressed Child, whether it’s a coordinating dress for her and pants for him or the same outfit in pink and blue.
- Twin clothes for all ages are available on Just 4 Twins, so you can match your kids from infants to teens if you want.
- You’ll find humorous twin-inspired clothing on Zazzle.
- Cradle to Kindergarten has coordinating clothes for the babies and for big brother or sister so everyone can match.
- You will definitely need a double stroller when your twins arrive. Take a look at the double stroller reviews on iVillage to decide on the best one for your family.
- Things like brag books, bibs, car signs, bags and more are available on Twin Stuff.
- There are many types of baby slings on the market, and you can read what real moms had to say about the pros and cons of some of the different carriers on Mothering.
Feeding
Milk for two? Whether your breastfeeding or bottle feeding, there’s plenty of tips that can help moms of multiples manage. Check out these 10 tips on how to make feeding multiples easier.
- When you start out, breastfeed each baby separately for a few days to learn her style of suckling, then use a breast feeding pillow to feed both babies at once, says Parents.
- A relatively new product called Table for Two allows you to strap the babies in side-by-side so that you can rest your arms while simultaneously bottle feeding two babies.
- Try the double football hold when you are breastfeeding both babies at the same time. According to Baby Center, this is a time saver.
- It’s important to feed both babies at the same time, even if it means you have to wake up one child. You just won’t have enough time in your day if you don’t, says Healthy Children.
- Breastfeeding premature babies has special benefits, according to Mayo Clinic.
- Try using a twin nursing pillow if you want to try nursing both babies at the same time, suggests Voices.
- When your twins are young they will need to feed every three hours but won’t nurse for that long; as their tummies grow, they will eat more and spread out the feedings, says Oh Baby Magazine.
- Set realistic expectations for yourself for the first four months. According to Health US News, you are responsible for nursing the babies, feeding yourself a healthy diet and getting enough rest.
- Feed both babies at the same time and keep track of which foods each baby has tried and how much he ate. What to Expect says not to worry if one baby is a better eater at the beginning.
- Use the same spoon and the same jar of food to feed both babies so that it’s simpler on you, recommends Everyday Family.
Bathing
Trying to keep those cuties clean? Check out these tips for getting your babies clean without throwing out your back in the process.
- Bathing twins at the same time in the same tub is recommended as long as you have a seat for them so they can safely stay above water, says Circle of Moms.
- Dads can definitely help during bath time. Read Dad’s Guide to Twins to prepare yourself before putting the babies in the bathtub.
- Try bathing your twins in a double sink with Bumbo seats so that you can save some wear and tear on your back, suggests Molly Piper.
- During bath time make sure the room is warm, but the water is not too warm, warns Twinversity. Suggested temperature for the room is 75 degrees while the water should be 102 degrees.
- Get your babies goggles or visors to keep the water out of their face while you are rinsing out the soap, suggests Twin Parenthood.
- You may wish to bathe the twins separately until they are sitting up well on their own so that you don’t risk one slipping into the water when you are busy with the other, says Twins Mum Plus One.
- If your twins are too big for the sink but not big enough for the full-size tub, you might try something like the Stokke Flexi Bath, recommends Crazy with Twins.
- When infants are young you only need to bathe them every few days, otherwise their skin will get dry, says Essential Baby.
- If you want to bathe both babies at the same time, you may want to try this incline seat by Argos that suction cups to the tub, suggests My Little Twins.
- Get it Together recommends leaving a bath station up for the first several months and washing the babies in an assembly line fashion.
Childcare
Choosing childcare? Check out these tips for choosing the right childcare provider for your twins.
- You should think about the pros and cons of putting your twins in the same class or in different classes, says Zero to Three.
- Twins UK gives you potential things to consider and a list of questions to ask when interviewing caregivers.
- Make sure that any childcare facility that you are considering is accredited through the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
- If you are considering hiring a nanny to care for your twins, be sure to get a background check done on any potential candidates at eNannySource.
- Check out Nanny Pro if you are looking for a nanny to come into your home and take care of your twins. You may find that it’s less expensive to have a nanny than it is to put the twins in daycare.
- According to Web MD, you should start researching your options now if you are planning to go back to work after your twins are born.
- There are added expenses and side effects of putting your twins into separate classes, explains How Do You Do It.
- There is no hard and fast rule about separating multiples in school. According to Twins List, this decision should be made on a case-by-case basis.
- Parent Dish refers to a study that appeared in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health that concluded that it doesn’t matter whether or not multiples are together or separate, they end up testing the same.
- There are many ways you can save money on childcare, explains Learn Vest, like taking a tax break, paying for childcare pre-tax with a Flex Spending account and more.
Sleep
Feeling sleep deprived? While twins give you double of almost everything, unfortunately sleep isn’t included. Check out these tips to help you sleep more when you’re caring for your babies.
- Co-sleeping with multiples or singletons can be challenging, and according to Baby Sleep Site, there are safer ways to do it that may allow you to get more sleep.
- The blogger from Moving Through Life relays her success with putting her twins in the same crib, even though it is not recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
- There’s an increased risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) in babies that co-sleep with a parent or another infant if less than three months old, explains AAP guidelines.
- One of the most important things you can do for your babies and yourself is to get into a routine, urges Momtastic.
- The NHS in the UK believes that it is acceptable to put twins or even triplets to sleep in one crib, but there is a specific way to keep them safe.
- Use white noise in the nursery to give the babies some background noise while they sleep, suggests Rookie Moms.
- You may need to sleep train the twins in separate rooms until they get the hang of it, reports I Saw Your Nanny.
- If weather permits, take the twins outside for a walk every day to let them get some fresh air; this may help them sleep longer at night, advises Geolina.
- Consistency is the key to any sleep training that you try to do with your twins, explains The Twin Source.
- Lay your twins down when they are drowsy but still awake so that they learn to go to sleep in their bed, recommends Twin Parenthood.
Parenting Advice
Does fair really mean equal? Wondering how to navigate disciplining your twins? Read on.
- Fairness is not the same as equality, which is an important lesson to teach multiples, recommends She Knows. Take care of each child’s needs instead of wants.
- Whether its twins, triplets or more, you need to spend 20 minutes a day with each child one-on-one to assure healthy development, according to Aha Parenting.
- Ask for help and accept help when it is offered, advises The Twin Coach.
- Be prepared for your babies to potentially have to spend at least some time in the NICU, says Pajiba.
- Get out of the house at least once a day no matter how hard it seems, even if you just walk around the block. Doing so can improve everyone’s mood, advises Kido Info.
- Focus on enjoying the journey with your twins and don’t make it into a chore, suggests the Wall Street Journal.
- You’ll find lots of advice on Babble, like how you need to have a sense of humor when parenting twins because it’s going to be chaotic.
- Twins do not always do everything at the same time, so be prepared for them to develop at different rates, advises Times Union.
- The Super Nanny recommends that you reward good behavior.
- Treat your twins as individuals, suggests Bellingham Herald.
Support Groups
Got support? You’re going to need it. Check out these tips for connecting with other moms of multiples that can share in your daily joys and troubles of raising two.
- Find a parent support group where you can get together with other parents that understand what you are going through, suggests North Virginia Parents of Multiples.
- Find family support forums on this site called MOST (Mothers of Super Twins) where you can ask questions of other moms who have been through the same struggles.
- Multiples of America not only provides support, but also the latest research that involves twins and much more.
- Join Magnificent Multiples, an online Facebook support group where you can ask a question to the group and whoever is on can respond.
- Read about product reviews, hot topics and more that relates to multiples, and gain support from other parents in the group, says Big Tent.
- Read the personal stories of other mothers of multiples and share your own journey to support others on Experience Project.
- KUMC will give you the details and contact information for many national and international support groups for parents of multiples.
- Twins by the Bay is an active group in the Oakland, Berkley and surrounding areas that support each other on the twins’ journey.
- Moms of Multiples is a support group in the Chicago area that meets once a month to share stories, ideas and more.
- Fertile Thoughts is an online support group for those women that are pregnant with multiples and need questions answered.
Financial Challenges
How much does it cost to raise twins? Too much! Check out these tips to help you be fiscally savvy while raising your brood.
- Contact federal agencies or other support groups in the area if you have a child or children with special needs to see if you can receive financial help, suggests Healthy Canadians.
- If you live in Durham Region you can contact Durham Parents of Multiples to receive emotional and financial support for your multiples.
- Twin Services suggests that you look at all of the information when deciding whether mom should go back to work, including hidden costs of stress on the family.
- Plan ahead when you make big purchases to make sure that furniture can grow with the twins and that it will work for both kids, says Savannah Daily News.
- Money CNN explains how parents of multiples need to look further out in their expenses, make plans for multiple children and cut back on luxuries now.
- For every additional child in a multiple birth the costs triple, according to One at a Time.
- Learn how to apply for a grant to help offset the financial burden of having twins, triplets or more at eHow.
- Twin Stuff Outreach helps raise money for organizations that help twins and provides other support.
- Twins World is a non-profit that raises money in many different ways to help the parents of twins, triplets and more.
- Mother Nature Network explains that if you have twins and you already have another child you may need to invest in a larger vehicle.
Tips & Tricks for Managing Multiples
Who knew color coding bottles with a hairband would make bottle feeding easier? Practical tips and tricks for raising multiples are coming your way below.
- Keep a diary of each baby’s feedings, wet and dirty diapers, moods and more, suggests Working Through It.
- Utilize help where you can and make sure that you take time out for yourself to get a nap, take a hot bath or go for a walk, urges Twins and Multiples.
- Checklist Mommy suggests color coding your kids to keep track of who they are and what belongs to them.
- Take depression seriously, both before and after birthing your twins, advises Market Watch.
- Avoid giving the twins rhyming names or names that sound alike and don’t dress them alike either, recommends Family Doctor.
- You can’t care for your twins alone. Ask for help, suggests Parent Map.
- Try to use pacifiers with the twins if they are fussy. According to AAP, they have been shown to help reduce the chance of SIDS. This advice and more is available on The Essential Infant Resource for Moms.
- Morning sickness may be worse with twins because of higher HCG levels, says Pea in the Podcast.
- Even though you are exhausted and don’t have much spare time, it’s important to make time to meet new friends that have multiples so that you can share experiences, recommends Pediatrician Mom of Twins.
- Creative Baby Nursery Rooms has tons of suggestions on how to decorate the perfect nursery for twins.
