Help! Twins/Multiple births!!

Piper*

Hi Congratulations to your friends - they have lots of fun in store:D
My boy girl twins are now 8mths and i have found it easier financially than i first thought.
I shopped in the sales, nct sales are great, online on ebay, twins club and tamba.
Tell your friends to say yes to all offers of help, hand me downs etc - people can really be so generous.
Joining tamba is a good idea and they are currently involved with getting child benefit to be the same for all children in the family rather than more for the first. And another campaign for the extra baby element with child tax credit for families of multiples.
The one off maternity grant of £500 per child can only be given before the child is 3mths old - so be careful they don't miss that one!
Register for boots mum and baby club - lots of freebies there.
I use reusable nappies during the day (motherease - very good) and a pampers at night. I have also majority breastfed up to now and have saved myself a fortune in formula. I get a box of fruit and veg delivered that i batch cook and freeze for baby food.
Think that is pretty much everything
Good luck
Piper

chmmy

I too breastfed and used washable nappies for most of the first year, but I was at home, not working. The hardest problem is that it is very difficult to go back to work because of childcare costs, and it often makes financial sense to stay at home with them. They would be looking at 3 x f/t nursery fees :eek: or a nanny. Even part-time work to fit around partners hours is difficult as it'll take a truly dedicated man to work all day then come home and look after baby twins and a 3 year old, sounds exhausting!! plus often you'll be up at night twice as much (unless you're v v lucky and get good sleepers), coupled with the fact that twins are often born early and small so need feeding more often anyway, plus mum is more likely to have complications and a C-section!!!:eek:

So sometimes it is easier to spend less by breastfeeding, using washable nappies, using freecycle for baby stuff, accepting peoples second hand baby clothes, going to free activities at library and duck-feeding, cooking all your own baby food, cooking all meals from scratch, and walking everywhere lol.:rotfl:

inkie

Post on freecycle a list of wanted baby items - i am assuming that they may well have their equip. from the 3 yo left, and so will need to supplement. Freecycle is an excellent source of obtaining something that you really need for free.

HariboJunkie

Check out all the local ads/supermarket noticeboards/charity shops. Even a single pram and a sling would do to begin with . I found this easier than pushing a double buggy. Breastfeed if at all possible. Check out ebay for bundles of baby clothes and ask people for specific prezzies rather that loads of teddies thet they won't look at until they're about 5. Accept ALL offers of help. Asell as contacting tamba call your local Homestart who will help out and also have swapping days for baby gear.
Twins are hard work and expensive so tell her not to be proud.
Wish her luck from me. It's worth it in the end.

jcturner

Congrats to your friends!

Am expecting twins too and have found that Tamba and other twins organisations are a relly good place to start for information on double buggies etc. Freecycle, charity shops and hand me downs from friends are also great sources of equipment, especially clothes and toys. Don't turn away any offer of assistance or donations of stuff!

Unfortunately the govt doesn't give double benefits to twins/multiples, but Tamba is doing a great job of trying to get this changed.

Breastfeeding and using washable nappies should also help to keep the costs down.

Good luck!

Clive_Woody

At the 12 week scan my brother-in-laws sister found out she was having twins, at the 20 week scan she found out she was having triplets....she didn't go back for another scan.

Perhaps hold off on the shopping until after the 20 week scan.

ayla261

BusyLizzie wrote:

Hi - finding out you're expecting twins (or more) IS a massive shock - I'm still in shock and my twins are four now!

:rotfl: :rotfl: mine are eight next month and i still can't believe it!!
Double the trouble but twice as much fun, many congratulations to your friends :beer:

abbecer

My friend has triplets and nearly died of shock when she was told. She hadn't had fertility treatment or anything. They do work out very expensive but they manage. She is lucky because one of her uncles 'sponsors' one of their children. As mentioned before they will keep each other company.

I wish your friend luck and i'm sure it'll be fine in the end.

Rebecca xxx

inkie

One of the mums at school had twins and then followed less than a year later with triplets (concealed pregnancy - didn't know that she was expecting unitl in labour!) - now that's the time to be scared!!

morganlefay

My twins are 31 now - identical girls - and one of them is now pregnant with our first grandchild, so I know that you can survive. Ours (don't tell your friend this) didn't sleep through the night until they were 5 and started to be stretched at school. I thought I would die from lack of sleep. But people kept telling me to 'enjoy' them and I don't think I did, and I wish I had more. They were wonderful, loving difficult little girls and I don't know where the time went, tho I think having just one grandchild to cuddle will be a novel experience for me. Tell your friend that what matters is a lot of cuddles and stories and laughter - even when you're exhausted - because one day she'll be where I am, wondering where their childhood went. And it was all worth it.
When people used to say to me 'Oooh double trouble' I just used to say 'No, not really, but double cuddles' and in the end it was true. Good luck to her, and my very best wishes for a wondeful future. I would do it all over again if I could !