Do your twins squabble and fight or do they generally play well together? As with all siblings there is a certain amount of sibling rivalry and with twins this is no different and at times it can be worse.
Twins do share a close bond but this doesn't stop them from squabbling and arguing over their toys, clothes and your attention from time to time.
You may find their competitiveness is greater if they are twins of the same sex opposed to boy/girl twins. It is likely that two boys or two girls will want very similar toys to play with and are likely to compete over similar things.
Twins are at the same developmental stage which can also cause more squabbling as they are learning their life lessons and boundaries at the very same time. It is extremely important that parents of twins, grandparents of twins and anyone else caring for your twins have the same rules so your twins do not become confused. If you are consistent with your rules your twins will learn them that much faster.
Set limits and boundaries and limit their choices. Too many choices can cause confusion and often more trouble and squabbling than is necessary so don't ask them to make too many decisions that they are just simply not capable of making.
If you want to encourage them to make choices keep them very simple for e.g. do you want to wear the spotty dress or the striped dress? If your twins are prone to wanting exactly the same thing and will fight over the same dress then do not give them the choice and leave those decisions for another stage.
Twins will fight over the same toy particularly as I have said before if they are two of the same sex. There is no point buying one toy and expecting your twins to share it nicely, it's not going to happen. At the same time you don't want to buy two of everything the same. Slight variations on toys in the form of colour or activity can save some of the squabbling and you can encourage them to swap over.
Likewise, if there are too many toys around they will become overwhelmed and will ultimately play with nothing. Rather than getting all of the toys out in the toy room strategically place toys that will attract their attention and encourage play.
If your twins are tired or hungry then the squabbling can become worse. Twins will take their frustrations out on one another and even more so if they are tired and irritable. If your twins still need a nap make sure they get one.
My Own Experiences with Twins
I have girl/boy fraternal twins aged 7 and identical twin girls aged 2. We are currently going through the learn to share stage with the girls and just as one twin lashes out at the other for stealing her dolly I find myself thinking back to life with the fraternal twins at the same age. I know we are good at forgetting the bad times and remembering the good times but I honestly do not recall my boy/girl twins displaying the same level of squabbling and hurting one another that the identical girls do.
Our Fraternal twins were typical toddlers and our identical twin girls are not in need of a visit from Super Nanny or anything like that but there is a difference in their behaviour. I think the difference is largely due to the difference in the types of twins. There is more natural competition with the identical girls and this is not because we treat them as the same person. We do everything we can to help their individuality but they do seem to want to compete over the same things.
Another difference I have noticed with raising our two different sets of twins is the different needs for naps and how fractious the girls become if they don't get their sleep. The routine for our identical twins is much different than the routine we had for the fraternal twins. For a start, we have school runs now so the girls are up far earlier than the others needed to be. We are generally more in a rush as a family than we were before.
There have been days recently whereby the girls have not had a nap because of an outing or having friends to play and they have managed to play all day quite happily but when the day is done and it's almost time for tea the mood changes and all hell can break loose.
They do take their frustrations out on one another especially when they are tired. When we are in this state it makes it very difficult for me to even prepare the dinner. We rely on the bigger twins to comfort a smaller twin each in a restful setting in front of the TV in order that dinner can be prepared.
This brings me to the next thing that seems to trigger the squabbling - food! It is quite amusing to watch them at the dinner table. Twin A will steal something from Twin B's plate yet think she has got away with it and then a few minutes later completely out of the blue Twin B will get her own back by retaliating in another way. It could be by taking her sisters cutlery away or by just bopping her on the head with her fork. Of course Twin A has forgotten that she stole her sister's food and is upset by Twin B's revenge! Now we have upset and chaos at the table. Our solution starting this evening is to separate their seating places until they are able to manage themselves a little better at the table.
Similar episodes of nonsense as we like to call it happen over sharing toys and books especially if it is something new. We learned with our first set of twins that you can't give one without the other although we do try and buy two of different colours or type. If Twin A is playing nicely and Twin B decides to steal there is uproar. Often Twin A will retaliate with a hit or with a Bite. Obviously the Twin who has administered the Bite will be told firmly NO and we use the naughty step and she has to apologise but its frustrating because we know and she knows that she has done it purely out of retaliation to the wrong that her Twin as done to her. Often they don't want to apologise to one another.
If we are all playing together then I will only get one type of toy out at a time such as the farm set and when they have lost interest in that toy we tidy it away and get another out. I hope that this helps in teaching them to play nicely with more than one person and the importance of sharing and the responsibility of looking after their possessions.
We have issues such as "going first". They nearly always both want to "go first" and you have to find a fair way of choosing. At 2 they don't always remember who went first the last time! Many of the techniques we adopt are all about keeping the peace. It's all too easy to give in to the more demanding twin as we found with raising our fraternal twins so we are conscious that we don't allow this to happen too often.
We have far less squabbles when we are out in open spaces including the garden. I think the girls need space from another at times and often when we go for a visit to the farm they do go in separate directions to play.
The most obvious reason for competing is for our attention. It's ok to mange at home because you can sit down on the sofa in between them and share a book or watch the TV together but it's not so easy when you are out and they both want to be carried or both want help to climb up a particular difficult construction!
All in all, toddler twins can be a real drain your sanity but they are also lots and lots of fun and watching them interact and develop alongside one another is truly fascinating.
I am a mother of two sets of twins both fraternal and identical. I have created a website to assist others during their twin pregnancies and afterwards. http://twinstips.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Angela_Manton
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Halloween Costume Ideas For Twins And Triplets
When you have triplets or twins, it can be cute to dress them up the same during Halloween, especially when they are young. When the children get older, they may not appreciate wearing Halloween costumes for triplets & twins anymore. So while they are still young enough to let you dress them find identical outfits and grab your cameras because it may not last!
You have a few choices when looking for Halloween costumes for triplets & twins. You can either dress them identically or choose a theme based on characters from their favorite books or television programs.
Here are some ideas for Halloween costumes for triplets & twins.
Animals
Dressing them up in identical animal costumes can be really adorable. Or you can choose a theme such as a ìbig catî theme or ìbarnyard animalsî theme. For example, if they enjoy cats you can dress one as a lion, another as a tiger, and another as a panther.
Halloween Traditional Costumes
Another choice for Halloween costumes for triplets & twins is to dress them in the Halloween traditional costumes such as witches and ghosts. They may look cute as identical witches or black cats. You can even dress them as ghosts.
Character Costumes
Do they have a particular movie, book, or cartoon they enjoy? These characters are perfect choices for Halloween costumes for triplets & twins. You can either dress them up identically or find a theme to work with and choose costumes that all fit the theme.
Fun Costumes
You can also choose fun Halloween costumes for triplets & twins such as clowns, food items such as pumpkins, rock stars, or science fiction characters such as robots. Think about what your children like. Even if they are young they could still display certain character personalities that will help you decide which costumes to choose.
Get Creative
If the children are old enough, you may want to help them get creative. Choose Halloween costumes for triplets & twins together. Then, shop for them, rent them, or make them together as a fun project. Sometimes the best ideas are the ones THEY come up with.
Monty Smith writes about kids costume ideas and other Halloween-related topics for the Best Costume Ideas website. Get more Halloween tips at http://www.bestcostumeideas.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Monty_Smith
You have a few choices when looking for Halloween costumes for triplets & twins. You can either dress them identically or choose a theme based on characters from their favorite books or television programs.
Here are some ideas for Halloween costumes for triplets & twins.
Animals
Dressing them up in identical animal costumes can be really adorable. Or you can choose a theme such as a ìbig catî theme or ìbarnyard animalsî theme. For example, if they enjoy cats you can dress one as a lion, another as a tiger, and another as a panther.
Halloween Traditional Costumes
Another choice for Halloween costumes for triplets & twins is to dress them in the Halloween traditional costumes such as witches and ghosts. They may look cute as identical witches or black cats. You can even dress them as ghosts.
Character Costumes
Do they have a particular movie, book, or cartoon they enjoy? These characters are perfect choices for Halloween costumes for triplets & twins. You can either dress them up identically or find a theme to work with and choose costumes that all fit the theme.
Fun Costumes
You can also choose fun Halloween costumes for triplets & twins such as clowns, food items such as pumpkins, rock stars, or science fiction characters such as robots. Think about what your children like. Even if they are young they could still display certain character personalities that will help you decide which costumes to choose.
Get Creative
If the children are old enough, you may want to help them get creative. Choose Halloween costumes for triplets & twins together. Then, shop for them, rent them, or make them together as a fun project. Sometimes the best ideas are the ones THEY come up with.
Monty Smith writes about kids costume ideas and other Halloween-related topics for the Best Costume Ideas website. Get more Halloween tips at http://www.bestcostumeideas.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Monty_Smith
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
What To Know If You've Been Blessed With A Multiple Pregnancy
In the United States, since 1980 there has been a 65% increase in the frequency of twins and a 500% increase in the number of triplet pregnancies or higher-order births. The vast majority of this increase has resulted from assisted reproductive technologies(in-vitro or fertility drugs). The risk of a multiple pregnancy resulting from infertility treatments is a very high 25%.
Very recently reproductive endocrinologists have been trying to reduce the number of multiple pregnancies associated with in-vitro procedures by transferring only one embryo, even in older patients. Interestingly, however there is a much higher identical twin rate (identical twins result from one embryo splitting into two, three or even four embryos) associated with in-vitro techniques, so that even when only one embryo is transferred, a multiple pregnancy can result. When infertile couples are surveyed, many are actually thrilled to be "blessed" with a multiple pregnancy--as often they have waited for years before conceiving.
Although multiple pregnancies account for only 3% of all live births, they are responsible for a much larger percentage of pregnancy complications and poor outcomes. 17% of preterm births are the result of multiple pregnancy. 24% of low-birth weight infants are the product of a multiple pregnancy. It is interesting to note however, that although these statistics are accurate, the babies born to parents who have undergone infertility treatments, even if premature or low birth weight, tend to do very well. In part this is because of dramatic advances in care of the premature infant, but another factor is that the parents of these pregnancies are thrilled to be pregnant and are doing everything possible to optimize their outcomes.
What can you do to optimize your outcome?
Get in early with your doctor! If you have been diagnosed with a multiple pregnancy you are going to get to know your doctor very well! If you have been through infertility treatments, your RE (reproductive endocrinologist) will likely have a number of good references. Choose a doctor that you are comfortable with and that you feel will answer all your questions.
Eliminate any remaining bad habits! If you have been through infertility you have likely cleaned up your act pretty thoroughly already, but if there are any vices that linger, such as smoking, drinking alcohol, excessive caffeine intake, etc. now is the time to dispense with these!
Maximize your nutrition. You are going to want to gain a significant amount of weight, but make sure you do it gradually and by eating the right mix of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. You are also going to want to supplement iron, calcium and folic acid, and you are going to need to choose a supplement you can tolerate!(In another article, we'll talk about nausea of pregnancy!)
You are going to need plenty of rest and will likely end up on bed rest, so get a good bed! You may want to invest in a body pillow to help you position the body that you won't even recognize in a few months!
Get going on your nursery and stock up on supplies - you can't shop while you're on bed rest.
Join THE TRIPLET CONNECTION website - this site has lots of discount codes and suggestions for stores with hard-to-find items. They also have used items for sale by other multiples families which can be very handy and save lots of money!
Get lots of film, or even better, a digital camera or video camera. There are also some very neat baby books which allow you to document your babies' progress in the neonatal intensive care unit--a great site to check out is COME UNITY.
Finally, you are going to want to start making plans at work. You will almost certainly be out of work by 20-24 weeks if you are carrying more than 2 babies. You may want to consider starting a home business! After all that hard work bringing those babies into the world, you may not be eager to leave them in someone else's care when they finally arrive. See my box below for more information about the business I chose that allows me to stay home with my boys while they are babies and still send them to college down the road!
Elaine Brown, M.D. is a former Obstetrician/Gynecologist turned Internet entrepreneur. She is a successful marketer and mother of four including triplets. See her business at MyInternetBusiness.com (new link coming soon!). Or for something just for fun - go to her blog Dr Brown's MyInternetBusiness.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elaine_Brown
Very recently reproductive endocrinologists have been trying to reduce the number of multiple pregnancies associated with in-vitro procedures by transferring only one embryo, even in older patients. Interestingly, however there is a much higher identical twin rate (identical twins result from one embryo splitting into two, three or even four embryos) associated with in-vitro techniques, so that even when only one embryo is transferred, a multiple pregnancy can result. When infertile couples are surveyed, many are actually thrilled to be "blessed" with a multiple pregnancy--as often they have waited for years before conceiving.
Although multiple pregnancies account for only 3% of all live births, they are responsible for a much larger percentage of pregnancy complications and poor outcomes. 17% of preterm births are the result of multiple pregnancy. 24% of low-birth weight infants are the product of a multiple pregnancy. It is interesting to note however, that although these statistics are accurate, the babies born to parents who have undergone infertility treatments, even if premature or low birth weight, tend to do very well. In part this is because of dramatic advances in care of the premature infant, but another factor is that the parents of these pregnancies are thrilled to be pregnant and are doing everything possible to optimize their outcomes.
What can you do to optimize your outcome?
Get in early with your doctor! If you have been diagnosed with a multiple pregnancy you are going to get to know your doctor very well! If you have been through infertility treatments, your RE (reproductive endocrinologist) will likely have a number of good references. Choose a doctor that you are comfortable with and that you feel will answer all your questions.
Eliminate any remaining bad habits! If you have been through infertility you have likely cleaned up your act pretty thoroughly already, but if there are any vices that linger, such as smoking, drinking alcohol, excessive caffeine intake, etc. now is the time to dispense with these!
Maximize your nutrition. You are going to want to gain a significant amount of weight, but make sure you do it gradually and by eating the right mix of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. You are also going to want to supplement iron, calcium and folic acid, and you are going to need to choose a supplement you can tolerate!(In another article, we'll talk about nausea of pregnancy!)
You are going to need plenty of rest and will likely end up on bed rest, so get a good bed! You may want to invest in a body pillow to help you position the body that you won't even recognize in a few months!
Get going on your nursery and stock up on supplies - you can't shop while you're on bed rest.
Join THE TRIPLET CONNECTION website - this site has lots of discount codes and suggestions for stores with hard-to-find items. They also have used items for sale by other multiples families which can be very handy and save lots of money!
Get lots of film, or even better, a digital camera or video camera. There are also some very neat baby books which allow you to document your babies' progress in the neonatal intensive care unit--a great site to check out is COME UNITY.
Finally, you are going to want to start making plans at work. You will almost certainly be out of work by 20-24 weeks if you are carrying more than 2 babies. You may want to consider starting a home business! After all that hard work bringing those babies into the world, you may not be eager to leave them in someone else's care when they finally arrive. See my box below for more information about the business I chose that allows me to stay home with my boys while they are babies and still send them to college down the road!
Elaine Brown, M.D. is a former Obstetrician/Gynecologist turned Internet entrepreneur. She is a successful marketer and mother of four including triplets. See her business at MyInternetBusiness.com (new link coming soon!). Or for something just for fun - go to her blog Dr Brown's MyInternetBusiness.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elaine_Brown
Free Stuff For Twins And Multiples
A sure way to double the joys of parenthood is to give birth to twins! You'll have twice the smiles, goos & coos, giggles, and firsts (first words, first steps, first burps...) But for many soon-to-be parents of twins, once the excitement wears off, the math sets in...
Suddenly you find yourself with twice the dirty diapers, twice the mouths to feed in the middle of the night, twice the formula to buy. Then, there are twice the outfits and booties to get. You'll need two cribs, playpens, baby swings... The next thing you know, double the fun has turned into triple the financial stress.
But before you begin pulling out your hair and pawning the family keepsakes, read on. Many rewards and incentive companies out there realize that oftentimes, parents of twins need an extra break. They offer coupons, freebies, discounts, free stuff for twins and many other incentives.
Gerardas Norkus is a successful author and publisher of http://www.1st-in-rewards.com
Great tips on receiving free merchandise and money from top online rewards programs.
(c) Copyright 2004, http://www.1st-in-rewards.com All rights reserved.
Publishing Guidelines: You may freely distribute or publish this article provided you publish the whole article and include the copyright notice and links in full. A courtesy copy is requested upon publication.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gerardas_Norkus
Suddenly you find yourself with twice the dirty diapers, twice the mouths to feed in the middle of the night, twice the formula to buy. Then, there are twice the outfits and booties to get. You'll need two cribs, playpens, baby swings... The next thing you know, double the fun has turned into triple the financial stress.
But before you begin pulling out your hair and pawning the family keepsakes, read on. Many rewards and incentive companies out there realize that oftentimes, parents of twins need an extra break. They offer coupons, freebies, discounts, free stuff for twins and many other incentives.
Gerardas Norkus is a successful author and publisher of http://www.1st-in-rewards.com
Great tips on receiving free merchandise and money from top online rewards programs.
(c) Copyright 2004, http://www.1st-in-rewards.com All rights reserved.
Publishing Guidelines: You may freely distribute or publish this article provided you publish the whole article and include the copyright notice and links in full. A courtesy copy is requested upon publication.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gerardas_Norkus
Monday, 19 October 2009
Double Pushchair - Twin Or Tandem?
If you have two young children, twins or just two under 3’s you will need a pushchair or stroller that can carry both of your children. It is obviously impossible for one person to push two buggies, so there are some very cleverly designed pushchairs that are suitable for two children.
There are two main types of pushchair/stroller that are suitable for two children. There is a twin pushchair and there is a tandem pushchair.
Twin pushchairs are by far the most common design and you will surely have seen many of these before. They have two front-facing seats side-by-side.
Tandem pushchairs have two forward-facing seats, one in front of the other, and are suitable for children of differing ages. To remember the difference, you can think of a tandem bicycle where two people are seated one in-front and one-behind.
How do you decide which is most suitable for you? Well, each type of pushchair has its own distinct advantages and disadvantages.
You will find that a twin pushchair (side-by-side, remember?) is most suitable for two newborns or children of differing ages. Twin pushchairs usually have adjustable seats with lie-flat position that operate independently, swivel front wheels for manoeuvrability and one or two shopping baskets. So, for example, your two year old can sit upright while your 6 month old baby lies flat.
A tandem pushchair will have adjustable seats with lie-flat positions that will operate independently of each other. They are quite long and not as easy to turn tight corners. They are narrower than twin strollers.
It is vital to make sure you choose the most suitable pushchair for you. Many parents often choose an unsuitable pushchair before they find the right one that suits their requirements.
Mark Hartshorne is a father with two young children and created a website to review pushchairs and strollers to offer parents a fair comparison on price, size, design and more. The website is My Pushchair
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Hartshorne
There are two main types of pushchair/stroller that are suitable for two children. There is a twin pushchair and there is a tandem pushchair.
Twin pushchairs are by far the most common design and you will surely have seen many of these before. They have two front-facing seats side-by-side.
Tandem pushchairs have two forward-facing seats, one in front of the other, and are suitable for children of differing ages. To remember the difference, you can think of a tandem bicycle where two people are seated one in-front and one-behind.
How do you decide which is most suitable for you? Well, each type of pushchair has its own distinct advantages and disadvantages.
You will find that a twin pushchair (side-by-side, remember?) is most suitable for two newborns or children of differing ages. Twin pushchairs usually have adjustable seats with lie-flat position that operate independently, swivel front wheels for manoeuvrability and one or two shopping baskets. So, for example, your two year old can sit upright while your 6 month old baby lies flat.
A tandem pushchair will have adjustable seats with lie-flat positions that will operate independently of each other. They are quite long and not as easy to turn tight corners. They are narrower than twin strollers.
It is vital to make sure you choose the most suitable pushchair for you. Many parents often choose an unsuitable pushchair before they find the right one that suits their requirements.
Mark Hartshorne is a father with two young children and created a website to review pushchairs and strollers to offer parents a fair comparison on price, size, design and more. The website is My Pushchair
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Hartshorne
10 Must Have Products For Twin Mothers
Preparing for twins can be a very exciting yet stressful and time-consuming process. As a twin mother myself, I can assure you that the less stress you have during pregnancy, the happier you will be and the healthier your children will be. I hope this article provides answers for expecting twin mothers on what supplies to have before the birth of their babies.
If you are fortunate like myself, your family and friends, will be overly generous with their baby shower gifts. I was amazed by the amount of gifts I received at my shower. Not only did I get virtually everything I needed for the infant stage, I received a great amount of stuff for the toddler stage as well. It is best to register for EVERYTHING and ANYTHING you will need and don't feel bad putting big ticket items on the registry. Some things you will need two of, other things you will not.
The following is a list of the 10 most important things a twin mother will need.
Twin Stroller- I use my stroller everywhere I go and could not imagine life without it. I would recommend that you get one that allows you to put both car seats in it. The one I use has this feature and it makes loading and unloading the twins a breeze. Another thing to consider is the size and compact ability of the stroller. The one I use fits perfectly in my hatchback and folds and unfolds very quickly. This makes life a lot easier and is definitely something to consider.
Car Seats-You are going to need these installed and tested before they will allow you to take your babies home. As I mentioned about the stroller, I highly recommend you get car seats that can be used with your stroller. The ones I have easily pop out of my backseat and I can have the twins loaded in the stroller in under a minute-- many times without waking them up. You will also need the 3 -in-1 car seats when your twins out grow their infant seats. Even though these will not be used until your twins are a year old, I still highly recommend you register for these items or purchase them ahead of time!
Twin Crib/Cribs-As you will learn, sleep is the most important thing for your twin babies. Investing in a quality twin crib or two single cribs will be the best decision you can make. You will also want to make sure you have a quality mattress, mattress cover, and crib cushions. I also suggest buying a book about healthy sleeping habits for twins! You will thank me later; I promise!
Swings-At first I just had one, but after realizing how much the twins enjoyed it, I went out and got another one. When purchasing a swing you will want to avoid buying the cheap models as most of them are not as sturdy and make a great deal of noise. Another thing to consider is whether or not they run on batteries or electric. The first swing I got ran on DD batteries and replacing them can get costly. When I purchased the second swing I made sure to get one that ran on electric.
Rocking Chair/Gliders-You will be using a rocking chair/glider a lot and it is nice to have two, one for the nursery and one for a room you spend a great deal of time in such as the living room. I spend many hours a day in my gliders and the quality time with the babies is priceless.
Breast Pump- Nursing twins is definitely not out of the question. If you do choose this option, trust me you will be spending a ton of time breastfeeding and having the right equipment is essential. There are many breast pumps on the market, so make sure you do your research before purchasing. You will also need a twin-nursing pillow that will allow you to nurse both babies at the same time, which does become very necessary unless you want to spend your ENTIRE day feeding.
Diaper Bag-Your Diaper Bag will go with you everywhere you go. Choose one that fits under your stroller and offers adequate room for everything you will need. There are many diaper bags on the market and they come in a variety of different sizes and styles. The one I have came with a matching bottle cooler and binkie holder.
High Chairs--You will need High Chairs when your twins are 4-6 months in age. There are a ton of High Chairs on the market and choosing the best one really depends on the room you will be doing your feeding in. Just make sure the ones you choose are sturdy and provide adequate comfort for the twins.
Boppy Pillows--Highly popular for all babies and I use mine in so many ways I don't know what I would do without them. I would recommend getting an extra set so that you do not have to drag them from room to room. My twins love taking naps and eating in their bobby pillows.
Diapers--As a twin mother you will burn through 6,000+ diapers your first year. You are going to want to try a few different types until you determine which ones the twins prefer. Once you find the brand that works best---BUY ONLINE and you will save a ton of money, time and frustration.
I know I had a ton of questions when I was expecting twins so please feel free to email me with any questions or concerns you may have. I am a member in many online twin forums and have many twin mother friends with great advice and encouragement.
Jess Petersen is a high school business instructor and devoted mother of twin girls. She is an active member in many twin mother forums and runs a website dedicated to twin mothers. You can visit her site at http://www.twinsgalore.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jess_Petersen
If you are fortunate like myself, your family and friends, will be overly generous with their baby shower gifts. I was amazed by the amount of gifts I received at my shower. Not only did I get virtually everything I needed for the infant stage, I received a great amount of stuff for the toddler stage as well. It is best to register for EVERYTHING and ANYTHING you will need and don't feel bad putting big ticket items on the registry. Some things you will need two of, other things you will not.
The following is a list of the 10 most important things a twin mother will need.
Twin Stroller- I use my stroller everywhere I go and could not imagine life without it. I would recommend that you get one that allows you to put both car seats in it. The one I use has this feature and it makes loading and unloading the twins a breeze. Another thing to consider is the size and compact ability of the stroller. The one I use fits perfectly in my hatchback and folds and unfolds very quickly. This makes life a lot easier and is definitely something to consider.
Car Seats-You are going to need these installed and tested before they will allow you to take your babies home. As I mentioned about the stroller, I highly recommend you get car seats that can be used with your stroller. The ones I have easily pop out of my backseat and I can have the twins loaded in the stroller in under a minute-- many times without waking them up. You will also need the 3 -in-1 car seats when your twins out grow their infant seats. Even though these will not be used until your twins are a year old, I still highly recommend you register for these items or purchase them ahead of time!
Twin Crib/Cribs-As you will learn, sleep is the most important thing for your twin babies. Investing in a quality twin crib or two single cribs will be the best decision you can make. You will also want to make sure you have a quality mattress, mattress cover, and crib cushions. I also suggest buying a book about healthy sleeping habits for twins! You will thank me later; I promise!
Swings-At first I just had one, but after realizing how much the twins enjoyed it, I went out and got another one. When purchasing a swing you will want to avoid buying the cheap models as most of them are not as sturdy and make a great deal of noise. Another thing to consider is whether or not they run on batteries or electric. The first swing I got ran on DD batteries and replacing them can get costly. When I purchased the second swing I made sure to get one that ran on electric.
Rocking Chair/Gliders-You will be using a rocking chair/glider a lot and it is nice to have two, one for the nursery and one for a room you spend a great deal of time in such as the living room. I spend many hours a day in my gliders and the quality time with the babies is priceless.
Breast Pump- Nursing twins is definitely not out of the question. If you do choose this option, trust me you will be spending a ton of time breastfeeding and having the right equipment is essential. There are many breast pumps on the market, so make sure you do your research before purchasing. You will also need a twin-nursing pillow that will allow you to nurse both babies at the same time, which does become very necessary unless you want to spend your ENTIRE day feeding.
Diaper Bag-Your Diaper Bag will go with you everywhere you go. Choose one that fits under your stroller and offers adequate room for everything you will need. There are many diaper bags on the market and they come in a variety of different sizes and styles. The one I have came with a matching bottle cooler and binkie holder.
High Chairs--You will need High Chairs when your twins are 4-6 months in age. There are a ton of High Chairs on the market and choosing the best one really depends on the room you will be doing your feeding in. Just make sure the ones you choose are sturdy and provide adequate comfort for the twins.
Boppy Pillows--Highly popular for all babies and I use mine in so many ways I don't know what I would do without them. I would recommend getting an extra set so that you do not have to drag them from room to room. My twins love taking naps and eating in their bobby pillows.
Diapers--As a twin mother you will burn through 6,000+ diapers your first year. You are going to want to try a few different types until you determine which ones the twins prefer. Once you find the brand that works best---BUY ONLINE and you will save a ton of money, time and frustration.
I know I had a ton of questions when I was expecting twins so please feel free to email me with any questions or concerns you may have. I am a member in many online twin forums and have many twin mother friends with great advice and encouragement.
Jess Petersen is a high school business instructor and devoted mother of twin girls. She is an active member in many twin mother forums and runs a website dedicated to twin mothers. You can visit her site at http://www.twinsgalore.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jess_Petersen
Having Twins - A Father's Point Of View
So you’re expecting twins. Congratulations!
Are you still in shock? I sure was. The thought of bringing two babies into the world at one time scared the heck out of me, especially since I was already the father of two boys (ages five and three). I remembered how much work the first year was with both of them, with all of the diapers, the bottles, the sleepless nights, etc… I wondered how in the world we were going to do it with two babies? I immediately started stressing out about all of things that we were going to go through once the babies were born. Little did I know at the time that the most stressful part of having twins was already upon us…the pregnancy.
I did not know at the time that a twin pregnancy is not at all like a single pregnancy. With our first two pregnancies, it was relatively low impact for me (I know, all of the women reading this are rolling their eyes, especially my wife). But to my wife’s credit, it’s true. I figured I had about eight months to play as much golf as I could before the birth of the twins, and that’s when I would really have to become involved. After all, my work was already done for the time being, right? Boy, was I wrong!
There are many things that happened during the pregnancy that surprised me, or that no one told me about. I’d like to tell you about some of those things here, so maybe you’ll be a little more prepared for what happens during a twin pregnancy than I was.
First, pre-term labor is fairly common in a twin pregnancy. I didn’t even know what pre-term labor was until it happened to my wife. This was definitely the most stressful thing about the pregnancy, and it’s something that I don’t remember anyone warning me about. Maybe my wife mentioned it to me, but you know how it is, there was probably a ball game or something. My wife went to a routine check-up at about the 25th week of pregnancy. After being gone for an abnormally long time, she phoned me from the hospital and told me that they were keeping her overnight because she was having contractions. What a shock! I couldn’t understand how that could be so early in the pregnancy. The babies were less than 3 lbs. each at the time, so we were both extremely worried. They wound up giving her medication to stop labor and kept her in the hospital for a couple of days. This was the first of four trips to the hospital to stop labor. The good news was that the medication that they gave her successfully stopped the contractions each time, and she was able to carry the twins past 36 weeks.
Second, prepare for bed rest. My wife wound up going on bed rest for about the last four weeks of the pregnancy. This is a very common occurrence for a twin pregnancy, so you need to prepare yourselves for it. We were fairly lucky because my wife was a stay at home mother, so we did not have to worry about her taking time off from her job. We were also very fortunate that my mother-in-law was able to come and stay with us during that time to help with our two boys and to help out around the house. I’m not sure what we would have done without her. My advice is to recruit family and friends if you can to help out. But however you do it, take bed rest very seriously. Make sure you’re wife stays off of her feet. There’s a good reason why many mothers of twins are put on bed rest by their doctor, and that’s so she doesn’t go into labor too early. You want your wife to carry those babies as long as she can for the health of your twins. Oh, and needless to say, golf was just not an option while my wife was on bed rest.
Third, don’t expect a full-term pregnancy. It very rarely happens with twins. The goal of a twin pregnancy is to carry them at least 36 weeks. Once you reach that mark you are considered to be out of the ‘danger zone’. Even though 36 weeks is the target, many twins are delivered earlier. What this means is that you have less time to get everything ready for the new arrivals. I would suggest getting the babies room ready earlier, start buying those baby items that you need to purchase, get things done around the house that need to be done. During this pregnancy, you may not have time to wait until the last minute!
Finally, you are about to embark on an emotional and stressful, next few months. It was truly an emotional roller coaster for us. I’ll never forget our fourth trip to the hospital because of pre-term labor. My wife started having contractions again at around week 34. The babies were both more than 5 lbs., so we were sure that they would just let it go and we could finally deliver the twins. We thought that the twins were big enough and strong enough to be born safely, so I packed up the overnight bag and the camera and we headed for the hospital, positive that we were going to finally have the twins that day. After all of the other trips to the hospital, we were ready. Once we got to the hospital we were immediately put in a delivery room. And then the contractions stopped…all by themselves. We asked the doctor to induce labor, and he refused, for the safety of the twins. Of course he was right, but we were both devastated. We were just emotionally and mentally exhausted. My wife cried all the way home.
My best advice to you is to try to stay calm, help and support your wife (she truly is doing most of the work), and trust your doctor’s advice. Remember, you’re goal is to try and carry the babies at least until week 36, which will greatly decrease the chance of complications with the birth of your twins. Do everything you can to make this happen. Trust me, even though a twin pregnancy is a very trying time for the mother and the father, its well worth it once those twins arrive!
About the Author
Dan Brunkow is the owner and moderator of http://www.twinadvice.com. TwinAdvice.com is a site dedicated to providing parenting advice to parents of twins, from parents of twins.t
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Brunkow
Are you still in shock? I sure was. The thought of bringing two babies into the world at one time scared the heck out of me, especially since I was already the father of two boys (ages five and three). I remembered how much work the first year was with both of them, with all of the diapers, the bottles, the sleepless nights, etc… I wondered how in the world we were going to do it with two babies? I immediately started stressing out about all of things that we were going to go through once the babies were born. Little did I know at the time that the most stressful part of having twins was already upon us…the pregnancy.
I did not know at the time that a twin pregnancy is not at all like a single pregnancy. With our first two pregnancies, it was relatively low impact for me (I know, all of the women reading this are rolling their eyes, especially my wife). But to my wife’s credit, it’s true. I figured I had about eight months to play as much golf as I could before the birth of the twins, and that’s when I would really have to become involved. After all, my work was already done for the time being, right? Boy, was I wrong!
There are many things that happened during the pregnancy that surprised me, or that no one told me about. I’d like to tell you about some of those things here, so maybe you’ll be a little more prepared for what happens during a twin pregnancy than I was.
First, pre-term labor is fairly common in a twin pregnancy. I didn’t even know what pre-term labor was until it happened to my wife. This was definitely the most stressful thing about the pregnancy, and it’s something that I don’t remember anyone warning me about. Maybe my wife mentioned it to me, but you know how it is, there was probably a ball game or something. My wife went to a routine check-up at about the 25th week of pregnancy. After being gone for an abnormally long time, she phoned me from the hospital and told me that they were keeping her overnight because she was having contractions. What a shock! I couldn’t understand how that could be so early in the pregnancy. The babies were less than 3 lbs. each at the time, so we were both extremely worried. They wound up giving her medication to stop labor and kept her in the hospital for a couple of days. This was the first of four trips to the hospital to stop labor. The good news was that the medication that they gave her successfully stopped the contractions each time, and she was able to carry the twins past 36 weeks.
Second, prepare for bed rest. My wife wound up going on bed rest for about the last four weeks of the pregnancy. This is a very common occurrence for a twin pregnancy, so you need to prepare yourselves for it. We were fairly lucky because my wife was a stay at home mother, so we did not have to worry about her taking time off from her job. We were also very fortunate that my mother-in-law was able to come and stay with us during that time to help with our two boys and to help out around the house. I’m not sure what we would have done without her. My advice is to recruit family and friends if you can to help out. But however you do it, take bed rest very seriously. Make sure you’re wife stays off of her feet. There’s a good reason why many mothers of twins are put on bed rest by their doctor, and that’s so she doesn’t go into labor too early. You want your wife to carry those babies as long as she can for the health of your twins. Oh, and needless to say, golf was just not an option while my wife was on bed rest.
Third, don’t expect a full-term pregnancy. It very rarely happens with twins. The goal of a twin pregnancy is to carry them at least 36 weeks. Once you reach that mark you are considered to be out of the ‘danger zone’. Even though 36 weeks is the target, many twins are delivered earlier. What this means is that you have less time to get everything ready for the new arrivals. I would suggest getting the babies room ready earlier, start buying those baby items that you need to purchase, get things done around the house that need to be done. During this pregnancy, you may not have time to wait until the last minute!
Finally, you are about to embark on an emotional and stressful, next few months. It was truly an emotional roller coaster for us. I’ll never forget our fourth trip to the hospital because of pre-term labor. My wife started having contractions again at around week 34. The babies were both more than 5 lbs., so we were sure that they would just let it go and we could finally deliver the twins. We thought that the twins were big enough and strong enough to be born safely, so I packed up the overnight bag and the camera and we headed for the hospital, positive that we were going to finally have the twins that day. After all of the other trips to the hospital, we were ready. Once we got to the hospital we were immediately put in a delivery room. And then the contractions stopped…all by themselves. We asked the doctor to induce labor, and he refused, for the safety of the twins. Of course he was right, but we were both devastated. We were just emotionally and mentally exhausted. My wife cried all the way home.
My best advice to you is to try to stay calm, help and support your wife (she truly is doing most of the work), and trust your doctor’s advice. Remember, you’re goal is to try and carry the babies at least until week 36, which will greatly decrease the chance of complications with the birth of your twins. Do everything you can to make this happen. Trust me, even though a twin pregnancy is a very trying time for the mother and the father, its well worth it once those twins arrive!
About the Author
Dan Brunkow is the owner and moderator of http://www.twinadvice.com. TwinAdvice.com is a site dedicated to providing parenting advice to parents of twins, from parents of twins.t
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Brunkow
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
Posts
