9 month old twins and another on the way! Any advice from people who've been through it!

[Haya9]

My DTs are nearly 9 months, and they'll be 16 months when my surprise next baby is born!

Has anyone else any experience of 3 children under the age of 2???

I'm most worried that my DTs will not get the attention they need - they already get half the attention being twins. I'm also worried exactly how I'll manage. My DTs aren't crawling yet, so I haven't even got to the mobile stage!

Everything from breastfeeding the new baby while trying to chase after my DTs, to what buggy to use...! Help!

Oh, and I forgot to say, my DTs were born 2 months early... so in terms of development they're closer to being 7 months old, or 14 months when the new baby is born!

mine were the other way round. DS1 was 18 months when the twins were born.

The older ones get attention whilst the baby is sleeping a lot in the early days. And it gets easier as they all get older and more self sufficient.

At least the twins have each other to occupy each other, and they will enjoy "helping" - mine loved nappy changes !

Try and sync the nap times so that your twins are having their one nap a day (assuming that is what they will be on by then) with one of the babies naps (and then you can go to sleep too ).

Buggy - have the baby in a sling and then a back pack and hopefully that will get you through to the stage the twins are walking.

Invest in as big a play pen as you can fit in - let the twins play in there while you are breast feeding - you can interact with them but they are contained.

I have a friend who used a triple buggy for a while, huge side by side thing she did say air tyres were a must for getting up and down kerbs.

She had DTs and then 17 months later had another DD

Definitely use a sling. A mei tai one is great, or a ring sling is good because you can breastfeed in it! Check out www.slingmeet.co.uk for details.

As for breastfeeding, my two friends who were in the same position as you, were just so amazed at how much easier it was feeding one baby, that they had very few problems. You can get up and walk around feeding one!!

Those 2 friends have both survived!! It has been hard work, but they've done it! Good luck

Definitely agree you should get a sling or baby carrier. I had an upright baby carrier one when my dd was born and ds was 15 months. I took it everywhere so I could put her in it to feed and I'd have both hands free to play with DS. I put her in it to feed while I did housework at home too. It was a lifesaver. If you shift it slightly to one side you can poke your boob through the middle and into the baby's mouth quite easily and no-one can tell you are feeding too! Feeding one is definitely much easier than feeding two. Feeding two you have to sit and feed, with one you can pretty much carry on with whatever you need to do.

by the way - imagine how much easier a single second baby is compared to first born twins !

You have so much more experience now - you will take the newborn phase in your stride

My twin boys were 15 months when I had dd. I won't lie it was pretty full on but my lot are now 6,6 and 5 and I can honestly say having 3 under 2 hasn't harmed them in any way.

I don't think having to share attention is a bad thing,life doesn't revolve around them and all kids come to that realization at some point. I think multiple kids find sharing so much easier as they have to deal with it from day 1.

We're starting to reap the benefits now as they're maturing and starting to enjoy each others company(not all the time).

I would say you may want to lower your expectations something I didn't do which was a big mistake. Everything may not happen the way you want it to or see others doing but that is because you'll have 3. As soon as you except that it all falls into place-imvho.

Thanks to all of you! I'm slowly beginning to feel more confident about it!