Truth: I had never heard of it but I pretended to know what they were talking about since they were so into it.

Truth: Even after they were discussing it at length, I still had NO FREAKIN clue what they were talking about.

Ok, so here is the skinny on Pinterest:

What is Pinterest?: Pinterest is a new type of social media photo site which allows you to share your interests and items that you find on the web.  Yeah, still confused. I was too.

Who uses Pinterest?: Everyone from your daughter to your grandma. This site is easy to use once you get the hang of it. But I’ll tell ya, it’s a little heavy on the “chick” side of things, so not sure if your hubby or son will be Pinterested in having their own boards. There are topics like “Sports” and “Geek”, but some of those are even pretty chick heavy. Just my two cents on that though.

Why Pinterest?: It’s fun, it sparks my creative juices and inspires me. I’m pretty sure that is why most people get Pinterested. (yes I like using that word, it’s fun.)

What you need to know if you want to get started on Pinterest:

1. You need to be invited. Here’s your personal invite from yours truly:  http://pinterest.com/invited/?email=natalie%40Twiniversity.com&invite=b629cff7
2. Next decide what “boards” to create (a.k.a. items that interest you that you would like to keep sorted). Envision this as a giant wall with ton of cork bords on it. You can have “themes” to the board like “Things I Want to Make.” or “Great Craft Ideas.” or “Genius Ideas.” or “Crochet Patterns.” etc. This will help you sort all the new items you find that you fall in love with. Don’t worry, you can alway create more boards later so start slow.
3. Get to Pinnin! By using my invite you will already have access to some items I “pinned”, if you like em, you can pin em too. You can also search by categories (sort at the top of the page) and pin some of your own awesome finds. All of these photos/pins will link to you to the article online that it’s connected with. This is fantastic since the photo captures just the flavor of the story and might inspire you to find out more. So you see, Pinterest is a wealth of great info too.
4. Next, add your friends. Click (or scroll over) your profile pic in the upper right hand corner and you can “invite friends”. You can find your facebook friends too or even send some emails out to folks you think might like to try it out.
5. Ok, you are on your way. We can’t wait to see what boards you come up with.

Wanna see some things I LOVE LOVE LOVE….

How about these bunk beds for your twinnies?

That is made up of magazine pages! It took the woman who made it 15 hours just rolling the pages! I so want to do this!

What are you waiting for, join the Pinsanity! If you are still confused, jump right in and you’ll see exactly what I’m talking about. See ya online – Nat

P.S I just pinned this post, lol You can too, there is a link at the beginning of this post, go for it!

Word is spreading like wild fire about the Stroll Air My Duo. Currently, this stroller is all the rage here in New York City and I’m seeing that more and more folks around the globe are following suite and buying this stroller for their own duo.

Not only does this stroller look stunning, strong and trendy, it’s about as functional as any double stroller on the market can get.

Between it’s two independent, reversible seats, front and rear suspension, adjustable footrests, ability to use car seats with the frame, I’m not sure who will like it more, you or your twins. 

The feature I personally like best, it was designed by a mom! Agata, a mom of three, saw a need within the double stroller community and filled in all the missing parts with her own design. Moms complained about storage, she designed a larger storage basket. Moms complained about not seeing their twins in a side by side double, she created the seats to be reversible. Moms complained about the need for air tires, she makes them available as an add on accessory. 

Agata has really listened to moms of multiple children and met most of our demands.

This stroller can be purchased around the globe at a retailer near you.

This week Twiniversity is giving away one Stroll Air Double to a lucky Twiniversity family.

All the details can be found in the “News” section of our Big Tent page. If you are still not a Twiniversity member, join today, membership is free and with thousands of moms participating in our forums, I’m sure there will be a ton of info you can check out too.

Good Luck, and thanks for being a part of our ever growing community!

-Nat

A Message to Parents and Caregivers From the Makers of Infants’ TYLENOL®

McNeil Consumer Healthcare (“McNeil”), Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc., today announced, in a separate news release, that it has recalled Infants’ TYLENOL® Oral Suspension Liquid from wholesalers and retailers after receiving complaints from consumers related to the SimpleMeasure™ dosing system.

McNeil Consumer Healthcare President Denice Torres said, “We apologize to parents and caregivers who have found our SimpleMeasure™ dosing system hard to use.”  A video demonstrating how to use the product’s dosing system is posted on youtube (see below)

McNeil created SimpleMeasure™ which includes a dosing syringe that makes it easier to measure an appropriate dose and a protective cover or “flow restrictor” on the bottle opening to restrict the flow of medicine.  In addition, the flow restrictor is an added safety feature designed to help prevent accidental ingestions that can occur if young children get into medicines not kept out of their reach.

The system works by pushing the dosing syringe into the flow restrictor, then turning the bottle up-side-down and using the syringe to draw the correct dose. This design is new.  A small number of reports were received in which the flow restrictor was pushed into the bottle when inserting the syringe.  As a result, the company took the precautionary step of voluntarily recalling the product from wholesalers and retailers.  Parents can continue to use Infants’ TYLENOL® provided the flow restrictor at the top of the bottle remains in place.  If the flow restrictor is pushed into the bottle, parents and caregivers should not use the product.

Children’s TYLENOL® is intended for children two years of age and older.  It is dosed differently, squeezing the liquid through a flow restrictor into a dosing cup; it is not impacted by today’s actions.

Consumers can request a refund by visiting www.tylenol.com or contacting McNeil at 1-888-222-6036 (Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time; Saturday-Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time).  Parents and caregivers with any health questions or concerns should contact their healthcare provider and visit www.tylenol.com for additional information.

About McNeil Consumer Healthcare
McNeil Consumer Healthcare Division of McNeil-PPC, Inc. markets a broad range of well-known and trusted over-the-counter (OTC) products around the globe. McNeil Consumer Healthcare is most widely recognized for the complete line of TYLENOL® acetaminophen products. Other McNeil Consumer Healthcare brands include BENADRYL® allergy medicines; IMODIUM® A-D anti-diarrheal; MOTRIN® IB; ROLAIDS® antacid products; SUDAFED® and SUDAFED PE® nasal decongestants; and ZYRTEC® and ZYRTEC-D®12-HOUR®

CLICK HERE TO SEE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

CLICK HERE TO REQUEST A REFUND

CLICK HERE FOR A VIDEO ON HOW TO USE INFANTS’ TYLENOL® SIMPLEMEASURE™

CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER TYLENOL® RECALLS

*should be vertical in position
*should have a “quiet” background, with mainly your twins in focus — we need to be able to highlight articles, etc. without it coming across as too busy
*should be seasonal (i.e. we will never run a Christmas/holiday shot in July and will never use babies in bathing suits in fall/winter, etc.)

When you have found that perfect shot (or more than one if you can’t decide!), please send to me (talitha@multiplicitymag.com) and I will handle from there. If selected, your twins will have a brief bio on the Table of Contents page, and your photographer will get a photo credit and interactive link to his/her website. Thank you for considering being part of us!

At the tender age of seven, I finally took my twinnies to see their first live performance. For New Yorkers, I feel like we were a bit overdue since I can remember taking my niece to see The Lion King when she was five. I suppose as a mother of twins, I was twice as nervous that they would shout out to the folks on stage, or worse yet, try to get up and dance and sing with them.

We decided that their into to theater should be a fun children’s production called Freckleface the Musical. This play is based on the best selling book Freckleface Strawberry, the New York Times children’s book by Julianne Moore. This story tells the tale of tale of a little girl with red hair and freckles and how her road to acceptance and friendship was filled with just a few bumps.

This classic tale has now been turned into a fun filled musical. This story brings the pages to life, brings a smile to your face and a tap to your toes.

Before the performance I prepped the twinnies and told them how the audience is there to watch the show and not take part in it. I explained how we should try and not distract the actors so they can put on their best show. This was easy to explain since they despise when one interrupts the other when singing a song or even reading out loud. I told them that they needed to watch the play like a movie. My nerves started to tingle as we went into the theater and were seated in the FIRST ROW! How was I going to stop them from running on stage (which was not as much a stage, it was just a performance area on the main level which we were sitting). EEEK!

I am proud to say, that all my worry was for nothing. They were captivated by the performance from start to finish. The music kept them in their seat and the 17 songs are as toe tapping as can be.

As the mom of a redhead, this story hit home for my daughter in many ways. She said “It was awesome, Strawberry was just like me!” This show will resonate even with the smallest of fans and adults alike because we can all relate to central theme, fitting in.

The Diaz Duo gives Freckleface Strawberry four thumbs up!

This production of Freckleface the Musical is featured at the MMAC Theater in New York City. Tickets can be purchased at Telecharge or at the MMAC Box Office.

Can’t get to a performance? You can always download the soundtrack on iTunes!

Disclosure: The Freckleface team provided tickets for the twinnies and I to see the production. The review is entirely our own.

“If multiples came with instructions, what would the first rule be?”

• “Rule #1: Throw everything you think you know out the window. Rule #2: Take a deep breath.” – Kristi M.
• “Cover the sprinkler before removing the old diaper.”- Coleen E
• “Laugh! Laugh often and enjoy every moment & stage!!”- Aubrey M.
• “Take a deep breath….” -Patricia A.

• “Use EVERY offer to help. Anyone who offers to cook, clean, take care of babies, shop, anything! Let others help you!!” -Amy V.

• “When they are mobile, and you have only one in your sights, there is a reason you only see one. That one is keeping you entertained while the other one is getting into something they shouldn’t i.e. markers, dog food and make up. ” -Angela A.

• 

  Zain B's Twinnies

  “Not a rule really, but be ready for getting a lot of attention paid to them by strangers and having to answer the same types of twin questions over and over…I’m thinking of coming up with a twin FAQ handout to give out to all people who come up and ask a zillion questions!” -Heather M.

• “First Rule: If you have any questions I’d be happy to answer them for you. (Then: Figure out what works for you. Don’t stress over getting them on the same schedule, it usually happens on it’s own. Don’t stress over allowing them to be individuals. Being born a twin is unique and should be celebrated. Twins attract attention so if you don’t want to stop and chat w/ people that have questions, think of a few clever but polite comebacks that will allow you to keep moving.) Ha, ha, maybe the first rule should be don’t stress.” – Barbara S.

• “Put them on a schedule immediately!” – Amanda P

• “Cuddle and cuddle a lot! It goes sooooo fast!” – Lisa H

• “Get a routine. Do everything at the same time. (ex.feeding. baths.naps.)” - Syl S.

• “Same schedule so Mom has down time, most anything bad (behaviors, etc.) they are doing is typically a phase and it will pass, expect that they will do NOTHING the same from walking, talking, potty training, etc. And, whatever method you used for potty training, etc. for one (and with success) will most likely NOT be the successful method with the 2nd. And, just make sure they both know how special each one of them is…. that good, bad, etc., they are BOTH such a blessing.” – Elizabeth S.

• “Organisation is the key. Learn to be a “good enough” parent – as long as they are loved they’ll be fine.” -Sarah S.

• “When you have multiples…”sleep when they sleep” rarely happens”. – Cindy S.

• “Don’t compare them with each other!” – Petek H.
  

  Simone M's Twinnies

• “Step 1…..don’t freak out. Step 2….accomplish stuff. Step 3….relax (ok, I’ll admit it…you’ll probably never going to get to Step 3)”- Ariel E.

• “Throw the perfection out and go with the flow! you will stay sane that way.” – Jennifer B.

• “Learn how to split yourself in half. Do everything twice!! Do everything twice!!” – June D.

• “Enjoy every minute they grow up so fast mine are 20 yrs old and it seems like yesterday they were little.” – Karen J.

What tips would you add?

If you find out that your twins (or higher order multiples) have TTTS, you should be monitored weekly to watch how the babies are growing.  It is necessary to check the relative size of the babies and how much amniotic fluid each one has.  You should put together a medical plan for you delivery that may include learning about early delivery and what to expect from a stay in the NICU.  Ask a lot of questions and if you don’t like the answers ask again or ask another doctor.

This article is dedicated to Tyler and Tanner Truesdale born July 14, 2011, delivered early due to TTTS.  Tyler was also diagnosed with TEF.  Tyler became an angel February 7, 2012 and is survived by his twin Tanner, mother Jessica, father Steven and sister Dakota.  If you would like to offer financial support a Tyler Truesdale Trust Fund has been set up at PNC Bank (any branch).

Fast forward a year and Harris told Parade “I love watching them learn to understand language. And watching them interact with each other is fantastic.”  Having each other also gives the twins a natural companion, and someone to explore the world with, Harris adds.  He also said “We’re lucky that we have two because they always have a playmate and they get to learn complicated concepts like sharing and cooperation,” he says. “They get to learn those things a little earlier because they’re with each other all the time. Watching their minds tick is fun.”

When To Travel:

Traveling for pleasure? Travel “off season” as much as possible. If you aren’t locked in to particular dates, find out when the slow season is for your destination. Holidays are usually the busiest travel times of the year, so booking the week or two AFTER major holidays will typically ensure that where you are headed will be a bit less crowded. Think about it, if folks are taking their children away during a school break, are they really going to extend it another week? If you are heading down to Disney World or to Disney Land the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is usually a ghost town. Booking a Disney vacation for the first or second week of December is a GREAT bet if you want to avoid the crowds.

If you are traveling oversea’s call the hotel and do your homework on when their slow season is. True, the weather might not be perfect, but if you are the type of person who likes to avoid crowds, this is the time to go.

How many seats do you buy?

This depends on how much you want to spend. If you are on a tight budget, any paying adult can have a “lap child” under the age of two (check your airline for their specific regulations). If you have a long flight, you might want to consider booking at least ONE extra seat. That way you can hand off a child and have on in a stationary position for meals and bathroom breaks. This is ideal, but if your budget can’t fit it in, it shouldn’t be a deal breaker for your vacation.

Currently there are no laws that require your child to be in a car seat on an airplane, but there are some laws being knocked around Washington that say otherwise. Only time will tell what the outcome will be, but for now there are no official rules that require car seats, HOWEVER the FAA does recommend you use them. For more details on this, check out The Car Seat Lady’s guide to airplanes.

Where should I reserve our seats?

Rear of the plane? Front of the plane? These are your choices. Here are the pro’s and con’s:

Rear of the plane pro’s: You can only annoy the people in front of you. You are close to the bathrooms. You are close to where the flight attendants are usually stationed for the majority of the flight.

Rear of the plane con’s: Could take a while to board and get to your seat. There is usually a line of folks waiting to use the restroom in the isle. The seats don’t recline in the last row.

Front of the plane pro’s: First to board. First to disembark. Close to a restroom (depending on the plane). Extra leg room.

Front of the plane con’s: If there is a first class/business class, the people on the other side of the curtain are not always the most patient and understanding. Could take a while for an attenant to assist you if necessary since they are typically stationed in the rear of the plane.

NOTE: If you are breastfeeding, you will need a window seat! You will have a bit more elbow room and a bit more privacy.

What time should I book our flight?

If your children are on a schedule, try to book your flights around their naps. If they typically nap at 11am, try to be airborne at 10am so they have a moment to chill, take in their surrounding, and be ready for their nap. If times aren’t an issue, the first and last flights are the days are usually the least expensive. Also the first flight of the day isn’t a bad option since it’s almost always on time.

Other tips for preparing for your trip.

Packing properly for the big travel day is essential. If you need some ideas on what should be in your back, check our Diaper Bag Packing List. Some additional tips for air travel are:

• Bring enough food for the whole flight plus five/six hours. If  you are bottle feeding, you are allowed to take formula and pumped breast milk on the plane. Don’t believe us, check the TSA regulations. Sure, you can find baby food and formula in an airport, but the cost associated with it could buy you a first class ticket to the Caribbean, so make sure you have enough.
• Bring enough diapers/wipes/cream for a small army. (see note on cost above)
• Pacifiers! Plenty of them.  If your children use pacifiers, you should have a few extras on hand incase they choose to chuck them at passengers like grenades. Having some pacifier wipes on hand is a great idea too.
• Pack a few extra NEW toys that might grab their attention. Once my kids got older I packed ziplock baggies with different activities and took them out as necessary. I had some filled with crayons and post-its, some filled with small plastic dinosaurs and cars, some filled with puzzles, some filled with snacks and forbidden foods like M&M’s and Hershey’s Kisses. I took them out at different times during the flight. They couldn’t wait to see what the next bag brought them. I always packed two. Sometimes even three for me!
• We purchased special headphones for kids so they could watch the show’s offered to us (JetBlue!!!!).  Baby A was the lion and Baby B was the bear!

Other important tidbits:

• DON’T FORGET to pack an extra shirt or two for you! Nothing worse then having to sit with a smelly shirt on for the whole flight.
• PACK 10+ PAIRS OF EAR PLUGS! Hand these out to the folks around you and apologize in advance for the crying and tantrums, and that’s just your own, the kids are another story. Doing this will win them over immediately and get them on your side.
• PACK LEVEL 1 NIPPLES! Using these with their bottles will give them more chances to swallow helping with the pressure in their ears.
• Bringing your own DVD player, don’t forget the splitter!

Once you get there:

Reach out to the area’s local twin club or find some fellow Twiniversity members in the area. Parents of twins are notorious for going the extra mile for each other. You might be able to borrow strollers, two pack n’ plays, and more from your fellow parent of twins.

Good luck and happy travels!