Posted by Caroline Collard on Mar.10, 2009

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1. Be organized. Set up routines where possible, but don’t be rigid and a bit of lateral thinking goes a long way. Things don’t have to be done in the same way as other people do them, so don’t put undue pressure on yourself.

2. Make it known that you accept other people’s cast offs. I found that people were more willing to give clothes that their children had outgrown to me purely because I had twins. I quite happily took them all and then passed things that I didn’t want on to somebody else.

3. Don’t try to dress them in matching clothes. It just adds more complications and more to do. Each time one child spills his dinner down his front you have to change both of them and you also have to be completely organized with the washing.

4. Invest in reusable nappies. Once you have the system in place the washing is easy. You only need one and half times the amount of nappies as for one baby, and you will probably never need to get any more.

5. Remember lots of people will stop to admire your children. Don’t laugh at them when they ask if your boy/girl twins are identical! Get out as much as possible, the attention will help you when you are having a bad day.

6. Where available, travel on the buses for the elderly and disabled. You will have plenty of time to get on and off and will also cheer up the other passengers. My two used to love riding on the wheelchair lift at the back.

7. Breastfeeding may be challenging but is possible. If you can’t manage it, do not feel guilty, just do the best you can. Find out before you have the children what support is available for you.

8. Don’t assume that twins are going to be small and born early. Often this is not the case. Many twin pregnancies go full term. I know many twins who were more than 6 pounds each at birth and some who were more than 8 pounds each.

9. Don’t get talked into having extra medical intervention just because they are twins. If there any problems deal with them then. Pregnancy and labour need not be any more complicated with two than with one.

10. When they become mobile, encourage them to hold hands when they go out. Then, if they run away from you at least they are together, rather than disappearing in opposite directions.

11. Remember that while twins are hard work when young, as they get older they always have someone to play with and someone to confide in. Also, they have each other when they start school and so on, which I found reassuring with my own twins.

12. Invest in a baby sling. It enables you to carry two children and a buggy upstairs in one go, I also found many uses for it, such as emergency clothing, pillow and so on.

13. I gave my children rice cakes for teething, which they seemed quite happy with. I started them drinking water rather than any form of juice and no sweets. If they start with this they don’t expect anything different. If you have strong views about diet, start when they are young and stay with it. If you give in once it will get harder to follow through.

14. Remember you are in a position to buy in bulk, especially if you get together with other mothers of twins. I bought much of my food wholesale. Ask around and see what your options are locally.

15. Remember that the babies don’t care if their clothes are clean and matching, whether the house is tidy and so on. All they need to know is that they are cared for. Don’t worry about things that don’t matter.

16. If you can afford it, invest in a cleaner. It can make an enormous difference.

17. Make a mental note of everyone who offers to help and use them when you feel the need. Also, don’t hesitate to ask people in the street if you need a hand, usually they are very willing to help.

18. Join the local twin group for advice and support.

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Posted under Family, GDM Kids, Tweens, Teens.