Can you imagine? We asked parents of twins to confess the most challenging things about raising two babies at once—and what they love about it, too.
The hardest thing about having twins is…
“Managing the movement of two babies. Carrying them both up and down the stairs, getting them into the car, etc.” —Simeon R.
“Often having to make one baby wait!” —Catharine D.
“Being outnumbered—the logistics of two on one is definitely the hardest. I wish I could fly solo with one baby or take one swimming without feeling like the other one is missing out on a shared activity.” —Bianca B.
“Everything is just that much more extra. They don’t call them twin tornadoes for nothing!” —T. Smith
“Tandem breastfeeding felt like a physical feat of engineering.” —Josephine A.
“Being at the park or at the mall when both had become mobile. They were pulling up and climbing and then walking, and that was really difficult when I was out by myself. I was so afraid of one twin falling and getting hurt while I was helping or comforting the other. Each of my girls deserved my full attention to keep them safe, but I was just so divided and felt such tremendous guilt.” —Jennifer K.
“The biggest challenge has been getting people to see them as two people and to call them by their names.” —Simone S.
“Acquiring childcare for twins is tough and expensive. We didn’t get two spots at any of the five daycares we were on waitlists for, and it would have cost us $4,500 a month. We used a nanny instead.” —Melissa C.
“Having twins isn’t double, it’s exponential. It’s an extra dynamic because they set each other off and get each other going, and it’s next to impossible to stop that train barrelling down the tracks once it’s going.” —Jennifer K.
“Constantly reminding myself not to compare them. They’re their own people.” —Raylene R.
The best part about having twins is…
“Two babies in a swing together at the park. Melts my heart every time.” —Jennifer K.
“Watching the unique bond the girls have with each other. They have their own language.” —Raylene R.
“My husband and I were forced to be so much more of a team when they were born than if we’d had one baby. We were adamant to have it be just us caring for them overnight, and it was one of the hardest things we have ever gone through as a couple, but it strengthened our relationship, and I think really shaped how we would continue as parents. It was all about survival and doing it together.” —Jenny C.
“Selfishly, the ‘one and done’ thing. Pregnancy was not kind to us.” —Bianca B.
“Their friendship and the way they care for each other is magical and remarkable. when they were toddlers, they would run to comfort the other if they were hurt or crying. They are almost four now and they hug and kiss in dance class.” —Josephine A.
“Being able to watch two babies develop and grow at the same time, but differently. it’s a unique situation.” —Melissa C.
“Watching the friendship blossom between them—it’s not the same as siblings who are of different ages.” —Lori F.
“My identical girls are now eight and I still enjoy the fact that I have twins—I just love the special feeling of that. I love the novelty of it.” —Simone S.
