It’s exciting to expect twins. Can you imagine having two babies at the same time? That’s equal to twofold blessing, and everyone in the family can’t wait to receive the newest members. But even then, one thing that you can undoubtedly count on is that your parenting is going to be more demanding than that of singleton parents.
Anytime you think of feeding, diaper changing, or cleaning, you know you have to do double work. It can be daunting, especially if you’re a working mom. But once a mom, always a mom, and forever one. Therefore, no matter how challenging parenting twins may seem, you still have to be the best mom. That said, it’s essential to arm yourself with some survival tips to raise your two little bundles of joy without pressure. Let’s see how!
Make Mealtimes Simple
It’s quite stressful to juggle between two hungry babies, and if you’re still struggling to fill the empty stomachs all at once, you’ll have a hard time. However, since you can’t change the situation, it’s best to master simultaneous feedings, whether it’s breastfeeding or bottle feeding. As crazy as it may seem, you have to learn how to breastfeed your babies at the same time. The same also applies to bottle feeding.
Nevertheless, bottle feeding could be a little easier than breastfeeding as you can have the young ones seated at two different spots when giving bottles in tandem. And don’t wait until your babies are hungry so that you start getting their feeding stuff ready – you’ll have a stressful time. Instead, prepare everything you need in advance to make mealtime smooth and easy for you.
After feeding, it’s now burping time, and you can’t do it for both at once. So, while the other one hangs out in the pillow, burp one and repeat it with the second baby. And that’s all. You may not master the skill of simultaneous feeding in a day, but practice makes perfect!
Stick to A Schedule
Even though taking care of your babies is your primary responsibility, you also need time to relax and engage in constructive activities. For this reason, it’s essential to work with a well-structured schedule that allows you time to flex your muscles and relax your mind. While the little ones may fall asleep and wake up at different times, it’s up to you to train them to do everything at the same time – sounds crazy, right? But it’s possible. If one wakes up, it’s time to make the other one wake up. And it applies to all activities, including feeding.
With time, you’ll realize that they fall asleep, wake up, and feed around the same time. In that way, you’ll be able to come up with a schedule that favours both you and the kids. Things like diaper-changing may not happen at the same time, as you keep an eye on them when they’re awake, you’ll figure out how to go about it. But generally, it shouldn’t be challenging to change them and keep them neat provided you stick to a schedule.
Keep in Touch with Other Twin Parents
While parenthood is unique, it’s not a bad idea to borrow ideas from those who understand what it means to raise two babies at the same time. Even though moms of multiples are rare to find, you can check online for twin communities, and you’ll learn a lot from them. For instance, what clothes do you need to buy and in what quantity? Before you even think of walking out with bags full of bubs warehouse shoes and baby clothing, you want to talk to a parent who’s been there before so that you to bring on can buy essential items only.
Since you’re trying to juggle between work and parenting twins, you may not walk into every shop trying to find the right outfits for you babies. Therefore, working with a ready-made list from an experienced parent would save you the hassle.
Seek Help
It’s not easy to trust everyone with your babies, but you can ask someone to lend a hand if you believe they can give your little ones the care they deserve. There are times you’ll need help – when going out with your twins or if you have to report back to work. At this point, you can work with a trusted nanny and let them take over when you’re away.
However, if you’re planning to have a full-time nanny when you resume work, be sure to work with them from the time the babies are born. In that way, you’re sure they’ll take care of your twins the same way you do even when you’re not around.
When your babies are old enough to take them out for shopping on bubs sale day, you can ask a close friend or relative to accompany you so that they help you carry either of the twins.
See a Pediatrician More Often
Besides the usual care that you give your little twins as a parent, you’ve got to ensure they’re healthy all the time. If you’re raising twins, it’s easy to forget this due to what you have to do in a day. On that note, it’s essential to have a clinic schedule for your kids to keep you on toes. Check with your pediatrician from time to time to monitor your twins’ health. Please don’t wait until one develops a fever so that you make a move.
Let your physician know the challenges you’re going through trying to raise two children at the same time. They could also advise on the best way to go about it. It’s a blessing to have twins, but remember you’ve got to learn the tricks of taking care of them so that you’re not overwhelmed at any point!