Getting out and about

[NoMoreWineForMeThen]

DTs are almost 16 wks old. I'm struggling to get out of the house during the day and most days all I manage is to drop DD off and collect her from nursery (10 mins in the car).

I get caught up in the feeding, changing, sleeping cycle with a bit of essential domestics in between such as throwing a wash on etc.

I'm starting to feel claustrophobic and isolated if I'm honest and it's getting me down a little.

How often did/do you manage to get out? Am I being unrealistic to think I should be getting out most days? Does it matter to the boys at this age if I don't?

Thanks

My twins are 8 months old and I hardly get out!!

It's such hard work/hassle exsp if we go to a play group and I can't hold both and no one helps!!!

I worried that they would be unsociable because we don't go out that much but they seam pretty happy so far :)

Don't put pressure on your self honestly they will be fine, if you manage to get up and dressed for the day that is all you can achieve for (that's what I do)

It is difficult, I remember it well, and we have a daft big dogs I always felt if I was out I should be walking him. God I resented that dog last winter!
Couple of things Id suggest; afternoon naps were normally my best chance to get out and I know a lot of other twin mums in here found it easier to get Dts to sleep simultaneously when walking in the buggy, so that might be one to experiment with.
Morning baby groups are challenging with twins but by and large if you can drag yourself there everyone wil be so impressed they won't even notice if you've got odd shoes on. And if they luck off or need a feed there are prob willing hands to help out - our local children's centre was brilliant for this, one baby would be whisked away for cuddles and if the other was asleep I'd be told to go and myself a cup of tea!
It ain't easy, but it really helps if you can get out when you can, and trust me it's a lot easier in summer than trudging around muddy fields in February with a wet dog!

Kick off sorry...

How old is your Dd? I have 7 month Dts and 2.5yr dd. it is bloody hard to get out on your own and don't let anyone give you a hard time about it. My dd is a Bolter so we can only go short distances on foot. We take the car to my mum's and a play group.
I personally find it very hard to get everything packed and watch 3 kids at the same time and also do not go out a huge amount. People think I am anti social but I have to do what makes my life easy with 3 under !

Your certainly not alone struggling to get out. I think it was about 4 months when i came out of the fog and the cabin fever started to set in with me as well. My girls are now 10 months and my advice would to go for it and start getting out now before they get on the move as it doesn't get any easier! I certainly have had some bad outings, but plenty that went fine too. At 4-5 months I found a change of scenery or new face a great dsitraction for them and they would be perfectly happy 'people watching' at baby groups. If you have a twins club in your area get to that, as personally I have found the people much more understanding and helpful if (when!) thing do go a bit pear shaped. Also, I have come to realise that twin mums can't afford to be polite, if you need help ask for it!

Have twins and DD1 too and also found it hard to get out. I found buggy naps difficult because I needed their nap time in the house to cook/ clean/ spend time with DD1 + DD1 would only walk so far, so fast. I agree groups can be a struggle. Early days we did not do much, although I found the twins liked going round Asda in the double trolley. Now they are 1 I have started doing a bit more with them. I found the lady who runs my library bookbug session had twins herself and she will hold one for me (the one that will go to strangers) while I have the other. I worry about them being antisocial too, although the evidence so far is that one is anxious among groups and the other is not. That must be nature not nurture! Anyway I don't think you need to worry too much at 16 weeks. But I sympathise with the claustrophobia and sense of isolation. It gets a bit better when they can sit in a swing at a park. Maybe pick a group and give it a go one day. If you don't enjoy it, at least you had a bash. My twins did go to a baby massage class around six months and DD1 brought her doll along and massaged that. That went quite well on the whole. Hope this message is not too muddley.

Thanks for the replies. It's good to know that I'm not alone. It sort of all came to a head this week when I saw a group of Mums passing by my house, out walking in the sunshine and I just felt so sad and actually a little envious.

MummyPigof3 DD1 is 23 months although she is at nursery so that does make things a little easier. (Although I'm also feeling guilty about her being at nursery whilst I'm at home which isn't helping but that's another thread....)

There is a twin group not too far away and I'm going to do my very best to get there this week. If it all goes wrong and I arrive having not showered and with screaming, hungry children, they'll understand wont they!

We have got a couple of baby massage classes booked in for next month at my local Sure Start centre. The lovely lady that runs the sessions is going to bring along a colleague to help me out which I thought was so kind of her.

Today has been one of those days for me :( its beautiful outside but I'm stuck in because I actually cat go out in my own!!
Twins 8 months (in double buggy) and my 19 month old dd!!
Also have 9 yr and 6yr old!!

Dh working which means I'm stuck.
Feel like a complete recluse and completely lost my independence!!

Sorry you're having a bad day Ladythatlunches. I can understand why you find it impossible to get out! I imagine it's still a challenge even when your DH is around to help isn't it?

I try to tell myself that it will get easier at some point. I hope it does.

I really hope it does, I hate not being able to just go out for a walk!!

I'm jut having a bad day all in all, feel like a right fatty today a well so must be hormonal or something :(

Yes, I'm feeling fat too. Being stuck at home isn't helping that either as I just eat my way through the day!

Oh I used to hate walking past cafes and seeing mums I vaguely knew from the few times I'd made it to a group all having coffee as they clearly knew each other really well. Couldn't have fitted the bloody double buggy in the cafe even if I had been invited!
It's one of the things people never tell you about having twins. Great to hear you're going to surestart massage though, my two loved that.

I hate that .. They all do there outings and because of the size of the buggies it's a nightmare!!

I couldn't even imagine trying to get on a bus with a double buggy and a baby in sling with 2 older children the thought brings me out in a sweat, what if they asked me to fold the pushchair I would be stuffed!!!

I can't see it getting much easier (to get out) till they maybe at school or at least doesn't need a buggy anymore!