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Tricks for juggling babies?

lynnyrd80lynnyrd80 member
in Multiples
Hi ladies!  I'm hoping some of you MOMs can help.  What are your tricks you've learned for juggling two babies when they need something at the same time?  Any tricks to feed them both at the same time?  or carry them both?  My boys are 5 weeks and we have had a lot of help so far, but I'm going to have to figure out how to deal with them and my toddler on my own soon and I'm terrified.  I'm hoping to have some ideas of what I can do when the wheels start to fall off.  So far, it happens a lot around lunch and dinner time.

Today I put one in the carrier and fed the other on the Boppy and that seemed to work out fairly well.  So, I thought I would find out what tricks of the trade have helped y'all out so far.
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Re: Tricks for juggling babies?

  • bumpuser924057bumpuser924057 member
    I was never really comfortable carrying two babies at once, save for a very short period where they had head control but weren't that heavy or wiggly. Wear one, carry the other. Or carry one while the other screams, then go back and get the other. I sucked at tandem nursing, so in the beginning when they were both hungry at once, I would feed each in ~10 minute increments, switching off, until they both were full.

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    Grant - 6/2/11
    Glenn and Caroline - 6/19/13

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  • rachelkongsore@hotmail.comrachelkongsore@hotmail.com member
    My techniques for two fussy babies: Wear one, carry one Swing for happy baby, wear grumpy baby Tandem nurse Like pp said, it is an inevitable part of life that we will have these moments. Just remember it is temporary and will pass and you are doing the best you can!
    Two sets of fraternal twins, 23 mos. apart First set born 12/27/12 at 35w0d via IVF Second set born 11/18/14 at 35w6d via FET
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  • Wishing35Wishing35 member
    edited August 2014
    I fed both on boppy pillows one on my lap one on the couch beside me. As far as carrying them both at the same time I never got the hang of that! I would put one in a safe spot while I changed the others diaper or brought upstairs etc. If they where both crying I would either put both in bouncy seats and sing to them or I attempted to put them in a double carrier and go for a walk. As far as everything else sometimes one just has to wait while you attend to the other, it stinks but sometimes there is no way around it.
    Oh and months 2-5 swings where a lifesaver! They napped in them all the time until they started to get to wiggly
    and we switched to the crib for naps.
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  • twinmom1121twinmom1121 member
    edited August 2014
    I don't have an older child, just the twins, but for us we used the swing a lot while I was tending to the other one. Or we used a bouncy seat. I would nurse one and bounce the other with my foot. Sometimes one baby would just have to wait a few minutes to get fed. Other times I would feed one baby and lay the other one right next to my leg on the couch so I could hold in his binki. Usually just being close to me helped. I was never one to use a carrier around the house. I also didn't start carrying both until they were old enough to hold their heads up. It's pretty tricky to pick up a tiny baby with one hand, so I would just carry one at a time upstairs and put them in a safe spot while I grabbed the other. You'll find what works best for you and get into a rhythm. Good luck!

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  • PinkinProvencePinkinProvence member
    I never felt comfortable carrying two.

    Sometimes, one just has to cry while I tend to the other.  Swings were a lifesaver between 4-7 months - could not have survived without them.

    D & L are here at 34 weeks 4 days by vaginal and breech delivery on 11/19/2013
    Two healthy boys weighing 4 lbs 15 ozs and 4 lbs 5 ozs.  Only 6 days in the NICU and getting bigger, stronger and cuter every day! 
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  • KMommytobeKMommytobe member
    AnotherDreamer said:

    I've been on my own with our girls (5wks now) and DS (2.5yrs) for a couple weeks now. It's not easy but it's manageable :) I actually tandem nurse mine, so that helps eliminate some hassle with them getting upset over who eats first. If they go one at a time it's just way too overwhelming for me! Are you bottling feeding? I wish I had advice for that, but the best I can think of it to have both bottles prepared and have them both in something like a bobby and feed them at the same time, or do one at a time.

    That said, there is always at least one point in each day where ALL three kids are screaming and crying because they want something. All you can do is take a deep breath and figure out who needs what first, and go from there. It will happen, and it will probably happen a lot- it's okay. DS watches more TV than I'd like, but I know this is just a phase and if letting him watch Yo Gabba Gabba helps me get through feeding the girls so I can pay attention to him, then so be it. I tried letting him color before, but then there were crayons EVERYWHERE and I spent my time after nursing cleaning up, rather than playing with him... so TV it is for now. Our swings are a lifesaver for the girls, it helps me to get them down so I can make food or spend time with DS, if one isn't satisfied though I'll put her in the carrier while I do what I'm doing. You just figure out your new normal :)

    Anyway, I am definitely not an expert but I will say I was SO SCARED of my DH going back to work. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be though. I still feel like I'm drowning some days, but it's not all bad.

    Wow you are my hero! My DS1 will be a little over 3.5, and my DS2 almost 2 when baby#3 arrives and I'm definitely nervous. I guess you do just figure out your new normal!

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  • Mama-BearMama-Bear member
    To carry them both, lay them down on the bed/sofa side by side, put an arm under both and lift.  TO feed them both, if you're bottle feeding, I would sit them on the sofa next to me (one on each side) and hold a bottle in each hand.  If they're both crying at the same time, you have to decide who needs you the most right then.

    GSx1 - 05/13/2013
    GSx2 for T&B - EDD 6/21/2015 - They're having a GIRL!
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    BabyGaga
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  • Smoochie14Smoochie14 member
    I've been on my own with my twins for 9 months now.  It's not easy but once you get them in a routine it's much more manageable.  We have two of those bouncer chairs that I'd say we used more than anything else.  I bottle fed them and I'd sit in between the chairs (facing me) and would be able to feed them at the same time. Then I'd just alternate burping them. It worked great. 
    As far as what to do when both are crying... just tend to one at a time and keep yourself calm. The crying will stop and all will be well again.  
    Take them for walks in the stroller to kill some time, put some music on.  Take advantage of this age when they're still sleeping a ton during the day! I always felt guilty like I wasn't doing enough with them, but at this age you don't have to be entertaining them 24/7. 
    Enjoy!!!
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