Twin Toddler Travel Archives | Twiniversity #1 Parenting Twins Site

I Took My 3-Year-Old Twins to Disney World Alone and You Can Too

Twiniversity — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 04:00:34 +0000

A mom shares her adventure of taking 3-year-old twins to Disney World alone, including great tips on how to manage it all by yourself. “You’re crazy” is the first thing out of everyone’s mouth when I told them I was taking my 3-year-old twins to Disney World alone. Even my husband thought I was certifiably insane. Well, spoiler alert, I took my twin toddlers to Disney World all by myself and — although some of you may still think I’m crazy for that — it was the most magical day ever. As soon as I decided the three of us were going to make the trip I started planning. Being someone who meticulously plans everything I knew that our Disney World trip would have also have to be mapped out to best utilize our time. I used my Disney account on their website (completely free to set up) and bought our tickets. After purchasing tickets I downloaded the Walt Disney World app on my iPhone (also completely free) where I booked all our fast passes. Next, I pulled up a detailed map of the Magic Kingdom and made an entire list of all the rides and experiences I could potentially see the twins and I doing during our day. If you are curious to see the list I made, here it is: My twins are 3 so this list was tailored to their age group, but I think making a ride/experience list is one of the most helpful preplanning tools you can use, no matter what age your twins are. As you can see it’s a very extensive list, and I knew we would never get to each thing on the list, but having it all written out in front of me helped me to plan our day. For our fast passes, rather than book rides I chose to book experiences meeting characters. I thought that at the end of the day if I could guarantee three things to absolutely happen for the twins it would be to meet Cinderella (Princess Fairy Town Hall), meet Mickey Mouse (Mickey Mouse at Town Square), and meet Ariel (Ariel’s Grotto). Since I had fast passes booked in advance for these attractions I was able to tell the twins that we were going to meet all of them, which made them even more excited for the trip. Now that all my planning on the back end was done it was time to prepare to take them to Disney World all by myself. Armed with our amazing travel double stroller, (the Chicco Echo Twin Stroller) a backpack full of snacks and sunscreen, and a whole lot of excitement, we were ready to head down Main Street. My biggest piece of advice for anyone taking their twins to Disney World alone would be to talk with your children about the day you have planned. I must have talked every single day for at least a month beforehand to the twins to prepare them for what they would see, hear, and experience. I told them it was likely going to be very loud, and very busy and because it was just Mama with them that it was very important to stay close and be a good listener. It may sound silly but I used to be a teacher before I had my twins, and it is amazing what we can help our children excel at when we simply talk to them and set the expectations for things. So now the logistics: how did I do it? When walking around the park they both sat in their stroller. Since they are 3 years old and they really aren’t big stroller fans anymore I honored their wishes to not be strapped in. Having them both in the stroller was an easy and quick way to maneuver around the park, and also let them take in all the sites to see. We arrived at the park so early in the morning, that as we were walking down Main Street the sun was rising with us. I planned ahead and chose a day to do Magic Kingdom that had extra magic hours. Magic Hours are a special time each day either before the park opens or after the park closes where Disney Resort guests are allowed to be in the parks with only other Resort guests; aka small crowds. Sure this meant that I woke the twins up at 6 am, but it turns out waking up 3-year-olds early by telling them you’re going to Disney World is actually so much fun. We were out the door of our resort and onto the bus. Make sure you bring a double stroller that folds easily because you have to fold it to get on the bus; I would have the twins walk in front of me to enter the bus and I would enter behind them carrying the stroller. But in all honestly there were so many kind people who offered to grab my stroller and load it onto the bus while I got the twins on that it wasn’t a problem. We made it into the Magic Kingdom by 7 am. Since the parks weren’t opening until 8 am we had everything basically to ourselves for that hour. Security and park admission was a breeze to get through because there were not that many people there. We enjoyed a stroll down Main Street and an up-close view of the castle where I was able to get stunning pictures of the twins with absolutely no people in the background (this never happens). We were also able to do 4 rides in that hour before the park opened because it was so empty. So if you can get out the door early, your Magical Day will start off with a bang! Whenever we arrived at our ride or character experience we parked the stroller, and they knew it was time to hop out. The three of us would walk to the ride entrance… Continue Reading I Took My 3-Year-Old Twins to Disney World Alone and You Can Too

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What’s the Best Car When You Have 3 Under the Age of 3?

Twiniversity — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 05:00:55 +0000

Read what is the best car and car seat configuration when you have 3 children under the age of 3 from our community of twin parents. A MoM Recently Asked: I am looking for advice for our next vehicle that works well with 3 car seats. We will have 3 under the age of 3 when our singleton is born. We currently have a Chevy Equinox but our lease is ending soon. Also, what configuration works the best for the car seats (3 across, 2 in the third row etc.) What is the best car for having 3 kids under the age of 3? Here’s What Our Twiniversity Fans Had to Say: I have a 2007 Chevy Equinox. Mine was singleton 2yrs old and infant twins. I bought 3 Dionos Radian RXTs. It worked fine with two rear facing and one forward facing and now they are all forward facing and it’s great. ∼ SEH I have a Honda Odyssey and it was the best decision I’ve ever made, and the best car I’ve had. I can fit 3 car seats big seats too, and 4 more comfortably. No touching each other. And they watch movies on road trips. Plus still, room to pack our bags. ∼ ASB Our oldest is 3 and we now have 2-month-old twins. I was crushed when I had to sell my Honda CRV because we couldn’t fit the three car seats in. We debated and test drove just about every 3 row SUV and mini-van on the market before settling on the Honda Odyssey. I was not overly thrilled with having to join the mini-van club, but can’t deny how much better it is with all 3 boys especially in regards to space and fitting all three comfortably in the middle row. I personally did not like the Toyota Sienna because when you take out the middle seat a plastic piece remains obstructing the walkway. We also found the middle seat to be slightly bigger and more comfortable in the Honda Odyssey. (Also should note-After having a Toyota RAV4 and a Honda CRV I’ve found that I much prefer Honda in terms of long-term quality and the way their vehicles drive.) Best of luck! ∼ MML I have twins that turned 2 last month, and I am due in September with a singleton. After lots of research and bringing car seats to dealerships, we decided that the best car is a 2018 Toyota Sienna. I could NOT be happier. I protested getting a minivan, but I am so happy that I did. The only other option was the 2018 VW Atlas which is an SUV, but the trunk space was significantly smaller, which is why we chose the Sienna. ∼ MB Our twins were 26 months old when #3 came. We fit all 3 across in Ford Explorer. For us, the key was the Diono Radian car seat. Once they started touching each other they also started to annoy each other. We eventually bought a town and country minivan. We keep the passenger side middle seat stowed for easy in and out. It’s the best car — a great minivan and well worth it once you have more than 2. ∼ HKW The new 2018 Honda Odyssey has magic slide seats in the middle, which are amazing! You can put up to 3 car seats in middle or take out a seat and be able to slide them over. We are a few weeks away from having 3 ages 2 and under. ∼ EM I have a Chevy Traverse. When the twins were babies and I had a 2-year-old, I had the two captains seats in the middle row rear facing for the babies and the convertible seat in the middle of the third row forward facing. Now I have a newer model with the split seat middle so I have one in the center forward facing and the two other forward facing in the 3rd-row outboard seats. The middle seat is easy to move to access the 3rd-row. If you’re doing all rear facing you would need to change that around. The new Traverse has lots of room! ∼ CF Honda Odyssey! We just got a 2018 and upgraded from a 2004 Toyota Sienna. This has amazing slide seats and the back seats fold down so easily. We are expecting our fifth baby and it will be a tight fit, but with the ages of our kids, we can fit a lot of boosters and car seats in various configurations. Once you go to sliding doors on a minivan you will never go back! ∼ KB We have a Dodge Caravan and we love it, it’s really the best car. I have my twins in the back seat and my singleton in one of the middle seats. The other middle seat is folded down providing a large area to move around in or change clothes/diapers. I highly recommend it. ∼ SM My twins were 2 years old when my singleton was born. I drive a 2004 Yukon with a bench and detachable “third row.” I was able to fit 3 across on the bench. Can’t wait to upgrade to the Chevy Tahoe. ∼ DC We have 3 under the age of 3. From the beginning, we fit all 3 (1 forward facing and 2 rear-facing) across the back seat in a Nissan Pathfinder (tight squeeze) and a Chevy Tahoe with plenty of room. ∼ NO We have an F150 Crew cab and I love it! Car seats take up the back row. It’s perfect. We had 3 babies in 10 months and have tried a few things in the past year and the truck has been my favorite in dealing with all the car seats. ∼ JC We have a new Dodge Durango. I have 3 boys, 2 and under. I can fit 3 car seats in the middle row. With the 3rd row down there is a lot of room in the back… Continue Reading What’s the Best Car When You Have 3 Under the Age of 3?

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Sleeping Arrangements When Traveling With Toddler Twins

Twiniversity — Mon, 12 Jun 2017 05:00:36 +0000

Here are some tips on making sleeping arrangements when traveling with twins that will make your journey more enjoyable for you and your little ones! Traveling with little ones can be challenging, but it’s no reason to exclude them from the travel experience. With a few necessary tweaks, traveling can be much more manageable for everyone involved-especially the kids. And you don’t have to rough it either! Here are some tips on making sleeping arrangements when traveling with twins that will make your journey more enjoyable for you and your little ones! No More Pack ‘N Plays When my twinnies were babies, we never left home without a pack ‘n play if we would be gone for longer than a 24-hour period. The pack ‘n play was vital to our infant sleeping arrangements. We were often bounced between family members’ houses when traveling to see them and the pack ‘n play was our only hope at getting some peace and quiet for fear that they would wake up their cousins or grandparents in the middle of the night. Or maybe it was just me who was worried they would wake up someone else-I can be a bit of a control freak. Whatever the case, I’m happy to say that twin moms with toddlers who are traveling for fun instead of business don’t have to pack them anymore! There are so many beds available for rental or purchase these days that we no longer feel the need to lug around a pack ‘n play. A hotel can provide a crib or we just have our twins sleep in their own beds. Sleeping Habits At Home The time your twins spend sleeping at home will be different from the time they spend sleeping on vacation, so plan accordingly! A consistent bedtime routine at home will help maintain the necessary hours of sleep on the road. Most sleep experts recommend starting your routine about an hour before bedtime for the best results. This may vary wildly depending on your child and how many months of age the child involved is. A good place to begin is a bedtime story followed by quiet time to settle them in for the nighttime sleep. Twiniversity Tip: Try to schedule nap times and bedtimes for both of them during the trip, just as you do at home. Remain as consistent as you can. The goal is to avoid fragmented sleep when you can, which can lead to common sleep issues. Healthy sleep habits are very important here. Keep in mind that toddlers typically need 11-14 hours of sleep per 24-hour period. This includes night and naptime sleep. Tips For Toddler Sleep On Vacation We traveled with twins a lot when they were babies, and had many successful vacations, especially when it came to infant sleeping arrangements. It’s easier now that they’re older, but there are still some challenges to be met. Here is what works for our family: Plan Ahead I can’t stress this enough! If you have plans to travel, start planning early. First, make sure your toddler is on a sleep schedule at home. You should be able to easily predict when they’ll go down for naps and bedtime. Make sure you stick to it as closely as possible while away from home! Secondly, plan out your itinerary so that you have some downtime built-in for naps and bedtime. With two toddlers, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of travel and skip nap time or bedtime, but remember that they’re just little kids! Without the needed hours of sleep, sleep time can make the dream vacation can turn bad, quickly. Keep Everything The Same As At Home When traveling with toddler twins, try to keep as much of their normal routine in place as possible. This includes the same bedtime, nap time, and wake-up time. If you can’t keep your twins on their normal schedule, don’t sweat it-just try to do your best. Take each night as an opportunity to use the previous night as a learning experience. Borrow When thinking about sleeping arrangements for toddler twins while traveling, you might want to consider borrowing baby equipment from friends or family. A twin play yard can help create a safe space for your toddlers to sleep in at night. They’re easy enough to set up and work well in hotel rooms and most other places you’ll stay at. If you need a crib, be sure to borrow one that is lightweight and portable. You can also find light-weight crib sheets online or at stores like Target and Walmart. Some hotels will even provide extras upon request. Share Most often, the best sleeping arrangements for toddler twins are in the same bed when traveling, especially to unfamiliar places. It may be easier on everyone involved and you won’t have to worry about them wandering around the room looking for each other at night. Book a Big Room If you’re traveling with toddler twins, consider a suite or adjoining rooms. This way, they can still sleep in the same room, but you’ll have a little more peace of mind knowing that they won’t be able to get into as much trouble. Where Should My Baby or Toddler Twins Sleep in Our Travels? Planning sleeping arrangements while traveling with toddlers is going to be a bit different than if you were just traveling with one. If your toddler twins are very young or have never slept away from home, it might be a good idea to plan on them sleeping together in the same bed on your trip. This will also help save space and give you more sleeping options. Once they are sleeping in separate beds, you’ll have a few new sleeping arrangement options for your next travel trip. When traveling with toddler twins, it is important to consider space limits and whether or not your sleeping arrangements will be comfortable. A MoM Recently Asked: My twins are 2.5 years old, but still sleep… Continue Reading Sleeping Arrangements When Traveling With Toddler Twins

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5 Tips for Taking Your Twin Toddlers on A Cruise

Twiniversity — Sat, 08 Apr 2017 05:00:30 +0000

Cruising with Disney Cruise Line is like visiting the happiest place on Earth and having it move around from one dream destination to another. There is really nothing better than that! There are a wide variety of destinations. There are endless activities for the kids from character meet and greets, kids club, themed days, special live performances and movie showings are all sure to spark the interest in even the most Disney-skeptic individual. There are also adult only dining and activities. Here are my 5 tips for taking your twin toddlers on a cruise and getting the most out of it! 1. Be Sure to Plan Ahead! Book your cruise as soon as possible. Itineraries are often available nearly a year and a half in advance and you will find the best pricing at that time. Upon booking, you can choose your stateroom. I suggest picking something mid-ship so you will be the least affected by the ships movement. At this time, you can also choose your dinnertime, and if you have little ones, securing the 5:45pm dinner is key because who wants to sit down for dinner at 8:30pm anyway! Once your cruise is paid in full, and it becomes 120 days prior to your departure date, you can book all port adventures, spa appointments, adult dining and childcare. Do your research ahead of time so that you know what you want to do at each port or what you want to do while on the ship for the days at sea. Being prepared and well informed will have you ready to book everything as soon as it becomes available so you won’t risk missing out on your first choices. When at a port, there will not be any character meet and greets and limited activities on board so don’t feel like you will missing out on anything. Get off the ship and go explore! 2. Be Sure to Participate! Bring costumes for the kids. All the opportunities for photos with characters are just plain cute when your little princess or superhero is in costume. Depending on the length of your cruise, there will also be a few themed nights, so come prepared. There is usually a dress-up or formal night on all cruises as well as a pirate night. These are fun and there are plenty of opportunities to get some cute family photos taken. Most people will participate at some level, and I say go big or stay home. Bring the tuxedo and pirate costumes and have fun! Other cruises also now have Star Wars or Marvel Days so be sure to pick an itinerary that offers something that everyone will enjoy. If you really want to get in the spirit, plan on decorating your stateroom door too! Most doors on all cruises (with the exception of some concierge suites) have a magnetic door as the entry into your stateroom. Bring your own decorations, buy them on board or purchase ahead of time. Your kids will be able to easily recognize their room and know where to stop when running down the long halls! 3. Use the App and Stay Connected The Disney Cruise Line App will allow you to text friends and family on board so you can avoid roaming charges but still touch base with loved ones. The app also will let you know where and when character meet and greets will occur as well as the evening show and movie times, and dinner menus. 4. Give Your Kids Time to Rest The excitement and non-stop activities can be a lot for you and the kids. Your normal routine will not happen so don’t force the nap unless the kids really need it. Who can sleep after finding out that Mickey Mouse is on your floating hotel? Spend some time in the middle of your day relaxing in your stateroom, watch the water go by from your balcony with a drink-of-the-day in hand or enjoy one of the non-stop Disney movies on the ships’ television. Bring a few quiet toys for the kids to play with in your stateroom like coloring books and crayons or play dough. The downtime will be worth it for everyone to re-charge. Planning your day ahead of the cruise will also help you plan out the quiet time. A late nap might be best on days when there are late night activities on the schedule such as on Pirate Night when there are fireworks. 5. Celebrating a Special Occasion? The space inside a Concierge stateroom will make you never want to leave. With 2 bathrooms, a sleeper sofa, separate bedroom, plenty of storage space and a large veranda. You will have the room to relax, play and eat all in your room, very important for those kiddos who may need a little space away from all the excitement on board the ship. Your concierge team will absolutely take care of you with treats in the private lounge where a character may even make a special appearance and leaving surprise gifts on the bed for you and the kids. Having the concierge room offers many special perks including priority boarding and booking of port adventure prior to your cruise. It also allows you to book tickets to princess gatherings, a private lounge when waiting to board the ship, as well as on board with nightly cocktail hour and 24 hour snacks. If you can afford it, splurge for the Concierge room. No matter how you do it, a Disney Cruise will not be cheap, but it will be fun! Pick a budget that you are comfortable with but leave a little wiggle room for the extra magical experiences that you can’t resist once on board. To be safe, you should also pack an extra duffle bag or make sure you have plenty of space in your suitcase to bring all those extra magical things you purchase back home with you. Related Articles

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Navigating Disneyland with Twin Toddlers

Twiniversity — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 05:00:49 +0000

Let me start by saying that I believe every experience is a learning one for toddlers, and if you only want to do things that they will remember, then you won’t be doing much for quite a few years. That being said, I didn’t think we would take our 2 and half-year-old twin girls to a Disney park until they were a bit older and less dependent on their routine and us. Due to some late changes in our travel plans, we found ourselves in the Los Angeles area and decided to give it a try anyway. We had a lot of fun, but it requires a lot of planning ahead to make the most out of your trip so here are a few of my thoughts… Cost First thing to consider is children under 3 are free! Free entrance into the park and free at all character meals. A character meal at places like Goofy’s Kitchen inside the Disneyland Hotel or Ariel’s Grotto in Disney California Adventure Park costs $47 per adult (including tax & tip). They do have good food and allow you the ability to see quite a few characters without waiting in lines. You and the kids have to eat anyway so why not kill two birds with one stone! Reservations are a must! Stick to your kids’ routine While you might think you are missing out if you leave the park for naptime, trust me, it’s worth it. You will likely have later nights than normal and the parks can be hot, crowded and loud so a break back at the hotel is worth its wait in gold if it brings back a little sanity to the family. That being said, you should consider staying on the property so you are just a 10-15 minute walk away from some peace and quiet. While they may not be able to sleep with all the excitement, the break will be much needed, for all of you! Prep for character recognition Sure it seems crazy. Unless you are completely against television, you probably have it on sometimes so let them watch Disney Junior or put in a princess or Disney Pixar movie. Their face will light up when the recognize Mickey Mouse as a friendly face rather than a giant rodent. What days to visit? Visit the parks on weekdays. It is much less crowded during the week, which means shorter lines for both rides and character meet-and-greets. There are lots of rides in the parks for you to take your toddlers on. Some of our favorites include Toy Story Midway Mania and Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree in Disney California Adventure Land or Dumbo the Flying Elephant and Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage in Disneyland Park. Please take note that many rides that are inside are often slower, but really loud and dark at times. My girls didn’t like the Winnie the Pooh ride or Alice in Wonderland in Disneyland Park so we didn’t try anything else. The rides that are outside are great, but often involve spinning, which my girls loved; my husband and I did not after 2 or 3 in a row. You know your kids best so choose the rides that best suit your little ones. Even with the excitement of rides and character sightings, little ones need to move so be sure to check out Mickey’s Toontown in Disneyland Park, and let the kids run around Goofy’s Playhouse or climb into one of the many toon cars. If you are in need of some space to roam when in Disney California Adventure Park, explore the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. Use the App Stay current with any ride closures and wait times, character meet-and-greet locations, photo opportunities, and any special events such as parade times and routes. This will help you make the most out of your day and avoid walking aimlessly from one corner of the park to the other in search of Anna and Elsa. What to bring with you? When traveling here, opt for the larger stroller rather than the easier umbrella. While it may be the bigger hassle in the airport, the load of 2 children and their have-to-have, can’t live without, brand new stuffed toy along with sippy cups, snacks, diapers, and change of clothes makes it so worth having. You will likely still need a back pack so you can take the important things with you after you park the stroller to get in line for the next ride but the less weight on your person, the better, especially when the kids want to be picked up to get a better view of the parade. Come prepared with a bag full of “goodies”. In order to try to prevent a meltdown that may occur from sleep deprivation, sugar crash or the disappointment that Tinker Bell is not the tiny person we can hold in our hand like we thought fairies would be, bring a bag of goodies. These goodies may include anything small that will get your kiddos attention or change the subject for a brief moment, such a stickers or toys from the dollar store. Sweet treats are ok too in moderation or as a reward for eating a good dinner and if you bring it with you, you know what they like best, save money and control the portion. However, you are going to want to try the Dole Whip in Disneyland Park because you can justify the ice cream dessert when it’s made with pineapple, right? Tip: Save some money and bring glow sticks from home to hand out at night or during the parades. Pre-purchase the Photo Pass You can use your own camera or phone to take pictures and many cast members will be happy to take them for you but why worry about something that you don’t have to. One photo at a character meal can cost $35 but a week photo pass is just $70 so take lots of photos and be sure… Continue Reading Navigating Disneyland with Twin Toddlers

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10 Tips for a Successful Road Trip With Toddlers

Twiniversity — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 05:00:28 +0000

A mom of 3 under 3 (including twins) shares 10 tips for a stress free road trip with toddlers, including snacks, distractions, and well timed pit stops. To say I was ‘anxious’ about our first six hour + road trip of this season with our three girls (ages three and eighteen months) would be a huge understatement. While traveling with our children is par for the course with our semi-nomadic lifestyle, most of our traveling is done in our home (aka our boat) meaning moving from point A to point B is relatively easy (barring no mechanical breakdowns or slaps from Mother Nature.) Traveling by car? This is not something we are used to. The first time we pulled it off without me having to pop a Xanax and/or tuck-n-roll out of the vehicle I chalked it up to luck, but after three more successful six-hour road trips (complete with major buzz killers like flat tires, traffic jams, and Ark-inducing downpours) I think it might mean we are doing something right. Maybe. Before I go on, you need to know a few key pieces of information: we drive in a (borrowed) SUV with only one row for the girls, meaning they are jammed in the back seat like sardines. We also do not have the luxury of any sort of portable (or built-in) DVD players, and – while we have been blessed in many, many ways – we were not blessed with good car sleepers. To add insult to injury, our girls despise their car seats (what kid doesn’t?)…so we weren’t dealing with the greatest of odds going into our travels. Knowing this, I prepared for the worst and spent many a night laying awake dreading these car trips. I did a lot of worrying beforehand and this list is for fellow moms and dads embarking on similar trips in the hopes that I can alleviate some of that stress for you. I hope it helps another family hit the road because, for us, it was so worth it… 10 Tips for a Successful Road Trip 1. Relax on the Rules When we are road tripping, keeping the peace is our number one priority. I cannot tell you the hell that is being enclosed in a car on a highway with three screaming kids. We now do everything in our power to avoid this. Don’t get me wrong, toddler anarchy does not ensue in the car, but our strict rules on sugar consumption, constant snacking, and watching electronics do not apply when road tripping. For example, I’m a total ‘neat freak’ in our home, but that flies out the window when road tripping. If playing the iPad longer than usual keeps Isla happy and quiet, then the iPad she shall play. If sugary snacks (I’m talking yogurt melts, not Twizzlers) are what keep Haven from having an epic meltdown, then sugary snacks she shall get. If a cheap, blinking and beeping toy keeps Mira from screeching in her highest Mariah-Carey octave, then that toy she shall have. Keep. The. Peace. 2. Organization Is Key My list-making has become something of a joke around here, but being organized makes what can be a very hectic day less hectic. That means prepping for the trip in advance (buying the snacks, selecting the toys, deciding what needs to come and what doesn’t…etc). We pack up our clothes, tick items off our list, and try to have the car packed the night before. I load up our SailorBags backpack/diaper bag with everything I might need handy (diapers, wipes, spare clothes for each girl, Tylenol, and snacks) and keep it with me in the front seat for easy access. Traveling with three little kids can be stressful so doing whatever you can to alleviate the stress ahead of time is worth it. Tip: I make a list with categories for myself, the kids, the diaper bag, baby gear, medicines, last-minute packing reminders, electronics, and car entertainment so we don’t miss anything important. 3. Dramamine Is Your Friend Yes, I realize this is probably a little controversial because I am basically saying “drug your child” but, hey, if you have ever been in a car with three crying, screaming, and very unhappy toddlers then you know you would do just about anything to avoid it. People have suggested Benadryl to me but I’ve heard it can have the opposite effect on some children and I don’t want to play those odds while contained in a car for six or seven hours. I do, however, have experience with Dramamine and know that it makes my girls drowsy. As I mentioned, none of our girls are good car sleepers and sleep is your friend. Before departure, I give the twins 1/2 dose of children’s Dramamine and Isla a full dose (one pill). This guarantees at least an hour and a half of sleep once we hit the highway and when the girls wake up semi well-rested, they are 1000% more pleasant for the rest of the trip. Note: Children’s Dramamine is not recommended for kids under the age of two. I used it at my own discretion and you should do your own research. I am NOT a doctor! 4. Try to Time the Trip Around Naps And/or Sleep As I mentioned, car sleep is your friend. Many people suggest driving overnight to reach a destination of over five hours or more so the kids sleep the whole time, and this is a great option for those who can swing it. Unfortunately, Scott fell asleep at the wheel as a teen and got in a horrible car wreck so he understandably is against overnight driving. What we do instead is try to schedule our departure right before nap time. We eat lunch at home around 11 am, I dose them with Dramamine right after, and we hit the road by noon. The girls usually are asleep within thirty minutes and we have anywhere from 1.5-2 hours of blissful quiet. We also try to time our trips so that only one “sleep” is interrupted, thus leaving before nap so… Continue Reading 10 Tips for a Successful Road Trip With Toddlers

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Raising 3 Toddlers (Including Twins!) on a Sailboat in the Caribbean

Twiniversity — Sat, 29 Aug 2015 05:00:46 +0000

A “traditional life” never appealed to Scott and Brittany Meyers. Instead they envisioned a different sort of life… on the water. In 2010, the newlyweds set sail from Chicago, making their way around the east coast of the US and through the Caribbean island chain to Trinidad. While there, they discovered they’d soon welcome a third crew member. In 2012 they were joined by their baby girl, Isla. The trio bought a bigger sailboat and sailed from Florida to Grenada, where they were shocked to discover they were pregnant again. This time, with TWINS. Haven and Mira, born in 2014, proved their biggest adventure yet. Despite being told that life on a boat with three babies under three simply could not be done (and was foolish, irresponsible, and crazy), they decided to carry on their life at sea. After a year’s stint on land adjusting to life with twins, they brought their fledgling crew aboard their boat ASANTE (“thank you” in Swahili), made the British Virgin Islands their home base, and have been floating ever since. The Meyers family has traveled more than 10K nautical miles, visited 13 countries, and experienced a lifetime of adventures. Their girls have fed remora fish from their boat, named their own “pet” barracuda, splashed with baby sharks, seen flamingos in the wild, sailed through squalls, played on some of the word’s best beaches, examined strange sea creatures, lived among people of many cultures, and every night are lulled to sleep by the ocean. More info: Facebook Twins on a Boat! Free-Range Kids, Encouraged to Explore! Imaginations Run Wild Getting Creative for Fun A Tiny, Floating Home Living Big With Less Close-Knit Tribe Amazing Cultural Experiences Playing with Sharks Unique Island Life Unique Family Photos Life Hacks… Or Boat Hacks? Less Stuff – Less Need Never Too Many Books Peek-A-Boo! Typical Nightly View Sailing Is Exhilarating Wind in Their Hair Happy Children Baby Wearing for the Win! All I can say is…. WOW!!! I am blown away by the bravery and chutzpah this family has. It kind of makes you want to try it yourself, doesn’t it? No? Well, I’d settle for a pina colada by the pool. Best wishes to Brittany and Scott and their three adorable sweeties! Happy sailing!

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Flying with Three Kids 3 and Under is Not Fun

Twiniversity — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 05:00:13 +0000

The following piece was originally featured on Windtraveler, a personal blog by Twiniversity contributor Brittany Meyers. Brittany and her husband Scott are parents to a toddler girl plus twin baby girls and they spend a good part of the year living on a boat with their 3 kids! You should really check out her blog here. Flying with three kids 3 and under is not fun. Shocker, right? But for the 1% of you who are surprised by this revelation; air travel and toddlers pair about as well as socks and sandals. You can do it, but it doesn’t look pretty. My recent travel stint from Tortola, British Virgin Islands to Chicago, Illinois might be the most exhausting day of my life. And, for the record, I have toddling twins, who for the first four months of their precious lives slept on my person and nursed every two hours. So I know a thing or two about exhaustion. Granted, two out of three of our girls were complete angels the entire twelve hour day. But – as they say – one bad apple can spoil the bunch. And one screaming toddler on a plane is all it takes to make you look like a jack-ass parent. Who cares if the other two are wonderful and quiet and good? The “bad” one will ensure you don’t get the “What good children you have!” compliment down at baggage claim. Ho-hum. Turns out, our daughter Haven and airplane-style containment don’t mix. The day started off okay. I was packed and prepped. Traveling with kids is sort of our “thing” so I was organized and had all the necessary gear (umbrella strollers, Ergo carriers, an arsenal of snacks, and a few select toys being the most important) to make the trip as smooth as possible without being overburdened with clutter. I felt pretty good about it, but was wary. Our twins are sixteen months old, which, in my opinion, falls smack dab in the center of the age range when travel with children should be avoided at all costs. These children are old enough to stave off sleep and throw tantrums of epic proportions, yet too young to actually entertain themselves (read: sit still) for any significant length of time….Yep, the toddler is your travel nemesis. The first sign of the hell that would follow came in the cab ride to the airport. Haven, our twin who is often described as “wild” (“You can just see it in her eyes!” they say) and affectionately referred to as “hell on wheels”, came undone in the cab. Car seats are not required in the Caribbean and we don’t have room for that sort of thing on our boat so we sat the kids in the second row and buckled them in. Isla (our three year old) and Mira sat quietly and peacefully but Haven decided she wanted to explore. In the cab. While it was moving. Imagine traveling in a car with a spider monkey on meth. It was like that for the entire thirty minute drive. Then, things started looking up. The first airport was fine. The first forty-five minute flight was fine. Heck, even the second airport (complete with three hour layover) was fine. I had done well in my preparation and the girls were fed, entertained, and we had the right mix of gear to get them through security (aka: the portal to hell for families traveling with small children) and to the gate with nary a meltdown or fuss. I was proud of my planning and I mistakenly gave myself a silent pat on the back as we began to board our second, and final, flight. A flight, mind you, that was over four hours. That is a very long time for a very active lap baby. We took off and all three girls fell asleep, the twins in the ergo carriers (Mira on my mom, Haven on me) and Isla in her own seat at my side. It was bliss and I was feeling very ‘boss mom’. When the flight attendant came over and asked if I’d like anything, I quietly requested wine and peanuts. She brought them and no sooner had I taken a first nibble of peanut and sip of wine when Haven started stirring. Shit. Turns out, when a baby is sleeping on your chest very close to your neck, they can hear you chew and gulp. I held my breath, said a quick prayer to all things Holy that she would zonk back out while simultaneously cursing my wine “habit”, but it was all for naught; she began to thrash further in the carrier and wanted OUT. I handed the flight attendant my wine (after taking a healthy gulp), stood up and did the desperate “mom bounce” in the aisle. Cue the seatbelt light. Greeeaaat. Haven would have none of it. With wide eyes, kicking legs, and clawing arms she started screaming in protest. And if there is one thing I can tell you about this child, it’s that she is LOUD. Louder than you can possibly imagine. I looked at my mom across the aisle who’s face was a mask of sheer horror. She knows Haven. She’s endured the wrath of the pterodactyl cry. She was afraid – for the other passengers, for me – for we had three solid hours of flying to go. This was not looking good. With much bouncing and many snacks, I managed to get her quiet and out of the carrier, but not after she’d woken up both her sisters and disturbed everyone on the plane. Luckily, we were surrounded by wonderful passengers (#thankyouUniverse) so no one gave me the stink eye or made any rude comments about me controlling my unruly child. In fact, I think most people were just happy they were not me on that flight. It was very, very clear that I had my hands full and was doing everything in my power to keep the kids (well, Haven) at bay. Turns… Continue Reading Flying with Three Kids 3 and Under is Not Fun

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Road Trippin’ with Toddler Twins

Twiniversity — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 05:00:43 +0000

This Fall, my husband and I took our 2 year old twins on a 10 hour road trip to visit family. As we planned, we frequently asked ourselves if we were crazy. A few weeks before our trip I began to panic and asked all of my mom groups and Facebook friends for tips for the drive. I spent a few days preparing, and I have to say our trips both ways were incredibly successful and almost – dare I say it – fun! On the way there we were blessed with glorious weather and no traffic. On the way back we had pouring rain and sat in traffic for over an hour right at the beginning of the drive. Despite the delay, we had almost no crying and the time passed pretty quickly. We were so successful, I had to share the tips I followed with all of my friends First, we were completely packed the night before. Not only did we pack all of our clothes and essentials in the car, but I made meals for our family to eat on the road. I did not want to rely on finding a rest stop with toddler-friendly food. For us that meant cold quesadillas and chopped vegetables for lunch, and deli for dinner. And lots of juice boxes! For some reason my kids do not want to drink water in the car, but juice is a special treat, so it kept them hydrated. The morning before we left, I had the kids take their little backpacks and pick out books and toys to bring on the trip. I had been talking about this trip for over a week, so it was not a surprise. “We are going on a very long trip today, we will be in the car all day! Pick out some books and toys to bring!” They were excited to “pack” their own bags. Then, when we were in the car, I encouraged them to dig through their bags for the first two hours. I learned one important lesson on the way there that was helpful for the entire trip: the kids had a 2 hour limit on being in the car. Even a short stop to change diapers and jump up and down would make a huge difference in family morale. We learned that our stops were a minimum 30 minutes, including all the time to unload and reload, so we built that into our time table: every two hours, we stopped for 30 minutes. And at the end of every stop, I promised a “surprise” when we were all buckled and ready to go. The kids were excited about their surprises and were as cooperative as they could be about getting back in the car, considering. The surprises were simple. I tried to encourage imagination and pretend play as much as possible. One time it was small metal buckets from the craft store and some Mardi Gras beads – this lasted a surprisingly long time! One time it was spiral notebooks with Crayola ultra-clean markers tied to it, markers which were mostly used on their arms, faces, clothes, whatever and totally washed out later! And one time it was popcorn and two new plastic dinosaurs – who knew dinosaurs also got hungry on road trips? The hardest stretch was in the middle of the drive, when we had been in the car for a while but still had a long way to go. I resisted the iPad because we still had far enough to go that I didn’t think we could make it just watching TV the rest of the way. At this point my strategy changed – I gave them something new every 20-30 minutes. I alternated snacks and toys or books. So, for example, they got some crackers, and then twenty minutes later they got a book of stickers. Even if they weren’t actively fussing, I just kept changing it up, keeping things fresh during this rough part of the trip. We also ate our meals in the car. I bought a snack tray that attached to their forward-facing seats, which worked out surprisingly well. I wasn’t sitting in the back with them so I wanted them to be able to feed themselves without dropping too much food. We also used this tray for drawing and other activities. In the end, we only watched one episode of Sesame Street on the iPad, all the way at the end of the trip, after having been in the car for almost 9 hours. I was proud of them for making it so long, and with very minimal crying! We thought we might be crazy, but honestly the experience was so much better than flying with two toddlers that we are planning to do it again in a few months. And maybe, one day when they’re older, we could split the drive into two days and actually stop for fun along the way! Things I purchased for the trip iPad mount Snack tray Ultra-washable markers (though you could use the markers that only work on special paper, but my kids had so much fun painting themselves that I would actually use these again!) Sticker books Craft metal buckets Mardi Gras beads Various dollar store toys Robin Sheldon is an artist and therapist, currently staying at home full time with her toddler twins and two cats while her husband hunts and gathers. She recently moved from city to suburb and what a transition it has been!

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Traveling Abroad with 3 Kids Under 4

Twiniversity — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 05:00:59 +0000

I hear a lot of moms of multiples expressing how difficult it is for them to find the time to take a shower, let alone make a trip to a large grocery store like Costco. They think that their travel and adventuring days are behind them — but I promise that they are not. I am a stay at home mom to 3 adorably rambunctious boys. My oldest is almost 4, and my twins are 19 months. My oldest has taken several trips abroad with us; but this spring was the first time the twins got their very first passport stamp. As with all things that relate to your multiples, the key is good planning. Gone are the times when you could on a whim, buy a ticket a month in advance and be off. Think about how much planning is involved in going on that weekly shopping trip and multiply that by infinity. The flight Pick your flight out to have as few connections as possible. Having one long haul flight coupled with a connected to short inter-country flight is preferable. Schedule the flight out to start a few hours before bedtime in your time zone and to arrive at your destination in the morning or no later than mid-day. This will instantly acclimate your kids to the new time change. Try and do the same with the flight home. If you are flying with a partner of the airline that you purchased your ticket from or you bought your ticket with a website like Travelocity, make sure you call the airline you are flying with directly to arrange special meals (including kid’s meals), seats, baby bassinets (call the airline as far in advance as you can to find out the weight restrictions and to book them if need be, as there are only 4-8 in economy and they book up incredibly fast), and making sure that any lap infants that you might have are added to your itinerary. The flight can be traumatic if not planned for properly. Bring a small backpack for each child with a few brand new toys and books to pop out during the flight. Even if you are against television for children; loading 10 plus hours of an assortment of PBS Kids options to any handheld media device (with headphones) are a blessing. The calmer they are the less stressful it is for them, you, and the entire plane full of tired travelers. All international flights have milk, juice, and baby food on board. Do not feel bad about asking the flight attendant to refill your child’s cup or bottle for the hundredth time. They are more than happy to do so. [Twiniversity tip: Hand out small goodie bags to the people around your seats, such as a small bag of Hershey kisses and foam earplugs with a little note of thanks, to win them over for the flight.] Accommodation A small hotel room or even a suite will not fit a family of 6. Consider renting an apartment instead. Sites like airbnb.com and VRBO.com are great for this. You can rent an apartment or house directly from the owner for a few days, weeks, or months. Never stay in a place that hasn’t been reviewed before; make sure that you have a way to contact the landlord outside of the site just in case and ask a lot of questions. The more space you have, the happier your children will be. They need space from each other and sometimes you. Gear Many sights are either too difficult to traverse with a stroller or strollers are not allowed. If your children are under bring compact soft backpack carriers; like Boba, or Ergo. For when strollers are possible consider a tandem twin stroller like the Kinderwagon Hop. Streets in older cities are paved with cobblestones with very narrow roadways that you share with cars. You want to take up as little space as possible. Destination Research the country that you are going to be visiting. Are they a family friendly culture? Italians will hug, kiss, and squeeze the cheeks of your kids in the streets, the Spanish take their kids everywhere and kids are welcome in almost every restaurant, but London with its huge population of busy commuters and crowded streets, and constantly dodging bike riders in Amsterdam are going to make young children fearful and uncomfortable. A safari might terrorize a 2 year old, but might be fascinating to a 9 year old. If you have dietary restrictions make sure that you will be able to be accommodated. Learn how to communicate those needs in whatever language the residents speak. Lower your expectations regarding the amount of museums and sites that you are going to be able to visit on a daily basis. Your children have a limited tolerance for seeing the sights. Once that tolerance expires it will not be pleasant for anyone and you will be likely asked to leave. Meticulously plan each day; down to the form of public transportation you will take and from where. Your kids will get tired of you walking around lost, or waiting at the bus stop for 40 minutes. Download an offline map app like pocket earth for any cities you will visit, and buy some data for your phone from your regular carrier so that you can use google maps in a pinch when out and about. If you are taking a day trip away from your home base; pick your top 3 sights, plan your route and only deviate from that plan to see other things once you have visited all 3. Otherwise you may miss the thing you were most excited about because you wasted time at that tourist shop, or ancient building facade. If you can afford to; bring an extra pair of hands. Perhaps a niece, family friend or your regular babysitter. You don’t have to go broke. Offer to pay their way, give them one day off… Continue Reading Traveling Abroad with 3 Kids Under 4

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