The next question comes to us from a family expecting 2 twin boys. They’re wondering; how can we raise them with as few hassles as possible?
This, of course, is a great question. Every parent of twins wants to know, ‘How can I make life easier for me in raising my twins?’ Raising twins without any hassles might just be an impossible task. That being said, I will help give you some advice of things that you can do to help make things a little easier for you with your twins. Both of these are tips that you could apply to your situation. They will help you overcome a lot of challenges that you face with your twins in the early days of twins, and as they start to grow.
Ask for Help
As I’ve done before, I will again recommend that you get someone to help you in those early months with twins. This can be a friend, it can be a family member, or it can be even a rotation of several different people that help feed and care for your twins with you. They can help you during the day, they can help you during the night, they can give you or your wife a break during that time.
Be Flexible
The next bit of advice is that you have to be flexible. Set very low expectations about what you’ll be able to do when the twins arrive. Plan to focus almost all of your time and attention exclusively on your twins. You’re going to have to feed them, change them, comfort them, help them get to sleep. When you’re not doing those things, everything else that piles up will require your attention. When I say things that pile up, it includes catching up on your sleep so you can get the rest that you need and have the energy you need to care for your family.
What you need to do in being flexible is give your twins all you have. Things will get easier over time; you’ll be able to learn the nuances of your twins, understand the signs and signals that they’re giving to you to indicate their needs or their wants, and you’ll start to build and get them into a good routine and a good pattern that’ll make things easier for you.
This question was originally addressed on the Dad’s Guide to Twins Podcast Episode 35: Taking Paternity Leave with NICU Twins, Raising Twins Hassle Free.
(RELATED: Love podcasts? Check out the entire Dad's Guide to Twins Podcast archive for additional twin tips and interviews with twin dads.)
Picture by Scott*
Get help. Been 3 months with our guys. Not easy but worth it.
You do fine
@Bill – I agree! Getting help was a huge blessing to our family.