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Multiple births

When do you start showing with twins? What is life with twins like? Join the conversation on our Multiple Births forum.

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Original poster

Things you find challenging with twins

21 replies

xkatyx · 15/05/2012 20:16

Now my twins are 5 months I'm finding all these new things that I think of challenging.
Weaning 2 babies, the hungry girlies and just won't wait while the other is fed :)

Feeding when out bottle/breasts so hard I end up sitting in floor with them in carseats and bottle in mouths!!

Also something I find I feel guilty about is when dh is at home I will do what I need to then as its easier then getting twins in and out of the car then in trolley or buggy etc, always feel bad that they don't get to go out much!!

What do you find the hardest parts?

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goulou · 15/05/2012 20:26

My dts are 15 months tomorrow! Where did that time go. I don't mind the dressing, changing, feeding, carrying 2 children at all. The only thing I struggle with is if I leave the room for 10 seconds they have both decided that they want the same toy and are pulling hair, pushing and biting each other. All good fun hey? I feel like it's groundhog day sometimes x

Glittertwins · 15/05/2012 20:33

Car seats can be very useful for bottle feeding!
Once they both started talking, in increasing volume, I have to shout to get myself heard but you are probably used to that with older DCs.
Playgrounds and different abilities were tricky for me and soft play / trying to grab both when having to change nappies in the toilets

Original poster

xkatyx · 15/05/2012 20:34

That has made me laugh, that sounds so sweet (obviously not when it's yours own)

My 2 don't seam bothered at all by each other at the moment I ant wait for some kind I interaction

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Original poster

xkatyx · 15/05/2012 20:36

glittertwins didn't even think about that!! One darts off whilst changing another . . Oh goodness it's going to get harder!!

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Glittertwins · 15/05/2012 20:43

It was trying to catch the other one that didn't need changing that was tricky. Once that one was strapped into buggy it wasn't so hard but you don't really want to be seating an explosive nappy ridden child into a buggy either! Luckily I was usually with friends when we were at soft play so could leave the clean one with them.
Once they get to potty training stage, I would recommend getting a potette as they will never want to go at the same time, you'll spend your life in and out of toilets (if you can a: find one in time and b: find one big enough to get you all in) and having a potette means they can go quickly!

Original poster

xkatyx · 15/05/2012 20:48

Fantastic tip, thank you!! I also have a dd who is 10 months older than twins so I can imagine them all darting off.

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Glittertwins · 15/05/2012 20:50

If you have Tamba membership, then the potette liners are 20% off and a lot cheaper than anywhere else.

Star18 · 19/05/2012 10:02

xkatyx don't feel guilty about twins not getting out much, I felt exactly the same as you did and tbh I think we put too much pressure on ourselves. My id boys are 9 months now and starting to get out and about more now however it's still hard trying to get everything gathered together to get out the house!!!

I also do the same as you and go shopping when someone available to care for them as 1. it's just easier and 2. don't need to go at certain time (due to routine). Have you tried online shopping?? I've done this a few times but have found that they don't always bring what I've ordered and bring wrong stuff :(

I sit on the floor while boys are in their rocker chairs to feed them, and with solids it's one bowl one spoon!! It is getting easier with finger foods etc and I know that some people prefer baby led weaning.

I think every stage is challenging but very rewarding.

Really want to say a huge well done to all twin mummies :o

Original poster

xkatyx · 19/05/2012 10:20

Star18 that was a lovely post! :) thank you.

I do online shopping and agree never what what I ordered, but it is better then dragging all the kiddies out with me. I also have a 16 month old.

I have just started weaning and do the one bowl one spoon and there do funny the other screams while I'm feeding the other baby. (little tinkers)

OP posts:

Star18 · 19/05/2012 15:02

A 16 month old also, I take my hat off to you xkatyx.

Yeah my boys do that too ha then the cheeky smile comes when it's their turn, they know exactly what they are doing wee monkeys :)

kchivs · 21/05/2012 14:17

Xkatyx sounds like you are doing fab job. And really nice to read others are challenged too! My twins are 7 months and I was really worried about weaning but I agree the one bowl one spoon is brilliant, and I also give snack bits at meal time to keep their interest while I shovel food into the other! I have just cut out the mid morning milk feed so getting out gets a bit easier (have a 3 year old too who doesn't like being cooped up!). I think the getting out or not is the hardest thing as with one I would throw him in the sling and off I would go... And it's not like that...

Original poster

xkatyx · 21/05/2012 17:42

It's such a challenge getting out isn't it!!! We are going out Tom and this evening I will be getting bags packed and clothes our ready if I ever stand a chance in getting out on time!!

I can't wait till the milk feeds drop it's got to be easier!!

OP posts:

ceeveebee · 22/05/2012 20:02

Hi all, i have 6 mo twins too.
Things I find challenging are
(1) getting anywhere on time- they always seem to do a double poo exposion 5 mins before due to leave- sure they plan it!
(2) feeding in public if on my own- am bf plus ff topups and only now that they are older can I even think about feeding in public - have never tandam bf in public and only recently started to ff out of the house as they can now drink super quick and hold own bottles
(3) bath and bed if on my own- although now only bath them 4 times a week as they seem to be getting eczema - i was actually quite relieved to be told not to bath them every night under doctors orders!!

Definately yes to online shopping for everything - food, clothes, nappies etc. amazon are great and seem to sell everything! Also I use my TAMBA discount codes a lot!

I started weaning a couple of weeks ago, DTs is very keen but DTD not at all! I also just use one bowl one spoon (well, until one of then tries to grab it off me then i give them another one to play with!). Someone bought me a 'safe feeder' which is a little net that you can put food in and I used it today for the first time, I gave DTS some pear in it and he held it and sucked all the juice out of it, it kept him occupied while I tried to feed his very fussy, very slow sister!!
www.babysafefeeder.com/

NewRowSees · 22/05/2012 20:20

I have no advice as zero experience with twins, apart from gawping at mums with double buggies in awe and wonder at just how you manage it. I found it SO difficult with just one, that the mere thought of twins boggles! Big well done to all of you!

beyoglu · 02/06/2012 09:44

Feeding's my biggie but my wee ones are only 6 weeks so not much else to do! I'm on my own a lot of the time and used to be able to feed the yeller first while the other one would quietly smack her lips for a good 15 minutes before going mental... but at the moment they have about a 3 minute window between making the first hungry face and starting to cry and if I try and feed them before the hungry face appears, they just refuse the feed... so it's tandem feeding all the way. And the wee one has a bit of reflux so she has to be kept upright afterwards as well...

Bathing I must admit we don't do during the week! Only when my OH is here. The theory is we do bath before 7pm feed but I'm usually wrecked by then, and the gaps between feeds are pretty random right now, so never know when to start the bath.

We get out the house all the time but that's only because a) the buggy, along with the Weego carrier, is guaranteed to put them in a good mood and b) I have really low standards about personal grooming! As in, if someone pukes on me 5 minutes before we leave, then I'm going out with puke on me and that's that.

MuckingFuddle · 02/06/2012 10:48

NewRow

beyoglu haha I had forgotten all about puke in my hair, my 2 are coming up to 2 and I have swopped the puke for weetabix and rasins.

The hardest bit is I think at any stage trying to meet their needs at the same time - when they are babies its trying to feed them at the same time or having to leave one to cry.

Now it is when they both run off in different directions - we use reigns so they end up falling over then roll around on the floor crying while I stand there like an idiot in a T shape with a manic grin on my face saying in a strange high pitched voice "come on lets go to........" They are both obsessed with picking up empty beer cans and trying to drink from them and eating ciggerette butts. They also want to get in to peoples cars and close their garden gates if they are open. [manic grin]

beyoglu · 03/06/2012 21:24

mucking, have you seen Michael Mackintyre's routine about looking after his kids? He talks about when they run off in different directions and he has to "decide which one he loves most" to decide who to run after! We were in tears laughing...

minesapintofwine · 11/06/2012 13:40

beyouglu how do you tandem feed (are you ff ot bf?)? I do mine in their car seats at home and pushchair when out that way they are always upright as they have reflux too though at 4 months (and a bit not that Im counting!) the reflux is vastly improved so there is light at the end of the tunnel, also once Id mastered tandem feeding I think its a lot easier as you dont get a screamy baby who just will not wait I stick a dummy in dt1's mouth when winding the other as he will not wait either also its quicker than one after the other. Well minus mid feed poos, smiles etc .

Been racking my brain as to the biggest challenge now and I suppose its when they both want something (me) at the same time. I just do a silly dance or sing a silly song seems to work but not in public.

beyoglu · 11/06/2012 15:56

mines, I'm ff and I do in the car seats too, or in their bouncy chairs. I'm wondering when to switch from carricots to buggy seats for going out because I'd like to be able to tandem feed outside too. They're out of synch for the moment (one is every 3 hours, one every 4) so it's all got a bit easier.

beyoglu · 11/06/2012 15:57

Ha ha also yeah, mid feed poos are a nightmare! One of mine will only poo into a dry nappy so this morning I changed her then fed her, and then she strained to do a poo and puked at the same time... that'll be the hot wash then...

sammisatt · 11/06/2012 21:09

Mine are now both 17 months old and there's stuff I'm finding a lot easier ie the fact they can now feed themselves, the fact they both sleep through and that they are now able to entertain each other a lot more. However, there are some things I'm finding extremely challenging! Going to play groups is a nightmare. Now they are on the move. They are both off in different directions and I'm running around after the one most at risk of hurting herself meanwhile the other is left alone making me look like a totally slack mother! Also the tantrums and the fighting. Sigh. They are much much more fun these days though. Sort of.

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