Twiniversity #1 Parenting Twins Site https://www.twiniversity.com/ Reaching Over 2 Million Twin Families Weekly! Thu, 04 Sep 2025 22:30:51 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.2 https://www.twiniversity.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-twiniversity_favicon-32x32.jpg Twiniversity #1 Parenting Twins Site https://www.twiniversity.com/ 32 32 2026 Twinnie Awards https://www.twiniversity.com/2026-twinnie-awards/ Fri, 05 Sep 2025 09:30:00 +0000 https://www.twiniversity.com/?p=192201 Each year, twin parents and the Twiniversity team nominate their favorite baby, kid, and personal products. After tallying the votes, the products and brands that received the most love and praise have earned top honors. From twin strollers and car seats to diaper bags and more, the 2026 Twinnie Awards highlight the very best twinnie gear on the market. Thanks to our amazing community, the guesswork has been taken out of baby gear shopping—you’ll find a trusted list of recommendations straight from parents who truly get it. So, without further ado, here are our 2026 Twinnie Award Winners… Best Strollers for Twins Best Car Seat Stroller for twins – Baby Trend Double Snap-N-Go Stroller Best Tandem Stroller – Mockingbird Single-to-Double Stroller 2.0Runner Up: Baby Jogger City Select Double Stroller Best Side-By-Side Stroller – Zoe Twin V2 StrollerRunner Up: Bugaboo Donkey Double Stroller Best Double Jogging Stroller – Thule Urban Glide 3 Stroller Best Stroller for Twins plus one – Zoe Trio V2 Best Stroller Wagon – Wonderfold W4Runner Up: Veer Cruiser City XL Best Stroller Accessory – Cup Holder Best Car Seats for Twins Best Infant Car Seat – Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35Runner Up: Chicco Keyfit Max Infant Car Seat Best Convertible/All-in-one Car Seat – Evenflo REVOLVE360 SLIMRunner Up: Graco Slimfit 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat Best Booster Seat – Graco TurboBooster seatRunner Up: Diono Solana Booster Seats Best Baby Carriers for Twins Best Single Baby Carrier – Baby Tula Explore CarrierRunner Up: BabyBjörn Baby Carrier Mini Best Double Baby Carrier – Weego Twin Baby CarrierRunner Up: TwinGo Baby Carrier Best Bottle Feeding Products for Twins Best Infant Formula – KendamilRunners Up: Bobbie Organic Formula Enfamil Formula Best Baby Bottle – Dr. Brown’s Options+ Bottles Best Baby Food – Once Upon a FarmRunner Up: Serenity Kids Best Product for Tandem Bottle Feeding – Twin Z PillowRunner Up: Table for Two Best Bottle Sterilizer – Baby Brezza Bottle Washer Pro Best Breastfeeding Twins Products Best Electric Breast Pump – Spectra S1Runner Up: Baby Buddha Best Manual Breast Pump – MedelaRunner Up: Dr. Brown’s Best Pumping Bra –  Kindred Bravely Sublime Hands-Free Pumping BraRunner Up: Bodily Best Nipple Cream – Earth Mama Angel Baby Natural Nipple ButterRunner Up: Medela Purelan Lanolin Best Delivery Day Must-Haves for Twins Best Cord Blood Banking – CBR Best Sleep Gear for Twins Best Crib Mattress – Sealy Crib Mattresses Best Crib –BabylettoRunner Up: DaVinci Best Twin Bassinet – HALO BassiNest Twin SleeperRunner Up: Simmons Kids By The Bed City Sleeper Bassinet Best Swaddle – Zipadee Zip SwaddleRunner Up: Love to Dream Swaddle Up Best Pacifier – Philips Avent SoothieRunner Up: MAM Comfort Baby Pacifiers Best Baby Video Monitor – BabysenseRunner Up: Nanit Best Sound Machine – Hatch Rest+ Sound MachineRunner Up: Dream Egg Best Humidifier – Canopy NurseryRunner Up: Frida Baby 3-in-1 Humidifier Best Baby Seats and Containers for Twins Best High Chair – Ergobaby Evolve High ChairRunner Up: Ikea ANTILPO High Chair Best Bouncy Seat – Ergobaby Evolve 3-in-1 BouncerRunner Up: BabyBjorn Bouncer Balance Soft Best Baby Swing – Graco Soothe ‘n Sway LX Baby Swing with Portable BouncerRunner Up: moms Mamaroo Best Play Mat/Activity Gym – The Play Gym by Lovevery Best Play Yard – Amazon Best Diapering Products for Twins Best Disposable Diaper – HuggiesRunner Up: Pampers Swaddlers Best Cloth Diaper – EsemblyRunner Up: bumgenius Best Diaper Pail – Ubbi Diaper Pail Best Baby Wipes – Huggies Simply Clean WipesRunner Up: Kirkland Signature Baby Wipes Best Diaper Rash Cream – Desitin Baby Diaper Rash CreamRunner Up: A+D Original Diaper Rash Ointment Best Diaper Bag – BEIS Backpack Diaper BagRunner Up: Itzy Ritzy Dream Convertible Diaper Bag Best Baby Care Products for Twins Best Thermometer – Fridababy 3-in-1 Thermometer Best Booger Remover – oogiebear Baby Nose Cleaner and Ear Wax Removal Tool Best Baby Bathtub – Summer Infant Clean Rinse Baby Bath SeatRunner Up: Angelcare 2-in-1 Baby Bathtub Best Baby Skin Care Line – Tubby ToddRunner Up: Aveeno Baby Best Gear for Twins Age 6 Months and Up Best Sippy Cup – Lansinoh Weighted Straw Cup Best Toddler Lunchbox – b.box Lunch boxRunner Up: Omie OmieBox Bento Box Best Teething Product – Hyland’s Teething Tablets Best Potty Training Seat –Baby Bjorn Potty ChairRunner Up: Munchkin Multi-Stage 3-in-1 Potty Seat Want more product recommendations and reviews? Check out these for more: 2025 Twinnie Award Winners 2024 Twinnie Award Winners – Best Baby Gear for Twins What’s the Best Stroller for Kids? Twin Baby Carriers: Which One is Best For Your Family? Essentials for Newborn Baby Skin Care, Bathing and Grooming About Twiniversity Reaching over 2 million families a year in over 150 countries, Twiniversity is the largest global resource for all things “twinnie”. With worldwide recognition in her field, founder Natalie Diaz brings her twin parenting expertise to the online resource, including membership, live and online expecting twins classes, social media channels, and her bestselling books “What To Do When You’re Having Two“, the #1 bestseller on Amazon for Twins & Multiples Parenting, and the Newborn Twins Sleep Guide. For more information, visit Twiniversity.com.

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Best Configuration for 3 Car Seats (or More) https://www.twiniversity.com/best-configuration-for-3-car-seats-or-more/ Tue, 02 Sep 2025 04:01:00 +0000 https://www.twiniversity.com/?p=192181 Wondering how on Earth you’re going to fit 3 car seats in your car? Or even more car seats? We asked other twin parents how they managed to make all the car seats work, so keep reading for ideas on the best configuration for 3 car seats (or more)! Getting two car seats into a car is one thing, but trying to fit 3 or more? Now that is quite the task! Thankfully, these seasoned parents of multiples chimed in with how to fit 3 car seats into a car! We recently asked our twin parent community: Parents of multiples: how did you make 3 (or more) car seats fit in your car? Here’s what other twin parents shared about their car seat configuration for 3 or more kids: The 3-across configuration “Three across for over a year so my wagon could fit in the back. We finally upgraded to a massive SUV that fit kiddos AND wagon comfortably!” — Jenah “The struggle is real. My twins were in Hbb (high-back booster) when the baby arrived and fitting his car seat in took some careful planning. Wishing the girls would have a growth spurt. I do feel it’s a European/UK issue about the 3 seats, as we’re moving back to Australia where the regulations are different and I’m seeing plenty of options that promote themselves as fitting 3 across.” — Rachel “Graco Slimfit 3 across car seats. All fit in RAV4. It’s actually so much more convenient than trying to load one in a third row! Highly recommend.” — Urella.08 “We have an SUV with a third row. Not sure what we will do moving forward, but for now, we have all 3 kids (3, 1, and 1) side by side in the second row. We have the Clek Foonf car seats that are designed for this exact purpose. After having tried a few car seats with my oldest, we just like this brand the most from a safety aspect as well.” — trulia_ “3 across and the 3rd row folded down to fit the stroller plus groceries. One toddler seat and two infant seats for now. Plan to swap all to Diono after we are done with the infant seats and keep them 3 across for a while longer.” — Kyndall “We are HUGE fans of the Diono!! We have three across in the back seat of my Dodge Ram. Works like a charm! Everyone has plenty of room and the wagon slides right into the bed of the truck.” — Sarah The third row configuration “2 Britax bucket seats and one Britax Poplar in a ‘13 Chevy Equinox! Then we got a Kia Carnival so we did Britax Poplar in the 3rd row passenger side, 2nd row passenger seat removed and a Graco Extend-2-fit & Britax advocate in the 2nd row.” — Natalie “Buying a car big enough for them? Honda Odyssey. Magic slide seats. Game changer.” — Tracy “We traded our Jeep in for a Honda Odyssey. I was sad about it at the time but have come to love the Odyssey! We took one of the 2nd row seats entirely out (our model is a 2nd row with 3 across, not two bucket seats) and started with the twins in the third row until my eldest (18 months when we brought the twins home) was big enough to switch to forward facing, then we moved her to the 3rd row behind the empty/removed seat on the passenger side and put the twins in the middle seat and the seat behind the driver’s seat in the 2nd row… …Removing the seat makes for a great landing space when loading/unloading everyone. The kids just climb in and up to their seats (eldest is 4 and the twins are 2.5 now), I close the sliding door behind us while buckling everyone in, and I don’t have to worry about standing out in traffic or anyone running away from the vehicle. Provides extra space for the wagon, groceries, suitcases when traveling, etc too. I highly recommend it if your vehicle model allows.” — Jennifer “We went with Honda Odyssey middle seats slide so my big girl can get to her car seat with the two rear facing in the middle row captain chairs.” — leahgindin “Vauxhall zafira.. my 5 year old in high back booster in the back. Twins in the middle. Out n about nipper fits in the boot. Middle seat for a bag. Tight squeeze but it works.” — Becky “We have the toddler and a twin in the bucket seats and the other twin in the third row. Way easier to toss a car seat back there then wrestle with a toddler lol.” — Shelby Switched to a bigger car… “I got a really big freaking car. An Expedition. Not my favorite car ever but it fits us all, plus the dog, plus sports gear, plus bike rack, etc. Buy used, the kids will trash it.” — hei_hales “Traded in my Acadia for a Suburban. It made the most sense for us since we needed to use the third row while also bringing a stroller!” — mrspaigemendenhall “I had an Audi A4 which did fit 2 baby carriers and a high back booster in the middle, but it was a squeeze and I had to put them all in order. In the end, we got a new car, so my eldest had a bit more space. Citroen C5 Aircross has 3 individual seats across the back and the boot is plenty big enough to fit the double pushchair too.” — Jodie “We couldn’t make 3 car seats fit & having 3 under 3 money was tight… so I had to trade my husband vehicles. I now drive an F-150 and he drives my edge for the time being.” — Ericcaagraves “I had to buy a bigger vehicle. 7 seater. My son is in the very back and the girls are behind me.” — hamish_plus_twins “You get… Continue Reading Best Configuration for 3 Car Seats (or More)

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Halloween Costumes for Twin Toddlers: Cute, Scary, Classic, and More https://www.twiniversity.com/halloween-costumes-for-twin-toddlers/ Fri, 29 Aug 2025 14:34:16 +0000 https://www.twiniversity.com/?p=192141 Looking for inspiration for what to dress your toddler twinnies up as this Halloween? We asked the Twiniversity community for their input on the best Halloween costumes for twin toddlers, and they shared the cutest, funniest, and most charming ideas! When autumn comes around, it’s only a matter of time until Halloween is here! So if you want some inspiration for twin toddler Halloween costumes, we’ve got you covered! We recently asked our twin parent community: What were your favorite Halloween costumes for your twins over the years? And in this article, we’ll be sharing the best toddler twin costumes with you!  Princess Leah and Luke Skywalker from Star Wars Wayne and Garth from Wayne’s World Forest and Jenny from Forest Gump Elliot and Gerty with E.T. Del Boy and Rodney (from Only Fools and Horses) Spider and Spiderweb Mario and Luigi Dalmatian Puppies (from 101 Dalmatians) The Grady Twins (from The Shining) Dorothea and Lion (from The Wizard of Oz) Pig and cow (along with a farmer for twins plus 1) Ketchup and mustard Wednesday and Enid (from Wednesday, The Addams Family spinoff show) Slinky Dog (from Toy Story) Thing 1 and Thing 2 (from Cat in the Hat) Raggedy Ann and Andy More Halloween costumes for toddler twins “I was a pirate and my twins were my parrots.” — Kenzie “Peter Pan and tinker bell , Harry Potter and Hermione.” — Emily “Kirk and Spock, Squirtle and Charmander.” — Dana “Superman and Clark Kent and Scooby and Shaggy.” — Jeanette “We don’t really do Halloween in Australia, but for book week, I dressed my twins plus singleton as the three little pigs in costumes i made myself!” — Heidi “Cookie Monster and a cookie with a bow! (I have b/g twins).” — Kerry “A pair of crayons.” — Jenny “My girls were both versions of Boo from Monsters Inc!” — Sabrina “Mickey and Minnie Mouse.” — Lori “Mikey and Sulley” –— Lorrie “Peanut butter and jelly.” — Erica “FraTURTLE twins!” — Charlotte Want to see even more twin Halloween costume inspiration? Check out the original Facebook post here! Or peruse the articles below!

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Childcare for Twins: How it Panned Out For Other Twin Families https://www.twiniversity.com/childcare-for-twins/ Tue, 26 Aug 2025 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.twiniversity.com/?p=191905 Getting to the end of parental leave and trying to decide about who to have help watch your infant or toddler twins during the day. Or just needing an extra set of hands to care for your dynamic duo? Thinking about childcare for twins may feel overwhelming, so here’s a quick look at what other twin parents decided on and how it worked out! One of the more challenging decisions (don’t they all feel challenging though?) you’ll have to make as a twin parent is figuring out a childcare option that feels right for you.  So if you’re feeling a bit frazzled by this doubly stressful situation, know that you’re not alone! And keep reading for a look at what other twin parents did and how it worked out for them.  We recently asked our twin parent community: What was your experience with your initial daycare option for your twins? Did it work out great? Did you have to pivot? Here’s what twin parents had to say: We had to pivot… “Currently going through it. We’ve been on a waitlist since December (twins born in April) and found out last week that the daycare might not have a space for them after all. I go back to work next week and we are touring two new daycares later this week! SMH! Luckily we have lots of help, but we thought we had this all figured out!” — vamirasolo “My mom is our main support, but got a nanny from 12 months to 15 months. My twins are now 3 years old and I’m considering hiring help again.” — mahinour “We started out at a nursery 2 days a week but had to pivot to a childminder due to cost (we’re in the UK).” — Lillouwho2 “Had to drop to only 3 days a week because the cost for 5 was more than I ever imagined.” — defranco  “Pivoted and I quit my job.” — mrs.carriejohnson “Fail. Daycare for 2 months then quit my job. I was miserable missing them and it was expensive.” — karenmgilbert  “Not so great. A month in, we had to find a new daycare, but it worked out better. The kids love this one!” — Zaheedavirani It worked out great! “Nanny at 4 months till 2 1/2. It was the most economical for us. We had an amazing nanny!” — kylez_vrussel “Not sure if this counts, but when my twins were 18 months old I started taking them to the gym daycare so that I could get back into the gym. They’re now 25 months old.” — leannaivic “It [daycare] was a hard no. Found a nanny ASAP!” – ajacks_244 “It worked, but it was mind-boggingly expensive. We poached a caregiver as a nanny.” — robinofspring  “We hired a nanny. It was for affordable for us and they are thriving!” — orangespoken “Couldn’t afford two in daycare at once so I stayed home with them!” — sam.campanaro  “Kindergarten. In Austria it’s free. Till they go to the first school. But we waited as long as possible. Our twins were almost 3 years old before they went. The experience was great!” – PaCo One twin mom’s childcare for twins saga We live in the U.S. and unfortunately my school did not offer disability insurance or any sort of paid leave. So our first tough decision was to extend my maternity leave and go with reduced pay.  This meant that I got to be home with the babies until they were 6 months (since part of the leave was during our summer break from school). Yet, we were definitely in a bit of a financial pinch.  Then from 7 months through almost 2 years, we ended up qualifying for a homecare nurse since both of our twins came home with feeding tubes and required a great deal of medical care on top of typical newborn care. Once they no longer qualified for that care though by age 2, we had to figure out a new daycare plan.  At that point in time, paying for full-time daycare for two toddlers didn’t feel like the right option for us. So after only 1 year back in the classroom after having the twins, I left my job as a teacher and became self-employed as a freelance copywriter.  This meant that I was home with the babies full time and trying to fit in freelance work during nap times and after bedtime (very tiring! but mostly worth it).  But by the time they were about 28 months, it no longer felt manageable to watch them on my own. Most nights I had little energy left to devote to my fledgling business (which we needed to support some of our family’s bills). So we tried out having a babysitter (who we found through Care.com) come over to help three days a week for a few hours over the summer. That worked out okay, but we wanted the kids to be able to get out of the house more and interact with other toddlers in a more structured setting. Personally, my journey with this was a little all over the place. I was a high school teacher when I became pregnant with the twins. As the pregnancy progressed, and we developed some complications and then eventually landed ourselves a 3-month NICU stay, I realized we were going to need to be flexible (and creative) when it came to childcare options.  By the time they turned 2.5, we decided to officially enroll them in part-time daycare three mornings a week at a Montessori daycare. While this still felt like a bit of a stretch, we ended up loving the daycare! (Thank goodness!) Looking back, the journey of twin daycare options was really wonky for us, but I feel like it all worked out in the end.  Now, our twins are 3.5, and they will be going back to the same daycare Monday through Friday (just in the mornings still). This will give me plenty of… Continue Reading Childcare for Twins: How it Panned Out For Other Twin Families

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A Day in the Life With 4 Month Old Twins https://www.twiniversity.com/a-day-in-the-life-4-month-old-twins/ Fri, 22 Aug 2025 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.twiniversity.com/?p=191551 Wondering what to do with your 4-month old twins all day long? A full day with two newborns can feel daunting, so take a look at the reality of how one family gets through a day with their 4-month twinnies! Take a peek into my life as a mom of 4-month-old fraternal twin boys. I’m a first time, stay-at-home mom (well, kinda). I work PRN as an occupational therapist, so right now I only pick up weekends when my husband is off, but this allows me to be home with my boys!  Navigating life with twins is difficult, and every phase has had its different challenges. But now that my twins have hit 4 months old, I am happy to say that we are in a good (albeit somewhat loose) routine.  I am tandem breastfeeding, and they eat about every 3 hours during the day and every 4 hours at night, so our schedule is centered around that! Our morning with 4-month old twins 7:00 am They boys typically wake up anywhere between 6:30-7:30, so that’s when my husband and I wake up as well. I nurse them in bed, and then my husband and I will get them changed and ready for the day. The boys will then hang out on their play mat in their nursery while we get dressed and ready.  8:00 am We’re all usually downstairs around 8am. My husband will go take our dog on a walk, and I will set up the boys in their bouncers. I love to use the bouncers first thing in the morning because it keeps them upright, alert, and secure while I am able to get the day started.  I also use this time to pump. Currently I’m only pumping once a day or if they get a bottle. So I usually do that in the morning because that’s when my supply is the highest.  Once my husband gets back from the walk, he will help get coffee and breakfast ready. Then I will get the boys changed for their first nap.  8:30 am  The boys are usually awake for about 90 minutes during this phase, so the first nap is around 8:30. We usually do this one (supervised) on the Twin Z pillow on the couch so that I can sit with them and eat.  Their naps right now can last anywhere between 30 minutes and 2 hours, so we just have to wait and see but I’ll usually use this time to catch up on emails or make my to-do list for the day/week or just relax and catch up on Love Island.  10:00 am  Time for their second breakfast! We usually give them one bottle a day, but we always do it at different times. After the feed, it’s play time. We have a play mat set up in the living room, and we will usually do some tummy time, read books or listen to music.  11:30 am By now, they are getting sleepy again so it’s time for another nap. This is usually when I will attempt to have them nap in their cribs (the key word here being attempt). It’s usually not very successful, but we’re working on it!  If I can get them to sleep for a little bit, I will use that time to eat or get things done around the house.  Our afternoon with 4-month old twins 1:00 pm  Time for lunch! After they feed, then it’s time for more play time- lately we have been focusing on grabbing toys, using our water mat for tummy time and lots of teething toys!  2:30 pm   This is usually their last long nap for the day. While they are this little and I have the time, I am embracing all of the contact naps. I make sure to go to the bathroom and have my water, snacks and phone all within reach because I could be stuck there for a while!  4:00 pm  Time for them to eat again! I have been lucky that I am an over-supplier having more than enough milk for my boys, but I always make sure to prioritize hydration and nutrition. I aim to have protein with every meal and snack and drink electrolytes daily! I am always hungry feeding two, so I eat very often!  Our evening with 4-month-old twins 5:00 pm   My husband usually gets home around 5 in the evening, and if the weather is nice, we like to take a family walk. We love to use our carriers-we use the ergo baby omni classic and they have been great for both husband and I. The boys just started facing out, and they love looking around!  The boys also usually take a “cat nap” around 5:30 anywhere between 30-45 mins, but I try not to let this one go too long since bed time is not too far off.  6:00 pm  Time for us to have dinner! We always have the boys sit in the dining room with us whether it’s in their bouncers or lately we have been practicing sitting in their high chairs.  Dinners these days are usually whatever is quick and easy to clean up.  6:30 pm  Time to start the bed time routine! Our routine is simple, we don’t do baths every night but we usually do lotion/massage, singing and then put them into their sleep sacks. While my husband is getting one ready I will usually rock the other in our rocking chair.  Then I will feed them, and we usually get them down between 7:30-8:00 pm. Bed time recently has become ultimate chaos—a true race against the clock to get two tired hungry gremlins to bed.  Our overnight schedule with 4-month-old twins 11:00 pm – 3:00 am  The boys have recently outgrown their bassinets, so we moved them to their cribs in the nursery.  They are not sleeping through the night yet, so my husband and I are up pretty often. I still breastfeed them both at the… Continue Reading A Day in the Life With 4 Month Old Twins

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Twins Twice: So You’re Pregnant with Twins, AGAIN https://www.twiniversity.com/twins-twice/ Tue, 19 Aug 2025 10:58:00 +0000 https://www.twiniversity.com/?p=191541 Expecting your second set of twins? Here’s what it’s like having twins twice—from pregnancy and exhaustion to joy, grief, and everything in between. What are the chances of having twins twice? I used to joke that I’d be a “twins twice” person. I even told Natalie Diaz, the founder of Twiniversity, that I had a weird feeling before my first set of fraternal twins even turned one. Then January came around, and with it… two more heartbeats. Statistically, it makes sense… at least in my case. I was told my chances of having twins again were about 1 in 12 because I likely carry the hyperovulation gene (aka my ovaries drop more than one egg at ovulation). And while that still sounds rare, I later learned something even more surprising: you’re nine times more likely to conceive twins while breastfeeding (according to a study by Dr. Steinman). So really, I consider my odds of having twins again were actually higher than having a singleton. Can you believe that? Still, nothing prepares you for hearing, “It’s twins again.” How my second twin pregnancy feels different At the time of writing this, I’m currently 32 weeks pregnant with my second set of twins, and this pregnancy has been completely different. First of all, I haven’t even finished setting everything up yet. Like… what nursery? Do I even know where my breast pump is?  And, of course, I’m exhausted, constantly. But there’s no option for midday naps, no lazy weekends on the couch, no “rest while you can” vibes like last time. That’s because I have twin toddlers who still need snacks, attention, messes cleaned, and a mom who shows up. The number of times they make me get up when all I want to do is sit down? No one warns you about that part of motherhood! But here’s what’s better the second time around: I know what to expect. I’m not spiraling over every weird cramp or twinge. I’m not Googling every symptom like I did during my first twin pregnancy, when I lived in constant fear of something going wrong. Twins are higher risk, and that anxiety was real. It also makes me wonder: Is this pregnancy that much easier? Are my symptoms much milder? Or does my body just know what to do better? Or do I not even have the time to think about it?  Now, I feel more grounded. I know what’s normal and what’s not. I know how my body responds to carrying twins. That confidence makes a huge difference when you’re “high risk.” Grieving the singleton experience One thing I wasn’t expecting? Grief. I’ve honestly had to grieve the idea of having a singleton pregnancy. Heading to that first ultrasound, I was dreaming of HOW EASY one baby would be. There’s so much I wanted to experience with just one baby that I never will: Yes, twins are a miracle. And yes, I’m beyond grateful. But it’s okay to mourn the version of motherhood you don’t get to have—even when the version you do get is equally beautiful (and wild) in its own way. A pep talk for twins twice moms If you’re reading this as someone who just found out she’s pregnant with twins again—or parenting toddlers while expecting another set of multiples—this part is for you. You can do this.You already are doing this. You’re stronger than you were the first time. You’re wiser, even when you’re more tired. You’ve survived sleepless nights, double diapers, cluster feeding, and you’ll do it again. Not perfectly, but even more powerfully. This second twin pregnancy might feel heavier. But you know how to ask for help. You know how to advocate. You know that joy and chaos can live in the same moment. And you know love doesn’t divide, IT MULTIPLIES. This isn’t the family I pictured. It’s louder. Wilder. Hilarious. Exhausting. Full. And someday, I hope all four of my kids know just how much we stretched—physically, emotionally, mentally—to make room for them. Because yes, lightning struck twice. And I wouldn’t trade this story for anything. Interested in seeing other twins twice stories? Check out these articles too!

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Morning Sickness With Twins: Is it Worse With Two on the Way? https://www.twiniversity.com/morning-sickness-with-twins-vs-singletons/ Fri, 15 Aug 2025 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.twiniversity.com/?p=191485 Carrying two babies at once can definitely bring on extra symptoms during pregnancy (at least for some twin moms). So if you’re wondering about what to expect with morning sickness with twins, here’s what twin moms who’ve also had singletons have to say!  Expecting two little ones and worried about how you’ll experience morning sickness with twins? While twin pregnancy can amplify symptoms (like morning sickness) for some, for others, there may be no noticeable difference. It all depends on your unique pregnancy.  But we know it helps to hear what others went through, so we’re here to spill the tea on what other twin moms experienced with morning sickness with twins vs. singletons.  We recently asked our twin parent community: Parents with singletons and twins: how did your morning sickness compare? Here’s what twin parents had to say: Morning sickness with twins was worse “With my Singleton, I was never sick once, with my twins, I threw up every day all day for 16 weeks! It was terrible. Not sure if it makes a difference, but the twins are girls and the singleton is a boy.” — Sommar “Morning sickness with twins was WAY more intense for sure!!! I had a boy first and that had me sick the whole nine months. My daughter was normal first trimester and done being sick. The TWINS?!? Being that one was a boy I was nauseous at any time!” — Nisha “Sick/nauseous all through pregnancy with singleton. VERY sick and extremely nauseous (hospital admissions twice weekly fluids from 12 weeks onwards) with twin pregnancy.” — Martine “Way more sick with my twins, but it ended faster. But the exhaustion was absolutely wild. I cried because I felt bad how exhausted I was.” — KJ “Singleton: nonexistent – twins: constant nausea and required meds till third trimester.” — Alanna “I had it with both but never threw up; I had major food aversions and an overwhelming sense of smell with the twins starting much earlier around 4.5 to 5 weeks…like it was 10x magnified. Also, I could smell the air fryer that was turned off downstairs upstairs in our bedroom. It had to go outside. …I could have been a sniffer dog for the sheriff dep from like 4.5-10 weeks.” – Kimberly “With my Singleton, I didn’t have any morning sickness, I did have some food aversion, but never any nausea. With my twins for about 4 weeks, roughly between weeks, 10 and 14 I was constantly nauseated, but it was like an upset stomach versus needing to throw up feeling. It didn’t stop me from eating, It was just annoying.” – Danielle “Singleton; zero nausea; twins – puked everything up day and night until 26 weeks. All boys.” – Katie “With my twins I got sick starting about week 4. That’s how I knew I was pregnant. Lost 10 pounds my first trimester with how sick I was. After first trimester I was fine.” – Mel “My singleton (1st pregnancy) I had morning sickness from 6-14 weeks and vomited anywhere from 1-5 times a day. Always felt better for a good chunk of time after vomiting. My twins (2nd pregnancy) I had morning sickness from 6-10weeks. I rarely vomited, but I was so nauseous no matter what I did and even took medication. It was worse than my singleton in my opinion. I lost 10lbs because I was miserable and had trouble choking down food.” – Brittan “Omg I was so, so ill throughout my entire twin pregnancy. Could barely eat, vomited more or less the entire time.. I was a mess. One year on I am still traumatized after that pregnancy to be honest. First baby, I was quite nauseous for the first trimester but nothing too major, and second baby I was just very tired…” – Zara “I lost 16 lbs while pregnant with twins. Couldn’t keep water down some days. Ended up in ER a couple times because of dehydration. Singleton was mild compared to that. But I would do it all over again if I had to!” – Lanessa “I had absolutely horrible morning sickness during my twin pregnancy in comparison to my singleton pregnancy. It was so, so bad. One day I threw up WHILE driving with no where to pull over. Luckily it was close to home and I made it to our driveway safely. Hot mess!” — Rachel Morning sickness with my singleton was worse: “I was actually WAY more sick during my first singleton pregnancy with my daughter! Well, I was throwing up more. With the twins, I’m constantly nauseous but throwing up less. It’s just a different struggle. I’m taking Diclegis and Zofran and it’s just barely helping. I got sick around week 5, I’m currently 10 weeks pregnant. Praying I’m better by week 13.” — Megan “Girl singleton, sooooo sick miserable throwing up. Twin boys, still really sick but not as bad. I also think I figured out what worked in alleviating my nausea. Took b12 and Unisom with my second (twin) pregnancy and it made a massive difference.” — Camille “I had twin boys and had zero sickness, barely any symptoms. I’m pregnant with a girl singleton now and I have all the symptoms!” — Erica “My morning sickness was worse with my singleton, I had to have anti-sickness meds with them. With my twins, it was much less sickness but constant nausea.” – Toni “This isn’t going to make me popular but I didn’t have any morning sickness with either my twins or my singletons!!!!!” – Heidi “Diagnosed with Hyperemesis Gravidarum in my singleton pregnancy. Sick approx 10 times a day from 6 weeks all the way to delivery (despite IV medications and several hospitalisations). Weighed less at 40 weeks pregnant than prior to pregnancy. Second singleton, moderate sickness every day until approx week 17 then nothing. Twin pregnancy, I only vomited approx 4 or 5 times the ENTIRE pregnancy between weeks 6 and 9.” – Alex There was… Continue Reading Morning Sickness With Twins: Is it Worse With Two on the Way?

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First Haircut Tips for Twin Parents https://www.twiniversity.com/first-haircut-tips-for-twins/ Tue, 12 Aug 2025 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.twiniversity.com/?p=191283 Having your twins get their first haircut can be an exciting time! But as you know as a twin parent, having two the exact same age can pose additional challenges, so keep reading for helpful first haircut tips for twins. When I imagined my twins’ first haircut in my head, I thought it was going to be so cute and memorable. I envisioned those fun rocket ship chairs where they could pretend to fly while watching their favorite show on the attached i-Pad.  And their first haircut was definitely memorable. Most of what I imagined did come true, but it was less than cute. As in—my twins had a full blown meltdown.  One turned beet-red while crying, and then the other started crying. One twin eventually stopped crying just long enough to realize his brother was still crying and then resumed crying again himself. To this day, I still have no idea what triggered the emotional outburst. Even Ms. Rachel couldn’t distract them through the grueling 10 minute buzz.   But looking back, I realize perhaps Mom and Dad’s expectations were to blame. We assumed that they would be fine being tossed into this water of uncertainty. And with that assumption, we never talked about what was going to happen prior to their first haircut. Wow, talk about a real parenting fail! Many parents wonder what age a first haircut should happen. Is it within the first year?  Or maybe after 18 months? Unlike other more technical milestones (like walking, crawling, etc.), there isn’t a magic number as to what age your little ones should get their first cut.  It’s really all up to you as the parent to decide. You know your twins best. But regardless of when you decide to get that initial chop, there are definitely a few first haircut tips to keep in mind to avoid an epic meltdown—like I experienced with my twinnies! Before the cut… 1. Talk about the haircut before going. Trust me on this one. We learned this lesson the hard way.  When it comes to new experiences, many babies and toddlers don’t appreciate surprises. So do what you can to prepare them for the cut in advance! This could mean showing them how you cut your hair or visiting the barber shop or salon ahead of time without the pressure of the haircut. It could also mean watching a fun little character video about haircuts like this Daniel Tiger video or reading a book about haircuts.  Here are a few great books about first haircuts by the way… 2. Pick a time that fits their schedule well. Proactively plan to have the haircut when your little ones have a full belly. And of course avoid interfering with nap time. This may sound obvious, but it’s a simple way to set yourself up for success.   3. Mind your own emotions. Children are very in-tune with our emotions and can pick up on our anxiety or over-excitement.  Intensity on our part—one way or the other—can overwhelm a baby or toddler. So no matter how they may be feeling, strive to be the calm in their storm of emotions.  4. Decide if you will take both twins together or not. Depending on your twins and their relationship, give some thought to whether or not you want to take them for their first cut together. Maybe one twin doesn’t even need their hair cut yet and the other does, so taking the one not getting the cut will make them feel left out. Or if your kids are like mine and one gets freaked out, maybe the other twin will start freaking out too. Or maybe they generally do well with these sorts of experiences, and you want to make it into a special twin bonding moment. For the actual haircut… The DIY route If taking your twins to a salon sounds intimidating, try cutting their hair at home. Take a look at this Healthline article for tips on how to cut hair safely with scissors and clippers.   You can still make it a memorable experience without having to leave the comfort of your home! Just make sure to have all the materials prepared ahead of time so you don’t prolong the experience and end up testing their patience.  Going to a salon or barber shop Should you decide to go with a professional approach, here are a few tips for having a successful first haircut with your twins: 1. Make sure to research the location and ask questions. Look at their reviews and make sure the shop and the specific hairstylist are good with babies and small children. Word to the wise: just because the place you chose is dedicated to children doesn’t ensure they can manage a screaming, wriggling child. I once had a stylist who took soooooooooo long to buzz my one twin’s hair that she lost his patience!  (I thought we had this visit in the bag too! It was haircut number three or four at that point, and he was calmly sitting in the chair and agreed to watch his show. But the stylist was so painfully slow that his thoughts finally caught up with him. He did not want to be sitting any longer, and he was mad. Sadly, we ended up walking out with a partial haircut and a panicked child. Not a good look lol!) 2. Name the tools! One of the hairstylists did this for my twins, and it was so helpful! She even let them touch some of the tools so they understood it wasn’t anything that could hurt them.  3. Be prepared with comforts and distractions. Whether you want to have a fun edible treat to offer or your child’s favorite stuffy, have something on hand in the event that things start to go south! Where to get your twins’ first haircut Not sure where to get your kids’ first haircut? If you’re in the U.S., here are some nationwide brands you can check out. … Continue Reading First Haircut Tips for Twin Parents

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Round Ligament Pain With Twins: What it Is and How to Get Relief https://www.twiniversity.com/round-ligament-pain-with-twins/ Fri, 08 Aug 2025 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.twiniversity.com/?p=190975 Struggling with round ligament pain with your twin pregnancy and feeling frustrated? Keep reading to learn more about what round ligament pain actually is and what you can do to manage the discomfort. What is round ligament pain?  Round ligament pain is a common and often uncomfortable part of pregnancy. Like many pregnancy symptoms, it can be even more pronounced in twin pregnancies due to the larger size of your uterus and higher weight gain. The round ligaments are like stretchy support bands that help hold your growing uterus in place. As your belly grows—especially with twins—these bands get pulled and stretched, which can cause sharp or achy pains from time to time. What does round ligament pain feel like? Pregnant mamas often describe round ligament pain as a sharp, sudden cramping sensation. It’s usually triggered by changes in position, coughing, sneezing, or physical activity.  As far as location, you are likely to feel the discomfort in the lower abdomen or groin area.  Should I be worried about round ligament pain in twin pregnancy? While it can certainly be uncomfortable to downright painful, round ligament pain is considered a normal, physiological response to the changes of pregnancy. That said, if you feel that the pain is hard to manage or that it’s interfering with your ability to do daily tasks, definitely tell your doctor. They can recommend further ways to treat  How to help round ligament pain with twins? Fortunately, round ligament pain is generally temporary and manageable. Here are some ways to help relieve the discomfort: We also asked our twin parent community: What was your experience with round ligament pain? What did you do to manage the pain? Here’s what twin parents had to say: “A warm rice bag is nice! Also, being careful how you roll over and sit up in bed helps. I used to support my belly with my hands to roll and then would push myself up to sitting instead of trying to sit up using my stomach muscles.” — Mindy “I had round ligament pain start in my first trimester. Started doing prenatal yoga and stretches before bed and they helped a ton!” — Rachael  Other questions about round ligament pain with twins How common is round ligament pain in twin pregnancy? We recently polled out Twiniversity fans on Instagram and asked them: Did you/do you have round ligament pain in pregnancy? Here’s what their responses looked like:  Can round ligament pain last all day? Yep, it can linger, but it usually comes and goes. Round ligament pain often shows up as short, sharp bursts—especially when you move quickly, stand up too fast, or roll over in bed. But some pregnant twin mamas do report feeling a dull, achy sensation that sticks around a bit longer. If the pain lasts all day and doesn’t ease up with rest, it’s a good idea to check in with your provider just to be safe. Can round ligament pain feel like cramps? Absolutely. Round ligament pain can sometimes feel a lot like menstrual cramps—low, achy, and annoying. This happens because the ligaments are stretching to keep up with your growing bump, and that pulling can mimic cramping. It’s totally normal during pregnancy, but always trust your gut. If the cramping is intense, regular, or comes with other symptoms (like bleeding), give your doc a call. Does round ligament pain feel like contractions? It can be confusing for sure, especially if this is your first pregnancy. Round ligament pain is usually sharp, sudden, and linked to movement (like sneezing or standing up). It doesn’t come and go in a regular pattern like contractions do. Contractions—especially the real deal—tend to build, peak, and fade in a rhythm, and they don’t stop when you change positions. If you’re unsure whether it’s round ligament pain or something more, it’s always smart to check in with your care team. Disclaimer: All content on this website, including medical opinions and any other health-related information, is for informational purposes only and should not be considered to be a specific diagnosis or treatment plan for any individual situation. Use of this site and the information contained herein does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others. Want to learn more about twin pregnancy symptoms? Check out these articles too!

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Could it Be Twins? Stories of Twin Parents Having a Feeling It Was Two! https://www.twiniversity.com/could-it-be-twins-stories-of-parents-who-knew/ Tue, 05 Aug 2025 12:26:35 +0000 https://www.twiniversity.com/?p=190845 Finding out you’re having two babies can certainly be a lot to take in! But some twin parents share that they already had a feeling it was twins even before officially finding out!  Got twinnies on the way? Or already been in this whole twin parenting journey for a while now? Wherever you’re at in twin land, we’re here to share twin parent experiences on having a “feeling” it was twins even before that first ultrasound confirmation—from simple inklings to more elaborate and mystical signs! We recently asked our twin parent community: Did you have a feeling you were pregnant with twins before you officially found out? Here’s what twin parents had to say: There was a distinct moment it crossed my mind: “I knew. First I thought I felt two separate implantation moments. Then my symptoms came on faster and stronger than with my first (singleton) pregnancy. The HCG level was also on the very high end of what would be normal in a singleton pregnancy, and I have several other friends who have twins – I really couldn’t shake the feeling that I was about to, too. In fact, before we had the ultrasound, we were at the first birthday for one set of twins, and I nearly told their mom that I was about to join the club. The night before the ultrasound I told my husband my hunch, and he thought there was no way – it doesn’t run in my family. But sure enough, clear as day, there were my di-di twins!” — Jennifer  “When I went in for my IUI, during the short waiting window while laying there after the procedure, there were two distinct songs that came through on the radio—a Taylor Swift song and an Arrowsmith song. In that moment, I had a feeling that those songs could each be a ‘special’ song for two babies. Then I found out 3 weeks later that it was indeed twins!” — Paige “Yes! Not only did I get a positive pregnancy test only 8 days after ovulation, but the day before my first ultrasound at 8 weeks, I already had a small bump and thought to myself “could there be two in there?!” Never said it out loud to my husband and dismissed such a crazy idea but the very next day, BOOM, they told us there were two babies.I now have perfect 3-year-old identical boys!” — Alexis  “Ohhhh yes! I felt everything from ovulation to implantation so I knew something was up! My first few HCG draws were through the roof so that confirmed it for me. And then I saw them on the ultrasound before the tech did!” — Alex “Yep! Before my ultrasound I had 2 dreams, one with 2 babies playing and laughing and the other I was putting 2 baby capsules in the car.” — Dominique “Yep.. my partner was playing darts and hit number 13 and said that was how many children I have (I had 11) then my daughter kept turning Chanel 13 on and wouldn’t watch anything else. Then along with the horrendously sore nipples I just knew it was twins.” — Vikki It was destined: “Yes!! I’ve known my whole life! Twins have skipped a generation in our family for as far back as we can trace—it was technically my mom’s generation’s turn, but it never happened. So I grew up always hearing that I’d be the one to end up with twins (or even triplets ) since it had skipped two generations. And sure enough…TWINS! They’re the first set in our family in over 70 years, the first to survive past infancy, and the first ever same-gendered twins so it’s been really special!” — Bailey “I actually had a psychic tell me when I was 12 at a 4th of July party ! I always wondered about it. I have a 19 year old daughter and my new relationship (husband) and I wanted kids together. My husband had a reversal and we got pregnant with our son , when he was 3 months we talked about one more close in age and got pregnant again. On our way to the ultrasound we joked about twins and sure enough there they were! Also had a carton of eggs with double yolks in more than half about a month before we found out.” — Jolene I just knew it was twins: “I knew! I just had a feeling, the night before my first appointment I was googling “how to know if I’m pregnant with twins” then my first scan the next day confirmed that feeling!” — Alissa “Totally had the feeling I always knew it would be twins just instinct!” — Dallas “Yesss!! Took a test and even wrote in my prayer journal; Lord if it’s your will, I would open my heart to two babies to love. Cut to a few weeks later and boom; two babies on the ultrasound.” — Skeltonphotographie “Yep! I am an ID twin and I just felt there was more than one in there. I felt bigger than I should have been at 8 weeks and I just knew. I sat on the bed before my first scan and said to my husband ‘just to let you know, I think there is two in there’ (holding my stomach). He looked at me like ‘here goes the slightly crazy hormonal wife’ . Joke was on him when they put the probe on and I saw both the babies. His face when the ultrasonographer said there was two.” — Anna “I knew I was pregnant with twins before we found out! I told my dr, when I went in to get blood work that I was pregnant with twins and he laughed at me, 2 weeks later, It was confirmed. However I was have Momo twins, and now we have happy healthy almost 5 year old girls.” — Emily “Yes, I had a feeling I was pregnant with twins! Before having… Continue Reading Could it Be Twins? Stories of Twin Parents Having a Feeling It Was Two!

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