Looking for suggestions........

[Star18]

I have 9 month old id twin boys (10 months on 29th). I'm a single parent, currently still on maternity leave and finding it difficult to come up with things to do with them through the day on my own. We do go for walks and I play with them as much as I can at home but just getting a bit boring I suppose.

Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Thanks.

Do you have classes and groups nearby? Surestart centre? Everything I've been to so far that has been baby-specific the helpers have been very good about grabbing one and holding/cuddling/playing whilst I leave one to sleep and have a cuppa deal with the other one. The only failure for me has been mixed age groups in church halls etc where there are fewer soft surfaces and lots of older babies and toddler charging around, I can't manage that on my own.

So baby signing (the most difficult in terms for me of juggling, as you need at least one hand free, but I just let one baby roll around in the mat in the middle of the room whilst signing directly to the other, and swop frequently depending on moods), baby stay&play, twin groups, rhyme time/music classes (haven't braved one of these yet because the timings don't work for me but I know other twin mums who go and the class leader just grabs one baby if needed). I even spoke to someone who runs baby yoga classes recently who reckoned I could try coming along. Worst that happens is a baby cries and I have to leave.

If you have a Sure Start centre I'd try that first as they tend to be most kitted out for babies and have qualified staff on hand to help. Libraries often have baby sessions too which are free/cheap.

Otherwise twin baby trolleys in the supermarket are GREAT fun if you're 9 months old (we get stopped so often by people cooing over the babies I barely manage to do any shopping).

I second everything about groups/classes etc. Having said that I didn't actually get to any until mine were a year old and then regretted not going sooner!
Last summer mine were the same age as yours now, and whenever it was sunny, I'd pack up their snacks, a couple of toys or books and a blanket and go to one of the local parks or play areas. Even though they were a bit small for most of the stuff they loved watching the other kids play.
They also loved (still do) eating out! I used to take their lunch or tea with me, go to a cafe (preferably busy, lots to see) and sit them in high chairs - they loved it!
A place near my mum has an indoor play area for under 5s only, with a fenced off area for babies only, which was a godsend on rainy days when we visited last year. Not sure if other soft play areas do this, but maybe worth looking in to?
Every now and again I'd put on one of the Baby Einstein dvd's - they are just nice and simple, not too much going on on the screen, with calm music, and mine loved them - felt really guilty at first, until my mum told me to get a grip, stop being silly because half an hour of telly 2 or 3 times a week probably wasn't going to limit their development!
Oh and take them anywhere where they might see animals! Lots of pointing, cooing and now (at 18 months) animal noises to go with them.

Thanks for all your suggestions. Have been thinking about going to a local baby/toddler group but just a bit apprehensive about taking them on my own and all my family/friends are at work when the group is on. I suppose I just need to man up and do it, what's the worst that could happen.......???!!!

Do it! If you give the group leader a call beforehand you'll probably get a feel for whether they can help, if there are stairs involved etc, but to be honest i've never managed to call beforehand, just gone along on my own and wing it!

Thanks, I'm going to do it!! :)

Check if you have any twins groups near you, there is one nearby to me that has additional helpers to help you out.:)