We're having twins - help!

Bun

Yes that is true with the front and behind buggies -I think that some mums rotate the babies. I don't find these too bad but the ones where the baby is underneath can't be much fun.

Sallys_Savings

I had four children (including a set of twins) in four years....its hectic but great fun too . They are now all teenagers...and wow sorry but its far worse now lol
I'm sure you're going to be absolutely fantastic and I send all my best wishes.
It can be expensive but theres lots of ways to help too.
I used terry nappies (hard work but I felt alot cheaper)..use things like reusable breast pads (see a recent post on here)...FREECYCLE (I'm sure you'll get lots of items offered if you put a wanted notice up or keep a close eye out on the freecycle boards if theres something you wish)....Car boot, around here baby items go for next to nothing especially if you go at the end of the car boot and they dont wish to take bulky items home....Pressies, we received lots and lots of pressies more than we did with the singletons...Twins & Multiple birth clubs, join and they often sell off items as well as a great source of support if you find you need it....Plan ahead (and put things in the loft) and buy a high chair/cot etc if you see it cheap eventhough you wont need it for ages.

All the best

crispeater

oh wow! so jealous!!

i have 2 little delights a just turned 4yr old dd and a 2 yr old next month ds. i brought a side by side buggy as i too felt that it was unfair for whoever was sat at the back. i wanted the kids to be able to prod each other lol
also as we approach my sons 2nd birthday i've told everyone to only buy a small gift if they have to and to give money instead as there is nothing he needs as his sister has had it all.
i also got stuff off freecycle, highchair, walker, duvet covers.. the baby stuff i put back on once i'd finished with it too. the highchair was great it was a brand new m&p one!

congratulations and goodluck

emmie

hi there, have got 5yo and 3.5 yo twins. So DD was 17m when twins were born, so I had 3 under 2. It is hard work especially the early years.

My tops tips would be;
Arm yourself with a copy of the Contended Baby book. A lot of Mums hate it, but I found it a godsend. Ignore all the rubbish about making sure you have your curtains open by 8am, just stick to the eating/sleeping plans

If one wakes for a feed, wake the other one and feed them even they are not hungry, saves the constant feeding

Accept ALL offers of help

Start preparing meals that you can put in the freezer, eg Shep Pie, Lasagne

Visit Charity shops, Ebaby, car boots for bargains

Join local twins club

PM if you want any more !

clarew

Hi, i am in a similar boat, am currently 27weeks pregnant with non identical twin boys. We have 2 boys already aged 5 and 3, and i had hummed and haa'd for ages before deciding to have our 3rd (as we thought until the scan!) and final child!

We couldn't believe it when the 13wk scan showed twins-what a shock. We were worried about finances as we had thought we had all the stuff sorted (car seat,cot,buggy etc), but realised we would need another car seat, another cot and double buggy. As we are certain this will be our last pregnancy it also seems wasteful to spend lots of money on items like car seat etc which will only be used for a few months. We have found that friends have been very good, in discovering car seats in lofts and double buggies they no longer use that we have brought cheaply off them. The only thing we have not been able to pick up cheaply is mpv (!) as there will be 6 of us, we can't squash in to 1 car sadly!

Also check out netmums.com for your local area-they have nearly new section, and i picked up lovely moses basket for £5 with bedding, and changing table for £15.

Other good places to look apart from netmums are gumtree,freecycle.
Check out tamba (twins and multiple birth association) for advice/information, and also multiple birth foundation (is a link on the tamba website to them), who also offer advice/support/prenatal meetings in london. Tamba also has info on local twinsclubs, and often in their newsletter/meetings things are sold 2nd hand cheaply.

Other mse tips-breastfeed (if poss), stock up on nappies during pregnancy, home made baby food (much cheaper) and make use of all bogof promotions on wipes etc!!

Good luck, think we will all need it!!!!!

ukbandit

look at freecycle too, there are some decent items on there, and free too

ka7e

Remember to sign up for Boots Parenting Club for special offers and money-off vouchers. I doubt they give double vouchers for having twins, but you could get your Mum or MIL to sign up too!
Best of luck, my boy/girl twins were 18 in Feb and I wouldn't have swapped the "twin" experience for anything!

hihopen

We had twins first followed by another in 23 months. All the advice here is great--I would only add my suggestion that you have a tumble drier and an extra freezer, if you haven't got one already. The freezer is for stocking up on supplies and meals you've made ahead. (The best thing ever when bread is reduced in price.) Although the drier is not PC at the moment, it saved my life when we had three 'babies' to clothe--especially in those months when it's still damp but the central heating is off. We bought both second hand--the freezer is still going 14 years later.
Take support when it is offered. Get yourselves organised and I hope you enjoy the wonder of twins!

ashlaur_2

I have twin girls who are now 12 years old and an older son who is 14.
If you join the twins and multiple births club (TAMBA) you used to be able to get various discounts including 10% at clarks which could be used for all your children not just the twins. You also get a regular magazine with lots of tips and advice.

I also joined my local twins club, which was great because aswell as the support of other mums in similar situations we did things like clothes sales and twin swaps to separate our children and help them to be apart from each other to develop their independence. You can join these clubs before your twins are born and there may be twin buggies etc for sale.

You could always try and make a bit of money out of having the twins if they are identical by seeing if they can get any TV roles. Twins are nearly always required for parts when they are very young.

Also the advice about waking the other child when you have just fed the first is invaluable. Unfortunately nobody told me this and I would just settle one after feeding and changing and have about half an hours sleep myself when the other one would wake and as each feed and change and to settle back down took about two hours it was a constant excerscise.
Good luck anyway and congratulations.

heaven_scent

Hi, my daughters were 5 and 18 months when my twins were born and the best advice was from my Health Visitor who said that I would know best what to do! If you're into breast-feeding its perfectly possible (one on each side with pillows underneath helps!) And, Yes, although mine were quite different weights, I fed them together.They are all grown up and great friends now- enjoy!