baby feature
Twin-frastructure A Battle Plan for Bringing Home Two Babies By Angela Ford
T
he ultrasound tech was late that day and I was preoccupied with my bladder. When I finally lay back on the paper-covered bed, I was in a desperate situation, bladder-wise, and so not prepared for what came
next. “It looks like twins.” I craned my neck and saw two black sacs, each with a tadpole baby floating in the middle. By the time I was released to the ladies’ room, my brain had caught up with the news. Twins would not look like quiet tadpoles for long. Very, very soon, twins would look like a chaotic swirl of diapers, spit up, and laundry. For the next six months, I drew up a battle strategy. I read books and blogs and spoke with every twin mom who crossed my path. I felt I was ready when they finally came home. Twins, however, are crafty. In the wake of their coordinated attack, I tweaked my systems, adapted my infrastructure, did a lot of laundry, and managed to raise them to toddlerhood. This is what I learned. Safe places for waiting babies From the very beginning, twins learn to be patient. If you are changing, bathing, or soothing one twin, the other must be put down. You will need safe rest stops set up in key locations like the family room, kitchen, and bathroom. I rated my rest stops on the toxic twin scale: how safe is Twin A if I am up to my wrists in Twin B’s revolting diaper? • Bouncy chairs. Quick to buckle and stable enough for robust, kicking babies, bouncy chairs are a staple in the twin home. Get two, and use them in rooms where you want the babies up off the floor. • Baby gyms and play mats. These padded mats have arches that provide the framework for dangly toys. I loved the baby gyms because they are cheap, portable, and the babies can stretch out and kick their legs. • A cozy blanket. This easy, low-cost rest stop is perfect for a carpeted family room. The one drawback is that in my house, a blanket on the floor appears like an area rug, inviting older kids to walk on it, sometimes with shoes. Transportation There are many ways to carry two babies, most of them cumbersome and awkward. Short of having a second person following you everywhere, these are the best solutions. • Large receiving blankets. When my boys were tiny newborns, I wrapped them in a loose swaddle, then carried them in my arms stacked like cordwood. This works for short trips, and only until they weigh about ten pounds. • Baby sling. Made of stretchy, sturdy fabric, one baby slips in, freeing your hands to carry the other. • Soft baby carriers. When the babies outgrow the sling, you will need something more robust. I loved the Ergo Baby carrier: it holds big babies with the weight on the hips, and it can be worn on the front, side, or back. Changing diapers—lots of diapers Perhaps the first thing twins learn is the coordinated poop. It works like this: one twin poops. Mom changes him. The other twin poops. Mom changes him. The first twin poops again. Mom changes him. This trick is also great for Dad, as well as kind-hearted relatives who offer to help.
• Multiple diaper stations. Unless you live in a bachelor suite, you will need a few different spots to change diapers. Set up one main change table, plus one or two satellite stations. • Supply kits. All diapering stations need a basket with diapers, wipes, bum cream, and a change pad with extra covers. Use the floor or a stretch of bathroom counter for your satellite stations. • One central diaper disposal. Whether you use cloth or disposable, put all used diapers in one disposal. It is a small detail to carry a dirty diaper from a satellite station to your main disposal. It is a much bigger job to keep multiple disposals smelling fresh. Feeding Feeding twins is tricky, no matter how you do it. I have friends who always double nursed their twins. When I double nursed, putting two babies to two breasts seemed to require a third hand. I opted to nurse one and bottle feed the other at the same time, switching babies for the next feed. • Nursing pillow. However you double feed, a nursing pillow is a lifesaver. Look for one that curves to your body, and wide enough to support two babies. • Comfortable chair. Pick one cozy feeding spot and keep a basket nearby with lanolin cream, breast pads, and burp cloths. • Bottle set-up. I chose glass bottles and powdered formula. Set up your bottles the evening before by filling them with sterilized water. Pre-measure the powdered formula into little plastic cubes (sold in baby stores for freezing purees). To prepare a bottle, heat the water, add the pre-measured formula and give it a shake. The most important gear: a camera, notebook, and a few minutes to write your thoughts Know that when your babies are two, their infancy will be a blur. Take lots of pictures. Take your babies’ hand and foot prints. Clip locks of hair. Write down heights and weights. Soon they will be running and colouring and starting school. You will want to remember their soft feet, the curve of their cheeks, and the way they both grabbed for the same dangly toy as they kicked in the baby gym. Angela Ford is a freelance writer and mother of four children. She successfully managed twin boys through babyhood and is now battling the toddler years.
Twin Resources Juggling Twins: The Best Tips, Tricks, and Strategies From Pregnancy to the Toddler Years , by Meghan Regan-Loomis. A fun, easily digestible set of ideas for new twin moms. www.babygizmo.com has honest, thoughtful video reviews of baby products, including several double strollers. www.raising-twins.com is run by a twin mom, featuring lots of practical advice for the different stages of pregnancy, twin infancy, and beyond. • Twin baby items are often for sale on Craigslist.com and Kijiji.com. Look here first for items like bouncy chairs, play saucers, and double stroller frames. • If you’re buying new items, make sure you choose a store with knowledgeable sales staff who won’t just try to sell you the most expensive item.
October 2011
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