Raising one baby is hard enough but raising twins takes some serious parenting superpowers. At times it will be twice as challenging, but it will always be twice as rewarding.
There will be things you won’t expect, like having a panic attack over forgetting which one is which, or finally getting one to sleep only for the other one to cry and wake the other one up. You may also want to get ready for strangers to gawk at your children in public, as people are always fascinated by twins.
Don’t worry, it does get easier. There won’t be twice as many diaper changes and feeding schedules to keep up with forever. There are many things you can do to make twin rearing easier. Here is a sure-fire guide to raising twins like a super-parent.
If you have financial concerns regarding having twins, don’t worry. Having twins doesn’t have to be twice as expensive as having one baby. There are many products made specifically for twins on the market, like twin prams, twin carriers, twin feeding pillows… the list is endless. They can even share a nursery if you are low on space.
If the cost of diapers is a concern of yours consider buying reusable cloth diapers, with the side benefit of this being a sustainable choice.
Of course, the formula will be expensive if you have twins but if you’re lucky enough to be able to breastfeed try it with your babies as often as you can. After all, breast milk is the best source of food and you can feed two babies at once.
Get them into a routine
Twins can share more than matching baby products. They should also share routines. This will be easier on you and easier on them. If they are on different schedules you will never get a break. Don’t expect your twin’s schedules to sync together instantly, this will take time.
Luckily once your twin’s routines sync their schedule won’t be much harder to manage than with a single baby, especially if you feed them and put them to sleep at the same time.
When it comes to putting your babies to sleep, try not to place them too close together. If one cries you could risk waking the other one up, not to mention the chance of scratching one another. For example, you could place one in the baby swing and rock the other one to sleep in a pram. You can then transfer them to their cribs in the nursery so you can get some alone time.
During the occasional moments when both of your babies are sleeping, you should take advantage of this time. You can use this time to catch up on some sleep, do something for yourself or by finally getting around to an errand that’s been in the back of your mind. Having your babies sleep at the same time will keep you sane in the first few difficult months.
Ask for help
If you are lucky enough to have a support network of family and friends, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Everyone goes through this and everyone is prepared to help, and most will be more than happy to spend time with your babies and would be thrilled if you asked them.
If you have a partner and they are at work while you’re on maternity leave, don’t feel guilty asking them to help you if you feel that they could be doing more. And don’t forget that if you feel exhausted and struggling, try to let someone know.
Get ready to embrace the chaos
Yes, it will be chaotic but that is just one of the joys of raising twins. Of course, there will be times where you doubt yourself and times when it feels there is at least one baby perpetually crying but when you look at your babies it will all be worth it.
Watching your babies grow together and learn together will make you want to do it all over again… Think of it this way, parents of twins are unique and they have something truly special that only fellow twin parents will understand. Good luck raising your twins, remember to embrace the chaos while you can, you will miss it when they’re older. If Beyoncé and J-Lo can raise twins so can you!
