Life after twins

I am going to be a mom of newborn twins plus a toddler and a teenager (yikes I know )
On another site there was a mom who said that she refuses to be home alone with her 7.5 month old twins. That got me a bit scared!!

I have every intention of taking the toddler and the twins out for walks, to the store, to the library - on my own.
Is it possible?? I need some reassurance from moms who have already been there.

 

I'm sure you'll do just fine. You'll figure out what works and what doesn't. I'll have a teenager in 3 weeks from today, omg the horror of that. I was scared to be alone with my twins when we moved to our own house in August, after living with my il's. I did just fine. I got them on a good routine and we three are still here.

 

I'm still pretty new to the whole twin thing myself, but my adivice is have a good schedule/routine in place. I stay home with the girls all day by myself and this week alone we've been to BRU for several walks and the mall. I won't kid you and say it's easy but thanks to my handy schedule it's not impossible either. I just make sure I plan things around feedings, fussy times, and nap times. You can do it!

 

I don't know what it is like to have a toddler and twins....but from a single mom perspective, you can do all kinds of things with your kids by yourself! I have been alone with my guys since they were 7 weeks old and they are 2 now......even before my ex-husband and I split up I took them all kinds of places all the time!!!

 

quote:
On another site there was a mom who said that she refuses to be home alone with her 7.5 month old twins. That got me a bit scared!!



WOW! Really?? How does she survive everyday??


Of course it's possible! I have 5 kids. We haven't been out much lately, simply because the flu is running rampant around here, and I would rather avoid having 5 kids sick! It does take some planning and organizing, but it is totally doable. Don't let them scare you...you are completely capable!

 

My girls are only 13 days old and my mom left yesterday. I have 3 other kids to truck around, my friends are helping me with that at the moment so the babies dont have to be exposed to anything during RSV season. But we got on a feeding schedule the first night (every three hours/ four at night) I am lucky I suppose. But as a PP said just get a schedule going and you will be fine. Really it seems to be easier for me now than when I was huge prego and so extremely tired. You will be fine. Of course my Mother is also on speed dial should things "go down hill" anytime soon!!

 

You'll be fine!!! The 1st couple of months we didn't get out much, but now we are out all the time! We get cabin fever & my 3 girls & I like to be out & about. Sometimes if the babies are being fussy we'll go somewhere just to get out of the house & they're all smiles- it's actually easier than being at home! It does take a little longer to get ready & in the car w/2 infants & a toddler, but we do it almost everyday. This week we've been to Gymboree classes 2x, the mall & the grocery store.

 

I would go crazy & if I felt I "had" to stay home. Like everyone has said, you'll be able to do it! We've been doing it the past few weeks (winter time is a cruddy time to have babies...we stayed in due to weather/illness/etc). Besides for all the attention of having 5 kids, it isn't so bad!!

 

That poor woman. I don't know how she survives! Oh, to be so pampered, I suppose.

I was terrified the 1st day DH went back to work and left me with the girls. I didn't know how I'd ever be able to get them both fed, changed, etc without his help. You know what? I just did. You find your groove out of necessity.

Of course you can do it. I don't have 3 kids yet but when I do have toddler twins and a newborn, I can tell you that we are going to get out just as much as we do now (several times a week) on our own. For me, it's a must to keep us all sane.

Like the PP said, a schedule is very important. Once you have a feel for when they will be eating, sleeping, etc, you can plan appropriate outings. I would take both of mine to the mall, feed them both while there, and let them nap in the stroller. Or, I'd plan a walk close to nap time and let them sleep then. Or, walk right before naptime and then they were good and ready for their nap. There are a million variations on schedules and you will find yours.

 

We lived with my parents until the boys were 3 months old. Once we moved out, i found out that my mother was right. She has always said "necesity is the mother of all inventions..." and she is right. I never thougth i could handle it until i realized that i could...that i was doing it because i had to and each day got easier. If you need to find a way to do something, you find a way. If you need to feed both babies, go to the store or do someting else, you'll find a way and do it. The only thing that I havent mastered yet is how to go to the post office to drop of packages for ebay. thank God for postal pickup. LOL

 

Im not going to lie to you, raising twins is very hard but it can be done! Some people, I think, should never be allowed to have babies and for anyone to say that is just plain rude, IMO. Why would you not want to be home with your babies?? So sad... Anyways, you will figure it out. I wasnt brave enough to take my girls out when they were little but mine were VERY fussy little girls. They went almost straight from colic to teething and were miserable to say the least.

Dont let a comment by someone else get you bummed. You are a good mom, look at the children you already have, and you will be fine. Dont be afraid to ask for help with the babies, laundry, dishes, the older children, etc. b/c you will need the help. I couldnt imagine trying to run my house without some help in the beginning so take it if they offer it and DONT BE AFRAID TO ASK!

You are going to get alot more comments especially after the babies are born so all I can say is let it run off your back. Some people are so rude that if I took them seriously, I would be in a nut house by now.

Good luck to you and dont let that other woman scare you. You have found a GREAT twin site so whenever you feel lonely or frustrated, just post. We have all been there and can relate.

 

I find it rewarding to get out and get them out!!! I do it daily and you will learn how and get comfy doing it. Tara

 

you will do fine!!! you just do what you have to do!!! I have 5 kids -
my shopping trips are a little shorter now (I don't try things on
and I don't go "big" grocery shoppping with everybody but it's not because I can't - it's because it's boring to the kids) walks and going to the park we could handle all day!! I would go crazy stuck in this house all day!!

I won't lie twin infants has been the most intense thing I have ever done- there is nothing easy about it - but it is also the most wonderful, truly amazing thing - every baby is a true blessing but
to have been given the double blessing of twins - us ladies are the choosen ones - the select few that can handle a cup that is running over and believe me I didn't think so at first but now at the end of each crazy day I look back on it and smile! you will too!

 

Thanks SO much for all the encouraging replies!! I am feeling a bit better now!

 

It is totally doable. If you want to do it you will. It is amazing how we can find ways to do things we once thought impossible. I am in the opposite situation, expecting a singleton and my twins are 11 months old, I have an 11yr old and 8 yr old as well. I figure if I need to go somewhere alone the twins will be pushed in the stroller and the new baby in a sling or snugli. Now when I need to go the grocery store or someplace I try to plan to go when I can take one of my older children along to help. The grocery store is the only place I really have a problem. I can't carry both babies into the store to get one of those 2 seater carts, and it is too awkward to push the stroller/pull the cart (when they were in infant seats it was easier). Other places I just take the stroller. I am also planning to get some toddler leashes. Seriously, I never thought I would use those...I never judged anyone for it but it just seemed too much like walking a dog. My twins will be 15 months when this one arrives and I can imagine getting them out of the car in a parking lot and having them take off in 2 different directions.

 

You will be fine! We get out and walk every day. You should see the looks I get with my triple jogging stroller. My walks last twice as long because everyone wants to stop and talk about all the girls and the dog. Anyway the stroller is a lifesaver! I can't stand to be cooped up either.

I do have to say that I find it difficult to take all 3 to the grocery store, Target, etc. because my oldest DD still needs to be in a stroller. She loves to run off and it stresses me out. So I typically run errands with the twins while she is in mother's morning out. Hopefully your toddler is a little more calm!

Good Luck with your twins!

 

You'll be fine.. My older dd was 20 months when my twins were born... Now I have a 3.5 year old, and twin 2 year olds and another on the way...my kids will be close to 4.5 and twin 2.5 year olds when the next one arrives...and yes, number 4 was planned this way...so having a toddler plus twins must not be too bad if I was nuts enough to add a fourth to the mix!! Seriously the first six months are the worst.... then after six months it gets soooo much better... my twins napped so much better than my older dd ever did...b/c I was forced to put them on a schedule. They had a lot more "neglect" than my older dd...and it turned out for their benifit...by age 5 months they were on a schedule of eat-for about an hour... "play" for about 20 minutes, then nap for about 45min to an hour...this was around 4 or 5 naps a day..from six month until 11 months they did three 2 hr naps a day- I kid you not-....then from 11 months to 18 months they did two 2 hr naps a day... and from 18 months until now they have continued taking one 2-3 hour nap per day...my dd would sleep for 4 hours if I let her.... and they both still do 11-12 hours at night, and have done that since they were around 5.5 months old. (my dd started doing that around 3.5 months...ds had to CIO at 5.5 months).... anyway, once you actually start sleeping at night everything gets SOOOO much better. I honestly think part of the reason they napped so much better than my singleton was b/c my toddler dd wore them out during the day! They were always much more physically active than she was as a baby. She didn't have as much motivation to spend energy as they did.