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Twins at home
Twins… The idea takes you from laughter to tears, from excitement to stress. You did not expect this! Everyone will find their techniques, but here are some keys to get you organized.
Birth of twins: should you buy one or two cradles?
If you have the means and the space, invest in two cribs. In case of lack of space, a single bed will do the first months, by putting your infants upside down or by placing a bed reducer there. The narrow space will reassure them and allow them to adapt together to their environment. Thereafter, it is better to give them real privacy: not each in his room, but each his bed! Another more nomadic solution, the purchase of two baskets: transportable and separable if your babies do not have the same sleep rhythm. And if you are a backpacker, invest in umbrella beds!
A host of bottles to plan if you are not breastfeeding
The first few months, besides sleeping, your children will also eat. Are you not breastfeeding? When the twins arrive, plan about 6 bottles per baby with precise graduations. Consider buying the same brand to avoid mixing rings, which are often incompatible from one brand to another. Assign a color per baby: useful to know how much has been drunk by whom. In addition, this allows each pacifier to be adapted according to individual needs. We also recommend that you opt for two bottle warmers. Thus, the bib ‘are ready at the same time! “My twins take 6 bottles each a day,” Amélie tells us. I prepare them in the morning and put them in the refrigerator. You just have to heat them, what a time saver! »Milk keeps very well in the refrigerator for 24 hours and you will appreciate not having to count the measures of milk in the middle of the night! If your twins drink at the same times (luck!), Feed them their meal at the same time: place them on a twin breastfeeding pillow or side by side in deckchairs. Tip: Instead of washing the bottles after each use, rinse them and place them in a tub of hot soapy water. Twice a day, roll up your sleeves for cleaning and sterilization, fill them with water and store them next to the milk box, ready for the next round!
Twins: double stroller and deckchairs, the essentials
If the double stroller is obviously essential in the event of a twin birth, you will also find it difficult to do without deckchairs. Useful from the first days to bottle-feed, for times of relaxation, visits… and all the times when you have to put a child down while the other is in your arms. Also very practical, the rocking deckchair. Thus, by giving the breast or the bottle to one in your arms, you make the other wait by a movement of your foot which will swing its seat. And when the first one has had his meal, we exchange places. In addition, the rocking movement promotes digestion and sleep, even if of course, nothing beats the arms of his mom or dad.
Kitchen equipment for twins
As soon as they are in period of food diversification, and if you are a fan of home cooking, equip yourself with a robot : some have capacities large enough to prepare 2, 3 or even 4 quality meals in just 15 minutes! If you have neither the time nor the inclination, opt for thein small jars or frozen : either by freezing your dishes yourself, or by buying. “I am the mother of 5 children, Noémie confides, and the last two are twins. To save time, I buy frozen mash or ratatouille pebbles. There are some for all tastes, their composition is good, no added salt and it’s economical! Just heat them up and it’s ready. ” You will also find it difficult to do without two high chairs. A 3 in 1 model (bassinet, deckchair and high chair) can save you a lot of money, so Baby is always at the right height. Another option for a kitchen that is too small: the booster seats, easy to install and store in a cupboard. As for the moments of relaxation, perhaps you will fall for a large special twin playpen, especially when your toddlers start to crawl. Adept or not, recognize that this can allow you to breathe a little …
Twin babies: take their turn for the bath!
No need to tell you, two tubs is unnecessary. Buy the simplest model! On the other hand, two towels or bath capes are necessary to dry your babies as quickly as possible with a very dry terry cloth. And here are some tips so that the bath is not the sea to drink:
• Wash your twins every other day as long as they are not yet moving, or at least while you are “broken in”: a baby in his bed does not get dirty quickly, a simple quick wash is enough.
• Prepare everything you need first: towels, diapers, products… you can’t take the risk of running from one room to another to look for the forgotten bodysuit in the room.
• If you are alone, put a deckchair in the bathroom: while you wash one of your twins, the other patient (somehow) next to it. The two are thus in the same room, it is essential to monitor them. And as long as we are busy with the one on the changing table, we do not take care of the one in the deckchair! Too bad for the lollipop dropped on the floor, you will pick it up in 5 minutes.
• Keep the water the same for both, adding a little hot water for the second.