Raising Twins After a Singleton

So, you’re having twins, except you already have an older child. Here are tips on raising twins after a singleton.

Twins After SingletonI’ll be raising twins… AND my toddler, too, I thought to myself.

Before I knew I was having fraternal twins, I was barely adjusting to the idea of even raising two kids, much less three. I had no idea if I could handle it, and wondered how in the world other twin moms survived this stage.

Was it a matter of resorting to sleep deprivation, eating junk food, and not showering for days? Do older kids have to tough it out and accept that they’ll need to share their parents moving forward? Is it true that twins won’t have the same attention as a singleton baby would have?

Having twins after a singleton is a unique situation. On one hand, you know the temporary exhaustion of the newborn stage eventually goes away. But you’re now dealing with two babies on top of the toddler you also have.

Perhaps you had also been expecting to juggle a preschooler and one baby, not two. Or you’re worried about how your toddler will adjust to not having you to herself 24/7. As the “only child” until this point, she has no experience with, much less the concept of, having siblings.

Then, once the twins are born, they might have their own separate needs as well. One could have jaundice while the other isn’t gaining weight. Or one pulls back to a shallow latch while the other doesn’t sleep well. And they won’t wake, burp, feed, sleep, poop, or do everything synchronized just yet.

All that, on top of a clingy toddler who’ll be adjusting to her new life.

Thankfully, I did indeed survive those hectic weeks and months. Raising twins after a singleton is possible—all without feeling depleted or miserable. How?

Follow these tips to help you and your older child transition to life with multiples:

Surviving Twins

1. Keep your older child occupied while you feed the twins

It’s tough feeling tied to your twins while nursing, pumping, or holding two bottles. You can’t exactly stand up right away if your older child needs you. What can you do?

  • Give him tasks to do. Encourage him to fill his big brother role by asking for his help. He can put diapers in the diaper box, sort socks, or tidy his toys.
  • Read together. Sit next to him and have him turn the pages of a book while you read the words aloud.
  • Give a time frame. He may need the reassurance that you’ll be with him soon. Explain that in 15 minutes, you’ll play with him, right after the babies drink their bottles.
  • Ask him to entertain the babies. While you nurse or change the babies’ diapers, he can talk to them, shake rattles, sing songs, make funny faces, or show them his favorite stuffed animal.
  • Encourage bonding among all three. He can snuggle with his twin siblings, caressing their arms and legs and kissing the tops of their heads.
  • Gather new toys and items he can tinker with while you’re busy. These can be simple toys or even household items. When it’s time to feed, introduce a new item to keep him busy.

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2. Lower your standards

One of the most reassuring messages I repeated to myself was: this is temporary.

The bathroom mirrors will have watermarks and the windows will collect mildew, and that’s okay for now. You won’t eat freshly-cooked dinners every night and instead rely on take-out, frozen food or donated meals. Your daily attire will be nursing tops, yoga pants, and wet hair cinched into a bun.

Set your expectations lower than usual because your household will feel chaotic. Adding extra chores and the guilt for not maintaining your norm can make you miserable. Realize that this is temporary and normal. In a matter of months, you’ll adjust and resume your standard of living.

3. Keep things organized

With an older child, staying organized becomes even more important. Sure, you can eat dinner much later, but your three-year-old is going to want her meals like she always does. Maintaining regularity will also keep her anxieties at bay and help her get through this stage.

Here are a few ways to organize and prepare:

  • Cook the night before. You’re not left with all three kids as you scramble around the kitchen 30 minutes before dinner time.
  • Cut, dice, and serve food a few minutes before dinner or snack time. Once your child is hungry, her plate is ready to go.
  • Get bath- and bedtime items ready throughout the evening. At bath time, have everyone’s pajamas, diapers, milk, and towels set.
  • Pack diaper bags long before you step out of the house. Expect the needs of your day and pack any supplies or food for your errands and outings. Pack the stroller with your sunglasses, keys, and phone if you plan to take them for a walk soon. Better yet, pack these items after you’ve returned home from an outing.
  • Take advantage of nap times. This is the blessed time to prepare for when the babies wake up, get things done around the house, spend time with your singleton, or relax.
  • Batch-prepare his snacks and meals. If you’re going to slice an apple, slice a few more to serve for tomorrow.

4. Encourage independent play

I’ve long been a fan of independent play.

For one thing, kids need time to explore on their own. They can’t expand their wings if we’re there cramping their space every second. Allow your older child to question, make mistakes, and choose the direction he wants to explore. He’ll know when to come back to you.

Second, your kids need time with one another. You know those cute videos of twins laughing at one another? My infant twins only did that when adults aren’t around (or at least they don’t think we’re around).

Meanwhile, I was able to put dishes away, knowing that this moment may not have happened if I were nearby.

And finally, kids playing on their own is good for you. Parents feel pressured to always engage with their kids, and sometimes we get bored and get burned out. The guilt that we’re not doing a good job when we’re not engaging with our kids is an unrealistic demand.

5. Ask for help

Now more than ever will you need help.

A long-term helper is ideal because that person becomes familiar with your daily routine. She knows when and how to change the diapers and feed the babies. She’s familiar with your singleton’s preferences and where to grab the yogurt he likes.

You don’t need to give as much direction because she has become part of the household.

If someone isn’t able to stay for several days or weeks, weekend visits would be the next best thing. Friends and family can drop off food and grocery staples, or pass down outgrown baby clothes and gear.

6. Empathize with your older child

Your older child will test your patience—there’s no doubt about that. Her behavior can start as early as the last few months of your twin pregnancy when you’re extra tired and changes in the home are more obvious. And it’s likely to peak during the early weeks with the twins.

I lost my patience a lot more during those short few months than I ever did all the three years with only my single child. How can you manage caring for the twins and meeting your older child’s needs?

Show empathy. Yes, it’s hard, especially as she disobeys, regresses, or says outright hurtful words. You’re more likely to react and yell, drag her by the arm and tell her to stay in her room.

But, as challenging as adjusting to life with twins is for you, it’s even harder for her. She doesn’t know how to manage emotions as well as you and I do, and the defiance and regression stem from her own vulnerability and confusion.

In short, she needs you.

So, when she acts up or misbehaves, don’t think of it as another hassle to solve or a personal attack. Instead, remind yourself that she needs you to help her manage her emotions. Just as your newborn twins need you when they’re hungry, so too does your singleton when she’s upset.

In showing empathy, you curb the behavior more effectively in the long-run. And more importantly, you’re letting her know you’re still her mom, regardless of the twins.

7. Spend time with your older child

Here’s the rough part. As limited in time as you already are, it’s important for you to spend time alone with your older child. He needs to feel like he still has you in his life—that the twins haven’t replaced his special place in your heart.

You don’t have to do anything grand—a simple game, a snuggle on the couch, or a quick walk around the block will do.

Until now, my eldest still remembers when he and I went to a coffee shop, our first outing together after the twins were born. He can recall exactly what he ordered and where we sat because that outing meant so much to him.

Connecting with your child for as little as 10 minutes can prevent whining and tantrums. Take advantage of the times your twins are napping to be with him. These special times, no matter how short, could be all he needs to know that everything is still all right.

8. Tend to your older child first

The crying newborn (or two) or the crying toddler—whom do you go to first? The older one.

For one thing, she’ll remember more of this than either of her twin siblings. While your twin might feel upset for waiting, she’ll have a clearer memory of it.

You also don’t want to send the message that she’ll always have to wait, or that the twins get the attention first all the time. Just because she’s older doesn’t mean her needs always come second (or third).

And by default, you’re giving priority to your twins most of the time anyway because they’re more dependent on you. Share the priority with your eldest from time to time. Balance their needs by remembering that those of your older child are as important as the twins’.

Learn how to balance the needs of all your kids.

9. Give your older child an “out”

I enrolled my eldest in preschool a few months before the twins arrived, and he was able to adjust to school by the time they were born. School became a place just for him—an escape from the madness at home.

The babies’ cries, the lack of attention, and the change in routine were difficult for him to handle. Going to school gave him the predictability he craved.

Whether it’s preschool, lessons, day camp, or grandma’s house, providing your child with a regular outing helps him reclaim a space that’s his. A place that isn’t tainted by anything baby-related. Where he can get away from the constant “Be quiet, they’re sleeping,” and be free to explore on his own.

His routine also provides you with a breather. Since my eldest stopped napping, I wasn’t able to rest even if the twins were sleeping. With him in school, I had one less child to care for, and could use those hours to rest or get things done.

Just make sure your child enjoys these outings. If he returns from grandma’s house more upset, he may see these activities as time away from the family, or being sent away.

Learn the pros and cons of preschool.

Preschool Pros and Cons

10. Your singleton isn’t “special” because of the twins

I first made the mistake of telling my child he’s special because he was going to be a big brother to twins. I figured he needed an extra reason to love his brothers. Being a big brother to twins would set him apart, wouldn’t it? Make him extra special?

Instead, it backfired. You see, he’s special not because of his twin brothers, but because of who he is—period. Making the twins the reason he’s special would place his value on them, not within himself. He’s special, whether he has twin babies, one baby, or no baby.

I stopped saying he was special for having twin brothers and instead made having twins an exciting change to look forward to. “We’re going to have two babies—isn’t that neat?” I would say, and leave it at that, with no mention of how special or lucky he was.

11. Refer to the babies by name

Another common mistake is to address your twins as “the twins” 24/7. This is fine in moderation, but done too often, and your older child will see a divide between him and his new siblings.

Instead, foster a strong relationship among them, right from the start. He’ll develop his own special connection with each baby and treat them as individuals, not lumped together as “the twins.”

My eldest liked to play a game he made up with one of his twin brothers where they were on a “boat” (a chair) steering a helm (a pillow). He only did this with that one twin.

Meanwhile, he also played peek-a-boo with the other twin in the crib. He’d hide below the crib and pop up, making his twin brother giggle with glee. Again, something he only did with that twin.

Each twin is more likely to develop their own unique relationship with their older sibling.

Individuality in Twins

Conclusion

You’ve already been through this at least once with your eldest. You’re no longer a first-time mom and have learned a thing or two the first time around. Still, being a twin parent will be a new experience with its own challenges, especially as you juggle them with your older child as well.

Keep your eldest busy while you tend to the twins or by encouraging independent play. Show empathy and spend quality, one-on-one time together. When you can, tend to him first, instead of leaving him last all the time.

Give him a consistent place that’s solely his, and remind him that he’s special for who he is—and not because of the twins. Refer to the twins by name to avoid creating a divide between him and his siblings.

Then, make changes at home, from lowering your standards for now and keeping things organized. And finally, rely on others to help, whether with your household or hand-me-downs.

With the tips above, you’ll be able to handle the transition from one to three. And when you start feeling overwhelmed, remind yourself that life will work out, as it always has.

p.s. Check out the book Twin Trouble by Rosemary Wells to help your singleton get ready for twins:

Twin Trouble by Rosemary Wells

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11 Comments

  1. We are flying solo right now with our 1 1/2 year old son and recently found out we have twins on the way…to say we were shocked is putting it mildly. Thank you so much for your insightful and thoughtful post. I know I will be reading it over and over these next several months in preparation for their arrival. I feel pretty overwhelmed at this point and your words helped me to stop and take a breath…and remember, I can do this!
    Thanks!

    1. Amy, you absolutely CAN do this! First off, congrats! You’re now part of the “twin club” 🙂 I too was ridiculously overwhelmed when I heard we were having twins. I mean, I cried for a week. I couldn’t even fathom the costs, the physical strains and the logistics of caring for two kids.

      Now I am so lucky I have twins. They really catapult you into a strength you never knew you had, from withstanding the pregnancy to managing those crazy first months to the times when you can take them out all on your own, even with your eldest.

      Glad you enjoyed the post, and again congrats!

  2. Hi Nina,
    Thank you for your incredibly inspiring article. We just recently found out that we are expecting twins and we already have a 17-month-old. I’m still in the overwhelmed and anxious stage and have concerns about my son feeling left out once the babies are here. Any advice on finding time with your 1st in those crazy first few months? I’m a petite person Who had postpartum preeclampsia after our son was born. Any advice on carrying close to term and still being an active mama?
    Thanks for your advice and happy holidays!

    1. Hi Marcy,

      Congratulations on the news of the twins! My eldest was a bit older already when they born (he was 3.5 years old) but yeah, it’s a challenge when there’s already another kid in the picture 🙂

      I will admit: the first few weeks and months were crazy. I think one-on-one time is key, even something as simple as reading a book together while the babies nap, or going for a walk while someone else cares for the twins.

      I’m pretty petite too and I scared myself thinking of how big my body will get. It does get big but we manage somehow. I’d say focus on mild activity, not regular prenatal activity as you would’ve done with your singleton. With my singleton, I was exercising every day, but not so with my twins (I was just too exhausted). Keep eating healthy food and lots of rest!

      Congrats again Marcy! Keep me posted. ~Nina

  3. Lillian Renner says:

    Hi thanks for the suggestion! I have 3 boys as well, a 2 year old and 9 months old twins. It’s been a challenge, but we found a good routine and it’s working pretty well. I love your article because I can totally relate. Thanks for the suggestion.

    1. Hi Lillian! A good routine was a huge help for us. So glad to hear that you’re adjusting well with your twins and two-year-old as well!

  4. Naeema Ahmed says:

    Thumbs up from South Africa!
    Excellent! Really appreciate the helpful tips you shared. It’s just what I needed, I’ve got 10 month old twins (a girl and a boy), plus a feisty 4 year old girl, and two older girls (7 and 5), so I’ve got my hands tied, it’s really challenging with all of them home schooled, but your tips really helped me see things from a new perspective!

    Good luck!

    1. Nina Garcia says:

      Thanks Naeema! And wow, you’ve got THREE singletons to contend with—I’d say that’s definitely challenging! So glad the article helped 🙂

  5. This was an awesome article, thank you!

  6. I have 2 boys, a 4 year old and 1 year old. I just found out I’m pregnant with twins in February. This is behind overwhelming to think about. I’m so excited and terrified at the same time. I’m going to be coming back to this article often.

    1. Nina Garcia says:

      It can definitely feel shocking, Patrice! Congrats on the news, and yes, check out the twin articles—you’re definitely not alone 🙂