Twins and multiples: How to survive the first year

Twins, twins, twins - a true miracle of life! In reality though, the real miracle is actually surviving the first year as parents when you have twins or multiples. It can be tricky, but we tell you how to come out like a champion!

Twins and multiples: How to survive the first year

Life can get crazy pretty fast when you bring home your newborn twins or multiples. As beautiful of a miracle as this can be, it's equally miraculous to see parents overcome and survive the first year of having twins without pulling each other's hair out.

As you can tell, it can be really hard on parents. Fortunately, there are several tips that you can follow to help survive the first year of having twins.

Be prepared

Months before the twins are born, parents should make sure that most baby items are already on hand and the nursery is functional. The diaper bags should be stocked and the equipment, especially the car seats, already set up.

Being prepared early is always advantageous especially since twins tend to make an appearance earlier than they are scheduled. Being prepared helps immensely in the process of trying to survive the first year of having twins.

Be organised

Winging it when you have kids is not a good idea. As parents, you should try to be very organised in order to survive the first year of having twins. For starters, you must make sure that all similar items are grouped and stored accordingly.

Knowing where all the items are when you need them prevents any sort of frustration. Being organised also helps you feel more effective and efficient as a parent no matter how busy you are with the babies.

Accept help

You might not want to admit that you can’t do everything yourself but never turn down help. Since the babies are just so adorable, you can really expect help to come in heaps.

Accepting volunteers for babysitting and other duties will not only help you recharge and relax but it will help you keep your perspective in check. When you are not personally juggling with dirty diapers, it tends to typically be one of those times that you appreciate how loveable your twins are.

Invest in household help

Your twins will always be priority compared to unfolded laundry, dirty dishes or a dusty home. But living in pigsty-like environment is not a good thing. Not only will it expose your children to germs and viruses, it also adds stress to everyone living in the home.

It might be costly but hiring a cleaning lady to clean the home weekly or twice a week is so worth it. Not only will the pressure of completing household chores be lifted, but it will also give parents more time to relax when the babies are asleep.

Prep meals in advance

Advanced meal preparations are great life-savers when raising and trying to survive the first year of having twins and multiples. At night, you can cook a large volume of food that could be eaten the next day.

The leftovers can be frozen and reheated when needed. Eliminating the need to constantly prepare and cook meals is always welcomed by parents, who need more sleep or time to play with the twins.

Unwind without the kids

In order to keep their sanity, parents of twins must schedule day or night outs without their babies just to unwind. This can be done by hiring a baby sitter or dropping them off at grandmother’s house. More importantly, these times will help them solidify their relationship as husband and wife too.

If going out is not an option, a two-hour long bath while the babies are asleep is just as effective. Without having to worry about the kids for a few hours can make parents miss their babies more.

Did any of these tips help you to survive the first year of having twins? We’d love to hear from you.

Written by

Karen Mira

Twins and MultiplesBaby HealthBaby