10 Twin Baby Hacks That Will Save You
Being a new parent is tough enough with one baby, so when you have two on your hands...well, let’s just say it’s not always twice the fun. But with the right twin baby hacks, we’re confident that you can have plenty of smiles and joy with your tiny ones in between all of the ‘round the clock feedings and diaper changes.
Top 10 Hacks to Make Life With Baby Twins Easier
There’s no better resource than the twin parents around you who’ve been through the trenches. But we’re here to get you started with our 10 favorite twin baby hacks - guaranteed to help save your sanity.
1.) Bottle Prep with the bökee
The bökee was designed for parents (one of them had twins!) trying to prep bottles one-handed. Why? Because we all know how much babies need our love and attention, and that often means they’re in our arms. And when it’s feeding time, a hangry baby certainly isn’t going to wait patiently if you set them down to make their bottle.
Now you’re probably thinking, “Well, if I have twins, then I don’t have any free hands!” And that’s true. You likely will have to put one of your babies down to get those bottles made unless you have your partner there (in which case, the bökee comes in clutch).
But we also love the bökee for all those times you’ll have one baby breastfeeding while making a bottle for the other. Or when you pump and need a place to set your bottles without fear that they’ll tip over and spill milk everywhere.
Bottom line, you’ll use this parenting hack more than you can imagine - even when they turn into toddlers, which we wrote about here.
2.) Tandem Nurse
We celebrate whatever way a mama chooses or needs to feed her babies. Breastfeeding can be a challenge and that’s especially true when you’re doing it for two. But there are also many moms who are able to successfully breastfeed their twins, and any hacks you can utilize during that journey will help to prolong it.
We recommend tandem nursing (nursing both twins at the same time) simply because doing so will cut your feeding time in half. With newborns needing to eat a minimum of 8 times per day, if you chose to feed your twins separately you wouldn’t really have time for anything else! Though every feed may not work out this way, making it a priority to tandem nurse as much as possible will really help breastfeeding be sustainable.
A product that Chief Marketing Officer of the bökee, Lauren Stuart, found incredibly useful for tandem nursing her twins was the Twin Z Pillow. She also loved it for nursing one while bottle feeding the other and as a simple lounger for a safe spot to lay them down.
3.) Try Double Baby-Wearing
A double stroller is definitely something you’re going to need with twins, and other times you may choose to wear one baby while pushing around the other in the stroller. But there will be plenty of places you’ll go where bringing a stroller just isn’t a great option, plus baby wearing has such great benefits.
You’ll also find that wearing your babies when they’re newborns is a great way for you to multi-task and get stuff done around the house.
Baby wearing can take a little getting used to and there is definitely a learning curve - with some more than others! But the time it takes to get the hang of it is worth it. One twin baby carrier we love for babies under six months is the Weego Twin Baby Carrier. It’s perfect to use starting from the day you take your little ones home from the hospital.
4.) Let Your Babies Fuss
As parents, our instinct is to go to our babies to comfort them at their first sign of distress. Those whimpers or cries are your baby’s way of telling you they’re not happy about something - whether it be that they’re hungry, have a dirty diaper, or just want to be with you.
But over time you’re able to know what your baby’s cries mean and often it’s just your baby fussing as they try to put themselves back to sleep. At some point, it’s important for every parent to let their babies work through this so that they are able to become independent sleepers - which sets them up for success in the future.
But with twins, there is a bigger concern that one baby will wake up the other. But that’s actually just the more reason to let your little one fuss some before you go see what they need. This will actually help each baby get used to the noise of the other so they can sleep right through it. This may not happen right away, and you may get some unwanted wake ups in the process, but stick with it and it will help your babes be better sleepers in the long run.
5.) Take Notes
Even with one baby, it’s important to track your newborn’s wet and soiled diapers, as well as when you feed them and for how long. Pediatricians often recommend doing this just so you know that your baby is eating enough to get the nutrients they need to thrive as well as stay hydrated. You’d think you could remember all this stuff but you just don’t! And with twins, well, good luck.
On top of that, if you have any hopes of getting your babies on a schedule, taking note (literally) of how long they sleep and when will really help all of you to get into a routine where you’re all finally getting the sleep you need.
Not sure where to start with what to track or where? There’s certainly no need to reinvent the wheel. There are lots of resources available, like the Baby Tracker printable you can get from Two Came True.
6.) Room share Using a Twin Bassinet
Did you know that the AAP advises that you don’t have your twins sleep in the same bed (also known as co-bedding)? Though it portrays a sweet image, it is considered safer to have your twins sleep separately. However, they do recommend that you room share with your babies until at least 6 months of age. This will honestly make your life easier, anyway!
The next step is finding a place for your babies to sleep close to each other and also close to you. We love the HALO Bassinet Twin Sleeper. This bassinet allows your babies to be side-by-side and hear and see each other while staying in their own space. It also rotates 360 degrees, making it easy for you to take each baby out of the bassinet without having to get up.
7.) Prepare Formula Ahead
It’s probably a good thing that you don’t add up all the time spent prepping and cleaning with twin babies. In the moment it may not seem like a lot of time, but done over and over all day long...it ends up taking out a big chunk of your day. So, anything that you can prep all at once and have ready for the time will be a time-saver in the end.
One thing parents of twins like to do is prepare their babies’ formula or formula bottles ahead of time.
We suggest using something like the Dr. Brown’s Mixing Pitcher to get a big batch of formula ready at the beginning of the day. You can then pour it into bottles (and you can do this while holding one of your babies if you’re using the bökee and place them in the fridge until feeding time (up to 24 hours is safe). Then all you have to do is warm them up when it’s feeding time. You may also choose to use something like the Baby Brezza Formula Dispenser, which automatically mixes, warms and dispenses your baby’s formula in seconds.
8.) Pump Hands-Free
Whether you pump occasionally or exclusively, it’s a lot of work. Typical pumps tie you down and keep you from being able to do anything else. While it’s nice sometimes to have a break, if you’re anything like me, this was the time I would sit there thinking of everything else I could be doing.
And with twins, you’re already managing so much that it would be really nice to be able to multitask while you pump.
We personally thing the Willow Wearable Breast Pump is perfect for moms of multiples. Not only does this pump fit right into your bra, but it’s also cordless. That means you can move around as you please, while you pump that precious liquid gold.
9.) Get a Diaper Subscription
According to Babylist, babies go through an average of 2,200 diapers in their first year. Which means your twins are going to be dirtying 4,400 diapers by the age of one (give or take). That’s a lot of diaper changing!
Because you know you’re going to be going through that many diapers, you might as well get a diaper subscription. That way, you’re not constantly going out and buying more or worse, looking in the drawer only to find that you’re completely out.
Doing so will save you both time and money. While you’re at it, if you formula feed, a formula subscription would be a good way to go, as well.
10.) Get Ahead on Meals
When you have a baby, whether it’s twins or not, friends and family will bring you meals for your first days home. But, it doesn’t take long for these to run out and then you’re left having to fend for yourself (when you’re still barely getting any sleep.)
Crockpot meals or spending a day making freezer meals can be a lifesaver. We know that babies have a witching hour that often happens right around the time you’re making dinner, so you will be thanking yourself that dinner is already ready to go.
We also can’t recommend grocery delivery enough. Even with all the awesome on the go hacks for babies these days, they’re still babies. And taking two tiny ones into the world with you can be overwhelming. Don’t underestimate the power of groceries at your doorstep and a 5-ingredient crockpot meal for a relaxing end to a very busy day.
