Breastfeeding twins has many advantages for both the mother and baby.

Breastfeeding strengthens the baby’s immune system and reduces the incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). It is also a great way for mother and child to bond.

Breastfeeding twins can seem overwhelming to a new mom, but thousands of new mothers successfully breastfed their twins every day.

These tips will help you to be successful from day one.

1. Get a Lactation Consultant

As soon as you arrive in your Postpartum room after giving birth, ask to see the Lactation Consultant. As a mother of twins, you will be a priority for her.

She will sit with you and teach you exactly how to get each of your babies to latch correctly onto your breast. Learning how to do this from the very first feeding is important.

If your babies do not latch correctly, breastfeeding twins can be painful and your babies will not be able to feed efficiently.

That is the number one reason responsible for issues with breastfeeding twins.

Nowadays all Lactation Consultants receive training on teaching mothers how to breastfeed twins, so she will be able to help you with different positions and issues particular to twins.

2. Find a Lactation Consultant in Your Area

Before giving birth, you may want to find a lactation consultant in your area, so you can make an appointment to see her once you have been released from the hospital. Many will come out to your home to continue to help you after you leave the hospital.

3. Get in a Comfortable Breastfeeding Position.

The position is very important when breastfeeding twins. There are many positions mothers prefer when breastfeeding twins and there is no one right way.

The positions for breastfeeding twins should allow you to relax your back and neck. Your posture of choice should allow easy digestion while the babies suckle.

You may find a number of positions helpful at different times. The goal is to try different positions until you find the ones that work best for you and your twins.

4. Get a Comfortable Breastfeeding Pillow

Get a special breastfeeding pillow designed for twins.

The My Brest Friend Supportive Nursing Pillow For Twins 0-12 Months, Plus-Size is the most useful breastfeeding pillow for twins.

It is soft and provides plenty of room for both babies. The strap is also awesome, as it keeps the pillow in place while you move your twins around and help them latch on correctly.

Colors: Light Green (Pictured), Dark Grey, Light Grey, Fireworks, and Black and White

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Price: $58.04- $67.99

5. Wear Easy Access Nursing Tops and Nursing Bras.

In the beginning, you will find soft, comfortable 2-in-1 nursing tops with built-in bras to be extremely useful. While you are learning how to nurse twins and your twins are feeding to often, you will find yourself constantly needing to expose your breast to feed. These tops also make it simple to breastfeed both twins at the same time.

Caramel Cantina 3 Pack Women’s Nursing Cami Built-in Bra is a great 2-in-1 soft tank top and nursing bra. You can wear it by itself or under another loose top. It comes in many sizes and colors, thus matching everything. You will want to buy at least a few packs of these because in the beginning, milk will leak and babies will spit up on you.

Colors: Black, White and Charcoal (3 Pack), Navy, Burgundy and Teal (3 Pack), Black (3 Pack)

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Price: $36.99 (Pack of three)

Having plenty of comfortable nursing bras is also important. When your milk supply is first coming in and your twins are learning how to breastfeed, it will messy. You will find yourself often needing to change your bra. You will also need to wear a bra all the time in the beginning because your breasts will leak milk.

Therefore, you will want to have comfortable bras you can wear all day and night.

The 3 PACK Full Bust Seamless Nursing Maternity Bras with Extenders & Clips is the perfect nursing bra bundle.

We recommend you buy at least three of these packs to get started. The extender will be great right after you give birth before you lose your pregnancy and while your milk supply is adjusting. The clips allow you to connect the two straps in the back to hide them when wear tank tops or other sleeveless shirts.

Colors: Black, Pink & Nude (3 Pack), Nude (3 Pack), Black (3 Pack), Black, Grey & Nude (3 Pack)

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Price: $36.99 (Pack of three)

6. Start with One Twin at a Time

As a new parent or one who is having your first pair of twins, it is advisable that you start gradually, with a twin at a time to the breast.

Once each twin is latching properly and you feel comfortable, start trying to feed the other twin at the same time.

Be patient with yourself and know you will master breastfeeding twins at the same time. It is a skill like any other and simply requires practice.

7. Use a Breastpump Only When Necessary

Before you consider using a breast pump, be sure it is needed.

Mothers panic, saying their breasts don’t produce much milk and they are afraid they are not making enough for the twins.

it takes a few days for your milk to come in. The most effective way to establish a strong milk supply is to latch them properly and encourage your twins to feed often.

The woman lactation process actually generates more milk with the demands placed by the suckling mouth(s). Breast pumps are just not as effective at expelling milk from the breast.

In the early days, encourage your twins to breastfeed often. These early days will determine how much milk your body makes. It is a supply and demand system established during the first days. That is also why learning how to latch your twins on is so important from the beginning.

So, before you go for a pumping aid, be sure you need it.

When it is time to begin pumping, we recommend you use the Medela Pump in Style Advanced Double Electric Breast Pump with On the Go Tote.

It is an awesome all-in-one system.

Medela is the most well-known and recommended brand on the market. All of their products come with a lifetime warranty and their service department is excellent.

While the bag this breast pump comes with may not be your first choice, this bundle is a great deal and has everything you will need to immediately begin pumping.

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Price: $190.93

8. Alternate the kids to the breast

Each of the twins might have different appetite and sucking behavior.

Therefore, alternate which twin feeds from each breast with every feeding. A great way to remember which twin fed from each breast is to wear a simple bracelet or hair tie on your wrist. Assign the hair tie to Twin A. After you have completed breastfeeding your twins, move the hair tie to the other wrist. This will tell you that Twin A should feed on that breast during the next feeding.

9. Get Rest

You need as much rest as you can get.

When your newborn twins are sleeping, you should sleep, as well.

Ask friends and family members to keep up with the daily tasks around the house.

In the early days, your task is to heal your body from birth, breastfeed and care for your new twins. That is a full-time job. Everything else can wait.

10. Ask for Help

Neighbors, friends, co-workers, and family are great helpers in the early days. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Hiring a Postpartum Doula is also an excellent choice.

Postpartum Doulas can help you care for your newborn twins, clean your house, cook and help organize the help of others in your life.

11. Eat and Drink Frequently

Think of your body as just recovering from running a marathon.

Labor is exhausting and you have lost a lot of blood. Now you are trying to make food for two little people.

Allow yourself to eat foods you are craving. Your body may need more salt, protein or fats to recover.

In the early days, we drank lots of Ensure High Protein Nutrition Shake with 16 grams of high-quality protein, Meal Replacement Shakes.

We loved them because they did not contain milk and thus did not need to remain refrigerated. We kept them on our nightstand and drank them during the night when we woke up hungry.

Product Details:

Flavors: Chocolate, Strawberry, and Vanilla

Price: $31.94 for 24 8oz Bottles

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Drinking lots of water is one of the best ways to ensure your body will produce enough milk.

Breast milk is composed of 90% water.

During birth and for days after giving birth, your body will lose a lot of blood. Blood is composed mostly of water. Therefore, you will likely be extremely dehydrated.

One of the biggest factors that will affect your milk supply in the early days is your water intake. This is a crucial time as your body is figuring out how much milk to make for your twins. If you are severely dehydrated in the early days, your body will not establish the correct amount of milk supply.

You will probably notice that soon after you begin breastfeeding your twins you will become thirsty. The oxytocin that your body releases during breastfeeding is responsible for triggering your thirst. This is your body’s natural way of ensuring that you are getting enough water to make breast milk.

As soon as you can, begin rehydrating your body. This can easily be done simply with water. During breastfeeding one baby, you should drink an extra quart, or 32 ounces, per day.

12. Start Preparing Before Your Twins Arrive.

Preparation is key. Create a plan now to ensure you will have all of the tools and people in place when your twins arrive.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. People who love you will want to feel needed and your twins will benefit from it, as well.

The post 12 Tips for Breastfeeding Twins appeared first on TWINS Magazine.

We have found our top three recommendations for the best pack n play for twins and included the product details, the pros and cons of each and all other information we feel you will need to choose the best pack n play for your twins.

1. The Baby Trend Twin Nursery Center is our #1 recommended pack n play.

It has extra features the other pack n plays we found for twins just don’t have.

When your twins are first born, a pack n play can be a great first place to have your twins sleep at night.

We placed this pack n play next to our bed and had each twin sleeping in one of the two removable bassinets. That made it easy for me, as the breastfeeding mother, to lean over and pick up each twin when they needed to breastfeed.

This will be the place you lay your twins down to nap throughout much of the day. During the day, many parents have this crib in the main sitting room. At night, many parents bring this crib into their bedroom.

Product Details:

Colors: Comes in Color Shown

Price: $249.99

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Amazon Rating:

Below we have included the main pros and cons of each pack n play.

Pros:

★ Advantage Over Our Other Recommended Pack n Plays–The Deluxe Parent Organizer is an awesome feature that allows you to keep diapers, wipes, clothing and outfits right next to the pack n play.

★ Two removable rock-a-bye bassinet each convert to standalone rockers

★ Removable rock-a-bye bassinet comes with canopy and carry handle, plush fabric and mesh sides for proper ventilation

★ Flip away changing table and deluxe parent organizer. Use only household mild soap and warm water. Do Not Use Bleach. Do Not Machine Wash

★ One-hand locking mechanism and large wheels with brakes

★ Electronic music center with volume control, nightlight, and vibration

Cons:

• Only available in 1 color

• Twins will quickly outgrow the bassinets

2. The Graco Pack ‘n Play Playard with Twins Bassinet is the second pack n play we recommend.

Product Details:

Colors: Comes in Color Shown

Price: $179.99

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Amazon Rating:

Below we have included the main pros and cons of each pack n play.

Pros:

★ Advantage Over Our Other Recommended Pack n Plays– It is less expensive.

★ The Pack ‘n Play Playard with Twin Bassinet is roomy with 2 cozy quilted bassinets for twins

★ Removable bassinet is perfect for napping, making it easy to transition to a portable playpen

★ Quilted mattress pad creates a comfortable nap space

★ Convenient carrying bag for no-fuss travel and storage

Cons:

• Only available in 1 color

• It does not have a changing pad or organizer for diapers, wipes and other baby items

3. The JOOVY Room2 Twin Nursery Center and the Joovy New Room2 Portable Playard is our third recommendation.

Note: The Nursery Center and the Playard Must Both Be Purchased

The JOOVY Room2 Twin Nursery Center and Joovy New Room2 Portable Playard are sold separately.

Price: $75.33- Nursery Center; $119.99- Playard = Total is $195.32

Lowest Price: Nursery Center and Playard

Amazon Rating:

Product Features:

★ Advantage Over Our Other Recommended Pack n Plays– Much larger than other two pack n plays

★ Includes bassinet and changing table (playard sold separately)

★ Bassinet holds twins up to 15 lbs each or 30 lbs total, removable center divider

★ Great for use with one baby, twins or multiples

★ Changing table holds up to 25 lbs, water resistant surface is easy to clean

★ Changing table is removable and flips over when not in use

Cons:

• Must be purchased as two individual items

• Does not include a parent organizer bin for accessories

• It does not have a changing pad or organizer for diapers, wipes and other baby items

In summary, a pack n play for twins is an excellent, useful place to have for your twins. It can be used for naps, to change diapers and as a safe play area for your twins.

Comment below and let us know if you have purchased any of these three pack n plays for twins and what you think about them.

The post The Best Pack n Play for Twins appeared first on TWINS Magazine.

Why These are the Best Car Seats for Twins

Buying safe, durable, and easy to install car seats are every parents desire, but the research process can be very overwhelming.

As parents of twins, we know first-hand how challenging it all can be. Therefore, we have done all the research for you!

We’ve narrowed it down to the very best, while providing you with a few competitive choices.

All of our recommendations for the best car sets for twins met our stringent standards:

• Have Excellent Safety Ratings
• Received Excellent Ratings and Recommendations from Actual Consumers
• Are Affordable
• Can Be Quickly Purchased Online from Our Site

The Best Newborn Infant Car Seats for Twins

We recommend you purchase a car seat that can be separated from its base, while keeping you newborn nestled in the car seat. When infants are extremely young, they spend most of their time sleeping. These car seats will allow you to easily transport you sleeping twins.

We also recommend you buy a Baby Trend Universal Double Snap-N-Go Stroller Frame. This will be the first stroller you use. It is lightweight and compatible with the infant car seats.

Here’s a comparison of the different Graco SnugRide Infant Car Seats:

All use the InRight latch system. It is a game changer!

They have made a one-second connection with the base with its 4-position recline and an easy-to-read level indicator bubble that helps eliminate installation guesswork.

While both of our recommendations are about 2lbs heavier than the other SnugRides, they are the best infant car seats Graco has yet to design.

1. Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 LX Featuring TrueShield Technology

Not Pictured in Above Table

Weight Recommendation: 4lbs to 35lbs

Colors: 1 Color Available

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Price: $126.97

Amazon Rating:

Below, we have outlined the pros and cons of this product:

Pros:

★ Advantage over Other Convertible Car Seats in Above Table– TrueShield Technology helps keep you infant safe by providing advanced protection from head to hips in the event of a side impact.

★ Adjust handle with one hand, leaving your other hand free– With twins, this is an even more helpful feature.

★ Silent Shade canopy easily and quietly adjusts without disturbing baby– Never wake a sleeping baby.

★ InRight LATCH system for a one-second LATCH attachment– Both of our recommendations have this feature. It is a big upgrade from their previous hook system.

★ 4-position adjustable base lets you customize fit to you vehicle– This ensures that the baby will be in the safest position for breathing, no matter the depths of you seats.

★ Easy-to-read level indicator helps eliminate installation guesswork– You will know for certain that the car seat is level, without having to simply guess.

★ Fits into Our Recommended Baby Trend Snap-n-Go Stroller– We recommend every new parent of twins use a Baby Trend Universal Double Snap-N-Go Stroller Frame for you first stroller. These car sets fit perfectly into the frame.

Cons:

• Disadvantage over Other Convertible Car Seats in Above Table– A bit heavier than the others.

• Requires a bit of Force to Secure into Base– The car seat securely snaps into the base, but it does require a small bit of doing to snap it in.

2. Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 Elite Infant Car Seat

* Pictured Second From Left in Above Table*

Weight Recommendation: 4lbs to 35lbs

Colors: 3 Colors Available

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Price: $149.98- $188.99

Amazon Rating:

Below, we have outlined the pros and cons of this product:

Pros:

★ Advantage over Other Convertible Car Seats in Above Table– The InRight Latch System! Install is super simple.

★ Quick and Easy to Install– SnugLock Technology features a hassle-free 3-step installation rear-facing car seat helps protect infants from 4 to 35 lb and up to 32″ quick and easy clean up with the Rapid Remove cover.

★ Safest Infant Car Seat– Simply Safe Adjust Harness System adjusts headrest and harness together to prevent rethreading Safety Core absorbs frontal crash forces:

• Side Impact Tested*
• New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) – peak crash force approximately 2X Car Seat Standard.
• Extreme Car Interior Temperatures.

*In addition to meeting or exceeding all applicable US safety standards, the Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 Elite Infant Car Seat has been side impact tested for occupant retention by the harness system.

★ Reclining Base Allows for Great Rest– Adjustable base with 4 recline positions and easy-to-read bubble level indicator InRight LATCH system for a one-second LATCH attachment.

★ Rotating Canopy– Window and visor provides shade and sun protection for baby removable newborn head and body support cushions baby.

★ Fits into Our Recommended Baby Trend Snap-n-Go Stroller– We recommend every new parent of twins use a Baby Trend Universal Double Snap-N-Go Stroller Frame for you first stroller. These car sets fit perfectly into the frame.

Cons:

• Disadvantage over Other Convertible Car Seats in Above Table– Can only be used up to 65lbs.

• Requires Force to Secure into Base– The car seat securely snaps into the base, but it does require a bit of strength to snap it in.

The Complete 4 Car Seats in 1 for Twins

If you are looking for ONE car seat that you can use from birth until you twins no longer require a booster seat, this is the best option:

3. Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat

Recommended Weight: 4lbs to 120lbs

Colors: 11 Colors to Choose From

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Price: $239.99- $339.99

Amazon Rating:

Below, we have outlined the pros and cons of this product:

Pros:

★ The Only Car Seat You Will Ever Need– This 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat gives you 10 years of use from 4lbs to 120 pounds. It can be used as a rear-facing baby car seat from 4lbs to 40 lbs. It can then be used forward-facing for your toddlers car seat from 20 to 65 lbs.

★ The Safest Available– Graco has been a trusted brand for over 100 years. Of all of Graco’s car seats, this is among the very safest. The patented Simply Safe Adjust Harness System is safe and simple to use.

★ Becomes a Booster Seat– High back belt-positioning mode from 30lbs to 100 lbs and backless belt-positioning mode from 40lbs to 120 lbs.

★ Quick and Easy to Secure in Your Vehicle– InRight LATCH system for an easy, 1-second LATCH attachment

★ Machine-washable Seat Cushions–The metal and plastic parts may be cleaned with mild soap and cool water and the buckle may be cleaned with a damp cloth and the harness straps may be spot cleaned.

Cons:

• Headrest Rattles– Some complain the headrest rattles and must be tightened.

The Best Convertible Car Seats for Twins

We believe these are the safest, most durable and most versatile car seats. Each of these has advantages over others. We will help you determine which of these is best for you twins.

Once you twins outgrow their infant car seats, these car seats will change to adjust to the needs of you growing kids.

4. Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat

Recommended Weight: 5lbs to 65lbs

Colors: 8 Options

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Price: $134.28- $225.61

Amazon Rating:

Below, we have outlined the pros and cons of this product:

Pros:

★ Advantage over Other Convertible Car Seats in Above Table– A bit less expensive than others

★ Helps protect rear-facing infants from 4-50 lbs and forward-facing toddlers from 22-65 lbs.

★ 4-position extension panel adjusts to provide 5″ additional leg room allowing you child to ride safely rear-facing longer; Up to 50 pounds rear-facing allowing you child to ride safely rear-facing for longer.

★ 6-position recline helps keep you child comfy.

★ 10-position headrest adjusts easily for you growing child.

★ Simply Safe Adjust Harness System adjusts the height of the harness and headrest in one motion.

★ InRight LATCH system for an easy, one-second LATCH attachment; easy-to-read level indicator for hassle-free installation.

★ Engineered & rigorously crash tested to meet or exceed US Standard FMVSS 213; Extend2Fit convertible car seat has been side-impact tested for occupant retention solely with the built-in 5-point harness system.

Cons:

• Disadvantage over Other Convertible Car Seats in Above Table– Can only be used up to 65lbs.

5. Graco SlimFit All-in-One Convertible Car Seat 

Recommended Weight: 5lbs to 100lbs

Colors: 2 Options

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Price: $181.83- $195.49

Amazon Rating:

Below, we have outlined the pros and cons of this product:

Pros:

★ Advantage over Other Convertible Car Seats in Above Table– The best choice for smaller cars. This car seat is narrower than the others and is perfect for small backseats.

★ All-in-One seat grows with you child from 5-100 lb, rear- to forward-facing and becomes a belt-positioning booster; save space in your back seat with unique rotating cup holders

★ Simply Safe Adjust Harness System adjusts the height of the harness and headrest; integrated harness storage compartment holds unused harness straps while the seat is a belt positioning booster

★ Engineered & crash tested to meet or exceed US standard FMVSS 213; the SlimFit car seat has been side impact tested for occupant retention solely with the built-in 5-point harness system; features EPS foam

★ InRight LATCH system for an easy, one-second LATCH attachment; 4-position recline helps keep you growing child comfy, in rear and forward-facing modes

★ Plush supports keep you child comfortable and are removable; washable seat cover is easy to access without removing the harness

★ Steel-reinforced frame provides strength and durability

Cons:

• Disadvantage over Other Convertible Car Seats in Above Table– A bit less cushion compared to the other ones.

6. Graco Size4Me 65 Convertible Car Seat Featuring RapidRemove

Recommended Weight: 4lbs to 65lbs

Colors: 4 Options

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Price: $154.99- $179.99

Amazon Rating:

Below, we have outlined the pros and cons of this product:

Pros:

★ Advantage over Other Convertible Car Seats in Above Table– The RapidRemove cover is awesome! While with other car seats, you have to physically take it apart to remove the cover from it, the RapidRemove cover comes off in less than a minute! No need to uninstall it.

★ Designed to help protect you rear-facing infant from 4-40 lbs. and you forward-facing toddler from 22-65 lbs.

★ Simply Safe Adjust Harness System adjusts the height of you harness and headrest to 8 positions, in one motion, to ensure that you child is always properly secured

★ Side-impact tested-in addition to meeting or exceeding all applicable U.S. safety standards, the Size4Me car seat has been side-impact tested for occupant retention solely with the built-in 5 point harness system Machine-washable

★ In Right LATCH system for an easy, one-second LATCH attachment.

Cons:

• Disadvantage over Other Convertible Car Seats in Above Table– Only goes up to 65lbs.

The Best Car Seat for Special Needs Twins

7. Graco 4Ever Extend2Fit All in One Convertible Car Seat

Recommended Weight: 4lbs to 120lbs

Colors: 5 Options

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Price: $209.99- $349.99

Amazon Rating:

Below, we have outlined the pros and cons of this product:

Pros:

★ Advantage over Other Convertible Car Seats in Above Table– Can use for up to 120lbs. It is the Ideal car seat for special needs kids who may need to remain in a car seat longer.

★ 4-in-1 seat grows with you child, so you can enjoy 10 years of use, from 4 to 120 lb

★ Extend2Fit 4-position extension panel provides 5″ additional leg room

★ Up to 50 lb rear-facing allowing you child to safely ride rear-facing longer plush inserts keep you child comfortable washable seat cover is easy to remove without removing the harness

★ Simply Safe Adjust Harness System headrest and Harness adjust together one-hand, 10-position adjustable headrest easily adapts for you growing child

★ In Right LATCH system for an easy, one-second LATCH attachment integrated belt lock-off for easy vehicle seat belt installation easy-to-read level indicator helps eliminate rear-facing installation guesswork

★ 2 integrated cup holders keeps you child’s drinks or snacks close at hand integrated harness storage compartment holds unused harness straps while in the belt positioning booster mode

★ Steel-reinforced frame provides strength and durability. Integrated harness storage compartment holds unused harness straps while in the belt positioning booster mode

Cons:

• Disadvantage over Other Convertible Car Seats in Above Table– This car seat is a bit more expensive than our other recommendations

In summary, there are two types of car seats you will need for your twins. The first car seat will be used for your newborn twins. It will include a base that remains in your car and a removable carrier. The removable carrier will allow you to transport your twins without waking them up.

The second type of car seat will be a convertible car seat. Some of the recommendations above will convert into a booster seat when your children no longer need the restraint portion.

One of the recommendations we have included will even allow you to use the car seat with a child up to 120 pounds. This would be our suggestion for children with special needs who will need to remain in a car seat longer.

The post The Best Car Seats for Twins appeared first on TWINS Magazine.

That is not true.

As parents of twins, we have compiled this simple list of the five pieces of baby furniture for twins that you will want to invest in.

1. Two Convertible Cribs

The Delta Children Emery 4-in-1 Convertible Baby Crib is an awesome choice. As a 4-in-1 crib, it is the only bed your twin will need for years to come.

Product Details:

Colors: Comes in Dark Chocolate (Shown), Grey, and White

*It is also available as a mini crib.*

If you have a smaller room for your twins, you may want to purchase two mini cribs. However, remember that if you purchase mini cribs for your twins, you must also purchase mattress pads and sheets that fit mini cribs.

Price: $189.99

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

2. A Changing Table

You will only need one changing table.

It will be the station where you keep your diapers, wipes, diaper rash ointment and changes of clothes.

The Delta Children Infant Changing Table with Pad matches the crib er recommend. It received excellent reviews and is very affordable.

Product Details:

Colors: Comes in 5 Colors

Price: $249.99

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Amazon Rating:

3. A Playard with Bassinets

It has extra features the other pack n plays we found for twins just don’t have.

When your twins are first born, a pack n play can be a great first place to have your twins sleep at night.

We placed this pack n play next to our bed and had each twin sleeping in one of the two removable bassinets. That made it easy for me, as the breastfeeding mother, to lean over and pick up each twin when they needed to breastfeed.

This will be the place you lay your twins down to nap throughout much of the day. During the day, many parents have this crib in the main sitting room. At night, many parents bring this crib into their bedroom.

Product Details:

Colors: Comes in Color Shown

Price: $249.99

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Amazon Rating:

Below we have included the main pros and cons of each pack n play.

Pros:

★Two removable rock-a-bye bassinet each convert to standalone rockers

★Removable rock-a-bye bassinet comes with canopy and carry handle, plush fabric and mesh sides for proper ventilation

★Flip away changing table and deluxe parent organizer. Use only household mild soap and warm water. Do Not Use Bleach. Do Not Machine Wash

★One-hand locking mechanism and large wheels with brakes

★Electronic music center with volume control, nightlight, and vibration

Cons:

• Only available in 1 color

• Twins will quickly outgrow the bassinets

4. Two Bouncer Seats

One of the absolute must haves as a parent of twins is a bouncer seat for each twin. This will be a great place to sit your twins for bottle feedings, to read books to them, for short naps, when you need to go to the bathroom, and even while you cook dinner.

The Fisher-Price Infant-to-Toddler Rocker is our favorite choice for bouncer seats.

The seats are comfortable, well-made, lightweight and adorable.

Product Details:

Colors: 8 Colors and Patterns to Choose From

Price: $29.00-$69.99

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Amazon Ratings:

These seats can be used for many purposes. They are the perfect place to bottle-feed your twins. Simply sit your babies in the seats, strap them in, and feed.

Babies love to be held. Holding one baby for hours a day can be tough enough, but holding twins can often be impossible. We often placed our twins into these bouncers, strapped the in and gently rocked them with our feet. Often the gently rocking put them right to sleep and allowed us to get a much-needed break.

These bouncers are also a great, safe place to put your twins if you need to go to the bathroom or get something to eat.

Unlike a large bassinet or portable playard, these bouncers can easily be taken into the kitchen, bathroom, porch, yard, or anywhere else you want to go.

5. One Electric Swing

In the beginning, we highly recommend you only purchase one baby swing.

We found there was never a time when we felt like we needed two swings. We also found that our twins would go through phases. One would find the swing soothing and the other would not.

The Graco Simple Sway Baby Swing is a great choice. It is versatile and made by a very reputable company.

Product Details:

Colors: 3 Colors and Patterns to Choose From

Price: $69.00-$92.87

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Amazon Ratings:

Below we have included the main pros and cons of this baby swing:

Pros:

★ Plug-in option allows you to save money on batteries while using your infant swing. Also takes D Batteries.

★ This baby swings small frame design fits in any room of your home so you can easily keep baby close wherever you are.

★ Gentle, side-to-side swaying motion soothes and comforts baby. 2-speed vibration to help keep your baby calm and relaxed.

★ The deep, plush seat with removable head support keeps your little one cozy and comfortable while in the baby swing.

Cons:

• Some customers said the swing squeaks.

• Can hear the motor when the swing is on.

In summary, there are five pieces of furniture for twins you will want to have before your twins are born.

Many parents of twins feel overwhelmed by all the furniture and supplies for twins. Hopefully, this list of the 5 essential pieces of furniture for twins will help you feel better about what you should buy to prepare for your twins.

Comment below and let us know which of these items you have purchased and what you think about them.

Did we leave any furniture for twins off this list?

Let us know and we will add it right away.

The post Must Have Baby Furniture for Twins appeared first on TWINS Magazine.

Being first-time parents raising twin babies can be daunting but Mom of twins, Anne Marshall shares some thoughts on making that important first year with your twins as enriching as possible.

For any Feeding Method You Use, Feed Them Together

I had been intending to breastfeed, but ultimately ended up bottle feeding.

When my partner first went back to work, I would feed them one at a time. One would be screaming while the other had their bottle.

It was stressful for all of us.

Then another twin mum told me how she propped hers up with cushions, so she could feed them at the same time. Perhaps if I hadn’t been so sleep deprived I could have thought of this myself? So, I put them in their car seats on the sofa and fed them together.

No waiting, no tears, genius! – the other mother, not me!

Routine, Routine, Routine

From a very early age, I decided to establish a routine for raising my twins.

They were fed at the same time, napped at the same time, played at the same time, we went for a walk after lunch at the same time which was also a nap time, and went to bed at the same time.

Funny enough, a mother of a singleton said to me that this must involve a lot of crying. Perhaps it sounded very regimented. I wasn’t a believer in crying it out, so this wasn’t the case, and if you get a feel for what your babies do naturally, getting them on a routine can happen quite cohesively and naturally.

The routine will change and adapt every couple of months as they change, but I found the structure helped me to organize myself, prevented me from getting overwhelmed in chaos, and allowed the babies to feel secure.

Don’t Worry About Quality Time When They are Infants

Obviously, it’s nice, when there are two adults around and they can have extra cuddles, or you can go a bit further afield more easily, but don’t worry that you aren’t doing swimming classes or any other class.

Of course, there are ways around these hurdles, but don’t put yourself under unnecessary pressure.

Your twins are happy just to hang out with you, walk through the park, have a dance party at home, go for coffee. They have you, and they have each other.

They don’t need to be adding to the special skills section of their C.V at 5 months old.

If Your Twins are Born Prematurely, You Might Want to Read Up on That

Mine twins were born 5 weeks early and I really didn’t know anything about it.

My best baby- mama friend had a full-term singleton, who could put his pacifier in and out of his mouth all by himself, while we were at coffee, while mine were always fast asleep in the buggy (bonus, really).

Don’t compare what a full-term baby does to a premature baby. It usually all evens out quickly, or there may be things that show up in the future. For instance, my daughter is hyper-mobile which was picked up on by a physiotherapist when she was only 6 months.

This has affected some of her fine and gross motor skills. However, we can’t say for sure this was because she was born prematurely or not.

Every Stage Moves On

Sometimes when you’re in the thick of it, especially in a first year with twins, it can feel as if this stage is how your life will always be, and that can be overwhelming.

So, remember, if your twins don’t sleep through the night yet, or you’re alone a lot and your friends don’t understand what you’re going through, or whichever stage you’re at, ‘this too shall pass’.

These stages, especially in the first year of raising twins, move past so quickly as I mentioned before in the routines section. Just when you think you can’t go on anymore, they’ll start sleeping through the night, or you’ll meet a new friend etc., or they’ll start sitting up and playing differently, and life will change all over again.

Look After Yourself

People like to say, ‘if Mums not happy, the kids won’t be happy’.

That’s a little harsh if you are feeling unhappy, so don’t be hard on yourself. But, I do believe it’s O.K. to be selfish.

Take time for yourself. Take time out.

Keep something for yourself that makes you feel good, whether that’s yoga, a trip to the cinema, painting, work, or something where you can express yourself. It’s important to keep nourishing yourself because motherhood can be overwhelming, and you really can feel that you’ve lost your self. You’re still you. Don’t worry, you haven’t lost anything, only gained.

You don’t have to be the perfect Mum either, you’re just fine as you are, and you are perfect to your babies. The first year goes so fast, it really is only 12 months of little infants before you drift on to toddler-hood.

Good luck Mama, you can do it

Anne Marshall is a mother of 4 including twins and blogs on Huff Post, Parents U.K about twins, raising multiples and more, mothers, society etc. She currently resides in Cardiff, Wales.

The post 6 Useful Tips for Raising Twins in Their First Year appeared first on TWINS Magazine.

Whoever said there was no point in crying over spilled milk must have been a mother of twin toddlers.

I had no concept of the amount of liquids that twins can spill, or the amount that carpets can absorb,but in the early months of twin parenthood, I learned. On some days it seemed that time not spent taking care of Emmalyn and Alexa or (seldom) sleeping was solely spent sopping up juice, milk and other spills. I became convinced that in the air, as a liquid leaves its container, some sort of molecular expansion converts a cup of juice into a gallon by the time it hits the floor.

One afternoon, as I scrubbed away at a spot I’d cleaned minutes earlier, I wondered how mothers a hundred years ago coped with rags and lye, instead of the arsenal of cleaners I had at my fingertips. It was not the first time I felt a humble gratitude to be living now.

The most ingenious invention of our modern era, I felt, had to be spill-proof sippy cups. The magic of being able to give a child a cup and know that when it was tipped upside down, rolled across the room or tossed to the other twin it would not spill, is hard to describe.

When Emmalyn and Alexa graduated to sippy cups I graduated to a new lower level of cleaning. Now I could give the house a daily once-over and it looked acceptable — certainly not meeting my pre-children standards, but definitely tolerable. And since most people have a near-fearful respect for parents of twins,the bar was a bit lower for me anyhow. Life was good.

So it was in horror that I listened as Ken said one night at the supper table, “You know, the girls are getting a little old for their sippy cups. I think we should start using regular cups with them.”

“Regular cups?”An image of our early parenting days flashed in front of my eyes. No. I couldn’t go back there.

“It won’t be so bad,” he promised,“Look how good they are with sippies.”

“Exactly. They are good with the sippies. Why do they ever have to drink from anything else?”

Emmalyn and Alexa’s excitement at the transition to regular cups overshadowed my reluctance. Now they drank from cups just like mom and dad. Now they were big girls! Or at least, that was their perspective. My perspective was that they were still little girls, now making big messes.

They tried to be careful, but spills were inevitable. Our house returned to being a swampy battlefield, where paper towels marked the latest spill so that grown-ups (oddly enough, never the girls) could step into it the moment shoes were kicked off tired feet.

On one particularly frustrating day, Emmalyn and Alexa spilled every single thing I gave them, including dark-brown Ovaltine that defied the laws of gravity and ended up on our 10-foot living room ceiling. Something inside me snapped and I sat them down for a stern lecture. “You are big girls now,” I said firmly,“and you have got to be more careful. I know you’re still learning and you’re trying hard, but you have got to get better.”

They exchanged timid glances and whispered,“Sorry, Mom.”

It was impossible to remain angry. I patted them on the backs.“It’s OK. You’ll get better.”

But through the afternoon and evening the spills continued, now accompanied by tearful admissions that they had been careful, but somehow, they didn’t know how, they had spilled their cups. The house was a wetland with something sticky or sloshy at every step. I couldn’t take any more. When Ken came home, I met him at the door and said,“We’re going out to eat.”

We sauntered into the restaurant and delivered the usual speech about being careful with their cups. And moments later — I still don’t know how this happened — I reached for something and my glass, brimming with cola, went sprawling across the table in a Niagara-worthy splash. I was speechless. Emmalyn and Alexa’s open-mouthed faces turned to me in unison. And slowly, as though she were exploring uncharted territory, Alexa leaned close and whispered,“I thought you were a big girl now, Mom.”

Emmlayn took the cue with a sorrowful,“You have got to be more careful.”

“But it’s OK,” Alexa said, “You’re still learning.” She patted my arm.“You will get better.”

The post Life with Twins: Our Cups Runneth Over appeared first on TWINS Magazine.

Breastfeeding twins is an incredible way to ensure your twins health and can be done.

There it was again–another look of disbelief. Melinda’s confidence dipped a little lower with each look or thoughtless remark: “You’re not going to nurse twins, are you?” or “You’ll have your hands full enough without nursing.” Already exhausted from a lack of sleep–it was hard to get comfortable at night–Melinda was especially vulnerable to negative remarks. Melinda’s concerns–sleep and milk–are not unlike those of thousands of other mothers who eventually find nursing twins one of the most rewarding experiences of their lives. In the beginning, however, the reality–sleep, milk production, emotions and a dramatic change in lifestyle–can be overwhelming.

“When I was breastfeeding my twins, I felt like I had my shirt off 24 hours a day,” recalled Jean Dosdos, a breastfeeding support volunteer through the West Palm Beach Mothers of Twins Club in West Palm Beach, Fla. “I know how frustrating it can be for new moms of twins, and that’s why I volunteer. I know it’s a tremendous help to have that support and encouragement. Otherwise, new moms would quit trying after two or three weeks.”

The Proper Technique for Breastfeeding Twins

Breastfeding Twins is simply a skill you must learn to do correctly.

As soon as your twins are born, you will want to have a Lactation Consultant come in to your hospital room. She will show you how to properly hold each twin, position his or her mouth around your nipple and latch properly onto your breast.

The first steps to successfully nursing twins are to seek out supportive family, friends and an encouraging Pediatrician; get accurate information; and turn a deaf ear to negative remarks.

Talk to other mothers who are nursing twins a couple of months older than yours. Join a Mothers of Twins club and attend La Leche League meetings before your delivery.

Carol Huotari, accredited La Leche League leader and an international board certified lactation consultant, said that commitment is essential to successfully breastfeeding twins. “A migratory field worker pumped her milk three times a day in the bus and the other workers laughed at her, but her commitment was strong and her twins were the healthy ones who didn’t have ear infections.”

Set Goals to Ensure You Will Be Successful at Breastfeeding Your Twins

“Are you going to nurse exclusively for six months? A working mother may supplement with bottles. Think it through and decide what will work in your life,” Huotari advised. Success is defined differently for every mother.

Be Patient with Yourself While You are Learning How to Breastfeed Your Twins

While still in the hospital, talk to a Lactation Consultant about your goals, concerns and lifestyle.

Ask that she be there when you first nurse and ask for a home visit if you have preemies.

Contact your local Lactation Consultant Organization to schedule home visits.

The Lactation Consultant in the hospital will guide you through the first sessions.

These are the learning times for you and your twins. Your newborn twins are trying to latch on and you are establishing your milk supply.

“With twins in the football hold position, you can really watch what they are doing with their mouth,” Huotari explained. As they grow you may find more comfortable positions.

Preemies may take a little longer to latch on since their sucking instinct may not be fully developed. In that case, you may need to pump your breasts to get the milk flowing.

You Will Have Enough Milk to Breastfeed Your Twins

When your twins latch on well and nurse effectively, your milk supply will quickly build.

It is a case of demand and supply. The greater the demand, the more milk you supply. Expect to nurse your newborn twins about 10 to 12 times in a 24-hour period.

Until your twins learn to latch on, it may be a good idea to nurse them one at a time.

“It really helps mothers to individualize their twins and see who’s who. Each baby has a different nursing style,” Huotari said.

Know Which Twin Nursed When and on Which Breast

Whether you continue to nurse them individually or simultaneously, you do it you need to be organized about it. Keeping track of who nursed first and at which breast helps you know how they are feeding.

Each of the twins might have different appetite and sucking behavior.

Therefore, alternate which twin feeds from each breast with every feeding. A great way to remember which twin fed from each breast is to wear a simple bracelet or hairtie on your wrist. Assign the hairtie to Twin A. After you have completed breastfeeding your twins, move the hairtie to the other wrist. This will tell you that Twin A should feed from that breast during the next feeding.

“I breastfed my 30-month-old triplets, Sammy, Hope and Emma. One of the three is still breastfeeding, one weaned at 13 months, the other at 24 months,” said Sheri Ingalls of Port St. Lucie, Fla.

“To keep my milk supply up, I nursed the babies on demand through the night. It also alleviated some of my concern over the babies getting enough to eat. During the day, the babies had to be on a schedule so that I could ensure that each one had the opportunity to be first–which was the easiest let-down–and last, which was the longest time on Mommy. If I allowed them to nurse on demand all the time, Hope would have nursed all day and left the smaller ones with nothing.”

Sleep When Your Twins Sleep

Allison Berryhill of Atlantic, Iowa, found nighttime nursing to be a way of life during her twin boys’ most milk-dependent months. “With newborns, I reclined in a pillow-piled Lay-Z-Boy, each boy to a breast, attached for the night. I did not get long, uninterrupted hours of slumber, but I was no more sleep-deprived than during the final months of pregnancy when few positions were comfortable.”

Sleep becomes the top priority–after establishing your milk supply and feeding your twins.

The rule for mothers of twins is sleep when your twins sleep.

You’ll get more rest if you can learn to nurse lying down in bed and if you set up a comfortable “nursing station” for the days.

Whether it is a Lay-Z-Boy or a comfortable sofa, you need room to prop plenty of pillows and a footstool for your feet. On a table within easy reach have a telephone, diapers, a notepad for jotting down who nursed first and where, and a snack and a beverage.

A well-arranged nursing station means you won’t have to hop up once you’re settled and you will be more rested.

You Must Take Care of Yourself Before You Can Care for Your Twins

If you become fatigued your ability to keep a positive outlook while coping with the ups and downs of nursing twins diminishes.

You must take care of yourself first.

That means sleeping as much as possible, eating right and drinking plenty of fluids each day.

The number one piece of advice new mothers of twins offer expectant mothers is to get help with the household chores and cooking.

But housework may have to wait. Cooking is something others do for you.

Only you can nurse your twins.

Sleep deprivation and neglecting your basic care just opens the door to depression.

About 10% of women have postpartum depression the first year, but with mothers of twins the figure jumps to 25%, according to Huotari. When you are home and alone with your babies, you can quickly feel isolated and overwhelmed.

Be sure you have a friend to talk with, one who understands the special demands of multiples.

Don’t Give Up

Regardless of how much support you have and how well you prepare mentally, the reality of your new job can be an emotional seesaw and the adjustment definitely takes time.

Huotari offered some sage advice: If you feel like giving up, stick with what you’re doing for three days and then see how you feel. Remember, tens of thousands of nursing mothers say joy does come out of the early chaos.

Sheri summed up: “Don’t listen to other people, not even doctors, when they tell you it can’t be done. You can make enough milk. You can get some sleep. You can have a life! Don’t give up if it’s tough at first, because after your babies are bigger and getting more milk in a shorter period of time, it’s a breeze.”

BREASTFEEDING FAQs

How can I tell if my twins are nursing effectively?

Most newborns breastfeed 10 to 12 times per 24-hour period. They nurse for 15 to 30 minutes at a feeding and swallow after every one or two sucks. A baby who is having difficulty getting enough to eat will not latch on properly, may want to nurse inordinately long and will not swallow often.

How do I know if my babies are getting enough to eat?

After the first couple of days, they saturate six to eight diapers per day and have from three to five bowel movements.

With multiples, it is helpful to keep notes on who nursed at which breast, for how long, and the number of wet and soiled diapers. An electronic scale help your confidence.

Once your milk and their weight gain are established, tracking the nursing schedules and diapers is not essential.

Why are my twins suddenly starving all day and night?

Growth spurts occur periodically; the first may come as early as 10 to 14 days after birth. The next one may surface around four to six weeks and another one around three months.

Prop your feet up and nurse, nurse, nurse on demand. Your milk supply will quickly catch up with your twins’ needs. If, however, you respond with supplemental bottles, your milk supply may not increase to meet the rising demand.

Can I nurse my preemies in the NICU?

Babies develop the ability to swallow when they are 11 to 16 weeks in utero.

The ability to suck follows a few weeks later. The ability to coordinate both actions and breathing comes later still. If your babies are very low birth weight, you may have to express your breast.

Expect to pump for a total of 100 to 120 minutes a day. The NICU will watch for signs that your preemies are ready for nutritive sucking.

The post Breastfeeding Twins: It Can Be Done! appeared first on TWINS Magazine.

Try your best to imagine experiencing almost every moment in life with another person who is the same age, has the same number of siblings and parents, has the same last name, lives in your house, goes to the same school, has the same teacher, and goes through life on the same waking, eating, playing, bathing, and sleeping schedule as you. That is how many twins go through their early years of life. 

The individuation process that every young child experiences is complicated for twins – they not only have to learn to separate from their parents, they also have to learn to separate from their twin sibling, to whom they are so deeply connected from birth. Parents can impede the process by raising them into existence as a pair of children instead of as two single children. Research suggests that twins who were treated as a solitary unit by their parents had more difficulty forming their individual identities than twins who were treated more distinctly.

It could be argued that parents of twins generally have a more challenging early parenting experience than parents of singletons. There are countless considerations a parent of twins has to make that her parenting peers who have singleton children never face, like spoon-feeding two hungry babies at the same time, maneuvering a double stroller through the super-market, or (brace yourself) having to choose which child’s college graduation to attend when both twins’ college graduations occur on the same weekend in different cities.

So what could a parent of twins possibly learn from a parent of singletons? At least one very important thing: how to raise a singleton — well, at least how to make our twin children’s experiences more like that of their singleton peers.

Yes, by making some easy adjustments, we parents can help our twin children feel more like unique individuals and less like a mere half of a pair.

In that spirit, I compiled these top 6 tips for encouraging individuality.

1)  RETHINK THE RHYMES

Let’s face it: it’s cute and it’s fun to name your twin children Will and Jill or to use alliteration and call them Beverly and Bella. When we do this, however, we reinforce the notion that they are each part of a set as opposed to two separate individuals. If you have already chosen such names, perhaps you can give at least one of them a nickname –a nickname that doesn’t rhyme with the other child’s name, for heaven’s sake!  Related side note: always refer to your children by their names rather than referring to them as “the twins.” And take the time to encourage relatives and friends to respect and follow your lead here.  The rule is important whether your children are within earshot or not. It’s critical that you and other essential people in their lives develop the habit of talking about them and thinking of them as individuals.

2)  DRESS THEM DIFFERENTLY

Again, the cuteness factor reigns here: who doesn’t love the attention one receives when she’s walking her twins down the street and they are wearing the same exact outfit, down to the color and brand of shoe? It’s undeniably adorable to see little twins dressed alike. Still, by doing so, you are unintentionally sending the message to them and the world that they are simply two peas in a pod. Two perfectly identical peas in a pod. But your children are not uniform vegetables; they are exceptional animate beings with distinguishing personalities and traits. If you simply cannot resist putting them in the same outfit for a photo, allow yourself some slack and take the darn photo. But most of your photos should instead help to celebrate them as the extraordinary individuals that they are.  When your twins are old enough, encourage them to pick out their own clothes. They may choose to match each other at times, but believe me, there will be times when they want to look nothing like one another.

3)  DON’T FORCE THEM TO SHARE

When we were little, we were taught to share. So when our kids are young, we instinctively tell them they have to share. Sharing is an important skill that young children must develop in order to succeed socially.

BUT, your twins will be asked to share exponentially more times than the average singleton child for the simple reason that twins generally have more opportunities to share by virtue of playing in the same room together for most of their waking hours. And even though one of your twin children will almost always be playing with her twin sibling, she shouldn’t always be forced to share. In fact, she should have things that are hers and hers alone — things over which she can rightfully assert jurisdiction. Having one’s own things is essential to helping a child develop her sense of self, which is critical for a child who is a twin.

If it’s possible financially and logistically to put the twin children in separate rooms, do so to allow each of them to claim her own space. If two separate rooms are not available, try to give each child her own space in the twins’ shared room (or in another room). Allow the child to decorate and organize the space as she wishes and support her efforts to ‘protect’ the space from unwanted intrusion by siblings.

4)  (REALLY) LEARN WHO EACH ONE IS

Relate to, and converse with, your children individually. When your twin children are young, ask them questions about what they like and don’t like so that you can learn early on what makes each child tick. Learn (and don’t forget!) which child likes which food and which colors and which songs. When you’re alone with one of your children, tell him what you’ve observed about him – tell him which wonderful and distinct attributes about him make you the most proud.

5)  MAKE TIME FOR ONE-ON-ONE INTERACTION

In order to really discover each child, you will need alone time with her during which she can feel comfortable to confide in you, without commentary or judgment from another family member. Engaging in separate activities with each child will further help bond you to each child as well as help the child feel special and unique. 

Many adult twins will tell you that they cannot recall sitting down for one meal with a parent without their twin sibling present. Take your young twin child to her favorite restaurant alone, just the two of you. You’ll be amazed at how happy this will make her — and you’ll be amazed at how much she’ll open up and share!

It’s also important for others in your twins’ lives to have one-on-one time. If there are other non-twin children in the family, coordinate times for each twin to have separate time with the non-twin sibling(s). If you can arrange for your twins to have alone-time with grandparents, aunts, cousins, etc., all the better! This will help your relatives discover what’s particular and enchanting about each child and this will help your twin children feel more like individuals. And don’t forget to schedule different play dates for your children with different friends. It makes sense that two different kids might get along (or not get along) with different peers, right?

6)  BIRTHDAY PARTIES SHOULD BE TAILORED FOR EACH TWIN         

It’s conceivable that a twin child might feel shortchanged by having to share his birthday party every year. Discuss having separate birthday parties with each child in private. If one child wishes to celebrate separately, honor that wish and consider representing the decision for separate birthday parties as one you alone have made. 

If you are welcoming birthday gifts for your twin children, gently guide relatives and friends as to the differing gift wish lists of each child. If your children are given identical gifts, separate your children or have them sit back-to-back when opening them. This way, each child can experience the joy and surprise of discovering the new gift without having it ruined by witnessing his twin sibling’s reaction upon unwrapping. 

If your twins decide to share their birthday party, there are simple ways to make your twins’ birthday feel more special for each child: make a personalized toast to each child; bake (or buy) two separate cakes (with each child’s respective favorite flavors and decorations); and sing “Happy Birthday” twice.

Whether it’s a celebration of the magical day your twins were born or a weekend full of errands and play dates, always consider that there are two children involved – two children with very distinctive needs and desires. In fact, in any situation, you may want to ask yourself, what would a parent of a singleton do…?

Dara Lovitz, Esq., lives in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, and is the mother of two very different twin toddlers. She is the author of the popular children’s book, Catching Falling Cradles: A Gentle Approach to Classic Rhymes, and is working on her next book:  an advice guide for parents of twins.

The post Top 6 Tips for Encouraging Individuality with Your Twins appeared first on TWINS Magazine.