by If you are pregnant with twins you have probably heard dozens of times that you are going to need two of everything. While that may be true in many cases, it may or may not be true when it comes to toys. Even if you have identical twins, they are still going to have their own personality, and you aren’t always going to want to get them the same toys. There are times when you will want to get them one toy to share, and other times when they will prefer distinctly different toys. Here is a short guide to help you when choosing toys for twins.
Toys For Infant Twins
Newborn infants won’t require many toys for the first couple of months. Having a mobile for each crib, however, can be a lifesaver, as oftentimes infants find the music of the mobile soothing. Once they get a little older, then you can buy rattles and other toys singly and switch them from baby to baby. This way each child gets to play with the toy, but you only have to buy one.
If you are purchasing stuffed animals for your twins, they should each have their own, because babies tend to maul these types of toys to death. Unless you want to be constantly throwing the stuffed animals into a washer, it is better to reserve the wipe-off toys for sharing.
Having twins is an expensive undertaking, and one place where you can save a little bit is on toys for infants. There are some activity mats that are large enough for twins to use at the same time, and chances are once your babies are old enough to use one, they won’t mind sharing. The same holds true of those ride-on toys for small toddlers. Different companies make two-seated versions of some ride-ons, which can save you a few bucks over buying two separate toys.
Toys To Teach Your Twins Sharing And Co-operative Play
Of course, like any parent, you are going to want to teach your twins about sharing and co-operative play. You’ll teach them to share not only with each other but also with other siblings and children as well, and there are plenty of toys that can accomplish that goal. Two-for-one easels offer a drawing pad on one side and a chalkboard on the other so two children can be creative at the same time.
A Noah’s Ark is a great toy for twins as they can share the ark, but each child gets one of each animal. This toy encourages both imaginative and co-operative play. Teeter-totters are ideal toys for twins well.
(RELATED: Expecting twins? Avoid these 4 critical mistakes expectant twin parents make.)
As your twins get older they will be able to express their own individual interests themselves, but still will enjoy sharing games and toys with one another. Follow their lead, learn their interests and likes, and you won’t go wrong when choosing toys for your twins as they get older.
When it comes down to it, buying toys for twins isn’t that much different from buying toys for any other child. Let their personality, your love, and your budget be your guide and you will do just fine.
Picture by Jo Naylor
