Must haves for your twinsanity ….

Having worked long enough handling marketing for a FMCG giant in India , the first thought that came to my mind after the monumental discovery that we were expecting twins was, ‘2 for 1 bonus’. One pregnancy - two babies! That’s a deal. Although a pregnancy and motherhood with multiples may have more hard work and planning, it truly is a two-for-one deal….at least for a few things.


While shopping for Twins remember 2 rules – Buy as much , as quickly as you can and secondly don’t buy too much .We learned from experience that we didn't really have to have two of everything. But let me also warn you here if are planning to compare your ‘must have’ list with the other new moms , your best friends’ , sis in law or a neighbor whom you feel is managing pretty well. It may not work. Not only are there specific products for twins in the market, there are many gadgets and resources you will require for a sane twin motherhood.


A lot of day-to-day twin management is trial and error - and we made our fair share of mistakes before figuring out what worked for us. If you are wondering why most of the free gyan on ‘baby shopping list’ from your friends doesn’t work ,remember - the first Principle for twinsanity is- Do things for them simultaneously – feeding , strolling, bathing …what ever possible.


When our babies had enough neck control, we simultaneously bottle-fed them while they were propped up on pillows side by side to save time. You can also plop them in their carry cots and do the same thing. We're still trying to master the art of bathing twins. When ours were infants, separate baths were more manageable. As they got sturdier, one pool party with seats in the tub works. Once they outgrew the seats, they have the freedom to splash... and get us completely soaked. If you don’t have a tub in your bath just give a bucket full of water at the right temperature and have fun watching them give a bath to one another.

Shopping for twins is fun but challenging! when I was shopping for my yet to arrive twin boys in Bangalore , I realized that baby shops are many, but there is probably more variety for pets than twin babies in even the top end baby stores.

Baby cots , Cribs or mosses baskets : In general, twins' anti sharing attitude doesn’t develop for several months after birth, so parents can get away with much more communal property while they're still infants. Take advantage of that time by buying only one and letting them share. One big ticket item that can be shared for several months is a baby cot. They'll actually enjoy the coziness of sharing the space while they're little infants. My boys shared their baby cot for at least 3 months. In fact my Doctor (whom I swear by) mentioned that studies show that putting newborn twins in the same cot helps them adjust to their environment by regulating their body temperatures and their sleep cycles. And you don't need to worry that they'll wake each other up - twins who are used to sleeping together won't disturb one another. Choose a solid sturdy cot with a range of positions for the mattress, you will need to have the cot mattress fairly high at first and then lower it when your children can stand up.



I don’t know about you, but my twins were the first babies I ever cleaned and fed. I still remember how it was actually a revelation to me that I would have to do this …endlessly. Breast feeding for most new moms even with singletons is a round the clock activity. But certainly breastfeeding twins is perfectly possible, of course - it is quite a strain on the body, certainly at first. Once you decide you want to breast feed your twins, there is the practical question - do you feed together or separately? You don’t really have a choice because if you plan to feed them separately you may need more than 24hrs in a day …… I decided to feed the boys together and always did so; even waking up a sleeping boy if his brother was ready. Pick up a feeding cushion to keep the babies in the right position (most ‘Mothercare’ outlets have them), I used the 'double football’ hold to feed them- which is with one baby under each arm with the legs behind.
Most importantly, invest in a breast pump. This was a real eye opener for me. I had found the perfect solution to my fatigue and trauma of being confined to a single position for hours. Now I could give my boys my own milk and also manage 3 hrs of continuous sleep. My husband, starved for his little piece of mommydom, gladly volunteered to respond to their bedtime hunger wail at about 10 pm. This ensured I latest get an undisturbed sleep from 8:00 pm until midnight. Ready for next round. I used an electric breast pump, it’s faster and more efficient. Most baby shops stock a variety of these – Medela , Mothercare , Pigeon …



By about 6 months I began to transition the boys to formula. To be honest, I couldn’t wait any longer to introduce formula. And found myself with an hour or two of leisure time. They did absolutely fine and are completely healthy. When I finally fully transitioned them to formula at about 9 months, I had a small celebration with my husband – some baileys with a vodka after many many months.



With Bottle Feeding your twins you do have to be slightly more organized. You will need a good supply of bottles , a bottle brush , a thermos and of course a good sterilizing system. Again, many around you with young babies may tell you that they didn’t really use a anything more than bottles, brush and the milk powder.
With about 6-8 feeds per baby can you do this each time ….and in shortest possible time … remember ....you have 2 babies howling with hunger.


Making each Feed means you will need to
1.Sterilize your bottles. Pre boiled bottles can’t be kept for over 45 mins
2.Make the bottles quickly – fixing the teat and the top.
3.Boil and cool the water to right feeding temperature.
4.Mix the formula.
5.Test the temperature on back of your wrist.



Don’t think twice before picking up a bottle sterilizer. Milk bottles are a fabulous breeding ground for bacteria and therefore it is very, very important that your babies’ bottles are sterilized before each use. Even though your mom and mom in law may recommend boiling bottles after each use, its practically not possible to do so with 8-10 feeds a day. These come in basically 2 types. Steam ones- just plug into the mains and operate in a similar way to your oven or a kettle .These sterilize the bottles and if the bottles are not removed can be used for many hrs post sterilization. These are very easily available at any baby shop or even a lifestyle or shoppers stop. I can safely recommend, after personal use a Mothercare 6 bottle sterilizer . The other option you have is a Microwave sterilizer. These simply slot into your microwave and sterilize fairly quickly. I was a bit uncomfortable depending on another electrical good to be used simultaneously for bottle sterilization.

While Choosing Bottles make sure you choose bottles which will hold at least 7floz (200ml) of milk, whilst at first your babies will not be able to drink this amount of milk at first, they soon will, therefore getting the bigger bottles from the start will save you money in the longer term.
Teats come in a range of shapes. Different babies have different preferences so you might have to buy a range of different teats before you hit on the correct one for your baby. Also don’t be too alarmed if your twins prefer two different types of teats.




Another tip would be to purchase a spare thermos or a flask and only use it for storing water at the right temperature for milk feeds. It saves the annoyance of your boiling and cooling water.

A good place to carry out a double feed is by placing your twins in their carry cots or chairs and sitting in between them holding a bottle in with each hand. Another way is to create pillow props on your bed and once again sit in between them holding the bottles with each hand. Now, there are items in the market available for hands free feeding which may be of some assistance when bottle feeding your twins. As with all aspects of parenting twins you need to practical, flexible and creative...



As a mother of twins I’m often asked, how do I manage to get out of the house with 2 babies. Most moms with one baby express great surprise and think with 2 babies it would rather be an extreme experience. But being in a city away from much family support, a job and a pretty hectic social life ensured that we frequent not only the big bazaars but also go menu tasting to new restaurants in the city.
Even in a country like ours where car seats are not mandatory, they are your best friends if and when you decide to take your twins out to travel within the city. Its best you pick up your carrycot cum car seat as early as the first month. All baby shops, lifestyle outlets and even shoppers stop will have a variety of these. The carrycot can be strapped securely on the back seats to turn into car seats. If required you can comfortably drive your car or choose to sit in the front seat with your husband. Though I didn’t have that luxury as I usually sat between the 2 car seats entertaining my boys with some live karaoke music that played on FM radio. But guess what you can still surprise your friends at the wedding with your still fresh uncrushed saree.

Incase your babies have fallen asleep during the drive, you can simply un strap the car seat and pick up the carry cot each . The babies feel more comfortable sleeping in a carry cot than changing hands not only between you and your husband but many others. You must be aware of those ‘aajaa aajaa baby’ aunts at the parties.

These will last you till the twins are about 1 year , by then you can go into standard car seats with a harness strap going over and shoulder and between the legs . Most car seats have many strap position option to take you from year 1 to 6.


The Other equipment that I thank inventors and manufacturer for is the twin stroller. For twins, strollers can be a huge convenience and a real benefit, and can make a huge difference to your day to day routine. We put in as much thought into choosing our double stroller as we did into selecting the make and model of our new car! And for a good reason. Your mobility depends on it. Without one -- or with the wrong one -- moving babies from place to place can be a logistics nightmare. The right double stroller makes for happy babies and happy mommy’s.
Double strollers are available in not all but many baby stores such as Mothercare and lifestyle baby. I came across 2 basic configurations: Tandem strollers (front/back) where the seats are arranged in a line with one behind the other.The other model, usually called side- by- side strollers, where children sit next to each other, facing the same direction.
We picked up a side- by side stroller for our babies so that they can be seated alongside each other and better interact as they grow and they also enjoy the same view from their seats. I have used my side by side wonder every day for the past 2 years. During one of our international holidays I tried my cousin’s tandem stroller and was happy about my decision to pick up a side by side option. As the kids get older, this is an important factor as it will reduce the fighting and bickering that might take place over who gets to sit in the back seat ….and have the liberty to kick the one sitting strapped in the front.
Pick up your stroller when ever you are ready to step out with your twins, as most strollers have many reclining positions for the little bundles to be in lying down position.
When choosing Double strollers, always check for
1. It is suitable from birth
2. The back has a few different positions.
3. Ask the assistant in the store to show you how easily it will fold up and how heavy it is to lift up to the height of the car.
4. Do take a tape measure with you and measure it folded up, to Double check it is going to fit into the car boot.
We have used our strollers not only at for taking the babies for their evening stroll, but for all our holidays, at airports, shopping malls and big bazaars.

My latest discovery and a wonder tip is that the stroller is also great to put your twins to sleep simultaneously. Most mommys’ with one baby may not understand the complication of putting twins to sleep , you definitely need two rooms and two people to do so . Here your stroller is your best friend again. Post dinner, strap your duo in the stroller and take them out for a nice stroll, it will not only calm them down, you will be surprised how quickly they fall asleep.

Dining out with our duo

After moving to Bangalore with my husband we didn’t bother getting a cooking gas connection for at least a couple of months. It was so much simpler (and fun) to just eat out everyday, than to stand in queues and run behind babus for a gas cylinder. This surely turned my husband into a complete food snob. The kind who studies menus before he orders his main course, always knows of the newest and hottest restaurants, even if it means driving to Whitefield for a meal. That's all well and good when it's just the two of us or we are meeting some friends for dinner.

With the arrival of our twin boys, things didn’t change too much …at least initially. When our twins were babies, we took them to some nice restaurants and it worked out fine for the most part. If one of them had a crying fit, we'd take turns walking them up and down the sidewalk until they calmed down. They were bottle fed, so we quickly mastered the art of giving a baby a bottle while sipping wine and taking bites of our chicken risotto. We had some nice meals with our infants in tow.
But then they started eating solid foods, getting bigger and reached an age when they were decidedly un-restaurant friendly. You know what I mean... when you have to leave a tip that is almost as much as your bill to compensate for the mess and the noise. Since then the only restaurants we ever went to as a family were those where we could tag along our baby care maid or that had a drive through window.
I have been to McDonalds and the lifestyle food court about 400 times. I love the McChicken, but always wondered there must be somewhere else to eat that's as kid friendly, right? And that isn't fast food.
Now, riding on my past experience and a bit of planning we do manage to take our boys out to restaurants. Of course, we've had some mortifying moments along the way, but for the most part, their restaurant manners have been pretty good.
Here are some tips to help you enjoy a pleasurable dining out experience. You don't have to leave your twins at home when eating in restaurants. You just have to plan ahead and adjust your expectations. The problem is my food snob husband who still prefers a restaurant with a ten page desert menu and a valet parking as opposed to one that offers crayons, mango Frooti and has French fries on the menu.

Firstly, choose the restaurant carefully .Quiet, elegant bistros are not the place for kids, especially multiples. There are plenty of other places with good food and a family-friendly atmosphere. Look for restaurants with a high noise level. That way, your duo's chatter -- or tantrums -- won't be as disturbing to the other diners. Choose places with a fun, busy style that has plenty of decor to look at and talk about with the kids.
Quick service is also preferred. Ideally, you'll want to be seated immediately after arriving, and don't want a long lag in between courses. Buffets are great with kids, because you have access to the food whenever you want it. Italian restaurants are another good bet; they usually have a quick turnaround, with the added benefit of serving plain pasta and garlic bread sticks.
It pays to call ahead. If you've never been to the restaurant before, ask about their provisions for young people. Many smaller establishments only have one or two high chairs. If you need more, you're out of luck. Save yourself the frustration and call ahead to confirm that they can accommodate you.
We have often walked into restaurants at 7pm thinking it would be pretty empty and we would be able to get the kids fed before started to get too hungry or tired -- a bad combination as any parent knows .Timing can mean the difference between a marvelous meal and disastrous dining. Avoid crunch times -- both your children's and the restaurant's. Follow your twins' schedule. Choose dining times when they're usually happy and alert; don't try to go out when they're too hungry, sleepy or cranky.
Hopefully, those times will coincide with the restaurant's off-peak hours. Prime dining hours around lunch and dinner mean more crowds, busier servers and more waiting -- which only creates more frustration for your family!
Order the kiddo meal as soon as you sit down, and ask the server to bring them out as soon as possible. Many restaurants will keep your table plied with breads or other snacks; use these freebies to keep little mouths occupied.
I keep telling all parents ‘ busy twins are happy twins’ . Bring in your own ammunition. Some kid-friendly restaurants provide crayons and even games to keep your kids occupied at the table. But you're better off coming prepared with your own gear. Pack a bag with books, crayons and paper and small toys. It's great to have things that are new or unfamiliar to the children; they'll hold their attention longer.
Last time when we walked in with our freshly showered, well dressed family ,things were looking good. While my husband perused the desert menu list, I got the kids settled with their Picture books and a couple of hot wheels cars. They got a little squirmy when the food didn't come out as fast as they are used to. Once the food did come, one of the boys needed a diaper change. Then as soon as I got back from the restroom, my other son decided he had to go too. But you know what? It was a pretty pleasant experience. In fact, we had fun... and dessert was over-the-top amazing.
All those people looking at us with the "oh aren't they a cute family" look had no idea the amount of prep that went into that dinner. I looked like a Mom with my act together, which I am so not.

Air Travel with Twins

When I gave birth to my twins boys, I vowed they would never keep me at home. After all, I had been a woman on the go. So naturally I pictured my husband and me strolling the Goa beaches while our babies peacefully napped in their double stroller. With my twins’ arrival, however, the bubble didn’t exactly burst but it certainly fizzled a bit.

As I wrestled daily trying to get my twins out the door my attitude began to change. By the time they were fed, diapered and dressed, I had to nurse them again. Often I’d be tempted to cancel my plans—it was just too difficult to be mobile with young twins. Yet I persisted and over time I became more confident and resourceful.

We managed to travel not only to the grocery store, but my boys have logged many miles both in air and on the highway
I have flown with our twin boys 3 times already and have hour’s worth of tales of our experience but I’ll try to keep it brief. To lend the following suggestions credibility, I have flown with our twosome at different stages - five months , thirteen months, and most recently, at eighteen months and each trip presented its own unique challenges.

Traveling with children is always a challenge, but with twins it can be double trouble if you don't travel prepared. Experienced moms of twins and multiples will know, While planning is key, always to be prepared for the unexpected.

Let me also mention that according to some of our fellow passengers, our twins’ behavior was even commendable. No doubt, with some forethought and effort on your part, your twins will be fine, too. You might even have fun!

A few experiences to prepare you better:
Buying tickets: Firstly, you don't have to buy a seat for children under two. They can travel as "lap babies”. All Indian airlines permit a parent to carry a child under age two in lap for the duration of a flight. Assuming you are travelling with one adult per child, two seats are all you need to purchase for four travelers...a financial twin benefit. But here is where you need to be careful--when booking your tickets, let your reservationist know you are travelling with infant twins, one per adult.

Be aware (unlike us during our first travel) that your family will have split seating; air safety regulations prohibit two infants under two from flying in the same airplane row. My understanding is that it has something to do with the emergency air masks. But regardless of the reason, you can’t do it.
Don't despair; it's actually easier this way. Divide and conquer is often the best approach with twins anyway! Just be adequately prepared for the separation by packing separate.
With various options of early check-in, such as tele check-in, online check-in, make sure you have reserved seats. Be polite, but assertively vocal with your airline official. Ideally, you and your spouse should be seated both directly in front and back of each other or on the either side of the aisle in the same row. That way, you can share access to not only to the diaper bag but more importantly, each other. Let the airline (or your travel agent) know that the chances of inconveniencing other passengers will be significantly minimized if you all can be in close proximity to one another.

Travel timing: When you’re booking your flight give top priority to your twins’ schedule. When they are most rested and content? When are they crankiest? I find that flying late at night or overnight (for long or international sectors) works best, because the twins are more likely to sleep during the flight.
Try to arrange to travel at non-peak times, avoiding holidays, weekends, and other busy travel times.

Packing baby hand bags: Traveling with twins can be either a traumatic or a terrific experience. Packing for twins, entertaining twins, and ensuring the safety of your twins as you travel can be a challenging experience for parents of twins. But with a little research, and a lot of planning before you ever hit the road, you can increase the odds that your trip with twins will be a terrific one.
For hand baggage, pack only what you'll need while you're in transit, and things you'd need in case of an emergency. Pack light -- you'll have your hands full enough already!
Keep in mind -restrictions on carry-on items change often, it's important to consult your travel agent OR airline official while doing a tele check-in ,on permissible and prohibited items.
Make a list of the things you would normally use during the time frame of your flight: Diapers and wipes ,bottles/formula (check regulations on quantity),drinks (check regulations),food, comfort items, medicines ,plastic bags for disposing the mess and an extra outfits for each child (and a change of clothes for the parents too!).
And remember, busy twins are happy twins!
The best antidote to twin troubles in flight is distraction. Whether you have small toys for babies or coloring books for toddlers, keep your traveling twins busy.
If your twins are old enough, you'll need to arm yourself with entertainment ammunition. Choose your weapons carefully! Avoid things that are irretrievable, breakable, and irreplaceable or contain multiple pieces. No matter what it is, pack two! Whatever one has, the other twin will want as well. Buy a few new toys just for the trip. Something new will hold their attention longer.

Carrying Strollers : Guess what? When boarding, you can wheel your double stroller all the way to the end of the Jetway, collapse the stroller, and board the plane. With a gate-bestowed tag, your stroller will await you at the plane door upon re-entering your destination’s Jetway. Very, very helpful.
However, policies vary from airline to airline and from flight to flight, so be sure to confirm with them. If you do have to check your stroller, ask the airline if it counts against your checked baggage tally to avoid paying excess charges.
Easiest way to get on and get of a plane : Perhaps the trickiest portion of your trip will be actually boarding the plane and getting settled in your seats. Juggling hand baggage, equipment, and babies in confined quarters is never easy. But there are some ways to make it go smoothly.
Take advantage of the pre-board option. Most airlines provide an opportunity for families with small children to board the plane ahead of time. There is no rule that says your entire party has to board early. Let one parent go on early, carrying the bags and getting the seats set up, while the other remains at the gate with the children ( if your infants are walking ).
On arrival ,if you were able to gate check your stroller, it should be waiting for you at the jetway. Again, if you can, have one parent stay seated with the children while the other gets the stroller ready and manages the bags.

Smooth operation at the airport: Give yourself plenty of time. Arrive early. Use the time to make sure everyone is fed and changed, if necessary. Keep the children in a double stroller, if they're comfortable in it OR find a quiet place where they can wander around without getting too far away from you.
When you go through security, be aware that you will most likely have to remove children from their stroller and send the equipment through the metal detectors separately. In general, the personnel will be very helpful in guiding you through, but it may be a bit tricky as you try to manage babies, equipment and bags.

Do travel with twins
Don’t let the thought of hard work and deep planning tempt you to stay home. There are so many reasons to travel with twins. Not only does traveling as a family build your confidence as a parent, but also the kids learn about their world around them and quickly become adaptable adults.