Utensils and how to deal with mobile twins when in public

Okay, two different questions.

1) What sort of toddler utensils do you recommend for beebs about to learn how to use them (both spoons and forks, I think). And at what age do you start to work on this with them?

2) Now that the beebs are walking about 90 percent of the time, things like going to the park are very different. Yesterday I had them at the park and they went walking/running two different directions...one towards see saws with bigger kids on them, and the other towards a ladder to a tall sliding board! Eek. I was running around like mad trying to keep them out of trouble. Then today, I had them at an indoor play area. They again went different directions most of the time. It makes me nervous and I find it difficult to safely watch after them when they do this, but I want them to be able to enjoy parks and play areas just like other kids can. My husband works very long hours and he isn't available to go to places like this with me, and we have no family in the area, so I need to do stuff on my own. I do check out places ahead of time and make sure they are set up in a way that I am comfortable with (away from roads, lots of green space and so forth) but I would love ideas on how to deal with them both being mobile and going different directions...how to best keep them safe? Any BTDT tips for me in situations like these?

 

QUOTE(gottagiggle&twins @ Aug 14 2008, 05:12 PM) [snapback]930593[/snapback]
1) What sort of toddler utensils do you recommend for beebs about to learn how to use them (both spoons and forks, I think). And at what age do you start to work on this with them?


I used these ones {the ones that say fork and spoon sets}. :good: They worked the best for my two because they had thicker handles and it wasn't plastic. I started giving it to them to begin practicing at around 18 months. You can definately start sooner if they are showing interest in it.


As for you new walkers, :hug99: It's tough in the beginning! They want to explore but don't seem to want to listen and aren't aware of all the dangers yet. I got my two these "backpacks" and started them out early with them so that they'd be used to them. I really didn't go to many places that weren't closed off at that age. :blush:

 

From the link that Liz provided, we have the scoopin spoons that we've been using since about 13 months and last week I got the take and toss fork and spoons. They do really well with the forks!

As for running in different directions, for us its been all about practice. I just got home from the park with the girls. Was it exhausting? Yup! But the more I do the better they get about listening and staying close. I'm constantly saying "Stay where I can see you!" but its better now than it was in the beginning. I can't wait for the day when I can sit on a bench at the park with all the other relaxed parents. I know that day is far far away, but a girl can dream.

 

We used the Take & Toss utensils -- they're way cheaper than any other kind that I could find. Target also sometimes sells spoon/fork sets for $1 in the "seasonal merchandise" section, though I haven't seen any recently.

As far as dealing with them in public -- the unfortunate truth (at least for me) is that you can't necessarily do all the things that other kids do, unless you have another adult to help you. I found 12-18 months to be very challenging in terms of getting out alone. I did it, but we did a lot of stroller walks, and there were a couple of small, enclosed, young-toddler friendly play areas that we went to a lot. (One was a public park adjacent to a local daycare center -- another was Kangaroo Kingdom.) It had to be someplace where my kids would probably not be seriously hurt if they fell and I wasn't right there to catch them, and where they couldn't dash away.

Then, if you've provided the safest possible environment, you just have to accept that sometimes they're going to fall, or cry, or run away from you. But it does get a lot easier as they get closer to 2.

We also have those backpacks, but I didn't find them much use until the girls were 2. Before that, they would just refuse to walk, and although the backpack keeps them from running into traffic, it can't make them go someplace if they go limp.

 

re: mobile twins - from 13-19 months (i.e. now) I tried to find playgrounds with bucket swings. Mine really like them, and that way I can put both in those to start out with, then when one gets tired of the swing, I let her out and let her run around and I play with her on other equipment, occasionally jogging back to push the one still in the swing. playgrounds often have equipment for 2 kids - Horsies or dinosaurs that you can fit both on at the same time, see saws (obviously not the old fashioned ones for big kids, the ones that bounce more than see saw).
I was amazed at how coordinated they were at 17 months, they could do a lot of the equipment for older kids as long as I was standing there spotting them.
Once they are reasonably good at stairs, you can do slides too, but that involves more running around, and there are a lot of slides that have open areas for bigger kids to jump down off, so I don't like those as much. My first choice is always the bucket swings, and take turns running after them. They learned pretty quickly and accepted it pretty well when I said "it's Sarah's turn now, when she's done you can go on the X"
Good luck! It is very hard at first, but pretty soon they get the hang of it and you get a great workout running around after them!

 

I have to admit this is a major challenge for me as mine HATE the stroller. We did purchase the backpacks but haven't tried them out yet. Hoping to do that this weekend. I also have experienced the many times they dash in different directions, etc...DS knows to sit and how to go down a slide, but DD needs you to sit her down and lean her all the way back...I just find it extremely stressful to do and then noone is happy. Unfortunately, I think I'm coming to grips with the fact that sometimes we won't be able to do what others do alone....at least for a little bit. THough I've joked that we're all getting rickets from lack of being outside!!! Hang in there!

 

I have not read pps yet, but I have the same problem. We were at the book store today playing with the train set and off goes DS, and boy is he quick. He was running around with my purse over his shoulder (kinda funny) but I had to grab Dd and run two isles over to find him. I do like to be able to go out with them alone so I hate to let something like this stop me. I have recently found that I just make sure one of them is within arms reach, this way I can grab one and run after the other. We like to walk up and down the sidewalk in our cul de sac (gated so not many cars) and they often go separate ways. They never; however, leave the sidwalk. I have to say right now they are also very good at stopping if I say "Jack, wait for mommy and LIly please" or the other way around (I am sure this will not last long). I usually just grab the one closest and run with them under my arm after the other that is attempting to get away.
I don't know if I am making sense but what I am trying to suggest is that when you see one go, grab the other and follow. We went to the pet store yesterday and of course when I let one down to stand to see the fish the other wanted down. I just made sure that if one wandered even a foot away I could grab the other and follow. I also try to make sure that I alternate the one I carry and the one that is free to lead us around. They will not let me hold their hands yet, but I can sort of put my hand on their head and they stay underfoot, sort of.

Just make sure to wear your running shoes !

 

QUOTE(ahmerl @ Aug 15 2008, 12:32 AM) [snapback]930870[/snapback]
I don't know if I am making sense but what I am trying to suggest is that when you see one go, grab the other and follow. We went to the pet store yesterday and of course when I let one down to stand to see the fish the other wanted down.


This is what I've been doing, too. If they want to go in different (dangerous) directions, I grab one and follow the other guy. The key, for us, is to make sure I'm taking turns so they each get to wander at will for part of the time. The hardest part is when they stick together nicely all they way up the play equipment and then each dash for a different slide. Ack. I've learned to either a) grab one before we get to the top or b) only go on play equipment with very short, shallow slides. More often the latter. We just discovered a little park this week with play equipment specifically designed for under-twos. We may just decide to go there exclusively for the next year.

For spoons and forks, i like the Sassy ones with the angled handles. The boys have fun putting things in the bowl of the spoon with one hand and then they can actually get it into their mouths about 25% of the time! Very impressive

 

QUOTE(TwinLove @ Aug 14 2008, 05:36 PM) [snapback]930621[/snapback]
I used these ones {the ones that say fork and spoon sets}. :good: They worked the best for my two because they had thicker handles and it wasn't plastic. I started giving it to them to begin practicing at around 18 months. You can definately start sooner if they are showing interest in it.

We used the same ones and my girls did very well with them.


As far as chasing them in public...I used to pick up the one closest to me, and walk on over to the area where the further one is. It does require a lot of chasing, but think of the nice toned arms you're going to have.

 

QUOTE(ahmerl @ Aug 15 2008, 12:32 AM) [snapback]930870[/snapback]
I just make sure one of them is within arms reach, this way I can grab one and run after the other.

I had forgotten all about it (how time flies!) but this is what I did too. I remember being in a shopping area once and someone commented on how far away one of the twins had gotten, and I said, "Yes, but the other one is close!" It was like a constant math equation in my head -- how far away is A, how far away is B, and can A get into anything dangerous in the time it will take me to grab B and then get to A? Your head is constantly swiveling.

 

Well, mine are generally still in the stroller in a public place. It's just easier for all of us that way.

If we are elsewhere and they are playing, I deal with the one that is likely to be harmed more severely. Yes, there have been the times when I have to make that call. If both are doing something unsafe, which one is going to have the most severe injury....and go get that one dealt with first. It's amazing how you can process that in about 1/2 a second.

The other things I have done are 1) Tell them what I want them to do versus what not to do - so, I say "Please stay on the playground" versus "Don't leave the playground". That has worked out better for my kids. 2) If either one commits a violation like trying to run away from the playground while I'm asking them to come back, then we leave. And I explain why we are leaving.

Silverware. I didn't even start until they were almost 18 months old. It's messy and aggravating, IMO. I've tried a variety of utensils and found that the rubber Gerber spoon/fork holds more food better.