The Second Year with Twins 12.5 Months Old

Last updated on February 28th, 2024 at 09:03 pm

Learn what to expect with your infant twins 12.5 months old, including tips, tricks, and advice from real twin parents who have been there.

All content on this website, including medical opinion and any other health-related information, is for informational purposes only and should not be considered to be a specific diagnosis or treatment plan for any individual situation. Use of this site and the information contained herein does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others.

Your Twins 12.5 Months Old

Welcome back returning twin parents! Hello and welcome to the new twin parents who are just finding us today!

You made it through your first twin parenting year! Congratulations! Woo hoo! What a huge accomplishment! Little known secret: we knew you could do it! And now you’re ready for your second year!

Now what? Well, this is a good place to start. We have plenty of information and resources to help you navigate twin parenting with your twins 12.5 months old.

Our twin parenting tips come from our very own experienced twin parents from around the world! These parents have all been there, done that, and are ready to share their tips and tricks with you.

This second year is full of excitement, questions, and even some anxiety. Not to worry, we’ve got your back. We’ve laid out all our best tips, tricks, and advice for twins 12 months old.

Got preemies? Make sure to consider your premature twins’ corrected age when reviewing whether or not they are meeting their milestones at appropriate times. In the vast majority of cases, preemies catch up by school-age and go on to succeed at the same level as their peers. Learn more about preemie developmental milestones here

What to Expect with Twins 12.5 Months Old

• Are your twins showing signs that they’re almost ready to walk? It could be coming any day now. I hope you’ve got your running shoes ready! Read more tips to deal when your twins start running in opposite directions
• Your twins are now capable of patting, poking, and pinching. Don’t be surprised if they start doing this to each other, the family pet, and to you. They are testing their own strength and abilities. Keep a close eye on them to redirect this behavior when you see it. Take your baby’s hand and do a gentle touch to their sibling or pet while saying, “nice” and “gentle” to encourage positive behavior.
• Cheap fun can be found in almost any (safe) household object. My twins used to love climbing on a case of paper towels, rolling through laundry, and ripping up junk mailers. You don’t have to spend a fortune on toys when they are all around you. Read more ideas for cheap and diy fun here
• At around 12 months, your twins will be able to tell the difference between a photograph of him/herself and that of another baby. They are beginning to understand that they are separate from you. Self-awareness is growing at a rapid pace as well as increasing control of how their bodies move.
• After they hit their first birthday you can start to wean them off bottles and have them drink cow’s milk from a cup. Most babies start with whole milk but check with your doctor if your child has a dairy allergy or intolerance on alternatives.
• It will be a while before your twins can eat successfully with a spoon but they will love trying. Give them plenty of opportunities with thicker foods like yogurt and applesauce.
• You may be getting ready to move up from an infant car seat to a convertible car seat. This isn’t necessary until your twins outgrow their infant seats by height or weight, but when that day comes, make sure you do your research. Learn more car seat tips here
• If you’re still breastfeeding and need help weaning, we have can help. Read more about weaning here
• Your twins need about 14 hours of sleep a day. They may have two naps totaling 2-3 hours or one 2-hour nap, plus 11-12 hours of sleep overnight. When they are ready to transition to just 1 nap a day, plan to put them down after lunch, around 1:00 pm.
• If you haven’t already, look into joining a local moms of multiples club (aka twin club). Read about local twin clubs here or join our Twiniversity monthly twin club on Zoom by signing up for a Twiniversity Membership.

Common Concerns From the Moms Who Have Been There With Twins 12.5 Months Old

• When should I worry if they aren’t walking yet?
• What can I do to encourage my twins to share?
• How delayed is too delayed when it comes to twins and language?
• How can we cut costs with twins?
• How do I deal with double tantrums?

The Twins Tale Podcast by Twiniversity is an intimate look into the lives of twin parents and their twins at all ages and stages, from birth through college. We interview twin parents in the trenches and ask all the burning questions you want to know about raising twins: schedules that work, feeding your twins, getting out of the house, finding sanity, and so much more. Subscribe for FREE today!

Milestones & Developmental Leaps Parents Have Noticed With Twins 12.5 Months Old

What’s going on with development in twins 12.5 months old?

• Your twins might be attempting their first steps now! Get the camera ready! Walking is common by 13 months, so don’t worry if they aren’t trying yet.
• You might notice your twins are sorting and stacking when they play nowadays.
• You twins are becoming more mobile than ever. Have you started babyproofing? Read more about keeping your twins safe here
• Many parents report that their twins start cruising along furniture around now to get the hang of walking.
• It’s time to start a consistent oral care routine if you haven’t already. Start slow with a child-sized toothbrush (buy on Amazon).  You may opt to use a smear of fluoride-free toothpaste (buy on Amazon) about the size of a grain of rice.
• This month may bring about new communication between your twins. Their incoherent babbling might make sense to them as they crack each other us! Don’t forget to record some of these “conversations”.
• Your twins should bear weight when brought to a standing position. You may even see them bouncing on their legs.
• Your twins may be throwing things by now. It’s great for a ball outside, but keep an eye on the breakables for a bit.
• You might see your babies put their limbs out to help with dressing. When you take out their jacket they might thrust their arm at you.
• Your babies are probably waving at you when you come home or leave
• Your twins are probably passing items between one another now.
• Many twin parents confirm that their twins were saying “Dada” and even “Mama” around now
• Play peek-a-boo with your twins. They are finally understanding this concept.

Inform your doctor if your child:

• Doesn’t crawl
• Can’t stand when supportive
• Doesn’t search for things you hide
• Doesn’t point at things
• Doesn’t learn gestures like waiting or shaking head
• Loses skills they once had
• Doesn’t say single words like “mama or “dada”

Challenges You Might Experience With Twins 12.5 Months Old

There are some challenges to look out for with twins 12 months old

• Some twin parents say naps become more difficult for their babies at about 1 year. Read more on nap schedules for 1 year here
• This is often around the time that your twins may begin fighting over toys and even you! Learn how to encourage your twins to sharing here
• Parents say that they are dealing with twins who get into everything, now that they are mobile. Learn about keeping your babies safe here
• Are your twins biting? This is a common complaint around this time. Read more about how to deal with biting here
• Many twins struggle with the transition from formula to milk. Read what some twins parents had to say about making the switch

Tips from Parents of Twins 12.5 Months Old

Take some tips from experienced twin parents!

1. Don’t be too quick to dismiss a new food if your babies don’t like it at first
2. Don’t beat yourself up if the baby books aren’t done yet.
3. The first birthday party is as much for you as them. Enjoy it!
4. Prepare for them to fight. A lot.
5. Don’t compare your twins to other mom’s singletons
6. Take more pictures than you think you should. They will LOVE to look at them with you soon!

Feeding and Nap Schedule for Twins 12.5 Months Old

You’re really going to want a schedule for your twins 12 months old! Be adaptable, but try to be as consistent as you can. Here is a suggested feeding and nap schedule for twins 12 months old. You will notice that milk is primarily given in addition to a meal, not used as a meal itself now.

• 7:00 – Wake up time! Breakfast and Milk
• 8:00 – Free playtime
• 9:00 – Snack
• 10:00 – Nap (at least 1 hour)
• 12:00 – Lunch and Milk
• 12:00 – Free playtime
• 2:00 – Nap (at least 1 hour)
• 3:00 – Snack
• 4:00 – Free playtime
• 5:00 – Dinner and Milk
• 5:30 – Bath time
• 6:00 – Book time & Milk
• 7:00 – Bedtime

Do the best you can every day to keep them on the same feeding and sleeping schedule. When you get off track try again for the next feeding or nap.

Do everything in your power to feed your twins together to make sure you get breaks. If they are on opposite feeding schedules, you will never get a break — and you deserve one!

When to Call the Doctor

It’s better to overreact 100% of the time than to underreact once.

Natalie Diaz, Twiniversity Founder and Mom of Twins

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All content on this website, including medical opinion and any other health-related information, is for informational purposes only and should not be considered to be a specific diagnosis or treatment plan for any individual situation. Use of this site and the information contained herein does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others.

When it comes to calling your doctor or seeking medical advice, you have to learn to trust yourself. If you feel something isn’t right, it probably isn’t when it comes to your twins. When in doubt, call. That’s why the offices have an answering service and staff on call at night or on the weekends.

That being said, there are a few guidelines to follow. There are a few circumstances under which you should call your doctor and get medical advice, or even call 911. When you call you should have a pen and paper handy and be prepared to give the following information over the phone:

• Immunization records
• Any medications, dosages, and times last taken (even over the counter drugs)
• Medical history
• Your baby’s temperature
• Mention that the baby is a twin, in case of a contagious illness

Any time you see the following symptoms with your twins you should contact your pediatrician immediately.

• Blood in vomit 
• Blood in stool
• Seizure
• Suspected poisoning
• Bleeding you cannot stop
• Unable to move
• Limpness
• A rectal temperature of 100.4 or above
• Sleeps more than usual or will not wake up
• Yellow skin or eyes

Call your doctor as soon as possible if one or both of your twins experiences any of the following.

• Refusal to eat for multiple feedings in a row
• Diarrhea or vomiting 
• A cold that will not resolve itself or gets worse
• Unexplained rash
• Signs of dehydration (no tears, no wet diapers, sunken eyes, sunken soft spot)
• Ear drainage
• Will not stop crying

When to Call 911

Please note that when you call 911, you and your baby will be taken to the nearest emergency room. This may or may not be located at your preferred hospital.

• Your baby is turning blue or taking more than 60 breaths per minute
• Your baby has a seizure which lasts more than 3 minutes or you cannot reach their doctor by phone immediately
• Suffers from convulsions, unconsciousness, or irregular breathing following a fall or from bleeding
• You think your baby may have a skull, neck, back, or pelvic fracture (DON’T move your baby)
• Your baby suffers from a compound fracture where bone is sticking out from the skin (cover it with a clean cloth and do not touch it)
• Your baby has bleeding you cannot stop after applying pressure for 10 minutes

Again, learn to trust your gut.  When in doubt, call and see what your doctor thinks.  Believe it or not, they’re happy to help.

What You Should Read for Twins 12.5 Months Old

• Fostering Independence in Twins
• From Bottles to Battles: Parenting When Twins Fight
• The Truth Behind your Child’s Tantrum
• Feeling Lucky: Looking Back on the Struggle of Newborn Twins
• What’s Your Best Baby Safety Advice?

Sources

• Dr. Ilona Bendefy, Baby: Day by Day
• Dr. Frans X. Plooij and Dr. Hetty van de Rijt, The Wonder Weeks
• Marple, Kate, and Dawn Rosenberg. “When to Call 911: How to Tell If Your Baby Needs Emergency Care.” BabyCenter
• “Newborn Baby: When to Call the Doctor.” Cleveland Clinic
• “Physical Appearance and Growth: 8 to 12 Months.” HealthyChildren.org
• “How Often and How Much Should Your Baby Eat?” HealthyChildren.org
• “12-Month-Old-Babys-Development” Whattoexpect.com