This one is for my Mums and Dads that have just found out that you’re having twins and might just be freaking out.
When I found out I was having twins, my first thought was “I’m never sleeping again.”
Now I’ve been a twin Mum for a year, that turned out not to be the case. I’ve been pleasantly surprised to find there are actually advantages to having twins.
More than having an inbuilt playmate. More than the joy of listening to them laugh at each other. There are practical advantages that have made having twins as first time parents that tiny bit easier.
This is what no one tells you about having twins: it isn’t just double the work; sometimes, it’s actually a built-in support system for your parenting.
They Never Truly Sleep Alone
My girls are pretty good sleepers without needing loads of sleep training and I put that down to two things:
- They got used to sleeping in a cot while in NICU and we kept that going when they got home
- They’ve got the comfort of the other twin being there.
I understand why the general consensus is to have your newborn sleep in the room with you. Human beings are social creatures that are wired to be together.
However I could NOT drop into a deep restful sleep when my twins cot was next to my bed. I was on guide for even the slightest noise. So we moved them into their own room.
And the advantage of being a twin, they still weren’t alone. They had the comfort and safety of another human nearby. And I reckon that’s helped them to feel safe enough to sleep well.
The Leftovers Hack (Less Food Waste!)
We are well and truly into eating solids which has been a fun adventure. The food prep is never ending and only getting worse as their appetites grow.
Every parent navigates their babies deciding they hate broccoli or throwing a perfectly good meal on the floor.
The advantage of having twins is I have another baby who is usually happy to eat the leftovers.
Hilariously, baby H loves her veggies whereas as baby B sometimes won’t even start eating until I hand her a piece of meat. So H gets B unwanted veggies and B gets extra meat.
Plus watching two little humans explore foods for the first time is double the fun!
They Are Each Other’s Safe Space
Back when my girls were smaller, sometimes the only way to calm an upset baby down was to show her the other twin.
These were really the first moments that I saw the bond my girls have. As they got older we got laughter and hand holding and getting upset because the other twin is grizzling. But first came being calmed by the other’s presence.
There is no doubt in my mind that they are each other’s safe space, maybe even more than I am.
Knowing that my girls will always have each other is such a comfort. They will be there for each other in time I won’t be. That’s pretty cool!
What No One Tells You About Having Twins is There are Practical Advantages
While the initial shock of a twin pregnancy is real, the practical advantages are often overlooked.
Maybe these things are small compared to the relentlessness of raising twins but they’re real. Observing them gave me hope and optimism that helped me keep going. And really, better sleep is really a big deal!
If you’ve also got twins, what advantages of having twins have you noticed?