As the mother of twin teenagers, the baby and toddler years are a distant, but precious memory. Yet, here are some specific questions I’m often asked about managing multiples.

1.  What is the greatest misconception for managing multiple births?
People think that it’s so much more difficult than managing one baby.  If you get your babies on a schedule, it’s actually easier than having children that are different ages.

2. How can moms be best prepared for the arrival of twins/multiples?
Read the book about sleep training BEFORE the babies arrive!  Whether you subscribe to Ferber or Weisbluth, what’s important is that you have a plan and you’re prepared to implement it. I sleep trained my twins at 3 months, and they had the same bedtime for the next 8 YEARS!  Don’t underestimate how important a good night of sleep is for you!

3. What baby gear is most practical when caring for multiple babies? Which items can moms do without?
Try to limit the toys and accessories you buy, particularly those that can’t be folded up and put away at the end of the day (like the exersaucer).  And, you certainly don’t need two of everything.

4. What was your greatest challenge in raising multiple babies?When the babies cry at the same time, it can be a little stressful.  My strategy was to soothe the baby that could be calmed the fastest while letting the other baby cry.

5. What are some of the advantages in having multiples?
In some ways, it’s actually easier!  If you get them on a schedule then your babies will always nap at the same time, eat at the same time, take classes at the same time, and go to sleep at the same time.  This allows you to have down time during naps and bedtime.  Also, your child always has a built in playmate that’s at the same developmental age.

6. What advice would you share with first-time parents expecting multiples?
Get the babies on a schedule ASAP!!  The first three months are an endurance test no matter whether you have one baby or more.  It gets enjoyable once they’re sleeping through the night (see my answer to Question 2), and that should happen within the first 6 months depending on the size of your babies.  The most important thing to remember though is to savor every minute.  It goes by SO fast!!