5 Mistakes to Avoid with Toddler Twins

Raising toddler twins is no simple task! From fighting to behavior issues, learn how to manage two and make life with twins smoother.

Long before my twins were born, I anticipated all the challenges: How do I get them on the same sleeping schedule? What do I do if they’re both crying? And one of the worries I was already anxious about was, How in the world do I manage toddler twins?

Because we all know that the toddler stage can test your sanity, and that’s with one toddler.

Personally, I much preferred the toddler stage over the newborn one, tantrums and all (sleep deprivation and I don’t exactly get along). But after three kiddos (including twins), I also know it didn’t always bring out the best in me.

What makes the toddler stage especially challenging? Toddlers are wired to test their boundaries without the ability to communicate clearly. They’re also learning to be more self-sufficient (“Me do it!”) and learn new things, even if they physically can’t do certain tasks yet.

As any twin parent knows, each child has his own agenda. Just as you’re disciplining one child, the other makes a run for it (or does exactly what you told his twin not to do). Perhaps they both want you at the same time and will whine until one wins.

And unlike singletons—even those with siblings—twins are going through the same milestones at roughly the same time. This explains why dealing with twins, as opposed to, say, a toddler and a newborn, is a challenge.

5 mistakes to avoid with toddler twins

Because if there’s anything more challenging than dealing with a toddler, it’s dealing with two at the same time. Raising toddler twins can feel like a non-stop balancing act, disciplining one on the sidewalk while making sure the other doesn’t dart off into the street.

Family life, from twin tantrums to mealtime antics, can be harder because there are two of them.

I certainly made many mistakes with mine. The kinds of mistakes I would avoid if I were to do this all over again—the ones that at first seemed like the right thing to do, but had backfired in the end.

See if you’re making these same mistakes, especially if you’re struggling with twins:

1. Having no consistent, clear rules

Toddler twins are prone to test boundaries, especially with each other. Establish clear responsibilities and rules in your family, and be consistent with it.

For instance, you might have a rule about no hitting, even during playtime. If this is the case, then the same must apply when they’re playing ninja warriors as when they’re arguing.

Clear, consistent rules give them the boundaries to play safely, without wondering whether something is allowed or not.

And don’t give up or assume they don’t listen because you’ve told them not to do something. Habits are based on consistent repetition, so it’d be unfair to expect them to listen the first time around.

One way to help them better understand their part is to place the responsibility on them. Instead of saying, “Stop whining,” you can say, “I can’t carry you while you’re whining.”

Instead of placing the outcome on you (“Momma won’t pick me up”), this phrasing places the responsibility on them (“I need to stop whining if I want to get carried”).

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2. Forcing your twins to share

Compared to their singleton counterparts, twins are more likely to fight over the same thing. Never mind if you bought two of the same cars or got one twin a Batman toy and the other a Superman one—they’ll find a way to fight for the same item.

Most well-meaning parents, hoping to teach the value of sharing, force their twins to share. In trying to be fair, they make one twin give up the desired item so the other can have her turn.

Problem is, this doesn’t respect that twin’s desire to keep playing and exploring. Imagine being so focused on an activity, but forced to stop because someone else wants to have a go. It also teaches the other twin that she merely has to whine to get what she wants.

Use your best judgment. If you find that one twin has monopolized a certain toy or activity, then yes, teach her to share it with her sibling. But even this should be done respectfully, like giving her a time frame to transition. “Five more throws and then let’s hand the ball to your brother.”

An even more effective technique? Use a timer. Any time my twins are fighting over the same item, I set a timer for a few minutes so each can have his turn.

They prefer taking turns, even for 10 minutes at a time, than having to give up a toy completely. And they’re reassured that the other isn’t going to hog it the rest of the day—they know they have as much time as their brother does.

3. Telling your twins to stop crying

Crying elicits a reaction in all of us. We hear a baby cry, we run to soothe her. The twins start throwing a fit, and we do all we can to get them to stop.

After all, one kid crying is bad enough—two is even more stressful.

But think about the message that sends. By trying to stop your twins from crying as quickly as possible, you’re denying the natural emotions we all feel. Restoring peace and quiet becomes a higher priority than allowing them to sit with their feelings.

Because here’s the truth: crying is okay. It’s not so much about getting them to stop crying as it is giving them the safe and loving space to do so.

The next time they cry, accept it as a natural thing that happens. Give them a hug and watch their defenses melt away. Don’t discipline just yet, and instead let your body language ease them away from resistance and into openness.

This doesn’t enable bad behavior. They’re not going to think, Wow, this feels nice. I’m going to hit my brother again so I can get more hugs. The lessons can come later when they’re calmer and more receptive (after all, nothing will sink in while they’re crying hysterically).

For now, let them cry, even if hearing two sets of tears sounds stressful. This is natural, and you’re more likely to get them to calm down this way than feeling anxious or getting upset.

Learn how to take toddler twins out alone.

4. Keeping your twins together all the time

If you have twins and other young children of different ages, you’ve likely found that they tend to play with each other more so than other sibling pairings. This makes sense—after all, they’re the same age and have the same interests.

But this also makes it more tempting to lump them together all the time, or to forget to give each of them one-on-one time. You might not even think to encourage them to play separately, assuming that where one is, the other follows.

As much as your twins spend time with each other, encourage them to play apart as well, especially when they’re on the brink of yet another fight. This prevents potential arguing and meltdowns and reminds them that they can have as much fun apart as together.

Plus, by the time they’ve finally finished playing alone, they’re more than willing to reunite peacefully once again.

Get more tips on how to encourage individuality in your twins.

5. Not prioritizing their friendship

This might come as a shock to some, especially since many of us would say emphatically, “Of course I want my toddler twins to get along!”

But think about the language you use and the way you frame their friendship. Do you assume they’re going to fight and there’s no way around it? Or do you correct disrespectful behavior they display toward one another right away?

For instance, when correcting their behavior, you can say, “We don’t speak to others that way, especially your sister.” You can also encourage gratitude by pointing out how fun it is to have a twin, especially when they’re enjoying each other’s company. “Isn’t having a twin sister so special?”

You can even use positive praise to encourage good behavior when you see it. You could say, “You two are having so much fun!” or even rub their backs as they’re playing well together.

Get more tips about encouraging your twins to get along.

Conclusion

Handling toddler twins can feel like a feat reserved for the strongest of us. Indeed, any challenges in parenthood will only make you stronger and more confident, even if it doesn’t feel like that at first.

It all starts with avoiding common mistakes many of us make. Don’t force your twins to share, as this not only discourages generosity, but denies them the ability to learn how to take turns.

Avoid telling them to stop crying. This makes them cry even more and doesn’t allow them to experience their true emotions (and how to cope through them). Have clear, consistent rules so they know what to expect, making sure to reinforce them over and over if need be.

Give them time apart so they also develop a sense of individuality (and fight less!). And finally, encourage a strong twin bond by reminding them of their special relationship or the kindness they do for each other.

Twin life—especially with toddlers—can test our patience, don’t you think? But you can get through this stage, just as you did the newborn one, and as you will all the others ahead of you.

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