Getting out with twins

Hi There,

My twins were born a month ago and I haven't taken them out by myself yet. I wondered if anyone had any tips on how to manage two when you're out? I would love to sign them up for programs like music classes etc, but I'm intimidated on how to manage them while i'm alone. Has anyone successfully taken their twins to programs like that by themselves? I'm starting to get a bit of cabin fever and am dreaming about the day I take them out to something.

Thanks!

 

Of course you can do it! Here are some tips:

1) Keep a diaper bag packed and ready to go at all times. Sometimes it takes so long to prepare to get out the door, that everyone is fried by the time you leave. When you get home, make it a habit to restock the diaper bag.

2) I highly recommend the double snap n go stroller. If you already have a double stroller, then it is probably a bit too late. But this stroller is lightweight and easy to lift in and out of the car. It takes no time at all to set it up and to get the kids snapped in place.

3) Do a "dry run" with someone else with you. Bring them along, but do everything all by yourself (getting them in and out of the car, etc.). They can help if needed, but chances are you will be just fine.

4) Do it! Make a small trip to Target or someplace similar. Remember, half the adventure is just the outing itself, not the goal of the outing (i.e., to get more diapers). It will take three times as long to make a quick errand run, but just getting out and about will be worth it.

We signed up for our first class at three months. It was a lot of work, and I did it alone, but it was so worth it. I needed that motivation to get dressed, put makeup on, and get out of the house. I brought a Bumbo seat and kept one next to me if I needed to (so I would have both hands available to soothe a hungry or tired baby). Good luck. I was (and am) the type of person that needed to get out. Not everyone is, which is totally okay. But just making it a point to get out each day helped me immensely!

 

It has become second nature for me, I have to go out alone most of the time. I dont even really know "how" I do it. Let me see...

You will build up the arm muscles of a Greek God so carrying them will become easier. LOL I rarely use my stroller really, I put one car seat over each arm at the elbow, a diaper bag over my arm (purse inside diaper bag) and lug away!!

I do use my stroller when we are outdoors and once in a great while when shopping. Usually I grab 2 carts and put one in each now that they are big enough to sit up, before I put one seat in the cart and latched one to the top of the cart.

ALWAYS always always park next to the cart return at the grocery store or WalMart.... it is so easy to get in and out of your car that way and you never have to leave your babies to go grab a cart!!

Restaurants can be hard because the tables are usually close together, pick one that has chairs that can be moved to accomidate all your "stuff" LOL!

I agree with PP keep a diaper bag packed and ready to go at all times!!

I nurse so I dont have to worry about packing bottles that is nice. BUT I have to make sure I have somewhere to feed babies when the time comes... usually in the backseat of my Excursion! We live about 40 miles away from everything so there is no "planning short trips" around our schedule...we just have to GO! Our Dr's office now knows how long it takes me to nurse and they ALWAYS leave a room open for me so I can stay and feed babies after our appointments!! Just ask a nurse or your Pedi and I am sure they will accomidate you

Anyway that is all I can think of right now... HTH

 

Go for it! Another easier trip suggestion might be try the library. If you get them out now, they will be more used to it when they are a little older, and that seemed to help me. Although we still have good and bad trips - but good more so than bad.

 

I used to leave DD in the infant carrier (carseat) and put DS in the frontpack to carry them around places like Walmart or Sams club...that used to be the highlight of my day - going to Walmart for nothing more than wipes and to walk around!

 

I have a Duoglider stroller and use it constantly! It maneuvers easily through aisles at walmart and the grocery store. I have to admit that my first solo trip to the grocery store was an adventure. I push the stroller in front and pull a cart behind. We get all kinds of offers for help and smiles at the boys. I have been to the doctor without my husband once--we did it but it sure is easier with him there. Just take it a little at a time and you'll gain confidence.

 

It is pretty scary when you carry them out by yourself for the first time.

Just allow a lot of extra time b/c everyone will want to talk to you and see the babies.

It is nice to just get out sometimes. Being in the house all day with two newborn babies can bring you down so I would suggest that you take them out.

 

I agree with just about everything everyone said. I have been taking my twins plus our now 3 1/2 year old out by myself since they were only a few weeks old. The first time I went to the mall, I asked DH to sit in the car while I got everyone out to see if I could do it. Didn't take long before I got into a routine which you will find for yourself too. It is definitely a workout to run short errands, but I can't stand being stuck in the house for more than a day or so. One day, I counted 6 times that I got the kids in and out of the car withing a few hours by myself. I was exhausted! I definitely prefer using grocery carts over getting my stroller out so I prefer trips to stores that provide them. We will be transitioning out of the infant car seats soon and oh is that a challenge I haven't figured out yet! I've done it a few times since they can sit up and I think it will be easier to use the stroller then so I don't have to push two carts so each baby can be buckled in.

 

I go out (everday) whenever I have them both changed, fed and sleepy. They fall asleep in the car and then we have a peaceful shopping trip. I'm usually only out 1 to 1-1/2 hours at a time. I started getting out myself with them at four weeks. Gotta beat the cabin fever!

 

I would have to look at my journal, but I'm pretty sure I've been taking them out alone since about 6 weeks or so. I remember feeling very anxious at first. But now I've got it down and we're out alone 3 times a week or more.

The night before, I try to pack their diaper bag and decide what they are going to wear (based on weather and if Breena has physical therapy or not). My diaper bag is my purse so that's one less thing for me to carry.

Once they are down for their morning nap, I get myself ready and decide where we are going and in what order. I actually prefer the mall to Target or Walmart. We have a very family friendly mall with lots of couches, two family lounges and a play area. I put them in the snap n go, stop at Starbucks and just start walking.

If I'm in the house for more than a day without getting out, everyone starts to get fussy. The girls seem to love looking around at everything and smiling at the people who stop to ask questions. As long as I get them fed and changed on schedule, there is hardly ever any crying. I usually stick the baby bjorn under the stroller just in case someone needs carried while I'm pushing the other in the stroller.

Another place that I would go to when I first started going out alone is Babies R Us. I figured they were used to crying babies and they have a mother's lounge where I could feed them.

I'm sure you'll do fine after a couple of tries!

 

one thing people forgot to add is prepare yourself for some great comments with those people stopping you, especially since you are by yourself...

I have been taking all 3 out since about 6 weeks old and you just figure out how to do it as you go along. let us know how your adventure goes

 

Wow! Thanks for the tips! That's really very helpful. I think i'm starting to build up more courage. I'll let you know how my first excursion goes!

 

QUOTE(nickerbockers @ Dec 19 2007, 10:28 AM) [snapback]540274[/snapback]
Wow! Thanks for the tips! That's really very helpful. I think i'm starting to build up more courage. I'll let you know how my first excursion goes!



I wish I would get out more. I just get lazy. To answer your question, I finally just had to make myself do it. I practiced by going to the book store, target, etc. I just had to experiment and figure out what worked best for us. With practice it became easier.

 

QUOTE(sunshinetwins @ Dec 19 2007, 09:07 AM) [snapback]540184[/snapback]
Another place that I would go to when I first started going out alone is Babies R Us. I figured they were used to crying babies and they have a mother's lounge where I could feed them.



Ditto BRU - my favorite place to take them alone, for many reasons. They're never too busy, even during this crazy season....so you don't have to fight so many people, or so many cars in the parking lot. The aisles are very wide, so a double stroller is no problem. They have the mother's room if you need to change or feed. And yes, I figured nobody can complain if a baby cries there!

For several months, it was my Saturday afternoon routine while my SAHD hubby had his "day off". I'd pack them up and we'd just wander around the store for an hour at least. Of course there's always something I could use there too, so it was always a useful trip as well.

If you can, no matter where you go, if you're taking a stroller, park a ways out so you can have space on all sides of your car. Then you have plenty of room to pack them in and out, and you don't have anyone waiting for your parking space so you don't feel rushed.

Good luck!!

 

I try to get out most days. I often go to friends house then I have help when I get there. Even if we just sit around and visit I get to get out of the house and have some adult company. But just do it. realize that it will take a while and be okay with that.I have also started a Baby 'N Me group. Find people in your area with babies. I found several people at church and neighbors and asked other people who they knew. We just get togher once a week at someones house and bring food and talk. It is great to get out and it is an easy way to do it wtih people who have babies and understand. When I go run errands I limit the number of places I go at a time. One or two a day. It is easier and me and the babies, who won't sleep in their seat, and then we ahve something to do tomorrow. GOod luck

 

I envy you all! I had my first excursion with the babies just shy of 4 months (but premies, so they were just allowed out). We went to the mall and I almost died of exhaustion! Anytime my hubbie and I had them out to the doctor, or the 2X we went out to dinner so far, they slept like, well babies. At the mall with me they screamed and screamed--even on the car ride home! It was so awful I haven't gone out since.

I'm so depressed at the thought of being housebound all winter (esp. since I was on bedrest all summer!). And now that it's cold I can't even walk around the neighborhood and it makes taking them out elsewhere even harder.

Sorry to be so whiny, I'm just really down about it. You all are far more capable than I am. I should've been the parent to a singleton!!!

 

Wow. I envy those of you doing the shopping cart thing (2 shopping carts or the duoglider and a shopping cart). I simply cannot do that! Takes too much coordination for me or something. We go to the grocery store a lot. Usually one in the basket and one on the top part in their carseats. Of course, this makes for very little room for groceries so I can only go for little trips or go w/ the hubby on weekends when we can get two baskets. Or I use the duoglider and just do the little handle basket. The duoglider seems to make getting out pretty easy. Esp. since the carseats just snap on for when they are little.

 

you've gotten great advice - i find that having the diaper bag already packed REALLY helped; because no matter what, it takes a LOT to get two babies out the door! Even now, nine months into this, it's still an ordeal sometimes.

I can tell you that when they were little it sometimes took hours to get out - and by then everyone had to eat again! But - it's also REALLY good for all of you to get out, just for a change of scenery. My girls also get immediately UNfussy once we're out; sometimes even when i strap them in their carseats they calm down because they know we're outta here!

if you're nursing, make sure that you are comfortable NIP, and choose someplace that will have a lounge or at least a bench. If you're not, make sure that you carry extra formula and a bottle of water in your diaper bag just in case - BRU and other stores have these great little plastic things that you can pre-measure a bottles' worth of formula and just pour it in the bottle so you don't have to mess around w/measring from a ziplock bag or something.

and - plan on everything taking at least threetimes longer than it ever used to! For now, the snap-n-go is your best friend, just pop the carseats in and out (once you have to unbuckle them frm the seats and buckle them nto a stroller it's a whole other world!) if you don't have one, check your local craigslist, you can get them pretty cheaply usually

also, i found that aiming low really helped: in the early days i had all kinds of unrealistic expectatins about what i would get done, then i learned it's really just about getting out of the house! I never did classes w/them; we just started going to storytime at our local library (which of course usually conflicts with a nap!), and that's a challenge now that they're mobile.

I love the idea of doing a dry run w/someone so you have back up if you need it. You'll do fine, it will get easier (and there will be some days when JUST when you are ready to go out, someone has a diaper blow out andyou have to change the ENTIRE outfit...)_