It’s hard enough caring for one baby—from sleeping to feeding, here’s how to take care of twins and still get stuff done at home.
I cried when I first learned I was expecting twins. For a whole week. Every day of that week.
You see, I wanted to add to the family and give my eldest a sibling. I was expecting one child, so when my doctor announced she had good news (“Yes, you’re pregnant!”) and better news (“And you’re expecting twins!”), I thought it was a joke.
It already took me a while to feel comfortable having a second child (not until my eldest was 2.5 years old did I even consider it). So to go from one to three felt surreal. My husband was ecstatic. My doctor and nurses were saying congratulations left and right.
Meanwhile, I plastered on a smile on my face when inside, I was terrified.
Having twins is overwhelming. It’s already a huge change to add one child, now you’re expecting two.
It’s hard to admit feeling sad and scared about expecting twins, especially when so many people struggle to conceive even one. Yet there I was, bawling my eyes out for a whole week. Crying to friends, venting to my husband. Even after that week, it took a while to adjust to the idea of having twins with periods of highs and lows.
The fact that I’m completely confident and over the moon with being a twin mom knowing how it all started is short of amazing.
How to take care of twins
As a twin mom, you know how overwhelming and scary taking care of twins can be. People ask me if having twins is more difficult than when I became a first-time mom with my eldest son. Emotionally—yes, because I know what to expect and that the challenging months are temporary.
But physically? It’s much more difficult—there are two of them and still only one of me with no extra hours in a day.
But these last several months, I’ve learned how to take care of twins and still get stuff done. These were the top tips that helped me survive those early weeks intact, even with two babies and a toddler. I hope you’ll find these tips just as helpful as you learn to take care of twins:
1. Put the twins on the same schedule
One of the best ways to streamline your day is to put both twins on the same schedule. If one baby wakes up hungry, feed both of them, even if it means waking a sleeping baby. Put them down to nap at the same time. And bathe them one right after the other.
I’ve tried putting them to sleep based on individual cues instead of on the same schedule. The result? I felt exhausted. I felt like I was on a chase, exhausted from task after task. Now I put the twins on the same schedule. They’ve learned to adjust not only to one another but to the routine that guides their day.
2. Tandem nurse or bottle feed the twins at the same time
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Most people assume it’s impossible or have never even heard of tandem feeding. (“Wait—you’re breastfeeding both of them? At the same time?” are common reactions I get when I’m with family).
Newborns nurse for 20+ minutes and are awake sometimes only for an hour. Tandem feeding is so beneficial when feeding twins.
You’ll want a nursing pillow catered to twins (I use My Breast Friend Twin Deluxe). You can place both twins on the pillow and keep your hands free. Start with the baby with the more difficult latch. If one finishes before the other, burp him by either holding him up to your shoulder or sitting him on the pillow.
Practice makes perfect, especially when taking care of twins. For the longest time, I wasn’t able to burp the twins on my own and would have to hand one to someone else.
But over time I was able to handle the feeding—from placing them on the nursing pillow to burping—all on my own. Plus, I couldn’t stand feeding one while the other was wailing his head off. With tandem feeding, I know they’re both nursing and taken care of.
Feeding twins with bottles can be done in tandem as well. Once your twins have control over their necks, place them in bouncers so you can hold their bottles.
3. Run errands with the twins in a stroller
You may not be able to buy cartloads at the grocery, but running errands with a stroller allows you to get stuff done. You can entertain the twins and even squeeze some exercise into your day. Taking the twins out on errands can save time as well as get you out of the house.
This may seem daunting, especially when you double the chances that a baby will start crying. You may want to avoid places like the library and stick to loud places that won’t mind you soothing a fussy baby. There are two of them, and only one of you.
4. Use baby gear like swings, bouncers, mobiles and baby carriers
I have a love/hate relationship with swings and baby carriers. You don’t want your twins to get used to them so much that they can’t sleep in anything. But… they work.
If they have a difficult time sleeping in bassinets or cribs, place them in a swing, baby carriers or wraps. They’ll outgrow the gear at some point, whether on their own or through sleep training. Use them now when you most need them.
Bouncers and mobiles are other useful items to keep your little ones occupied so you can do quick tasks. They’re also great for entertaining one baby while you tend to the other like diaper changes.
Are you struggling with getting your twins to sleep through the night? My guide, How to Sleep Train Twins can help! Join my newsletter and download a preview chapter below—at no cost to you:
5. Get creative with bath time
With two babies to bathe, you’ll need to get creative with bath time. For us, my husband and I are lucky: we’re almost always together to bathe the twins. One parent was the designated bather while the other was the dryer and changer.
But, whether caring for the twins alone or with help, you’ll want to get everything ready before starting the bath. Set up the pajamas, diapers and any other medicines, nose suctions or other gear you’ll need. Prepare the bottles or set your breastfeeding station up with the nursing pillow. Preparation is key with bathing, especially since it’s one of the tasks you’ll need two hands.
6. Accept and get help, especially during the first few weeks
Asking for help is common even with singleton babies, but much more necessary with twins. If someone can spend a few weeks at your home, even better. You’ll need help soothing and caring for the twins or tending to your other kids.
Others can help prepare meals, wash dishes or throw out the trash). Even weekend helpers can bring meals, buy groceries, or play with the twins while you catch a break.
Caring for twins means leaning on your village, especially in the first few months. You’ll feel outnumbered during those challenging moments, so ask or even hire help.
Conclusion
As a mom with twins and a three-year-old, trust me when I say that you can definitely master taking care of twins. Put the twins on the same schedule. Buy gear to make life with twins easier.
And accept help when offered. From taking a shower to going for a walk around the block, you’ll get stuff done, even with twins in tow.
Get more tips on how to take care of twins:
- How Caring for Newborn Twins is Different from Singleton
- When Do Twins Get Easier?
- Beat the High Cost of Twins Using These Sneaky Ways
- How to Sleep Train Twins
- You Know You’re a Twin Mom When…
Are you struggling with getting your twins to sleep through the night? My guide, How to Sleep Train Twins can help! Join my newsletter and download a preview chapter below—at no cost to you:
And sleep whenever possible!
Yup—sleep is definitely “getting stuff done”!
I love your parenting posts – so practical and grounded. I use babywearing to get stuff done, and I prioritize bedtime. As a stay at home parent, I find that if my kids get focused attention from me in the morning they will often self-regulate for the rest of the day. I think I would use more of a schedule if I had multiples.
I’ve got to try that MaryAnne… focusing on the kids in the morning. I’m guessing it’s because it’s a nice way to start the day (better than a rocky start).
With twins (13 mos) plus two older ones, I agree with this list! Unfortunately with a husband in the military and living far from family the asking for help point does not always work for me, but I just do what I have to do. It is great to connect with other twin moms-essential even. That is one point I would add. The demands are greater with two for sure.
Wow Jaimi, props to you! That’s what I’ve learned as well: You just do what you have to do. If I even tried to think of the technicalities of taking care of twins before it happening, I’d be in disbelief. But suddenly you find yourself in that situation and you just do what you have to do. No choice otherwise!
And yes, connecting with other twin moms is very important. I don’t know too many in my real life but I relied a lot on Baby Center’s twin board. There is definitely a camaraderie that’s so supportive among twin moms. I find it’s a little bit more welcoming.
This article was a good read. I wish I had read it months ago, but have figured out most of these tricks with our 7 year old, 5 year old, and 8 month old twins! We are still using swaddlers at the moment to help with sleeping/falling asleep, but they won’t work for much longer. Any suggestions for transitioning to sleep without using swaddling would be appreciated! Thanks!
Hi Erin!
We sleep-trained our twins when they were four-months-old, and we weaned them from their swaddles at that point. We did the same with our eldest when he was about six-months-old. With him, the swaddles were clearly not working anymore. He was so frustrated being constrained, but at the same time, wasn’t used to falling asleep without it, either. We tried the gradual ‘one arm out’ trick but that didn’t help either.