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
Showing posts with label preparing for twins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label preparing for twins. Show all posts
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
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
Realities Of Having Twins
Everything you read about raising twins will tell you the same thing, how hard it is. As a mother of two sets of twins I can honestly tell you it is more than hard work but putting the challenges and the difficulties aside, I love being a mother of twins! Its enormous fun!
You may be overwhelmed at first but you will soon learn to adapt and enjoy your new role as a twin parent.
The first thing I would say about raising twins is to be prepared for a period of very little sleep. Its quite simple, newborn twins bring sleep deprivation to their parents. This is probably the most common complaint from twin mums. It doesn't last forever and you will get through it.
Coping with the demands of one newborn baby is hard enough but two newborn babies can send any normal household into a state of chaos. At first it will seem like life is one long feed with very little sleep, rest or time to do anything else in between.
I would advise that you take any offers of help during the first few months. If family and friends want to help but don't know how to then be bold and tell them what they could do to assist you. Taking the babies for a walk so you can take a nap, preparing the dinner or even just being there with a spare pair of hands during feeding or bath time can be an enormous help.
The thing with twins is this; you have to find practical and creative ways for one pair of hands to be enough to manage them. Even when your partner is at home to help and not at work you will discover that two pairs of hands still doesn't allow for a break. If your partner takes over to give you a rest they too have to manage with one pair of hands.
You have to adapt all the practical tasks to cope with the care of baby twins. These are some of the common questions surrounding the practical side of raising twins:-
How can I feed two babies at the same time?
How do I bath two babies at the same time?
How do I get up and down the stairs with two babies at the same time?
How do I comfort two babies at the same time?
The answer is creatively!
Getting out of the house with twins is another challenge and it's important to have the right kind of twin pushchair. It will take longer than usual to get out of the front door remembering everything you need and even in and out of car seats takes longer, so think carefully about your options before you make your purchases.
As twins get older and start to crawl and move about you will need to create a couple of "twin safe" areas where you can leave them to play whilst you nip to the toilet or pop to the kitchen to prepare food. It's easy to scoop one baby up and take them with you but it's not so easy scooping two up. I would recommend putting up safety gates as soon as they are crawling.
Aside of the practicalities of raising twins there are the emotional issues you may experience as a twin mother. Feelings of inadequacy and guilt can often set in when you face the challenges of juggling their care. You may experience feelings of frustration because it is so difficult to split yourself in two and may be annoyed that you need to ask for help and support from family and friends. Twins are hard work and you should not think that you should be able to cope alone. It does get easier and even this statement from a twin mother who is out of the difficult phase may annoy you when you are in the thick of the hard times.
Hard work and challenges aside, raising twins is never dull. It's a fascinating time watching two babies of exactly the same age grow and develop. You get to see two different personalities unfold and how they react to everything new. It is lovely to see them interacting with one another. By the time they are toddlers you will be dealing with squabbles and fights and issues over sharing as well as the times when they are playing perfectly with one another.
When you become a parent of twins you join a special club whereby complete strangers will stop you on the street to talk. Twins are fascinating to most people and you can expect many a stranger to stop to admire your babies. You will get used to questions and statements such as "Are they identical?", "Are they good?", "How do you manage?" and "Double Trouble" and "Buy One Get one Free!"
This brings me to the next issue with raising twins, finances. You may be worried about how you will cope financially. It's not just the baby items that are costly with twins it's the time constraints they bring too. Caring for baby and toddler twins leaves little time for anything else including work. If both parents need to work and you have to organise child care this is going to be very costly. Even if only one parent has to work there is pressure on the working parent to spend more and more time at home to assist with their care especially if the twins arrive prematurely or have feeding difficulties.
Other issues with raising twins include dividing your attention, ensuring you and everyone else treats them as individuals and not as one half of a pair. As they get to school age you may need to think about separating them if they are reliant upon one another. You may need to find ways of encouraging them to play alone or without one another and help them to make friends of their own. As twins they will share a special bond due to the amount of time spent together from the very beginning, however, it is important that they find their own way in life.
Most importantly, enjoy having your twins because before you know it they will have flown the nest.
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
You may be overwhelmed at first but you will soon learn to adapt and enjoy your new role as a twin parent.
The first thing I would say about raising twins is to be prepared for a period of very little sleep. Its quite simple, newborn twins bring sleep deprivation to their parents. This is probably the most common complaint from twin mums. It doesn't last forever and you will get through it.
Coping with the demands of one newborn baby is hard enough but two newborn babies can send any normal household into a state of chaos. At first it will seem like life is one long feed with very little sleep, rest or time to do anything else in between.
I would advise that you take any offers of help during the first few months. If family and friends want to help but don't know how to then be bold and tell them what they could do to assist you. Taking the babies for a walk so you can take a nap, preparing the dinner or even just being there with a spare pair of hands during feeding or bath time can be an enormous help.
The thing with twins is this; you have to find practical and creative ways for one pair of hands to be enough to manage them. Even when your partner is at home to help and not at work you will discover that two pairs of hands still doesn't allow for a break. If your partner takes over to give you a rest they too have to manage with one pair of hands.
You have to adapt all the practical tasks to cope with the care of baby twins. These are some of the common questions surrounding the practical side of raising twins:-
How can I feed two babies at the same time?
How do I bath two babies at the same time?
How do I get up and down the stairs with two babies at the same time?
How do I comfort two babies at the same time?
The answer is creatively!
Getting out of the house with twins is another challenge and it's important to have the right kind of twin pushchair. It will take longer than usual to get out of the front door remembering everything you need and even in and out of car seats takes longer, so think carefully about your options before you make your purchases.
As twins get older and start to crawl and move about you will need to create a couple of "twin safe" areas where you can leave them to play whilst you nip to the toilet or pop to the kitchen to prepare food. It's easy to scoop one baby up and take them with you but it's not so easy scooping two up. I would recommend putting up safety gates as soon as they are crawling.
Aside of the practicalities of raising twins there are the emotional issues you may experience as a twin mother. Feelings of inadequacy and guilt can often set in when you face the challenges of juggling their care. You may experience feelings of frustration because it is so difficult to split yourself in two and may be annoyed that you need to ask for help and support from family and friends. Twins are hard work and you should not think that you should be able to cope alone. It does get easier and even this statement from a twin mother who is out of the difficult phase may annoy you when you are in the thick of the hard times.
Hard work and challenges aside, raising twins is never dull. It's a fascinating time watching two babies of exactly the same age grow and develop. You get to see two different personalities unfold and how they react to everything new. It is lovely to see them interacting with one another. By the time they are toddlers you will be dealing with squabbles and fights and issues over sharing as well as the times when they are playing perfectly with one another.
When you become a parent of twins you join a special club whereby complete strangers will stop you on the street to talk. Twins are fascinating to most people and you can expect many a stranger to stop to admire your babies. You will get used to questions and statements such as "Are they identical?", "Are they good?", "How do you manage?" and "Double Trouble" and "Buy One Get one Free!"
This brings me to the next issue with raising twins, finances. You may be worried about how you will cope financially. It's not just the baby items that are costly with twins it's the time constraints they bring too. Caring for baby and toddler twins leaves little time for anything else including work. If both parents need to work and you have to organise child care this is going to be very costly. Even if only one parent has to work there is pressure on the working parent to spend more and more time at home to assist with their care especially if the twins arrive prematurely or have feeding difficulties.
Other issues with raising twins include dividing your attention, ensuring you and everyone else treats them as individuals and not as one half of a pair. As they get to school age you may need to think about separating them if they are reliant upon one another. You may need to find ways of encouraging them to play alone or without one another and help them to make friends of their own. As twins they will share a special bond due to the amount of time spent together from the very beginning, however, it is important that they find their own way in life.
Most importantly, enjoy having your twins because before you know it they will have flown the nest.
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
Preparing For Twins
So, you're having twins! Now what? Preparing for twins does not have to be complicated. And it's not a bad idea to start preparations in the early part of twin pregnancy. You'll have a lot more energy to tackle projects, go shopping, and perhaps, even put together some cribs.
There is certainly more gear needed for twins then singletons, as well as a bit more space. Making a list of the key items needed to prepare for your twins eventual arrival will help with setting a budget and keeping you on track with the essentials.
The first thing you will need to think about is lifestyle. Will you have your twins in separate rooms or one room? Will you be nursing or bottle feeding? Cloth or disposable diapers? What type of double stroller will suit you? And, of course, finances!
Buying for two can become costly. Keep in mind that there are many things your twins will not need or use when they are newborns. Obtaining these items later is a nice way to spread out the expense and the fuss. If you're on a tight budget or tight on space, you may want to forego two cribs, initially, and get one crib to share or two bassinets instead. Twins can sleep in bassinets until around 6 months or so. Not to mention, a bassinet can be moved from room to room with ease...A huge plus when you've got two babies! You won't have need of two highchairs for a while either so, if space and expense is an issue, you can save a bit here. You may also want to check out secondhand shops and garage sales for some of the pricier items. And don't forget your sister or friend who had a baby and needs to get rid of some stuff. If neither cost or space is an issue for you, happy shopping!
The following is a recommended list of the essentials for your twins homecoming:
1-2 Cribs or 2 bassinets
2 car seats
Double stroller
4-8 crib/bassinet sheets
6-10 receiving blankets
2-4 heavy blankets (for winter babies)
Diapers! (100 or so per week)
Cloth Diapers! (if you go this route, your local diaper service will let you know how many you will need)
2-4 boxes of baby wipes
Twin diaper bag
10-14 one piece undershirts
10-14 one piece pajamas and/or gowns
4-8 pairs of socks/booties
4-6 hats
4-6 blanket sleepers (for winter babies)
Baby wash and lotion
1-2 bath cushions or 1 portable tub
4-8 washcloths and towels
Diaper rash ointment
2 thermometers
2 bulb syringes
Tylenol for infants
6-14 bottles and nipples (if you will bottle feed)
2-4 large cans of formula (approx. a can a week)
1 bottle brush
6-12 burp cloths
4-8 bibs
1 twin nursing pillow (great even for bottle feeding)
If you have the above items on hand, you will be pretty well prepared for infant twins. If it's within your budget and you have the space, you may also want to purchase a baby monitor, 1-2 baby swings and/or bouncer chairs, 1-2 changing tables and a good quality breast pump (if you will breastfeed your twins). As mentioned earlier, lifestyle will play a role in deciding what items to obtain. So, use this list as your guideline when preparing for twins. Best of luck!
By Kellie Asaro: Mom-treprenuer, Author, Designer of Twin Clothing & Gifts
Kellie is the proud mother of identical twin boys and a daughter. She is the founder and author of http://www.twin-pregnancy-and-beyond.com , a wonderful resource for parents and families who have or are expecting twins. She also owns Trends In Twos - http://www.trendsintwos.com , a chic boutique specializing in clothing and gifts for twins and their families.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kellie_Asaro
There is certainly more gear needed for twins then singletons, as well as a bit more space. Making a list of the key items needed to prepare for your twins eventual arrival will help with setting a budget and keeping you on track with the essentials.
The first thing you will need to think about is lifestyle. Will you have your twins in separate rooms or one room? Will you be nursing or bottle feeding? Cloth or disposable diapers? What type of double stroller will suit you? And, of course, finances!
Buying for two can become costly. Keep in mind that there are many things your twins will not need or use when they are newborns. Obtaining these items later is a nice way to spread out the expense and the fuss. If you're on a tight budget or tight on space, you may want to forego two cribs, initially, and get one crib to share or two bassinets instead. Twins can sleep in bassinets until around 6 months or so. Not to mention, a bassinet can be moved from room to room with ease...A huge plus when you've got two babies! You won't have need of two highchairs for a while either so, if space and expense is an issue, you can save a bit here. You may also want to check out secondhand shops and garage sales for some of the pricier items. And don't forget your sister or friend who had a baby and needs to get rid of some stuff. If neither cost or space is an issue for you, happy shopping!
The following is a recommended list of the essentials for your twins homecoming:
1-2 Cribs or 2 bassinets
2 car seats
Double stroller
4-8 crib/bassinet sheets
6-10 receiving blankets
2-4 heavy blankets (for winter babies)
Diapers! (100 or so per week)
Cloth Diapers! (if you go this route, your local diaper service will let you know how many you will need)
2-4 boxes of baby wipes
Twin diaper bag
10-14 one piece undershirts
10-14 one piece pajamas and/or gowns
4-8 pairs of socks/booties
4-6 hats
4-6 blanket sleepers (for winter babies)
Baby wash and lotion
1-2 bath cushions or 1 portable tub
4-8 washcloths and towels
Diaper rash ointment
2 thermometers
2 bulb syringes
Tylenol for infants
6-14 bottles and nipples (if you will bottle feed)
2-4 large cans of formula (approx. a can a week)
1 bottle brush
6-12 burp cloths
4-8 bibs
1 twin nursing pillow (great even for bottle feeding)
If you have the above items on hand, you will be pretty well prepared for infant twins. If it's within your budget and you have the space, you may also want to purchase a baby monitor, 1-2 baby swings and/or bouncer chairs, 1-2 changing tables and a good quality breast pump (if you will breastfeed your twins). As mentioned earlier, lifestyle will play a role in deciding what items to obtain. So, use this list as your guideline when preparing for twins. Best of luck!
By Kellie Asaro: Mom-treprenuer, Author, Designer of Twin Clothing & Gifts
Kellie is the proud mother of identical twin boys and a daughter. She is the founder and author of http://www.twin-pregnancy-and-beyond.com , a wonderful resource for parents and families who have or are expecting twins. She also owns Trends In Twos - http://www.trendsintwos.com , a chic boutique specializing in clothing and gifts for twins and their families.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kellie_Asaro
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