Dad's Guide to Twins
Kids & Family
About
Survive the twin pregnancy and thrive as a father of twins
Episodes
- When One Twin’s Fear Becomes Two: Managing Nighttime Fears
One of my twin daughters developed a fear of the dark around age three. Within a week, her sister had it too. This is the twin parent reality: fears multiply faster than you can buy nightlights. When twins share a bedroom , developmental f…
- How to Survive When Your Twins Stop Napping: The Transition from Nap to “Quiet Time”
One of the hardest transitions I faced with my twin girls was the day they decided naps were optional. Scratch that. The day they decided naps were for babies and they were clearly not babies anymore. If you’re in the trenches of this tran…
- Creating a Safe Play Zone for Your Twin Twinadoes
When your twins start moving, they don’t just crawl or walk. They become a force of nature. The term “Twinadoes” is accurate. And just like actual tornadoes, they leave a path of destruction in their wake. Once your twins are on the move,…
- Teaching Early Manners to Twins: Nurturing Kindness in Your Dynamic Duo
Raising twins is a crash course in everything, including how quickly they pick up on the manners you model for them. Quick Takeaways Twins naturally observe and copy each other, which can fast-track manners and social skills Start modeli…
- When Twins Start Comparing: A Guide for Parents
You’ve probably noticed it happening. One of your twins comes home from soccer practice and announces, “I’m not as fast as Emma.” Or maybe during dinner, one twin says, “Everyone likes Tyler better than me.” Welcome to the comparison phase…
- Helping Your Twins Build Friendships with Other Children
When my twin girls were toddlers, I’d take them to the park and watch something fascinating happen. Other kids would be running around, forming little groups, negotiating who got the swing next. Meanwhile, my girls would find a quiet corne…
- Teaching Toddler Twins to Stay Close to Parents
That double stroller has been your best friend for two years. But now your twins are getting bigger, more independent, and honestly, wrestling two squirming toddlers into that beast for a quick Target run feels harder than just letting the…
- Navigating the Two-to-One Nap Transition with Twins
The transition from two naps to one is honestly one of the trickier phases of twin parenting. I remember when my girls hit this stage around 16 months, and suddenly our predictable rhythm fell apart for a few weeks. One twin was ready, the…
- Why you need a daily log for your twins
Let’s be honest: even if you think you have an excellent memory, the combination of sleep deprivation and caring for two babies will quickly prove you wrong. Those early weeks with twins at home create a perfect storm of exhaustion that ma…
- How to Teach Your Twins to Share
With twins in the house a big point of contention will be sharing. You might think that the easy way for you as the parent would be to get two of everything. However, this surely won’t work all the time and definitely doesn’t build charact…
- How to Keep One Twin Healthy When the Other is Sick
One of the challenges with twins is that they get sick. Sickness doesn’t always strike both twins simultaneously . Your twins will catch a cold, get the flu, have a stomach bug, or come down with any number of other contagious illnesses. T…
- Twins Personalities Switch
We’ve got identical girls and often rely on their mannerisms and personalities to tell them apart. If you rely on this too, or hope to, be careful: twins switch personality traits at will. For example, one of our infant girls would be shy…
- Newborn Twins Schedule: Setting Up Your Babies for Success
Having two newborns simultaneously can feel overwhelming, but establishing a predictable schedule is your secret weapon for maintaining sanity and helping your twin babies thrive. Think of your twins as having a completely blank calendar w…
- Free Stuff for Twins (Plus Discounts for Twins)
Taking care of one child is already going to require a lot of sacrifice on your end, but having twins is automatically going to double your efforts and your financial needs. You can save a lot of money if you know where to shop and what yo…
- Questions to Ask Your Doctor When Expecting Twins
Once you find out that you are expecting twins, your mind races with tons of concerns and questions. Whether you’ve had children already or not, a twin pregnancy brings new unknowns that frankly can be overwhelming. It’s time to talk with…
- Emergency Hysterectomy After Twins Birth with Stephen Dause – Podcast 327
Episode 327 of the Dad’s Guide to Twins Podcast Show Notes Today we continue our father of twins interview series with Stephen Dause, father of twin girls. Listen as we explore his twin parenting journey, including: Finding out they’d have…
- Maintaining Dad’s Mental Health During a Twin Pregnancy
Hey Dads, it’s completely normal to need support during the twin pregnancy. Yes, support for you. During a twin pregnancy, the physical and emotional spotlight is naturally on your partner, but your role, your mental health, and your emoti…
- How to Prep Your Home for Twins Without Cluttering Everything
When I found out we were having twins, one of my first thoughts after the initial shock wore off was: “Where are we going to put all their stuff?” Our modest three-bedroom home suddenly felt tiny. But after some creative planning and real-…
- Common Overblown Fears of Expectant Twin Fathers
Fathers expecting twins often have specific concerns that tend to be exaggerated or misguided. You just don’t know what you’re getting yourself into and that leads to some irrational fears. I know, I’ve been there. Here are some of the mos…
- Successfully Grocery Shopping Alone with Infant Twins
As a father of twins who’s done countless grocery runs, I’m going to share what actually works when you need to brave the supermarket alone with your infant twins. This isn’t theoretical advice—these are battle-tested strategies that have…
- How to deal with family and friends that compare your twins to singletons
As a father of twins, you’ve probably heard it all: “ Shouldn’t they be walking by now ?” or “My son was talking in full sentences at this age!” These well-meaning comments from friends and family comparing your twins to singleton mileston…
- How to handle competing twin needs when they’re both urgent
As a father of twins who has weathered countless “double emergencies,” I’m here to tell you that yes, you will survive those moments when both babies need you desperately at the exact same time. Whether it’s one spitting up while the other…
- Avoiding Twin Comparisons (how twin parents can encourage individuality)
The urge to compare twins is one of the most natural yet challenging aspects of parenting multiples. Each of your twins is a unique individual so let’s discuss some practical ideas to avoid comparisons and celebrate each child’s unique jou…
- How do you deal with one twin wanting all the attention?
What do you do when one of your twins wants all the attention and gets upset when anyone is showing affection to their twin? We found this particularly troublesome with toddler twins. For toddler twins, you’ll need to adapt your strategies…
- Moving Across the Country During Twin Pregnancy with Aaron Ameen – Podcast 318
Episode 318 of the Dad’s Guide to Twins Podcast Show Notes Today we continue our father of twins interview series with Aaron Ameen, father of identical boys. Listen as we explore his twin parenting journey, including: Moving across the cou…
- 2024 JPMA Innovation Awards Winners (Are They Twin Friendly?)
I just saw a list of new innovative baby products. Let’s talk about whether those products would be a good match for your twins. The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), an organization representing companies that make produ…
- Can Twins Share a Passport?
If your twins look alike, can they share a passport? The simple answer is no, twins can not share a passport. Each person needs their own passport document. We’ll dive into more details below but remember to follow the laws of your country…
- Twin Birth Weight: An In-Depth Look
Twins typically weigh less than singletons, averaging around 5.5 pounds each compared to 7 pounds for singletons. This is due to factors like shared resources and space in the womb. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gy…
- Water Breaking in Twin Pregnancies: Can It Happen Twice?
One common question that arises about twin pregnancies is that of the process of water breaking. Since there are two babies, can it happen twice? Let’s explore the intricacies of water breaking in twin pregnancies, addressing the possibili…
- How to Help Teachers Tell Your Twins Apart
As a father of identical twins, one of the biggest hurdles you’ll face each school year is helping teachers distinguish between your twins. It’s crucial for both the twins’ individual development and the teacher’s ability to provide person…
- The Joys of Raising Infant Twins: A Positive Perspective
Raising infant twins undoubtedly presents unique challenges, but it also offers countless rewarding experiences that are both heartwarming and enriching. As an expectant father of twins, it’s important to focus on the positive aspects and…
- How to Stop Twins From Biting Each Other
Here is a question from Justin. He says he has 20-month-old boy/girl twins, and he says the biggest issue right now is biting. “Do you have any advice on how to keep them from biting each other? That would be great.” Biting is a challenge…
- When the twins are invited to a birthday party, should they bring two gifts or one?
Your twins are invited to a friend’s birthday party. Of course they should bring a birthday gift. But the question is: should they bring two gifts (one from each twin) or one gift (a joint gift from both)? Whether to bring one gift or two…
- Working to Afford Twins, Emergency C-Section, and Getting Babies on a Schedule with Kris Lloyd – Podcast 309
Episode 309 of the Dad’s Guide to Twins Podcast Show Notes Today we continue our father of twins interview series with Kris Lloyd, father of non-identical girls. Listen as we explore his twin parenting journey, including: Found out at 8-9…
- Raising Fraternal Twin Boys with Kris Pruett – Podcast 308
Episode 308 of the Dad’s Guide to Twins Podcast Show Notes Today we continue our father of twins interview series with Kris Pruett, father of four boys including fraternal twins. Listen as we explore his twin parenting journey, including:…
- Overcoming Infertility and PTSD to Raising 3 Young Children with Casey McCurdy – Podcast 307
Episode 307 of the Dad’s Guide to Twins Podcast Show Notes Today we continue our father of twins interview series with Casey McCurdy, father of 7 year old boy/girl twins. Listen as we explore his twin parenting journey, including: Managing…
- When the NICU is Far from Home with Steve Idlett- Podcast 306
Episode 306 of the Dad’s Guide to Twins Podcast Show Notes Today we continue our father of twins interview series with Steve Idlett, father of twin boys. Listen as we explore his twin parenting journey, including: being a stay at home dad…
- Overcoming a serious personal injury while raising twins with Dave Cox – Podcast 305
Episode 305 of the Dad’s Guide to Twins Podcast Show Notes Today we continue our father of twins interview series with Dave Cox, father of non-identical boy twins. Listen as we explore his twin parenting journey, including: From joking abo…
- Moving, Changing Jobs, and NICU Twins with Patrick Edgett – Podcast 304
Episode 304 of the Dad’s Guide to Twins Podcast Show Notes Today we continue our father of twins interview series with Patrick Edgett, father of twin girls. Listen as we explore his twin parenting journey, including: raising a four childre…
- When Twins are Kids #3 & #4 and Baby #5 Arrives with Greg Parks – Podcast 303
Episode 303 of the Dad’s Guide to Twins Podcast Show Notes Today we continue our father of twins interview series with Greg Parks, father of boy/girl twins. Listen as we explore his twin parenting journey, including: When one twin climbs o…
- Raising Autistic Boy/Girl Twins with Chris Decent – Podcast 302
Episode 302 of the Dad’s Guide to Twins Podcast Show Notes Today we continue our father of twins interview series with Chris Decent, father of boy/girl twins. Listen as we explore his twin parenting journey, including: Older sibling’s conc…
- How to Burp Twins (by yourself or with your partner)
Burping is essential for your twins to release air trapped in their tummies after feeding, preventing discomfort and gas. After a good burp, your babies will go from squirming, crying, and agitated to calm and happy. We would always proact…
- Strollers for Twins + One
Let’s talk about stroller options for your twins plus one other child. You could have a singleton child and then you have the twins, or you could have the twins and then you have a singleton child. Some of these configurations I talk about…
- Double Talk: Exploring Language Development in Twins
Watching your twins learn to talk at the same time may sound like double the chaos, but did you know there are twin-specific aspects of language development? Language acquisition in twins has long fascinated researchers, and recent studies…
- Halloween Costume Ideas for Twins (Kid Tested and Parent Approved)
It can be a big challenge to come up with Halloween costume ideas for twins – whether your twins are the same gender or not. However, if you are open to a bit of creativity and messing around to find the ideal costume, then here are some H…
- Can Twins Sleep in the Same Crib?
When you bring your babies home, can you let twins sleep in the same crib? Absolutely. Should twins sleep in the same crib? It depends… At the hospital, the nurses had our twins together in the same bassinet. When we got home, we just cont…
- Do Twins Have The Same Blood Type?
Twins share many things but do they have the same blood type? Our identical twin girls share the same blood type and have the same blood type as their mother. However, that doesn’t mean all twins share the same blood type. Yes, twins can h…
- Twin Names That Rhyme (376 name pairs for girls, boys, and boy/girl twins)
Are you expecting twins and trying to find good names for your future children? I’ve put together some giant lists of twin names that rhyme to help get your creative juices flowing. When my wife and I were expecting twins, we struggled to…
- Reaction to 2024 Twinnie Baby Gear Award Winners – Podcast 294
Baby gear for your twins is constantly changing. New products are always coming out. Fortunately, my friends over at Twiniversity.com just released their 2024 Twinnie Award Winners where they highlight the best gear for twins. That award l…
- Twin Dad Magician Performs 400 Shows a Year While Raising Young Twins with Wes Iseli – Podcast 293
Episode 293 of the Dad’s Guide to Twins Podcast Show Notes Today we continue our father of twins interview series with professional magician Wes Iseli, father of identical twin boys. Listen as we explore his twin parenting journey, includi…