Twins!

[PippaPug]

Just found out last week I’m expecting twins and I’m a little overwhelmed!

Can I have some positive stories about having twins please?! And just anything that helped you get through the early days and weeks - it’s early days but I do want to start getting organised and I don’t know if there is anything for twins that’s a must!

[LogsOnTheFire]

We have twins they are 8 now.

Best advice I had was from another twin parent, she said not to bother talking advice from non multiple parents because it's a whole different ball game. She was right, it really is.

You need a lot less than you think. Ours lived in babygrows for nearly a year. A couple of 'outfits' was all that was needed. Babygrows are far more comfortable for them and so much easier to manage.

Get them into a routine as soon as you can. Feed them at the same time.

Go easy on yourself. Share the load with your DH. We live abroad so had no family around to help so it was just us, we just shared it all and stayed relaxed.

A couple of good bouncy chairs, we had the ones with vibrating bum bits. So good to put one in while you bath the other. The vibrating bum bit would help them doze at one point.

[BelulahBlanca]

I have one baby but am a twin and my mum has said to me several times that once babies hit six months it was easier as babies would happily entertain eachother.

[LogsOnTheFire]

Yes they do. DS was and is still the funniest person ever to DD.

Mine were easy as pie until 2.5, then overnight... BOOM

Babies are really portable so get a good pushchair, one that can lie flat (we had the babyjogger city mini) and take them out. I used to spend most days out.

[LogsOnTheFire]

Oh and dribble bibs. Brilliant, get loads!

We used to put a wash on every day. Much easy to keep on top of things then. Also hang everything to dry the right way out. Easier to fold and put away then.

[SleepingStandingUp]

@PipppaPug congratulations, I'm 18 weeks with mono di twins. Have an older singleton but he was very poorly at birth so I've never had a newborn at home, let alone two!

[Awwlookatmybabyspider]

Congratulations. Are they the first twins in your family. My bil is a twin. Obviously you don’t know about 100s of ago but as far as their mum and dad know they’re the only twins in the family. (None before or since)

[LogsOnTheFire]

Just asked DH. He said...

'Travel light, when your out and about you don't need to take loads.'
He's right we used to take a spare babygrow each and nappies/wipes, that was pretty much all we had in the changing bag

'Treat them as individuals from the start.'

[Bobbindobbin]

Ignore the people who said “ooh you won’t get any sleep” mine did 6-6 from 5 months old with a dream feed at 10pm. People like to scare expectant twin mums and it’s usually those without multiples. Congratulations

[SinkGirl]

Congratulations!

My twins are almost 3 and probably can’t advise much as they are both autistic and one has other disabilities so we don’t really have a typical twins experience.

In the early days, things I relied on:

• Ardo Calypso double breast pump (mine couldn’t latch)
  
• 4Moms Rockaroo x 2 (absolutely saved my sanity)
  
• Baby Bjorn bouncers (got them at 6 months but could have had them earlier, they are amazing and fold flat)
  
• Cold water steriliser (so much easier)
  
• Get a bit changing rucksack (I have a Lekkebaby one from Amazon which is brilliant, but I had Pacapod bags when they were babies which were great)
  
• Arms Reach co sleeper cot which they shared until about 7 months
  

Find your local twin group - I made friends with a bunch of twin mums who had theirs around the same time and they’ve been lifesavers, we all support each other

Asda clothes and shoes - great value and good quality. Saves me a fortune

Nearly new sales are also great

Double buggies can be tricky, none are ideal and all come with compromises. If I could go back I’d get a Oyster Max for when they were babies and then switch to a Nipper 360.

[SinkGirl]

Sorry, a big changing rucksack!

[LadyPoldark]

My twins are 11 now, Can't quite believe it!
I used to have mine in baby grows too ,much easier . I remember plenty of times lifting one of them by scrunching up the front of the baby grow ,if I was holding the other one.
I found that as I has 2 hands and 2 babies it was ok.
I breast and bottle fed , one twin was fussier breast feeding so when he had enough I topped him up. When they were both using bottles I used to sit them bouncy chairs and I sat on the floor in between them. I used one bowl and one spoon when they moved to solids.
The strangest thing with mine and it's true to this day is .... If one of them was crying or fussing the other was calm. They never seemed to both need me at the same time. It's the same now if one is having and off day the other is as good as gold!
My DD wouldn't settle at all when she was first born and the midwife but them in the same cot and she was content from then on.
I always wanted twins and was so happy (and terrified) when I found out.
I always found the thought of having them was way more daunting than the reality. When they are yours you find your own ways and get into a routine that suit you.
Congratulations , it's so exciting .

[DefinatelyAWeeGobshite]

My kids will be three next month (can’t believe it!).

At the start we had a cotbed in our room and one in the living room for sleeping. Later on we got bouncers (when they were about four months old).
Ours practically lived in baby grows for the first year and even now they prefer jammie days. Asda do the best baby stuff in my opinion and have preemie sized clothes from 3lb and up
TONS of muslin cloths/bibs
Ewan the sheep was their favourite wee toy and I actually listened to the song the other day, took me back to those first few months.

The first year I found really lovely. In the morning we’d go to the living room and they’d be fed, play on their playmat/read one of the black and white books to them etc/nap for an hour to an hour and a half and repeat.

We didn’t have any twin groups in our area and I didn’t know anyone else with twins so I spent most of my time at home or just walking round the park with them in their pram.

[LogsOnTheFire]

This is bringing back so many memories!

Agree @Bobbindobbin we were also told that. Ours slept 12 hours from 21 & 23 weeks.

@LadyPoldark Mine did and still do tag team us. It's like they know that if they both kick off at the same time they'll get less attention.

[Bobbindobbin]

With regard to buggies I had a Nipper 360 and it was bloody amazing. Hated my Icandy and sold it after a few months.

[SinkGirl]

Double travel systems are mostly a bulky nightmare - that’s why I’d get the smallest (Oyster Max) knowing they’d outgrow it and we’d move to something more practical! You often find double travel systems for sale second hand barely used because they’re so unwieldy

[Gilead]

Mine are 23 now! Take every bit of help that's offered. Twins are a novelty so people do volunteer themselves. Sleep whilst someone else takes them for a walk. Bugger the housework apart from essentials and stock the freezer as best you can before hand.
Don't go posh on anything, double lots of poo, wee, puke! Even if you are using reusable nappies, have some disposables handy for those times when you're just too tired.
Good luck!

[Collectorofcookbooks]

Gin, wine, tea and cake.

[Squiff70]

Hi @PippaPug! I'm 7+6 and expecting twins too. It IS overwhelming isn't it?

A close friend of mine has young baby twins and I went to stay with them last month. I knew I was pregnant but didn't know at that time I was carrying twins. They weren't as scary as I'd imagined. They were bloody gorgeous, actually, and I thoroughly enjoyed all the cuddles and helping with nappy changes and baths. Yes, they are hard work and to begin with we won't get much sleep but they're 3 months old now and sleeping 6+ hours in one go at night already. Of course not all babies sleep through most or all of the night by three months but it's a good step for any baby of any age.

Time to put our big girl pants on and be brave. We'll be fine. How many weeks are you?

[NewName54321]

If your doctors are as useless as my childhood doctors then make sure you give them different first name initials. The difficulties when trying to sign in/ access the right medical records when title + initial + surname + address + date of birth are the same will drive you and them mad.

Also helps for when letters arrive addressed to Ms Initial Surname and for trying to minimise the chances of people muddling them (or maybe not - DF used to try the name of everyone else in the house, including the dog, before he got the right one).

[Empra123]

Congratulations. My twins are 18 now so can't be much help on the which buggy to have front. But agree with treat them as individuals. And accept that even if you have 2 identical toys they will fight over one of them!
But above all - enjoy them.

[SinkGirl]

The difficulties when trying to sign in/ access the right medical records when title + initial + surname + address + date of birth are the same will drive you and them mad.

Yep. Infuriating.

[ElizaPancakes]

Congratulations!

My twins are ten now, identical boys. They were early, 36 weekers, but didn’t need special care or anything.

My experience was two very sleepy little boys, and a book advising me to wake them at 6 to get them into a routine. Don’t bother with that, at least before you actually need to.

Two bouncy chairs is a must, and a play mat is good too. I can’t say I agree with ‘when they hit six months it’s easier’ - that’s when they start moving independently! Crawling or cruising toddlers can be challenging!

I had a city mini jogger and a Phil & teds which was better for the bus. If you drive you won’t need a tandem.

I wholeheartedly agree with not taking advice from Singleton mums. It’s just not the same.

Good luck to all! Twins are amazing.

[Spanneroo]

I'm expecting twins in November, and both my previous DDs were horrible sleepers. (I actually ended up hospitalised after collapsing from exhaustion on two occasions with DD2, sleep consultants were not able to help).

Has anyone with a previous shit sleeper had twins that weren't awful? I am genuinely incredibly concerned about this, as my tolerance for sleep deprivation is lower since these incidents, and I have no family anywhere near to help, and we can't afford a night nanny if this happens again.

[LogsOnTheFire]

Honestly if you need to, and being hospitalised after collapsing from exhaustion twice is a need to situation, then cry it out if you don't have a husband or partner to help you. You'll have twins, plus 2 daughters that need you. Nobody would think bad of you for doing what you need to do.

[HazelBite]

My identical twin boys are now aged 32!
Mine had older siblings, who I had breastfed very sucessfully, but both twins were big babies (7lbs12oz and 8lbs 4ozs) and when I fed them it was like they were taking the very life blood from me, and I felt so guilty that I had to supplement them with bottles, but it made life easier, so don't get hung up over feeding!
Join a local twins club (or/and Tamba) I can't tell you how helpful that was to me.
Also as a PP said don't take any advice from anyone who hasn't got twins.
I found that I needed far more rest during my twin pregnancy than I had during my pregnancy with my other DC's. I was advised to "listen to my body" and not push myself to avoid an early delivery, and I followed that advice.
Accept all help during and after the pregnancy, sleep when your babies sleep, I promise it won't last forever.
I wish you well