Life with twins 3

[GibberingGinger]

Like some sort of film sequel, or a royal dynasty, welcome to Life with twins III, a thread for general discussions and sharing experiences of having (or expecting) twins.

hippy3, re being unable to lie back down after standing up in a cot, unfortunately I think it's just one of those things that takes about a week, and they figure it out on their own. Not easy though. Mine are normally in sleeping bags, and I find that they find it more difficult to stand up in those (they tend to stand on the material which stops them being able to get up )

This threads a bit dead....

I have news, DT (G) crawled forwards! He looked quite pleased with himself I was ecstatic and filmed it!

His brother just gives up and cries! But he does that with everything! G will roll over and get up from lying down but his brother just cries! Poor mite, he'll get it soon.

How's everyone else doing? Reached any milestones?

Ooh the thread has gone quiet! I haven't been on for a while, have been busy moving house and stressed out really!

Mum at filming DS crawling

How is everyone? I am finding this stage difficult (9 months) I find it hard to get enough things done in the day, especially housework. Mine are still awful sleeping in their cots so have been full time co-sleeping so we can get some sleep (although DS still wakes up crying) Although we're all ill with stinking colds at the moment which is making things alot worse.

They are also being terrible with solids (even before colds) we are having 9 month check with health visitor soon so will mention it then.

Can anyone give me an idea of what yours would eat at 9 months please?!

My friend has just had twin girls and is unable to cope at night, if her DP is working nights or even if he has worked days but needs a good nights sleep (wtf?) she has to have someone there.

She keeps saying its impossible to do it alone, but I KNOW lots of you will have had to!!

What tips can I pass on?

luckily for me I am too far away to be able to help but I get both sides of it, her asking and everyone moaning

Oh they are 2 months btw

Sympathies for your friend QOD, I brought my boys to a year by myself! DH worked erratic shifts and needed sleep so he was never about at night. I just co slept (breastfeeding) and still do. Yes they wake if I wander off at night and get upset but I hardly ever go for midnight strolls anyway (kitchen for a drink etc) so I'll tackle that when they're a bit bigger.
Does your friend not have any family who can help? She should talk to her health visitor too.
Good luck to her x

polka my stupid phone just deleted my post to you and it was freking long

Anyway what do they usually eat? Mine were slow on solids, preferred mushy foods and when they began moving to solids that's when the fussiness started.
They only wanted finger foods or my food.. I'm going weigh in clinic tomorrow so I'll see if they've put on much weight..

Oh and I'm giving out today...here

Night!! X

She does but they are worn out too!! It's hard, I do sympathise but you know, it's her family, her babies, she has to learn!! They are on bottles but she doesn't seem to tandem feed, each runs their own routine for feeding.

I'd be inclined to try to dream feed/top up one but I say that . . . . I only had one!!

I feel sorry for her but she was, in fairness, pretty helpless with her older one when baby.

I always tandem feed even now but I breastfeed which IMO is much easier than bottle feeding. There is another twins club thread on here worth jumping into- its more active than this thread...

Having twins is a shock to the system tbh even for the most capable. I suggest she speak to her health visitor or social services and see if they can help.

let her know it does get easier

Mum they were at first ok with fruit, veg (and then lentil) purees, porridge, toast, other bits of finger food etc. Not great with pasta, although sometimes have this. They do seem to prefer feeding themselves now and like you want to eat the same as us, which they do, but they have started not really wanting anything on a spoon, except fruit puree, yoghurt etc. I just worry about how much they are actually getting this way. Although I know alot of people do BLW know, and they say 'food is fun until they're one'. They've even been refusing cereals, or eating a tiny amount of it. Will be getting them weighed in a few days so shall see!

When are you planning on stopping co-sleeping? I have no idea how to now they're in our bed full time!

QOD totally agree with Mum- twins are a shock to the system and incredibly hard in my experience, especially if you have very poor sleepers/colic/not alot of practical help etc. I would say that although mine have always been poor sleepers at night, we stuck to feeding at the same time day and night in the first few months and having daytime naps at the same time which worked most of the time, and is a real help. They are asleep together now actually, they always do in the day (but not in their cots- I just can't get them to nap properly in there) I remember reading when pregnant that you should get the settled into the same routine and it has mostly worked for us.

Polka my boys did exactly what you described! And I too was stressing over what they are taking in!
I'm really trying to suppress my anxiety and just get on and they have started to improve. Usually I can rely on them eating warmed up weetabix (I use cows milk even though your not supposed to til theyre 1) whatever or smooth porridge, lunch usually consisted of toast fingers with butter (sometimes I spoon feed them peanut butter too! DH doesn't approve)
Yoghurt to follow or I'd sit with a banana as if I'm going to eat it, bite off little chunks and when they show interest give it to them.
Dinner I boil carrots/broccoli/sweet corn and other veg and cut it into slices and they pick and choose what they want to eat. Broccoli does get messy though. At the moment they prefer sweet corn and carrots. And add some tuna or chicken. Mine loved sausages and chicken for a bit...not sure now...and another yoghurt if I don't think they've eaten enough or strawberry (again v.messy)..
Mine like pasta...oh and beans (Heinz beans!)

What might help is if you give them something to hold to eat and still try to spoon feed them...I usually catch mine out this way

Do they have many teeth yet? Mine are on number 7

And i think they've finally got the hang of their beakers, I'm using tommee tippee 4m+ ones with a handle and soft spouty lid thing

Re co sleeping - mine aren't ready to sleep alone yet, I will wait until I start weaning them off the breast in a month or three and once they're not breastfeeding to sleep that is when I will put them in their cots. hope it works!

I do the 'give them something to hold and get a spoonful in'! I was pleased today as managed to get a whole bowl of weetabix in DS which is the first time in ages, he fed himself the rest of the day which he was happy with. Not a huge amount but they got some in!

DS has 7 teeth, DD none! It looks like she's been on the verge of teething for months but nothing yet!

The problem I have with co-sleeping is that at first, they would come in with us when we went up to bed (10ish) or if they woke up later. But recently, they've been struggling to stay in their cots at all in the evening, or we're up and down with them alot- they just want to be in our bed. I feel our eveningshave been completely hijacked! You've done very well breastfeeding this long by the way- I gave up a long time ago

Do you warm up the weetabix? I found they didn't like cold weetabix.

Tbh apart from the occasional blockage which leaves me feeling like I've been run over for a day or two bfing has been easy for me. I think I'd find making bottles hard, I've only just now started bringing their beakers of juice with me everywhere and theyre nearly a year old!

I was supposed to go weigh in on Monday but had a blockage and felt crap so I'll go next Monday and see where they are.

Also I think around 8-10months some babies get separation anxiety again so that might be why they don't want to sleep in their cots? How are they If you walk away from them in the day?

I do warm warm the weetabix, sometimes use full fat milk as well, or their follow on milk if I need to get more in them!

I do struggle to get things done in the day- sometimes they will cry/moan when I leave the room or put their arms up to me a lot. Other times they're fine playing and sitting together. It really depends. They are soooo grumpy today though. They're asleep at the moment so hope they wake up in a better mood!

Do you get out with yours much, to play groups or a twins club? I feel like I'm stuck in the house too much at the moment!

There's never enough time in the day to get things done! I don't 'do' playgroups or twin clubs (except this one of course)
I have DDs school run which takes up more time than you'd imagine.
And if DH is about the boys are soo clingy because he picks them up all the time!
atm my boys are stretching their naps out so are awake a bit more now, yesterday baby A didn't even take a lunchtime nap, he napped in the pram instead on the way to picking up DD.
Today they ate all their porridge but don't want lunch and are fighting over toys 'sigh

Are there any clubs in your area? You should ask your HV

I was considering starting my own twins club as there seems to be quite a few twin babies in my area but I couldn't be arsed in the end My HV did put me in touch with another twin mum though which was good. I keep meaning to go to a group haven't seen any that appeal...!

Mine actually ate breakfast today as well but gave it later than usual so not had lunch yet. Yes to fighting over toys. Or dummy clips or something that is completely disinteresting until the other has it

Yes! "Oh don't want that toy...what my twin has it? I WANT IT!!!"

One twin is definitely more forceful, he will snatch toys off his brother and his brother will look at me and cry but DH thinks they will just start smacking eachother soon!

If you have the time you should start your own club! Or just go for coffee with the other mum. Have you looked to see if there are any MNers in your area?

Bless them! Mine tend to take it in turns to who is being more forceful. DD does make DS cry by pulling his hair (he had more hair than her and she has a firm grip!)

I do meet the other mum which is nice, the problem is that I don't know many other SAHMs... I was worried about feeling like this before giving up work. I'm going to have to force myself to go to some play groups aren't I?!

Try it out - you might like it! I don't go in for crowds - bit of a non socialiser here. But I like MN for the non face to face aspect

Polka how was your day today?

I think we're the only surviving twin mums you know...

Tiring day today Mum... very clingy babies and just haven't been able to get anything done! Lovely weather though and went for a walk to the shops- all very exciting DD had first tooth yesterday so was quite upset- funny how DS had his first one at 4 months and DD at 9 months!

How are yours today?

Not bad here, don't stress housework, I've given up. DD creates mess everywhere she sits and DTs don't let me do more than one job at a time and I CBA.

Good to get out, do try any mum and baby clubs though, you might enjoy it.

I tried to give the boys mango today...baby G nearly threw up!
Think I'll stick to strawberries and grapes!

I'm here! I'm here! It's been mental, that's all. Will catch up laterzzzzzzzz...

How dare ye appear and disappear all in one post!

Thought my Poms would lure nearly everyone back

I'll pop in past on the lure of

QOD if you are still reading my only advice for her would be routine, routine, routine. Unfortunately (though others might disagree) I think in the early days you have to know what you are doing and when, and keep them on the same routine. For instance if one wakes in the night, wake the other and feed them too.

Weaning wise I was a real spoon feeder. I can;t really remember what ages they went onto things, but it went veg/fruit puree, then lentil purees, then puree with tiny pasta shapes, then rougher veg puree and chicken&veg puree, and slowly got rougher and rougher. My boys always loved creamier foods so I often stirred philly cheese or yoghurt through their food.

Have just been away at centreparcs. Was great. There were loads of twins there. I don't know if I was looking for them more or if TAMBA has some sort of discount deal going (if it did then I missed it ) but it seemed as if every other family was a multiples family!