Twins: Getting Out and About
By Anik Giguère-Biollo
One of the most frustrating things I’ve found about being the mother of twins is that getting out of the house alone with them can be very difficult. I’ve often longingly thought back to my leisurely outings with my first child and wished life were still that easy now! Nonetheless, however challenging it may be to get out and about with two babies, with a little planning and flexibility, it is entirely possible to go do errands, visit with family and friends, or just get outside for some fresh air.
Getting Ready
Things go much more smoothly when you’ve got everything you need organized before you start getting your twins ready to go. So while they are either napping or playing on their own, get going by making sure the diaper bag is stocked and ready with the necessary supplies, including food, drinks and a change of clothes. Next, get out their coats, shoes, hats or snowsuits, and put them where you will be dressing the babies. If they still travel in infant car seats, put these ready to go by the door or have your stroller just outside. Don’t forget about supplies that you’ll need to keep yourself happy too, such as a coffee or something to munch on later.
Getting Out
After you change the babies’ diapers, get them dressed and into the car seat or stroller, beginning with the twin who is likely to be the most agreeable at that time (the less crying, the better!). If they are out of their infant car seats, you either carry both of them out to your vehicle at the same time (not an easy feat), or leave one in a safe place in the house while you put the other one in the vehicle or stroller first. Be ready for either one or both babies to be madly crying while you do this!
Getting About
Most times you will be using a stroller to transport your twins. There are many types of twin strollers or double strollers on the market to suit the different needs of your lifestyle. If your main activity will be going for walks or jogs with your babies, you’ll need to have either a good double all-terrain stroller or a double jogging stroller. If you will often have to take them along for errands and shopping, then a regular mall double stroller is all you need. With infants, a double universal car seat carrier (stroller frame) is invaluable, since they can remain comfortably in their infant car seats while you transfer them from the house or vehicle to the wheeled frame. There are lots of options out there, so make sure you research what your lifestyle needs are before purchasing a double stroller, since they are more expensive and will need to take double the abuse of single strollers. It will make your outings much more pleasant if your stroller has all the features you really need and want.
Getting Help
If you can, plan to have someone come along and help you from time to time when you go out with your twins. Schedule a relaxed afternoon of shopping with your mom or a trip to the zoo with a friend. Having an extra pair of hands makes the outing a lot easier and it gives you the opportunity to have some adult conversation for a change!
Getting Real
Unfortunately, there will be some days when you really want to get out of the house with your twins and it just won’t be possible without you having a nervous breakdown. Either one baby or both will wake up cranky from their nap and won’t settle down, or a feeding might take longer than you thought it would, and so on. With twins, as with all babies, you have to be flexible and accept that some days, your plans to get out and about need to be scrapped, or at least modified in some way. Perhaps a doctor’s appointment can’t be missed, but a short trip to grandma’s can be rescheduled for another day. Take heart by realizing that as your twins get older, this, as well as everything else, will get a lot easier.
Copyright 2005 by Anik Giguere-Biollo. Permission is granted to reproduce this article in electronic newsletters or on websites provided that it is not edited in any way, all the links are left active, and that neither the copyright declaration nor this license are removed.
This article was originally published at http://www.Stroller-Advisor.com/choosing-a-double-stroller.html
Anik Giguere-Biollo is the mother of a three year-old girl and one year-old twin boys and is a former grade school teacher. She offers a great deal of detailed information about choosing and purchasing double strollers and twin strollers, as well as all other types of strollers, on her website. You can visit her site at http://www.Stroller-Advisor.com
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Comments
add some extra time padding
I have found that going out with the twins since they were newborns, I have had to add more time for errands because of the people who oohhh and ahhh over them and ask lots of questions. It isn't realistic to go to target or sam's club for a 5 minute quick stop. (it takes longer to get everyone out of the car and into strollers-which by the way I recommend a stroller with a large basket to put your stuff in, because dragging a cart and pushing the double stroller is hard)
Also, some days you just have to make yourself go, even if it is just for a quick errand to sort of prove to yourself you can do it and gradually add longer and more trips to an outing. It definitely boosted my self-confidence to go out with the twins and my other kids at the same time. Sometimes you just have to go, because we all know life goes on and things have to get done. I remember with my first daughter, I didn't want to go to the store, "it's too hard with the baby, " "she might get fussy." I would think of all kinds of reasons not to go out...now I have 5 kids and we just go. Especially when some are in school and I have 3 to go shopping with..wow I'm like a mad woman buzzing around town. I won't say it isn't full of challenges, but I laugh at how I thought going out with one baby was too hard...