Last updated on August 21st, 2023 at 04:51 pm
There are many aspects of being a new parent of twins and a lot of things are quite different than with our singleton. Emotionally, it’s a whole new ball game, as everything is doubled—it feels brand new all over again, even though I’ve already had a child.
It’s also physically very different, as there are two babies hungry, two crying, two that are dependent and need everything at the same time. I’ve always processed more through my heart than my head—something my wonderful husband can attest to—but I’ve definitely been learning that it’s something I strive for a lot more. How can I do this not only effectively, but also efficiently? For both the babies and myself?
I’m not sure about you but I’ve read many of these ‘5 things to do for ___’ lists and I have learned, especially since having twins, that these can be quite beneficial. I realized there are a few things I wished I could recommend to all the other new mothers of multiples out there. Here is my list of 5 things that have made my new, wild life with two babies much more efficient.
1. A double stroller
A family member of mine recommended this to me as she had twins before me. Her words were, “You need to spend the money. It will be the only thing that gets you out of the house.” I am forever thankful that I listened to that advice. It truly was worth the investment and we found ours used, which helped save quite a bit of money. It really is the only reason we get out of the house and still do some of the fun or all-day things that we did before having twins. It makes outings and even trips to the grocery store one major step simpler.
2. A twin nursing pillow
tried a couple of fancy, deluxe versions but the one that worked really well for me was just a simple one. I had to feed both my babies in the football hold and this allowed me to lay them that way while keeping them high enough that I only had to hold their heads in the right position. This way I could feed them both at the same time when needed as well. It was spacious enough for both of them and soft and comfortable, it worked great. Not having to worry about taking turns with them made for quicker feedings in general and gave me some peace of mind around nursing.
3. A backpack-style diaper bag
This was, and still is, instrumental in helping me get around! It frees up my hands—two babies, two hands needed (really four, but what can you do…) and a backpack diaper bag made that possible. We really appreciated the side pocket for wipes that make it accessible without even having to unzip the pocket. The easy access was one of my favorite features as I find wipes are what I use the most out of all of my baby things.
4. Two swings
Originally I thought we would only need one. That one baby could be held or in a bouncy chair, but I learned quickly otherwise. Of course, not all babies are the same, but my twins happened to only fall asleep in the swings for the first month. Then they had stuffy noses for the next TWO MONTHS. The only way they even slept at night was in those swings. I was so thankful that I had two or I would have been sleeping upright in a chair while holding a baby for a very long time. It’s also good for when your hands are needed with the toddler but babies just want to be rocked. They don’t have to be fancy or expensive, they just need to move and be safe. (Twiniversity Tip: Start with one swing and buy a second later if you really need it!)
5. A double electric breast pump
If you are breastfeeding, I found this handy at all times, but especially at night. It’s so much quicker than pumping manually, one breast at a time. Along with my hands-free pumping bra, I can get my pumping done quickly and easily without waking me up too much, and have no problem getting back to sleep. Anything to get me more sleep was a real plus. Also, I just have to sit there, almost no work involved! I’ve even used it in my vehicle (not while driving of course). Side-note: whether you are breastfeeding or formula feeding, a ton of extra bottles is always helpful.
And last, but not least…
6. A sense of humor
it is the only way to handle the lack of sleep, the busy life, the puke, and the poop! Memes are good for me, but find what makes you laugh—you got this, Mama!
So there you have it, my addition to all the other lists out there. I’m so thankful for the advice and tips I have received from other twin moms and dads. It has certainly made us aware that while there are many ways to do the same thing, there is always a more efficient way. The more efficient you can be, the more time you can spend just playing with, holding, and getting to know your babies. That is the best part.
Stephanie Peters is a happy, tired 27-year-old wife & mom to a 3-year-old girl and 1-year-old fraternal boy/girl twins. She lives for her family, honesty, and relatable memes. She loves nachos, singing, and striking things off lists (i.e. shower?). She’s a procrastinator and an extrovert (who also just wants to be alone & watch Netflix). Keep up with her thoughts & film photos on her blog or Instagram.
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Got twins? Us too! The Twiniversity Podcast with Natalie Diaz was created BY parents of twins FOR parents of twins, from your pregnancy days through your twin’s teenage years, this podcast covers it all. It’s all about parenting twins, offering plenty of strategies for making life better, parenting hacks, and, of course, humor. We are laughing WITH you every step of the way.
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