Key questions from v confused mum-to-be of twins

[bunnymother]

Found out a couple of weeks ago that I am having identical twins (in November). Its an understatement to say that this was a bit of a shock (twin bit, not pregnancy bit). So I was wondering if anyone could help me by answering a few key questions about early life with twins:

1. Prams/pushchairs. Do I need a side-by-side pram?

I have a Phil & Teds Sport (have a DD already and thought I would just have one other DC - the Gods are laughing as I type). I was thinking that the twins could go a) initially both in the cocoon if tiny tiny, then b) one in the main seat bit and the other in the MaxiCosi clipped to the front. Once twins are 6 months old think either can sit in either the front or back seat. DH thinks I am dreaming, that this won't work and that I need a side-by-side pram. Do you agree?

1. Prams/pushchairs. If I need a side-by-side, which one fits through normal shop doors and is good?

1. Sleeping arrangements. Do they sleep together in a cot from day 1 and, if so, for how long? Am assuming they couldn't possibly fit into the same moses basket? So am thinking that I will get a cot (and a cot separator?) that they share from day 1, then when they get bigger a cot bed to share. Then at about 5 months (?) move one DTD into her own cot bed next to her twin sibling?

1. Sleeping arrangements. Will it be a nightmare to put DTDs in w DD1 from when DD1 is about 20 months old (ie once DTDs can't fit in our room in their cot)?

Any help here is really appreciated - am a bit lost but trying to work out what I should buy do.

Hi,

Firstly congratulations. I have twin girls and they are my only dcs.

I chose a side by side that can face both ways as was suitable from birth (emmaljunga)If you go for comfort of babies as they grow, I think that width can be a challenge. I can get my pushchair in/out my house and the door isn't very wide but it is a nightmare around some shops (Next - you know I mean you!)It's not so much the shop entrances more the aisles.

Re sleeping = Mine were in the same cot in hospital and slept together until they were 10mths. It is not advisable for babies to share a moses basket as they can overheat. I started off with a cotbed upstairs in our room with a travel cot with a bassintet for downstairs. I found this really easy - not having to take them upstairs for sleeps during the day (especially after c-section). I think they got a lot of comfort being next to each other and have always been good sleepers (not being smug just feeling bloody blessed).

Hope this helps.

Congratulations from mum of three girls (11 and two 8 year olds)! The first year isn't easy but it is an amazing thing being parents of twins.

when my twins were tiny I had a Mclaren side by side, but swapped to Jane one in front and one back when they were about two because it is so hilly where we live I needed something light with big wheels.

Have you discovered TAMBA - the twins and multiple births association? They produce a push chair guide with reviews and have message boards. Well worth joining now. You will get lots of support as your pregnancy progresses.

All the best with the rest of the pregnancy! x

1. not necessarily i used a single maclaren for triplets for 4 weeks all 7lb ish as triple buggy was delayed.

I wouldn't use the cocoon but put a fleece/blanket in the seat and lie them on that as cocoon isn't roomy enough for 2.

You could do P&T with newborn dt 1 and older dd and wear dt2 or the car seat idea but would dd1 walk everywhere?

1. The old sty;e e3 sport double is the slimmest inline but most are around 75-78cms so depends on your doorway hall. New twin is nice as is the Baby Jogger City Classic or Mini.

1. can use 1 cot, divider optional good for up to 6 m or beyond if they aren't majorily wriggly. Double cot or Twin co-sleeper or Twin corner cot or novel idea, another twin cot is by Pamco but I can't find a UK supplier.

1. Can't see it being an issue and if it is the only option that is sensible then it'll have to work.

Congratulations.

Congratulations!

My B/G twins are 14 weeks old and i have a DD who will be 2 next week.

I have a Maclaren Twin Techno pushchair. I would NOT recommend it. It does fit through doors, but the straps are a complete nightmare to alter and take forever. I use the pushchair for the twins and i also put DD in it and use a baby bjorn carrier for one of the DT's. Also as their is a huge weight difference between DD and one of the DT's it is really difficult to get up and down kerbs and it feels like it twists when doing so.

Sleeping arrangements, I have spent the last 3 months sleeping in the twins room with them as there is no room in our room for a cotbed. They share a cot and i top and tail them. I have a cot divider but i don't use it as it would crunch the up, they don't seem to wake each other. I am going to leave them as long as possible sleeping together. When they do go into seperate cots they won't be side by side due to the shape of the room, they will be either side of the bedroom door, so i am hoping they will be ok with that. lol

I hope some of this will be of some help.

good luck with the rest of your pregnancy. xx

Wow, thank you so much for these really helpful responses and so quickly!

1. So it sounds like I can have to have a side-by-side and that twins can probably make do w the Phil & Teds for the twins (going from both in main seat when flat, to slight incline on main seat and car seat, then upright front and back seats), and the Maclaren Quest for DD (mixednut - ha ha, no way could DD walk everywhere, nor would we let her - she is too tearaway)! My heart sinks at yet more stuff and expense.

1. Thanks for the recommendation on the Baby Jogger - they do seem to get good press here on MN, so obv a good pram, if we do go down the side-by-side path.

1. OK, will get rid of moses basket and buy a cot, then a cot bed, then prob a further cot bed. Thanks for the links mixednut! I had no idea there was all this specialist equipment out there!

1. Err, yet is is the only sensible option (although obv would love a nice big home - want to stay where we are, which is a 2 bed flat). Principessa DD1 will have to get used to sharing her space.

And of course, thanks for all the congratulations and enthusiasm!! Think this thread will be v handy for other new mums-to-be of twins, so thank you for all your responses.

And Sophie thanks to you, too - cross posted. I think your response confirms what Magda, Nickoka and mixednut have said. Hope you get a better pram soon!

bunny maybe start invading DD1's space with baby clothes in baby wardrobe/chest of drawers, baby change mat etc

Congratulations on your twins!

1+2 -Didn't even try to get mine in 1 pushchair so can't advise on that.
I'm on my 2nd double, had a we combi which was bulky & wouldn't take a buggyboard so now I have a silvercross pop duo which I didn't think was too pricey as it has all the accessories too, it does fit through most doors & is pretty lightweight too. I have a buggy board on it for dd1 (who was 17months when dts arrived) and also have a sling for those times she doesn't want to walk/ride & I carry a baby in that.
Can't say I've noticed alot of twisting with this set-up but then there isn't much of a weight difference between dd1 and dts .

3-My 2 shared a cot until they both started wriggling/rolling and waking eachother. If you are trying to save, is there room for a cotbed in your room rather than a cot? They are bigger and you may be able to hold off moving them into your dd1's room for a bit longer. They might be sleeping/nearly sleeping through by that point and less likely to wake her up?

4- My dd1 is sometimes disturbed by the babies but generally sleeps through. Although they don't all share a room, our walls are stupidly thin. Think she's pretty used to them now and knows to ignore and sleep through

congrats bunnymother
You haven't actually said how old your dd is or more importantly how old she'll be when dts born?

1. I'd highly recommend a side by side. I have tried a p&t with my twins when they were about 9 months I think, hated it and so did they. Just a pita with two babies putting them in and out. I have a Mountain buggy and a baby jogger city mini, both great in their own ways BUT measure your doorway twice before buying anything!
2. I think you need to look at how you're transporting dd1 before you decide on prams - do you need buggy board (she may be too young?) etc
3. I put my two in cotbed in their own room from day 1, couldn't fit anything in our room for them. They fitted fine (quite big babies too!) until 6 months when I put another cotbed in there.
4. if you've got to put them intogether, so be it. I think it's the space for all the clothes/toys/whatsit that will be the problem rather than beds!

Isn't it a bit late to be finding out you're having twins if due in Nov?! Wow.

Thanks for more replies!

1&2 - DD will be 17 months when the babies arrive, but she is "boisterous" so buggy board not an option. But that's ok, we are going to hire a full time nanny so I will only go out w all 3 w either nanny or DH, so DD can go in the Maclaren. DH sighing at my stubborness over not wanting a side-by-side, but will try P&T now I know it's worth a try. Can get a side-by-side if that doesn't work. The width of them is a bugger, but impossible to avoid. If get side-by-side will look at Baby Jogger and Mountain Buggy. Prams don't come inside (have storage bays outside) so only need to worry about shop doorways and aisles.

3 &4 - unfortunately we have the smaller bedroom so will need to buy a cot for the babies to share while they are in our room for the first few months, then move them into a cot bed in w DD1. Will have a think about any sort of transition measures ie they take day naps in same bedroom. I agree that the amount of stuff will be horrendous. DDs room has lots of storage so need to get busy clearing room. Lots of room!!

Thanks again bumbling and accessorize.

I don't have twins but I know quite a few women that do.

They tended to

1&2: single pushchair and sling combo (or tandem if they had older DC)

3&4: They didn't bother with cots and just coslept. 2 of them in particular reckon that it made nighttime feeding a lot easier as they could just lay in bed andthe babies often latched themselves on with minimal disturbance to mum

HTH

Thanks v much WoTmania, also helpful.

Oh and I sure have discovered TAMBA! Looks to be v useful site.

Hi Bunnymother I am also expecting identical twins in November - congratulations to you!

I am also in an antenatal group on here which is called "anyone else expecting twins" have a look and come and join us! I've found it a great help with all my questions.

dont get rid of your moses basket!everyone told us not to bother as they wont be in them long, but they are still in them at 6months, they nap in them in the day-they are both sleeping as i type!.I found this really helpful when they were first born as they slept in them in the living room so i didnt have to keep going upstairs to put them down which was great after a c section.
Also we stayed at friends for a couple of days recently and they were really handy.
Ours slept side by side in their cotbed in our room as soon as they came home,had to top and tail them from about10 weeks because they scratch each other and finally had to seperate them at about 16 weeks because they were wriggling onto each other at night so they sleep in cotbeds next to each other

Hi Lavita! Thanks for the congratulations and nice to "meet" another November mum-to-be of twins. Not sure about yours, but have been told my pregnancy is high risk, so will wait till a little further down the line before I join your antenatal group. But hope to "see" you soon!

Thanks for the tip, goodmorning! Really helpful to hear how others have approached the pram and sleeping situations.

Hi bunnymother! Congratulations on your pregnancy. I have DS1 who is 4.5 and twins who are 2.6.

1. Prams/pushchairs. Do I need a side-by-side pram?

I would personally probably not put them both in the Phil n Teds when tiny as it is not recommended but am sure they would be fine, but I think I would be constantly checking they were ok! We had a powertwin which is a tandem rather than side by side and actually fitted through my front door as well as all the shops. It was fab.

I had DS1 who was 22 months when twins were born and I spent the first 6 months at least with DD (smaller twin) in a sling and DS1 and DS2 in powertwin if I was out on my own with all three.

1. Prams/pushchairs. If I need a side-by-side, which one fits through normal shop doors and is good?

We now use a Nipper 360 double which I love (used it from about 18 months). It doesn't fit through my front door but is fine in town (we live close to nice town and I only really seem to need to go into shops that all have double doors so not a problem).

Nipper 360 double is good as even now at 4.5yrs DS1 can perch on the front if he needs a rest on a long walk. It is suitable from birth if you get the newborn inserts and is fairly cheap compared to others (got ours in perfect condition second hand for £120 I think).

It's also good as I can push it with one hand so can push twins and hold DS1's hand, or even push all three and carry something etc. It folds easily and I just leave it in hallway or in carboot.

1. Sleeping arrangements. Do they sleep together in a cot from day 1 and, if so, for how long? Am assuming they couldn't possibly fit into the same moses basket? So am thinking that I will get a cot (and a cot separator?) that they share from day 1, then when they get bigger a cot bed to share. Then at about 5 months (?) move one DTD into her own cot bed next to her twin sibling?

Mine shared a cot without a cotbed without a cotbed separator. We did have a separator that I had used when DS1 was small so he only had "access" to a smaller section of cotbed, but by the time twins were born it had gone a bit mouldy in the shed so we binned it. They shared for three months and slept in cot as soon as they were home from hospital. Then we moved them so they both had their own cotbed. Even if one was absolutely bawling at night it didn't seem to wake the other one, despite them being right next to each other.

1. Sleeping arrangements. Will it be a nightmare to put DTDs in w DD1 from when DD1 is about 20 months old (ie once DTDs can't fit in our room in their cot)?

My poor DS1 did used to get woken up by twins in night, although not all the time. They never shared a room but his room is right next door. Really depends on your DD but if you were planning to put the new baby in there if it wasn't twins (if that makes sense) then I don't think twins will make any difference to a single baby (except space wise).

I have a friend whose twins slept in their room in their cots until past age 2 as they only had a one bedroom flat...

Lots of luck!

Thanks so much Egg - really helpful response. If we get a side-by-side, will look at the Nippper 360, too.

Am really hoping other mums-to-be of twins see this thread as its full of v practical advice that I couldn't (easily) find elsewhere.

Bunnymother All identical twin pregnancies are classed as high risk, but this just means that you will have consultant led care and scans every 2 weeks.

My official due date is 13th Dec but have been told I'll have a c - section at 36 weeks if I can hang on that long as it's likely they could be early.

Try not to worry too much, there is lots of helpful advice on mumsnet!

LaVita - if you are at Queen Charlotte's, too, then I will prob see you in the ward come mid-end November. My due date is 19 Dec and also told C-section at 36 weeks. Haven't told anyone in RL this, but one of my twins only has 1 umbilical artery so some concern about the growth of this little one (fortunately, at 20 weeks, so far so good, though!). I might be worrying unnecessarily (pregnancy w DD was v straight forward), but feeling "cautiously optimistic".

I'm based at West Mid but go to Queen Charlotte's alternately for scans, I'd prefer to be there as the care seems much better. I can't believe how close we are. The whole thing is very scary really, I haven't told my RL friends all the concerns I have, it's a bit different with twins.

Try not to worry too much the doctor's are very good and they will keep a very close eye on us.

Where are you based? I'm 30 this is my first pregnancy

Have been v impressed w Queen Charlotte's, esp Mr Kumar (although Mr Wimalasundera is my regular consultant and he seems v good, too, just not as sympathetic). Am 10 mins up the road from QC in Kensington so not hard to get to all the scans and appointments. Had a flurry of them due to them doing my 12 week scan at what we all thought was 13.5 weeks (based on my cycle), but was actually 17.5 weeks and discovering ID twins. DH and I aren't discussing our concerns w anyone in RL, and this is the most I have disclosed on MN, too. Private worries.

Hi bunnymother! Congratulations on your pregnancy. I've just has twin boys 10 weeks ago, and also have a 2 YO

1. Prams/pushchairs. Do I need a side-by-side pram?

Up to you but the people I know with a one behind the other buggy hate them (and mostly they are for toddler and newborn not 2 newborns). Similarly the phil and ted I think is better for toddler and newborn. In my experience a sling is useful but the baby gets heavy very quickly so can only use it for short time.

1. Prams/pushchairs. If I need a side-by-side, which one fits through normal shop doors and is good?

I;ve got an Out and About Nipper 360 as well and its great. Very light and very maneuverable. And pretty cheap. When my toddler gets tired she sits on the footplate. Not reccommended as there is no strap on anything but she loves it and has not fallen off yet! (touch wood). I know two other twin mothers and they both have the out and about nipper too

1. Sleeping arrangements. Do they sleep together in a cot from day 1 and, if so, for how long? Am assuming they couldn't possibly fit into the same moses basket? So am thinking that I will get a cot (and a cot separator?) that they share from day 1, then when they get bigger a cot bed to share. Then at about 5 months (?) move one DTD into her own cot bed next to her twin sibling?

Mine shared a crib initially but HATED each other. I've now got them in seperate moses baskets.

1. Sleeping arrangements. Will it be a nightmare to put DTDs in w DD1 from when DD1 is about 20 months old (ie once DTDs can't fit in our room in their cot)?

Unfortunately my toddler also gets woken up by the twins too and she is in a seperate room to them. But this would probably have happened even if the latest arrivals were a singleton!

Good luck with it all. Its hard work and lots to think about but fun as well

Thanks so much, GibberingGinger, you are right - there is a lot to think about!

Oh, I forgot to add, have you thought about a car yet? Fitting two infant seats and a toddler seat in a car is quite difficult. Nevermind getting the double buggy in the boot too. We ended up having to buy a new car! Extreme but easiest in the long run for us!