When reviewing baby monitors for parents of twins, we kept in mind the specific needs which new parents may have.

Most parents of twins choose to have their babies in the same room, but having a camera pointing at each twin can make monitoring them much easier. So, we included a number of monitors that come standard with two cameras.

All of our recommended baby monitors are great choices and each has advantages over others. We have made sure each of our recommended baby monitors received good reviews and have great customer support histories.

Therefore, you can be assured that any of these baby monitors are high-quality products that will help you keep your twins safe.

Our #1 Recommended Baby Monitor for Twins

There are so many baby monitors on the market.

Choosing the best one can be extremely overwhelming, but we have found one that is just clearly superior. After reading through hundreds of reviews, we have found one baby monitor that parents love.

1. Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor with Interchangeable Optical Lens

This is definitely our number one recommendation. 84% of the customers who reviewed this baby monitor gave it either 4 or 5 stars! With over 24,000 reviews, that says something!

Although this monitor comes with only one camera, it comes with lenses that will allow you to monitor both of your twins at once.

Special Features: Night Vision, Talk-back Function, Room Temperature Sensor, 10 Hour Battery Life, Interchangeable Lenses

Screen Size: 3.5 inches

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Price: $165.95

Amazon Rating:

Here’s a glowing review from a customer:

The Best Baby Monitor that Works with Your Cellphone

Having a baby monitor that works directly with your cell phone is becoming a more frequent choice. This monitor is priced well and has received great reviews with 73% of customers giving it 4 or 5 stars.

2. Cocoon Cam Plus Baby Video and Breathing Monitor

Special Features: Simple Phone App, Breathing Monitor, Text Alerts

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Price: $149.99

Amazon Rating:

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

Pros:

★ Monitor Your Babies Breathing– Real-time breathing monitoring and night vision HD video.

★ Sleep Soundly Knowing You’ll Receive Alerts– Notifications will alert you if baby’s breathing changes, baby is crying or beginning to wake. Get the peace of mind you need to rest when your baby does.

★ Approved by Top Pediatricians– IRB-approved studies at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford and UC San Diego.

★ No Extra Monitor Needed– See and know your baby is breathing and safe without having to carry a monitor around with you.

★ Secure HD Video Right on your Phone– Instant alerts in our FREE app. SEE, HEAR, AND TALK to your baby right on your phone.

Cons:

• Must Have a Cellphone with Compatible App

• Your Wifi Connection Will Affect How Well the App Works

Best Baby Monitors with Two Cameras

All of these cameras come standard with two cameras. These baby monitors are great for twins who are in separate rooms or are in cribs not close to one another.

3. UBBCARE 2 Video Baby Monitors with Large 3.5″ Display and Night Vision​

Special Features: Large Display, Crisp Video, Plays Music

Screen Size: 3.5 inches

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Price: $114.99

Amazon Rating:

​

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

Pros:

★ Beautiful, Crisp Picture with 3.5” SCREEN DISPLAY BABY MONITOR- much clearer image, wider viewing range, sensitive to capturing sound and receiving signals.

★ TWO WAY TALK- Press the parents’ dialogue key, baby will hear your sound at the first time through the two-way talk function to soothe baby’s uneasiness, give baby safety when he cries.

★ 2.4 GHZ DIGITAL SIGNAL MONITORING- Safe without radiation, self-contained receiver, record the sound and movement of your baby anytime.

★ TEMPERATURE SENSOR- keep abreast of the temperature of the baby room, give the baby a comfortable growing up environment.

★ 4 LULLABIES- effectively pacify the baby and help the baby to fall asleep quickly.

Cons:

• Loses signal at times and beeps loudly

4. Babysense Video Baby Monitor with Two Digital Cameras

Special Features: Long Range, Small, Lightweight Device, Lower Priced

Screen Size: 2.4 inches

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Price: $89.99

Amazon Rating:

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

Pros:

★ Supplied with Two Cameras – Allows monitoring two rooms or two cameras in one room from one Parent Unit. Simply use the OK button on the parent unit to switch between the paired cameras.

★ 2.4 Inch High-Quality Color LCD Display with Enhanced 2.4GHz FHSS Technology – Provides high definition and stable streaming, secure interference-free connection, and crystal clear digital vision & sound.

★ Two Way Talk Back Communication – Comfort your baby with the sound of your own voice by using the two-way talkback system.

★ Long Range – Up to 900 feet (open space) with out-of-range warning.

★ Rich Features – Auto Infrared Night Vision, Room Temperature Monitoring with High/Low Temperature Alerts, Eco Mode Voice Activation, Sound Activated LED Indicators, Alarm/Timer Setting, 2x Digital Zoom with Digital Image Pan/Tilt option, Multi-Camera Expandability (up to four cameras), Lullabies, Manual Pan (360 degrees) & Tilt (60 degrees), Auto Scan View, Tabletop or Wall Mounting Options.

Cons:

• Beeps loudly when loses connection.

5. MoonyBaby Video Baby Monitor with Two Cameras

Special Features: Long Battery Life, Large Display Screen, 5 Lullabies

Screen Size: 4.3 inches

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Price: $109.99

Amazon Rating:

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

Pros:

★ Switch Effortlessly Between Two Cameras- Easily SCAN view or press shortcut button to switch views between paired cameras. Monitor can link up to 4 cameras. (Additional cameras sold separately)

★ 100% DIGITAL WIRELESS SECURED TECHNOLOGY- ensures private and secure connection between the camera and the monitor. The 2.4Ghz interference-free signal works in home between rooms and upstairs/downstairs. No WIFI/INTERNET setup required.

★ TWO WAY TALK BACK- With TALK BACK button, you can talk to your babies when they need you.

★ Extra Long Battery Life- 12 hours in Power Saving Mode, 6 hours in continues video on mode. Zoom in for closer views on screen.

★ RICH FEATURES- Automatic night vision, Baby room temperature monitoring, 5 built-in lullabies, Zoom in and Power saving/Voice activation mode, Multi-Camera Expandability (up to four cameras)

Cons:

• Battery does not last as long as advertised.

• Cameras must remain plugged in. They cannot run on batteries.

In summary, while there are many baby monitors available, we have identified the 5 best options for twins.

We included a one camera option that comes with three lenses to allow you to monitor both of your twins cribs at once.

We also recommended an awesome baby monitor that works directly with your smartphone. That option is great as long as you have a good WiFi connection in your home, apartment or wherever you intend to monitor your twins.

Lastly, we included 3 baby monitors that come standard with 2 video cameras. We included the special features and drawbacks of each.

Comment below and let us know if there is one you feel we should add to our list or if you purchased one of our suggested baby monitors.

The post The Best Baby Monitors for Twins appeared first on TWINS Magazine.

Multiple multiples? Where do you even start to count your blessings?

At the best of times, parenting is a challenge. Add several sets of children all going through the “terrible twos,” the “ferocious fours” or the troubled teenage years at the same time, and the thought is often enough to make someone go a bit crazy. Where do you find the strength and energy? What kind of support is available? How does your marriage survive when it seems that life is focussed on the children? How do you have a normal life, and what does a “normal” life even look like?

We sat down with two families in Canada’s Golden Horseshoe to discuss parenting multiple sets of twins, to learn what their lives are like, what unique challenges they deal with every day, and what advice would they give to other parents in the same parenting boat.

Multiples often run in families so news of expecting twins is not that surprising for some families. For Kim Tait of Oakville, the news that she was expecting a second set of twins wasn’t as surprising or shocking as you might think. She says, “I just knew. I think your brain prepares you for this type of shocking information. We weren’t trying for more kids, so when I got pregnant again, I knew it was (twins) and wasn’t surprised when they told me.” For Lyndsay Petican of Burlington, the news was taken pragmatically. “We were like yes, this is what we do! We make twins. We already had the infrastructure, like car seats, cribs, and highchairs,” she explains.

We asked both families what they did differently with each set, or wish they had. For the Taits, they agree they became smarter the second time around. “With the first set we both tried to be up all the time to feed them; we realized with the second set that it’s impossible. So, we split the night up, doing shift work. My husband liked staying up late so as soon as my older daughter went to bed, I’d go to bed and wake up at 4 a.m. and start my day then. The babies would eat around 2-3 a.m. and then again around 5-6am. Feeding two crying babies in the middle of the night on no sleep is no party, but we found a system and stuck with it. It became easier with time.” For Lyndsay she explains that she definitely has a different viewpoint on parenthood, perhaps as any second time parent might. She tries to remember that “everything is a stage, and where newborn twins is really hard, it too is just a phase.”

As her kids started school, Lyndsay is learning from her actions with her older girls. She kept her daughters together until grade one, and then had them separated in school, as they began wanting their own friends and experiences. She’s been thinking of separating her sons earlier so they can grow more independent.

If there’s any advice either family would have liked to have in advance of having their second set of twins, it would be, according to Lyndsay, to “just be kind to yourself, try not to fixate on what you can’t do, and enjoy the things that you can. It is really hard at the beginning but it pays off in dividends doubly later.” For Kim, she said knowing what to expect probably made things a bit worse. “I knew it was going to be insane, and it was. We had four little boys in diapers at the same time.”

Many couples struggle with maintaining the romance in their marriage once kids come along. We wondered if having not just one, but two sets of children, and maybe even a singleton or two in addition, changes this part of their relationship dramatically? Or, does it strengthen a marriage in ways other couples might not understand? According to Lyndsay Petican, “My husband and I work as a great team… we have to. We try to get alone time where we can by grabbing a breakfast date or a quiet cup of coffee before all the kids awaken. We found it was easier when I was working to meet for breakfast rather than going out for dinner. We had a lot of our date nights by just making dinner and hanging out. Once every couple of months we go out for dinner and every year we have a kid-free vacation to Vegas or Nashville to relax.”

Kim’s experience is a bit different. “I would be lying if I said it didn’t have an impact on our marriage; this is hard. We are both working full-time, I commute an hour and all the kids have activities, so we are running in different directions all the time. Our kids are still young, so they need us for a lot of things; for now, we divide and conquer and at the end of the day we are exhausted and start all over again the next day. We don’t have a lot of time to just sit and talk, but as they say, this is a season of life, it’s constantly evolving and changing. Date nights are a challenge too. They get expensive quickly as we tend to have to hire two people to watch the kids. Add dinner and a movie and the cost adds up. So we don’t get to do it much unfortunately.”

Self-care is an aspect of life that is challenging for all parents, but even more for parents of multiples. Lindsay says her children’s nap time is very important to her, she tries to work out during one of the nap times, and online shopping has become very important to her, in order to keep her sense of self sometimes.

Support from family and the community is also invaluable as parents of multiples sometimes feel isolated because they can’t find time for themselves or time to leave the house to run errands or take part in recreational programs with all their children. Both women agree that without either a nanny or family members to help out, life would most definitely be more challenging. Lyndsay explains that with her first set of twins she “hung around singleton moms and felt very sad about the activities that I didn’t feel I could manage on my own (i.e., swimming, hikes). I spent a good bit of time grieving the maternity leave that I thought I would have. On my second mat leave with my boy twins I hung out with a lot of twin mamas; we mostly hung out at other people’s houses to keep all of our kids contained and less stress-free.” For her own well-being, and so an outing wouldn’t end up in tears (either the children’s or her own) she stopped signing up for programs that she knew were going to be unsuccessful for their family dynamic. Lyndsay also had support from her Mother-in-Law who would watch the boys to allow her to leave the house by herself and run errands. That was a much-needed break.

For the Taits, who have no immediate family nearby and have full-time jobs that often require travel, a nanny was the only way they could survive. When the nanny wasn’t available or one of the parents was out of town, their kids became used to doing their homework at a sports arena while the other siblings had a hockey practice. “We just drag them all along,” she explains.

We wanted to know if there exists any extra government of community support for parents with multiples. Lyndsay explains that she joined a twin mom group and they were a great support during maternity leave. “Maternity leave with twins is not relaxing, a longer maternity leave of two years would’ve really been great as you only received one year (when I was on mat leave).” She recently began volunteering with the Halton Breastfeeding Connection to support new moms and new twin moms with breastfeeding. It’s her way of giving back. For Kim, she wishes there had been more financial support when they had to have two nannies. “There is a maximum we can deduct for childcare on our taxes; we have definitely exceeded that each year. I wish there was flexibility there!” They have, however, found some support with rEcess Oakville, a respite program that offers free care to children with disabilities and their siblings while their parents enjoy a night out once a month.

For all the joys that multiple multiples bring, there are of course, emotional challenges. As might be expected, for both women, finding individual time to spend with each child is difficult but much-needed. For Kim, who has an older singleton daughter, she especially tries to spend some alone time with her because she knows her daughter needs that alone time the most. Both women agree that finding quality one-on-one time with each child is what they have the most mom guilt about.

Every parent wishes they could bond equally with their kids. For parents of multiples, it can seem like a daunting or impossible pipe dream. Lyndsay’s advice to new parents of multiple multiples is “be kind to yourself. Some days one child is needier than the other and then the next day it changes. It will not always be fair and equal, but you try to do the best for those kids and their own temperaments.” For Kim, her family has its own challenges, as her two youngest twins both have special needs, so she realizes she must spend more time with them. Her son Zackery is on the autism spectrum and she expresses, “he has definitely taught me so much about humans in general. I thought I knew how to parent, but boy has he challenged me in absolutely every way. There are days where all our focus is on him. His twin has moderate to severe ADHD, so he is always very busy. I make a point of spending time with my daughter alone, but I know this is a constant challenge and I’m very aware of it.”

Aside from bonding and finding time for each child, what seems to be the biggest challenge of having multiple multiples? “The price of daycare for multiples is crippling,” says Lyndsay. It can be as much as a second mortgage. Kim explains for them, it’s time management and not having a big safety net. That frustration of the unknown from day to day, makes this really hard sometimes. It especially hits home when there are health emergencies and everything seems so overwhelming.

We wondered how their families are coping with the isolation and quarantine of Covid-19? Lyndsay admits, “So much togetherness time has the increased the sibling fighting. My kids are happiest when we go out on adventures, but with limited adventures and limited contact with friends, especially for my 10-year-olds, this has been especially difficult. But in many ways, it has been easier too. Lindsay explains, “Our mornings are way less hectic. We let the girls sleep in. We don’t have to rush to make lunches. My husband has been home to help a lot more as he hasn’t been travelling for work.” And Kim agrees, “I think there is where big families shine. I can kick them out into the backyard, and they all play together and can entertain themselves (and each other). I think having a single child might be harder than five!”

In conclusion, the greatest joy for both families is seeing how all their children interact and love each other. For Kim, who herself is an only child, she didn’t understand the dynamics of siblings before she had children. “Watching the five of them interact is fascinating to me. I love just sitting back and watching them work through something together without us intervening. My daughter being the oldest, tends to take charge and all four boys listen to her lead. I think she will benefit from this role in her own life. And certainly, for the kids to have each other once we are gone is reassuring.”

For parents of multiple multiples, life is definitely busy, crazy, fun, exhausting and so much more. It’s parenting, multiplied. It’s also blessings, multiplied.

The post Double Double – life with two sets of twins appeared first on TWINS Magazine.

Try some of these ideas to enjoy your twin’s first holiday season as a family. 

For my twins’ first Christmas, I was determined to be a cool mom. I wrapped a few toys to put under the tree. I kept the ornaments simple.

I didn’t offer to host a big family feast. There was just one tradition I wanted to start: baking homemade cookies with them. Never mind that my daughter and son were 5 months old and hadn’t even tried solids. I’d read somewhere that smells trigger emotional memories, and I was determined that as they grew, anytime they smelled the scent of sweets wafting from an oven, they would be flooded with memories of home.

As you might predict, my first attempt at baking with the babies wasn’t the cozy kitchen scene I’d envisioned. I put too much pressure on myself to make the moment fun and perfect, starting with my recipe for complicated glittery star-shaped cookies. When my tears started rolling, I felt as if I’d ruined not just their Christmas Present but all of their Christmas Futures. Ah, Baby’s first big holiday. Like the first birthday, this milestone triggers a mom’s urge to plot and plan. But take it from me, a parent who has been there: Less is truly more. Use these steps to feel fortunate this holiday — not grinchy.

Blend Old and New

Until this year, you’ve probably celebrated the holidays the way your parents or your in-laws did. Now that you’re the mom, you have the chance to call the shots and establish new traditions. Just make sure you do so thoughtfully.

Talk to Grammy. If you’ve always gone to your Bubbe’s house for the first night of Hanukkah but want to light the first candle by your own hearth, don’t dodge the topic — be up-front with her, says Meg Cox, author of The Book of New Family Traditions. Reinforce what won’t change; for example, you’ll still go to Aunt Sue’s house for the last night of Hanukkah. And resist making any broad, forever proclamations. In the end, you may really miss Bubbe’s bash and want to return next year.

Give everyone a break.

“The year my daughter was born, we decided to go to a restaurant for our holiday dinner, which is something we’ve continued to do,” says Anika Palm, of Orlando. “My family was thrilled!”

Without the stress of cooking, everyone in Palm’s family could focus on being together. “You order what you want and then leave the mess behind,” she says.

Dial down the holiday emphasis.

If your babies are less than a month old, the best bet may be to treat the day as 20 percent holiday, 80 percent regular day. Even leaving the house may be too much. “My son was 6 days old for his first Christmas,” says Melissa Schlegel, of La Crosse, Kansas. “I thought we were scaling back by not driving the three hours to my parents’ and just going to my in-laws’ nearby. But I hadn’t yet found a proper nursing bra, and I practically had to undress in a back bedroom to breastfeed my son. I was exhausted and overwhelmed.”

Roll with it. If your family has traditions you love, stick with them. They’ll still feel brand-new to your little one in the coming years. That’s how Olga Davis, a Chicago mom, whose daughter Madeline celebrated her first Christmas last year, sees it. “Our family is Mexican, and our big gathering is Christmas Eve,” she says. “We make tamales and bunuelos [fried dough], and everyone stays up until midnight to open gifts.”

Davis envisions her daughter doing exactly that as a kid. “Hey, I had to wait!” she explains. “Madeline will too! And she can join in the cooking.”

Get your partner’s input. The two of you have probably learned to take turns visiting each other’s parents for the holidays. Now build on that compromise by discussing the one or two aspects from your own childhood traditions that you want to pass down, says Cox. Make those a priority, and you’ll both feel heard.

Plan some child-free time. And guard it fiercely. Hire a sitter, so you don’t miss your friend’s big bash. Spend a Saturday afternoon baking with your sisters or shop all day with your mom. Afterward, you’ll feel more refreshed for taking care of your sweetie.

Create a Family Story

When you start to panic about not buying enough for your babies this holiday, take a calm-mom breath. “Most of us don’t remember the gifts we receive as kids,” says Cox. “What we remember are the rituals that happened every year.” As your children grows, these little events are what will bring them comfort and a sense of place.

Enjoy simple moments. If you’re up for it, start a tradition you can easily repeat. Cook latkes with another family. Snap a photo of your babies in their Santa jammies. “For our babies first Christmas, we placed a tiny tree in their bedroom, safely out of reach on a bookcase,” says Wendy Cromwell, a mom in Atlanta. It turned into a tradition. “This year will be their third Christmas, and they can’t wait to decorate her tree.”

Give back. True, your babies won’t remember a good deed you do for others this season, but once sharing is part of your family’s holiday routine, it may stick. Buy two of a toy that you are planning to give your children and donate one. Shannon Johnson, of Dobbs Ferry, New York, a mom of two, began donating food on a monthly basis to a needy family the year she became a mom. Eleven years later, they’re still at it. “I knew this tradition would grow with us,” she says. “And it takes the focus off what’s under the tree.”

Reconnect with your roots. New parents are often energized to learn more about their own culture. “We decided to add a Dia de los Reyes [Three Kings Day] celebration to our family’s holiday traditions when our first child was born, not just because it’s a Latino holiday but because it continues the story of Jesus’ birth,” says Melanie Mendez Gonzales, a mom of two in San Antonio. Now Gonzales’ family drinks te de canela, a cinnamon tea; eats pan dulce, a sweet bread; and plays Loteria, similar to bingo. “Part of my Mexican culture could get lost if we don’t continue these traditions,” she says.

Invest in relationships. “I love to curl up on the couch with my son after we’ve decorated the tree and talk about the ornaments we’ve collected,” says Cox. “It’s just us connecting.” Your kids may not be old enough to sit and chat, but they’re the perfect age for cuddling in front of your decorations. As for my quest for cookies that first year, I did turn out a batch of tasty, three-ingredient peanut butter confections.

My twins are now 5 and we’ve baked together every year, creating big messes and plenty of arm-less gingerbread men. I look forward to it, but if life gets in the way, a sugar-cookie scented candle sits on my kitchen counter.

Techy Tools for Holiday Help

The latest trends for saving time and banishing stress from your to-do list.

You Want: Shopping done overnight

Try:  Signing up for an Amazon Prime membership (Amazon.com). A $79 annual fee gets you free shipping on eligible items, and free streaming movies, perfect for holiday fun.

You Want: Gifts at bargain prices

Try: Downloading the RedLaser app (free for iOS, Android, and Windows). Scan the purchase you’re about to make and you’ll find out whether you’re getting the best deal. If not, you’ll be directed to the store or online site with the lowest price.

You Want: A potluck that’s easy to plan

Try: Going to Perfect PotLuck.com. Reduce the back-and-forth on who is making what, and coordinate dishes so everyone doesn’t bring green bean casseroles.

You Want: Quality time with faraway family

Try: Using FaceTime, Google+ Hangouts, or Skype. Now Grammy who lives in Maine can read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas to your baby at your home in Miami.

By Kim Hays from American Baby

The post The Holiday Survival Guide – Surviving the First Holiday Season appeared first on TWINS Magazine.