Dad's Guide to Twins

Potty training twins is already a double challenge. Add nighttime training to the mix, and you’ve got a whole new level of parenting adventure on your hands. Here’s the good news: daytime and nighttime potty training are actually two separate milestones, and understanding that difference will save you a lot of frustration. Most parents don’t realize this until they’re knee-deep in wet sheets wondering why their “trained” twins keep having accidents after dark. Let’s break it all down so you know exactly what to expect and how to handle both phases with your twins. ⚡ Quick Takeaways Daytime and nighttime potty training are two completely separate milestones Most kids master daytime dryness months (sometimes years) before nighttime dryness Nighttime dryness is largely developmental, not something you can force Your twins may reach these milestones at different times, and that’s completely normal Patience and low-pressure strategies work best for both phases Daytime vs. Nighttime Potty Training: Why They’re Not the Same Thing A lot of parents assume that once their twins are potty trained during the day, nighttime dryness will follow shortly after. Sometimes it does. But often, it doesn’t, and that’s perfectly normal. Daytime training is largely about teaching your twins to recognize the urge to go, hold it, and make it to the bathroom in time. It’s a learned behavior with a lot of repetition, reminders, and the occasional mad dash down the hallway. Nighttime dryness, on the other hand, is mostly biological. The brain and bladder need to develop a communication system that works even during deep sleep. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, nighttime bladder control depends on the maturation of the central nervous system, and that simply can’t be rushed (HealthyChildren.org, AAP). Your twins will get there when their bodies are ready. When Do Most Kids Achieve Daytime Potty Training? Most children show readiness signs for daytime potty training somewhere between 18 months and 3 years old. With twins, your girls (or boys) might hit that window at different times, even if they’re identical. Signs your twins might be ready for daytime training include: Staying dry for at least two hours at a stretch Showing interest in the toilet or in wearing underwear Being able to follow simple two-step instructions Pulling pants up and down with some independence Telling you (or showing obvious signs) that they’ve gone or need to go One of the most common questions I hear from twin dads is whether to train both twins at the same time. In my experience, and from talking with lots of other twin parents, training them together tends to work well. The built-in peer pressure of seeing a sibling use the potty is a surprisingly powerful motivator. Your twins might actually encourage each other in ways that no reward chart ever could. Tips for Successful Daytime Potty Training with Twins Daytime training with twins takes some extra planning, but it’s very doable. Here are the strategies that tend to work best. Use a Consistent Schedule Put both twins on the potty at the same intervals throughout the day, typically every 1.5 to 2 hours. This takes the guesswork out of it and builds a routine quickly. Yes, you’ll be making a lot of bathroom trips. Think of it as your new cardio. Get Two Potty Seats or Training Toilets With twins, you absolutely need two potties. When one twin needs to go, the other will too, guaranteed. Having them both available means no waiting, no accidents because someone was holding the only seat, and a lot less chaos overall. Celebrate Both Twins, Even When Progress Differs Your twins might not train at the same pace. One might take to it immediately while the other resists for weeks. Avoid comparing their progress out loud, even in positive ways. Each twin needs to feel celebrated for their own wins without feeling pressure from their sibling’s performance. Keep It Low-Key and Positive Accidents will happen, and that’s okay. React calmly, clean up without drama, and move on. Your twins will pick up on your energy, so keeping things light and encouraging goes a long way. Sticker charts and small rewards can help, but the real magic is consistent, positive reinforcement. When Does Nighttime Potty Training Usually Happen? Here’s where parents often get tripped up: nighttime dryness typically comes much later than daytime dryness, sometimes by a year or more. Research shows that most children achieve consistent nighttime dryness somewhere between ages 3 and 5, but many perfectly healthy kids continue to wet the bed occasionally up to age 7 (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development). Bedwetting before age 5 is generally considered developmentally normal and not something to be concerned about. With twins, you may find that one twin achieves nighttime dryness well before the other. This can feel tricky to manage, especially if both twins are sharing a room and one is waking up with wet sheets. But try to resist putting pressure on the twin who isn’t there yet. Their body is simply still developing that bladder-brain connection during sleep. ⚠️ When to Talk to Your Pediatrician About Bedwetting Bedwetting is usually just a developmental phase, but there are times to loop in your doctor. Reach out if: Your child was consistently dry at night for 6+ months and then starts wetting the bed again (regression) Bedwetting is accompanied by daytime accidents, urgency, or pain Your child is over 7 years old and still wetting the bed regularly Your child seems distressed or embarrassed about it Always consult with your pediatrician about your twins’ specific situation. They can rule out any underlying issues and offer guidance tailored to your kids. How to Approach Nighttime Potty Training for Twins Unlike daytime training, you can’t really “teach” nighttime dryness the same way. But there are things you can do to set your twins up for success and make the process smoother for everyone. Watch for Natural Readiness Signs Before you ditch the overnight diapers or Pull-Ups, look for these signs that your twins might be ready: Waking up dry most mornings for at least a week or two in a row Waking up during the night on their own to use the bathroom Having dry Pull-Ups consistently when you check in the morning Expressing interest in sleeping without a diaper When your twins show these signs consistently, that’s your green light to try going diaper-free at night. If only one twin is showing readiness, you can absolutely transition one and keep the other in a Pull-Up a while longer. There’s no rule that says they have to do everything simultaneously. Limit Fluids Before Bed (But Don’t Eliminate Them) A practical step that many parents find helpful is reducing fluid intake in the hour or two before bedtime. This doesn’t mean cutting off water entirely, just being mindful about big cups of juice or milk right before lights out. Your twins should always have access to water if they’re genuinely thirsty. Make a Bathroom Trip Part of the Bedtime Routine Build a potty stop right into the bedtime routine before your twins get into bed. Make it as automatic as brushing teeth. Over time, this becomes second nature and helps reduce middle-of-the-night urgency. Protect the Mattresses This one is non-negotiable: get waterproof mattress covers for both beds. Accidents will happen, especially in the early stages of nighttime training. A good waterproof cover means a quick sheet change instead of a full mattress-soaking disaster at 2 a.m. Do yourself the favor now. Some parents swear by the double-layer trick: waterproof cover, sheet, another waterproof cover, another sheet. When an accident happens in the night, you just strip the top layer and both kids are back in bed in minutes. Genius, and highly recommended. Don’t Do Scheduled “Lifting” Some parents try “lifting,” which means waking a sleeping child to take them to the bathroom before the parent goes to bed. While it can prevent accidents in the short term, pediatric experts generally recommend letting your child develop the ability to wake on their own rather than relying on parent-initiated trips (Pampers/AAP guidance). For most kids, including twins, it’s better to let the process happen naturally rather than rely on nightly wake-up calls that disrupt everyone’s sleep. What If One Twin Trains Faster Than the Other? This is one of the most common twin-specific challenges with potty training, and it happens all the time, even with identical twins who share the exact same genetics. Development isn’t a race, and each child’s body matures at its own pace. Resist the urge to use the faster twin as a measuring stick for the other. Comments like “Your sister can do it, why can’t you?” tend to backfire and create anxiety, which can actually slow things down. Instead, focus each twin on their own personal progress and celebrate every step forward, no matter how small. If your twins share a room and one is in diapers while the other is in underwear, that’s fine. Handle it matter-of-factly. Kids generally accept practical realities without too much drama when parents model a calm, no-big-deal attitude. Managing Twin-Specific Nighttime Challenges With twins sharing a room, a nighttime accident can sometimes wake up both kids. Your twins might stir each other, call out, or turn a two-minute cleanup into a full family production at midnight. A few things that can help: Keep a small nightlight in the room so a twin who wakes up to use the bathroom can navigate without turning on the overhead light and waking their sibling Practice the bathroom trip in the dark (or near-dark) during the day so it becomes familiar Keep spare sheets and pajamas within easy reach so middle-of-the-night changes are quick and quiet Use a white noise machine to help the non-wet twin sleep through any disruption Of course, some nights none of that matters and you’ll end up with two wide-awake four-year-olds at 1 a.m. who want a snack and to tell you about their dreams. That’s just twins being twins. You’ll laugh about it later. (Probably.) A Quick Timeline to Keep in Mind ⏰ Potty Training Milestones for Twins 18 months to 3 years: Watch for daytime readiness signs, begin daytime training when both (or one) twin is ready 2 to 4 years: Most twins achieve consistent daytime dryness in this window 3 to 5 years: Nighttime dryness often begins to develop; watch for dry mornings as a signal Up to age 7: Occasional nighttime bedwetting is still developmentally normal Keep in mind these are general ranges. Your twins may hit these milestones earlier or later, and that’s okay. The goal is progress over time, not perfection on a schedule. The Bottom Line on Potty Training Twins Daytime and nighttime potty training are two distinct journeys, and treating them separately will make the whole process a lot less stressful for you and your twins. Daytime training is something you actively teach. Nighttime dryness is something you support while your twins’ bodies do the developmental work on their own timeline. With twins, there’s the added layer of two kids potentially moving through these milestones at different paces. Lean into a relaxed, supportive approach, protect those mattresses, stock up on extra sheets, and trust the process. You’ve already tackled some of the hardest parts of raising twins. This one is very manageable. The post Nighttime vs. Daytime Potty Training for Twins appeared first on Dad's Guide to 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 you can get for free (or at least with a discount). There are actually a lot of stores out there that offer discounts and a lot of free stuff for twins if you follow their shopping promos and keep an eye on store offers. While many programs aren’t specifically for twins, every little bit helps. See which of the following could help find free stuff for twins: Brands & Programs Offering Samples or Rewards These programs let you try products for free: Enfamil Free Products There is also the option to become a member of Family Beginners in Enfamil. Enfamil offers free baby products if you sign up for them right after your babies are born (you can inquire about it from your doctor) or you could give them a call to sign up for their membership network. This not only guarantees free stuff for twins but also lets you receive coupons that you can later use for discounted shopping. Beech Nut Product Coupons for Twins Call Beech Nut to get a special packet of discounts and some free samples for your twins. Call 1-800-233-2468 to make your request. Gerber Baby Food Discounts As a parent of twins, Gerber will give you coupons for discounts on their different lines of food products. Call 1-800-443-7237 to request a packet for parents of twins. Pampers Club Earn points from purchases which are redeemable for diaper samples, gifts, toys, coupons. Similac Provides formula samples and a free Shutterfly baby book among other perks. Retailers With Free Baby Registry Boxes Many major retailers offer welcome kits or boxes full of baby essentials when you create a registry. While most require minimum spending or shipping, they can still offer great value (especially with twins). Retailers tend to only let you get one welcome box even if you’re having twins. So you get get more volume by trying multiple of these offers: Amazon Baby Registry Welcome Box Get a free welcome box (swaddle, bottles, diapers, wipes, coupons) by creating a registry, adding 10 items, and having at least $10 purchased. Available to Amazon Prime members. Target Baby Registry Welcome Kit Register with Target and add 10+ items, then spend $10+ (you or someone from your registry) to unlock a welcome kit full of samples, bottles, diapers, lotions, and coupons. It’s valued at over $100. Walmart Baby Registry Welcome Box Create a baby registry and request the free Baby Box. Ensure your registry has been active for seven days. Add a minimum of 20 items to your registry. Have over $25 of purchases from your registry, either by you or others. Contains sample products like Pampers, wipes, pacifiers, etc. Availability may vary. Babylist Hello Baby Box Requires adding 3 Babylist store items and 3 from other stores to your registry. Then spend (or a gift giver spends) $30, plus a shipping fee (around $9). Includes a great mix of items like bottles, diapers, swaddles. Macy’s Baby Registry Gift Box Register with Macy’s and purchase $50+ of items; pay a small shipping fee ($6.50). Box includes baby clothes, diapers, pacifiers, and more. Nonprofits & Local Support Resources Facebook Buy Nothing Groups/Nextdoor: Seek out local groups where neighbors give away baby items like toys and clothing. These community-based groups are excellent for finding free, secondhand baby gear from people in your area. Hospitals and Pediatricians: Many provide free samples of diapers, formula, and skincare products upon request. You’ll be at the doctor a lot during the pregnancy and with newborns so don’t forget to ask for samples! Many local organizations and mutual aid networks offer diapers, formula, and gear for low-income families. If you need help beyond retailer samples and registries, look for your local food pantries, United Way or the National Diaper Network. You may receive formula, diapers, or other essentials through WIC or hospital programs. Where to Start For variety and convenience: Start with Amazon, Target, or Babylist registry boxes. Looking for formula or breastfeeding supplies: Try Enfamil, Similac, or Gerber. Want diapers: Use rewards programs like Pampers. Want more tips on saving money with twins? I talk more about this in Chapter Eight of my book, the Dad’s Guide to Raising Twins: How to Thrive as a Father of Twins. Picture by Manda. The post Free Stuff for Twins (Plus Discounts for Twins) appeared first on Dad's Guide to Twins.

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 twins just after 24 year old adopted son moved out Concerns and anxiety about sleep and wife’s health Going to the hospital twice during pregnancy Choosing a MFM specialist over traditional OB TAPS and TTTS monitoring At 34 weeks, gestational hypertension sent Mom to hospital C-section delivery Emergency hysterectomy to stop bleeding after birth Dad’s emotions dealing with traumatic birth experience Power outage when they got home from hospital Taking time off work to take care of babies and his wife Child care plans – finding a daycare Daily schedule for 4.5 month olds and more… Connect with Stephen via his twin dad posts on Reddit here. Podcast Transcript This is transcript auto-generated so please forgive any mistakes. Joe Rawlinson (Host): Yes, your twin pregnancy and delivery may have some crazy surprises. Today on the podcast we’re talking with a twin dad who shares his experience of how their delivery did not quite go according to plan. Now there was a huge surprise after their twin girls were born in the operating room, how they overcame that challenge and more today on the podcast. Welcome to the dad’s guide to twins podcast, the podcast that’ll help you survive and thrive as a father of twins. Now, here’s your host, the author of the book, the dad’s guide to twins, Joe Rawlinson. Hey everybody. Welcome to the podcast. This is Joe Rawlinson. I’m glad that you’re with me today. As always, you can find me on the web at dadsguidetowins.com where you’ll find all previous podcast episodes and tons of resources to help you along your twin parenting journey. Today’s episode is brought to you by my second book for dads of twins. It is called Dad’s Guide to Raising Twins, How to Thrive as a Father of Twins. This book will guide you through those first several years with your twins to help you overcome the common challenges that you’ll be facing. You can get a copy of this book for yourself at RaisingTwinsBook.com. Today we are continuing our Father of Twins interview series with the Father of Twin Girls who are happy and healthy now, but there were some hiccups and some surprises that were a little bit scary in the pregnancy and during delivery that we’re going to talk about today on the episode. Today I’d like to welcome to the show Father of Twins, Stephen Dause. Welcome to the show, Stephen. Stephen Dause (Guest): Thank you. Current Age and Twin Interactions Joe Rawlinson: Stephen, how old are your twins right now? And what’s something exciting about this age? Stephen Dause: They are four and a half months. Something exciting about this age that just happened, started happening maybe a couple weeks ago was I noticed they started talking and babbling and cooing to each other just with, and sometimes when they’re both lying down, they’ll look at each other and start talking, especially if we hold them to each other’s face and they just smile and laugh. It’s really something special because that’s something that parents of multiples get to experience, I guess, that singletons don’t exactly in the same way. So it’s pretty neat. Joe Rawlinson: Yeah, that’s one of the joys we have as dads of twins. We can watch that happen between our twins. Let’s rewind a little bit back in time to when you found out that you’d be having twins? What was your family situation like at that time? Family Situation When Finding Out About Twins Stephen Dause: Well, so when we found out, we had recently helped our 24-year-old adopted son move out. He was 16 when we adopted him eight years ago, and we slowly helped him mature and become independent, and we had just sort of become empty-nesters, so to speak. And then we found out we were pregnant, and started the process of welcoming, or so we thought, at least one biological kid into the family. Joe Rawlinson: Yeah, that’s quite a transition there between an adult and having babies right on the heels of that. What was the experience like from your perspective with the twin pregnancy? How did that progress? Twin Pregnancy Experience Stephen Dause: It was pretty challenging. My first reaction was just anxiety over not being able to get enough sleep, especially because I have some health conditions that already make that difficult for me. And then it quickly turned into anxiety over making sure my wife was healthy and that the twins were healthy and growing properly. She was quite nauseous, especially early on, but throughout the pregnancy, we had to take her to the hospital twice and I guess around week 14 or 15. Thankfully, all she needed was fluids, but she just couldn’t keep anything down, so they were able to give her an IV. As we move further along, we started ultrasounds to monitor for TTTS, twin to twin transfusion syndrome as well as TAPS. A lot of monitoring things got very hard for her very quickly. I started taking over various things that she couldn’t do anymore or was very difficult for her to do. She also has a kidney disease which made her pregnancy high risk to start in addition to the high risk of the twin pregnancy itself. So we had a lot to watch out for, but thankfully her kidneys performed just fine throughout the pregnancy. But it was definitely, we were on pins and needles kind of throughout, just waiting for something to break bad. Joe Rawlinson: Yeah. So for listeners, TAPS is twin anemia polycythemia sequence, which is a mouthful. That’s just why they use the acronym for that. So how did TAPS and TTTS, twin to twin transfusion syndrome even come up on your radar during the pregnancy? Medical Care and Monitoring Stephen Dause: We planned to continue seeing our normal obstetrician, but I did decide to consult with an MFM at around 18 weeks, Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist, and they thought it was fine to continue seeing our OB, but they did definitely recommend, they monitor for TTTS, which our OB knew about, but our OB didn’t know about TAPS. They were happy to try to monitor for it, but the ultrasound technicians actually weren’t really qualified to do it at the normal OB place. So we ended up transferring care eventually entirely to the MFM. And yeah, we at one time or another, they saw some potentially suspicious readings, then they would take a reading the next week and it would be fine. So neither of those actually became… The girls didn’t get diagnosed with either of those, but we were definitely watching for it closely. Joe Rawlinson: So were you with the MFM all the way up to delivery? Stephen Dause: Yes. Joe Rawlinson: Even when it came to delivery, that same doctor was there? Stephen Dause: It wasn’t one particular doctor. There was actually about seven of them at the hospital where we were and we would see, sometimes it would be the same doctor, but we didn’t really know who we were going to see. As it happened, our favorite one of them was on rotation at the hospital, which is separate from the clinic the week that we ended up delivering so that was great. We have a great relationship with her. But I guess that was the primary downside actually of seeing the MFM clinic is that it was a lot of different doctors. It could be a little bit of challenging because you never know who’s actually going to be there when the babies are ready to be born. Joe Rawlinson: I guess if you were able to meet with all of them in one form or another, then at least you were familiar with them at the time. Well, so despite the extra monitoring and some of the extra stress week to week, it seemed like the pregnancy did go pretty smoothly leading up to delivery. Stephen Dause: Yes. The only thing was around 34 weeks, she developed pre-gestational hypertension, which then led to delivery at 35 weeks. Delivery Decision Joe Rawlinson: Tell us a little bit about that. How did that? That just came up on a weekly visit test and then what? Stephen Dause: Yeah. It was a little funny. The last ultrasound we did, they said, “Well, it took them a long time to find the girls’ middle cerebral arteries.” Two of the MFM specialists were in there, both operating the ultrasound machine. And then they said, “Okay, your girls look fine, but your blood pressure is really high. We want you to go to the hospital right now.” And that was Friday, and my wife ended up staying there until delivery on Tuesday. Her symptoms were not too bad. She developed a headache, some lightheadedness, but it was slowly getting worse. They basically told us, “We want to stop this before it gets any worse, and you go off a cliff and really start to feel bad and develop actual preeclampsia or even worse, eclampsia, and it’s not going to help that much for the babies to last another day or two, and you’re not going to make it to another week. We’re going to deliver you ASAP, basically.” Joe Rawlinson: How did you take that news? Stephen Dause: We were at 34 weeks when she went to the hospital, so we were prepared as well as we could be. And we talked to the doctors Friday, and then there were some doctors that visited us over the weekend. So it was a slow transition to realizing, “Oh, okay, this could happen soon. Oh, this is really likely. Okay, that’s going to happen.” And at that point, since we were already in the hospital, we knew she wasn’t going to leave before the babies were delivered and we trusted them enough to say, “Okay, it’s time to deliver. Let’s go.” The Delivery Experience Joe Rawlinson: So when it came time for the delivery, tell us about that experience. Was it going into it? Was it what you were hoping for or planning for, or did you have some surprises? Stephen Dause: Up until delivery was pretty normal. They, of course, got my wife prepped and took her back there and eventually called me back to watch the delivery itself. And I sat back there and couldn’t see anything. They made sure I sat down just so I couldn’t see anything because they didn’t want me to pass out, which was fine. Joe Rawlinson: This was for a C-section, right? Stephen Dause: Yeah. My wife wanted to do a C-section from the beginning, and they were on board with that so they didn’t try to induce or anything like that. We just told them that we wanted to do a C-section and they worked us into the schedule. I was in the OR watching just the doctors top of their heads really. It was really quiet, I guess I couldn’t really hear them talking to each other. Eventually, they brought out Baby A and said, “Here she is.” They actually said her name. They said both names of the girls because we told them who was who, so that was really special. Then, after both were delivered, I remember they told me that I could go over and look at one of them. I just briefly interacted with Baby A, and they told me that they were having some trouble breathing, but at least for baby A, she was doing okay with a CPAP. So then I went back to tell my wife that. But before I could tell her that, a nurse came over and said, “Hey, here’s what’s happening, Mrs. Dause. Basically, we’re trying everything we can to get your uterus to contract, but it’s not, and you’re bleeding pretty badly, and so we’ve got some more things we can try, but we might have to do a hysterectomy.” The Emergency Situation Stephen Dause: That was when I looked down at the floor and noticed that there was an awful lot of blood, and that was rather disconcerting. Things progressed, they gave her some medication to put in her mouth. She looked over at me and said, “Stephen, are they jumping on me?” And I said, “No, they’re working hard back there, but I am pretty sure they’re not jumping on you, dear.” Although it feels like that. So she was not in pain, but just kind of confused and groggy from the drugs she was given, obviously. And it was, they were doing more than they would have had to at that point for just a normal C-section wrap-up. Joe Rawlinson: Had she had any interactions with the babies at this point? Stephen Dause: She saw them when they were delivered, just, you know, like five seconds here they are. But other than that, no, which was hard. So, yeah, and I’d really only seen one. Around the time this was happening, they explained to me that both babies needed to go to the NICU because they needed to receive more care in helping them breathe. They were still both having trouble breathing. I just have a very clear memory in my mind. That was sort of the peak freak out moment when my daughters are leaving. I can’t really do anything to help them right now. And I’m just standing, sitting here helpless as my wife is being operated on. Pretty shortly after that, my wife is actually much better at telling this part of the story, but she sort of called out to the doctor’s name and said like, “Look, I wasn’t planning on having any more kids. I know you’ve tried your best, but I need to be there for my girls, so please do whatever you can to save my life and do it as quickly as possible.” And so the doctor basically said, “Got it? Understood. We’re going to transition our work to just doing that emergency hysterectomy.” Emergency Hysterectomy Decision Stephen Dause: They explained that a couple more doctors who are oncologists, but also, specializing in hysterectomies generally, were going to come in to do the surgery and they said it’s not that we can’t do it, but they are the best at it. So we thought, “Great, let’s get them in here.” The anesthesiologist asked my wife whether she wanted to go under and just be knocked out fully because once the baby is delivered, there’s no risk anymore to them obviously from general anesthesia. My wife actually asked me and I said, “Well, I don’t know, do what you want.” And she said, “I think I want to be knocked out.” And I said, “I think I would want to be knocked out too.” Another memory I have from around that time is when asking, she asked the anesthesiologist, “Is this an emergency?” And the anesthesiologist sort of looked at her warmly and said, “I’m not going to lie to you, dear. Yes, this is an emergency.” At that point, as they started to put her under, I was asked, I was taken out because there’s no real need for me to be there anymore. Joe Rawlinson: Do they tell you what to expect? Like how long it was going to take or? Stephen Dause: No, I had no idea. And I didn’t really ask either. I guess partly because the nurse sort of took me out to the recovery room, said, “Here you are. Let us know if you want to go see your daughters and I need to go now.” So I said, “Okay.” Yes, I definitely want to see my daughters. I just waited until the NICU team said that I could come down, and that was about 15 minutes. Waiting Alone Joe Rawlinson: So you were just sitting alone with your thoughts for 15 minutes after all this craziness? Stephen Dause: Yes. It was not a good experience. It’s embarrassing, but I asked ChatGPT what the odds of surviving an emergency hysterectomy are, which it said something like there’s a 1 to 8% chance of death even though if you’re in an advanced hospital the odds are probably lower. I was like, “Well, I’m pretty sure I’m in an advanced hospital, so I’ll just hope and pray that she does all right.” In addition to that, I was texting my family with an update, but I didn’t really know what to tell them exactly because the girls were doing okay, they were in the NICU, and so obviously that was good, but I didn’t know how much my wife wanted to share. As it turns out, she wasn’t very private about this at all, but I didn’t know that at the time. So I also kind of felt alone in processing what was happening because I wasn’t fully sharing what was happening with anyone. Joe Rawlinson: I totally overwhelming experience because that’s not what you were expecting just minutes earlier. Stephen Dause: Right. I knew abstractly that it was a possibility that this could happen because we signed or she signed the paperwork and I looked at it and it did mention a hysterectomy as something that you have to agree to beforehand. But I never really considered it or considered what to do, what to tell people if something like that did happen. I wish that I had at least thought about it, discussed it just very briefly beforehand to have a kind of loose plan in mind and be a little more emotionally prepared for it. Joe Rawlinson: Yeah, I mean that paperwork, when you read all the details, it’s kind of scary, overwhelming as well, right? And you’re like, all these things could possibly happen. And you’re like, well, I still want to have these babies, we still need to have these babies, so… Stephen Dause: Right. And it’s not like I’m not gonna sign the paper and go through with this, right? And I guess I wasn’t scared by the paper at the time because no one really told us like, no one really talked to us about this possibility. They might have just skimmed over it, but I didn’t, you know, I signed medical paperwork for all kinds of things and, you know, none of the bad scenarios had really happened to me during surgery before. So I just kind of put it out of my mind. First Visit to the NICU Joe Rawlinson: So then the NICU staff came and got you and take you up to see your girls. So what was that moment like when you were able to see them again? Stephen Dause: That was very special and just kind of, I mean, I’m a pretty laid back guy, but there’s a picture of me holding one of them with just the biggest grin on my face. And I was just so happy to be with them. They, by the time I got down there, they both were doing very well. The NICU staff was very happy. They said, really, baby A only needed help breathing with a CPAP and oxygen for a little bit. And she’s already off that and on room air and we’re pretty sure baby B can be in another few minutes. I don’t remember exactly when, but it might have been while I was there, they actually were able to take the breathing tube out and she was on room air. That was very relieving and just very special. Not how I would have liked to greet them and hold them because obviously I would have liked to do that with my wife. But at the same time, it was great that things had gone well. And the doctors actually had one or two questions for me about how to care for them. So I was glad that I had asked to go down there. I was feeling very grateful and happy and also just kind of taking charge of, you know, from, as a parent of making sure that they were being cared for and answering any questions that the doctors had for me. News About Wife’s Recovery Joe Rawlinson: And how long do you got news about your wife’s status? Stephen Dause: It’s hard to say. It might have been 15 or 30 minutes I was down there. And so on the way up, I got a call from a number I thought was probably the hospital. And I was a little nervous taking that call because I didn’t know what news they would have. But the nurse led with, “Hey, weird question, but do you want to keep the placenta, we don’t have any paperwork on that.” And so I thought, “Well, if something bad happens, you probably wouldn’t be asking me about this.” And so I answered it. We didn’t want to keep it. And she told me that my wife was out of surgery and was recovering and I could see her soon. So that was just a huge, I breathed a huge sigh of relief there. And after that, I didn’t feel like I had to wait very long until they actually brought her back. Family Reunion Joe Rawlinson: So when were all of you reunited, mom, you and the girls all together? Stephen Dause: That would not be until the next morning at about 4 a.m. The NICU wanted to monitor the girls for about 12 hours after they were on room air just as a precaution. So yeah, it took until then, but the nurse walked in and said, “Special delivery,” and I don’t remember if I was even asleep. I don’t think I was, but it was a groggy early morning reunion. Recovery Challenges Joe Rawlinson: How did recovery go for your wife? Stephen Dause: Difficult. It was kind of, it felt especially difficult for us because the pregnancy had been so hard and she was looking forward to what even other twin moms had said was the initial relief of just getting the babies out of your body. But even though that happened for her, she felt so bad from the additional loss of a major organ and all of the work that they had to do to cut it out of her that she felt very bad, especially in the first couple weeks afterwards. It turns out they probably cut a major nerve and so she was feeling real sharp nerve pain. On top of all of this, because of her kidneys, she couldn’t take a lot of the narcotics that they normally give you. She was limited in terms of, well, actually, I misspoke. She was limited for narcotics because a lot of them make her nauseous, and she was limited in terms of NSAIDs because of her kidneys. She had very few options for pain treatment, and it was very rough. It made everything harder for her. Because of that, I was doing almost all of the twin care that required getting up and moving around, really, in addition to the nurses while we were in the hospital. But in short, recovery was very, very hard. Joe Rawlinson: She was just in the hospital for a few days, and then most of the recovery was back home? Stephen Dause: Yes, that’s right. We delivered on Tuesday and we went home on Sunday. So it was a couple extra days due to the additional complications of delivery after C-section. But thankfully, the girls got their sort of seal of approval of being ready to discharge at the same time, roughly that my wife did, so we were all able to go home together. Although when we got home, we arrived to a house without power. So that was another fun twist to the story. Joe Rawlinson: The one unexpected thing after the other. Was that just a temporary thing or was it a longer term issue? Power Outage at Home Stephen Dause: We were at the house for a couple hours and had no sign of it coming back on anytime soon. And this was in February. And the girls, we were told to keep the girls warm. And we also had some milk that needed to, some donated breast milk that needed to be kept frozen. Although, and I don’t, I think it was actually above freezing outside so we couldn’t just put it outside. So thankfully we have some wonderful friends who have a generator and we drove over to their house and spent our first night out of the hospital at a friend’s house. But power was back on the next day and things quickly returned to relative normal after that. Joe Rawlinson: Thank goodness for good friends. Stephen Dause: Definitely. New Normal with Twins Joe Rawlinson: Okay, so you said things got back to normal. So this was like a new normal because now you’ve got the twins, mom’s recovering. What was your routine like there if mom was needing to get extra rest to recover? Stephen Dause: We just took it in two or three hour chunks at a time. I think for the first while, it’s blurry a bit even now, but for the first while, I would, I’m trying to remember if I brought the girls to her bedside or if she got up and fed them with me. I think she pretty much from the start was at least able to move from the bed to our recliner and we would each feed one baby. And for the first few weeks, we basically would take one baby to feed. And I was doing all of the diaper changes for maybe a week or so, a week or two out of the hospital. Just kind of in survival mode. And thankfully, we had a great supporting group of family and friends who came over to help. It was difficult, but at the same time, the girls were actually still premature, so they were very sleepy. So essentially, they would just sleep, wake up, eat, and go back to sleep. So that was at least one blessing. We weren’t really dealing with any colic or anything like that at that point. Feeding Arrangements Joe Rawlinson: Were the babies… Was she trying to breastfeed them, or were you doing formula? What was working for everybody? Stephen Dause: Yes. So she was trying to pump, and at first that was difficult in terms of the amount of production. Thankfully, so we had hired a doula. The doula wasn’t able to be there because on the day we delivered, there was a snowstorm, which other than her not being there didn’t affect us because we were already at the hospital, thank goodness. But the doula came in clutch afterwards because she had some women who had extra breast milk that she donated to us and we used that supply in combination with a bit of formula and then anything that my wife was able to pump for the first few weeks until her production ramped up and was able to meet the girl’s needs, which thankfully it’s still able to do today. Time Off Work Joe Rawlinson: Now, did you have some time off work and have to rush back to work? What was the time off situation? Stephen Dause: I work at a small company and we didn’t really have a policy in place for paternal or maternal leave. So I advocated for one for myself and was able to get eight weeks of paid leave, which in America is a huge blessing and something not every new father or mother gets. So that was probably one of the biggest things that helped us survive without a whole lot of extra stress that that would have brought. I split it up. I took the first five weeks off and then worked half time for another six weeks to kind of stretch out that time a bit more. Joe Rawlinson: Oh, perfect. Yeah, that sounds like a great arrangement. So once you went back full time, was your wife still on leave or is she back to work? Stephen Dause: She is a teacher, so she, you know, we delivered in February, which was earlier, of course, than we initially planned back when we didn’t realize we were going to have twins and be delivering earlier. But she took the rest of the year off and is going to start back in August. So she’s still got a couple months of being home with the girls. Childcare Plans Joe Rawlinson: What are your plans for child care once school starts again? Stephen Dause: We thought we had one daycare lined up, but now we’re having second thoughts about that one, and aren’t really on any other waitlists. So my wife is interviewing nannies this week and next week. So my wife’s actually going to be working part-time, so we’ll only need a part-time nanny, which will make it more affordable. But yeah, we’re probably just going to hire a nanny for the first year, and then after that my wife will probably be full-time the next school year and we’ll get a daycare. Joe Rawlinson: Sometimes you have to be creative in finding how to make sure the kids are taken care of, make sure they’re making it to work. If it’s a daycare, if it’s a nanny, if it’s some combination of those things, you got to do what you’re going to do. Stephen Dause: Yes. Getting on a daycare’s wait list is priority number one, honestly, when you find out you’re pregnant because it can take quite a while. Joe Rawlinson: Absolutely. They have to have two spots Stephen Dause: Yes. Joe Rawlinson: Extra, extra waitlist. Current Daily Routine Joe Rawlinson: So now that the girls are about four and a half months old, what’s the typical schedule like a daily routine? Stephen Dause: I wake up at 8 AM and take care of the girls from 8 AM to 9 AM, just to give my wife a chance to get some, get at least a catnap in if she’s had to be up with them during the later portion of the night. Then I go to work from 9 to 5:30. I come back. We both take care of the girls until bedtime, although we are intentional about each of us getting at least like half an hour to either take a nap or just do something other than be with the girls or work. And then we both put them to bed at around 7:30 or 8. And then from that time on, they’re sleeping pretty well. They usually wake up around 3 or 4. But actually here recently, they’ve been sleeping through the night until about seven or so. At which point I would wake up with them if they’re up at seven. On the other hand, we were just told by the doctor that one baby isn’t getting enough weight, so we’re going to have to wake them up at least once during the night to feed anyway, which is unfortunate, but that’s kind of the gist of the day of the schedule. Joe Rawlinson: Yeah, just when you think you get them sleeping, something will change that, either doctor’s orders or they’ll start changing their own schedule. Stephen Dause: Right. Contact Information Joe Rawlinson: So, Stephen, as we wrap up today, if listeners want to connect with you, what’s the best way to reach out? Stephen Dause: So, I’m on Reddit. I post and comment occasionally on the parents of multiples sub-Reddit. My username is just trying to make it 16. And so, you can DM me there or take a look at the different posts I’ve written. I made one kind of summary of my experience of caring for my wife at about 34 weeks pregnant, and then I’ve made three after delivery as well. So yeah, that’s how you can find me. Joe Rawlinson: I’ll link those in the show notes for listeners if they want to go check out those more details. Well, Stephen, thank you so much for sharing your story with us. Some of the crazy surprises, ups and downs. It’s great to hear that everybody’s come out on the other side of that healthy and well. Stephen Dause: Yes, there were a lot of ups and downs, but I’m very grateful that we made it out okay. And thank you for the interview and for all the resources you put out there for us, Twin Dads. It’s good to have something specific in addition to the general twin advice, so I appreciate it. Joe Rawlinson: You’re welcome. Thank you so much. Episode Conclusion Joe Rawlinson: I hope you enjoyed the conversation with Stephen about his experience so far as a father of twins. I’m always grateful for dads like Stephen, come on the show and share their experience with the rest of us so that all of us can learn from each other’s experiences. So once again, thanks Stephen for sharing your story today on the podcast. Listeners if you would like to share your story like Stephen did today. I would love to hear from you. You can drop me an email joe@dadsguidetotwins.com or reach out to me on Instagram or X I am @twindadjoe and I would love to hear from you. If you’re in those early months with twins or still expecting twins I invite you to pick up a copy of my book Dad’s Guide to Raising Twins: How to Thrive as a Father of Twins. You can pick up a copy for yourself at raisingtwinsbook.com. Once again, that’s raisingtwinsbook.com. Thank you so much for listening, and I’ll see you next time. Subscribe to the Podcast To subscribe to the podcast, please use the links below: Apple Podcasts Spotify Subscribe via RSS (non-iTunes feed) Share Your Thoughts Please let me know what you think of this episode of the podcast, you can contact me with any questions or comments or leave a comment on the blog. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast player. It will help other parents of twins find the show! Download the Podcast Download the podcast in .mp3 format (right click and “save as…”) The post Emergency Hysterectomy After Twins Birth with Stephen Dause – Podcast 327 appeared first on Dad's Guide to Twins.

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-world experience, I discovered you don’t need two of everything or a mansion to raise happy, healthy twins. Here’s how to prepare your home without drowning in baby gear. Strategic Thinking Before Buying Place to Sleep Will you have the twins in your room or in their own room? When you bring them home from the hospital, you need a place for them to sleep. Where will that be in your house? Think through your plans for those first few nights at home – perhaps they will be in your room. Then think about long-term sleeping arrangements – likely in their own room. Place to Eat Think about where you’ll feed your infant twins. Will it be in a rocking chair? In the nursery, or the family room? You’ll need a comfortable place where you can sit and feed the twins. Make sure this will let you feed both at the same time. Place to Change Diapers Twin babies go through lots of diapers. Newborn twins can go through 20 diapers a day. You’ll need a place to change them. This could be a dedicated changing table or just on the floor. Yes, you could even use your bed – but remember that they might have an accident or leakage. Do you want that mess on your bed? Place for Baby Stuff You need a place to store your baby clothes, diapers, and supplies. A simple changing table or dedicated furniture will work. Baby Proofing You don’t have to baby proof your house before your twins come home. Baby proofing requires that you prevent trouble that could be within a baby’s reach. As newborns, your twins can’t reach anything and aren’t mobile. If you are short on time, you can wait to baby proof your home until later. The Twin Registry Audit Before you register for or purchase anything, ask these three questions: Do we absolutely need two of these? Will this item be outgrown within months? Does this serve multiple purposes or just one? I saved hundreds of dollars and valuable square footage by realizing we didn’t need two baby bathtubs, two high chairs, or two play mats. One large play mat worked perfectly for both babies. The Grow-With-Them Mindset Invest in items that adapt as your twins grow: Convertible cribs that transform into toddler beds Strollers with modular configurations for different ages Space-Maximizing Solutions By Room The Nursery Vertical Storage is Your Best Friend Wall space is often underutilized. Consider: Floor-to-ceiling shelving units Over-door organizers for small items Wall-mounted baskets for diapers and supplies For example, IKEA Kallax shelves and fabric bins color-coded by category—green for clothes, blue for blankets, yellow for toys. This system makes it easy to find what you need quickly. Just remember your baby-proofing for when the twins become mobile. Smarter Furniture Choices Choose cribs with built-in storage drawers underneath Use a dresser with a changing pad on top instead of a separate changing table Consider mini-cribs if space is extremely tight When you set up your twin nursery, see if you can position the cribs in an L-shape in the corner, which opens up floor space for playing while keeping the cribs accessible from three sides. The Living Room Create Zones Instead of Taking Over Rather than letting twin baby gear dominate your living space: Designate one corner for baby activities with a small toy basket Use furniture with hidden storage (ottomans, coffee tables with drawers) Invest in gear that folds away when not in use Multi-Purpose Solutions A pack-and-play can serve as a playpen or napping spot Ottoman storage can hold toys and serve as seating Sofa cushions can become safe play barriers during tummy time The Kitchen Streamlined Feeding Station Wall-mounted bottle organizers keep counters clear Hanging fruit baskets can store formula, baby food, and snacks Magnetic strips on the fridge can hold feeding schedules and notes Create a dedicated “twin feeding zone” in one corner of your kitchen with everything needed for bottle prep, which can save countless steps during those early sleep-deprived months. Clever High Chair Solutions Space-saving high chairs that clip to the table Chairs that fold flat when not in use Booster seats that attach to regular dining chairs We opted for booster seats rather than standalone units with large footprints. The Bathroom Bathing Without the Bulk Sink inserts for newborn bathing save space over baby tubs Shower caddies repurposed for baby bath supplies Tension rods with hanging mesh bags for toy storage Smart Organization Behind-the-door towel racks with towels for each baby Adhesive hooks for washcloths Magnetic containers on the side of a metal cabinet for small items Clever Twin-Specific Hacks The Rolling Command Center I’ve even heard of making a rolling cart with three tiers: Top tier: Diaper changing supplies Middle tier: Extra clothes, burp cloths Bottom tier: Toys and books This cart can be moved from room to room, ensuring supplies were always at hand without cluttering every space. The Shared Closet System For the twins’ clothes: Double hang rods to maximize vertical space Drawer dividers to separate each baby’s items The Gear Rotation Method Not all baby equipment needs to be out at once: Store off-season items in under-bed containers Rotate toys weekly to keep floor space clear Borrow or rent items needed for short developmental periods We borrowed a hospital grade breast pump until formula bottle feeding became our primary method, saving both money and storage space. Final Thoughts for the Space-Conscious Twin Dad Remember that babies need much less than marketing would have you believe. Your twins won’t care if their nursery isn’t Instagram perfect. They just need you, safety, comfort, and love. The key is creating systems that work for your family’s specific needs and home layout. Stay flexible and don’t be afraid to rearrange as you discover what works best. The post How to Prep Your Home for Twins Without Cluttering Everything appeared first on Dad's Guide to 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 saved my sanity during that challenging first year (and beyond) with twins. The Easy Button Are you overwhelmed by the stress of hauling the twins to the store? Hit the easy button and get your groceries delivered or do a curbside pickup run. Many large grocery chains offer curbside pickup or you can use your favorite delivery app to get stuff delivered directly to your doorstep. There is no shame in letting others do the work for you. Just keep in mind that you will pay slightly higher prices for groceries purchased with these more convenient methods. That said, if you’re ready to get out of the house and do a grocery store adventure with the twins, you can do this. Let’s go: Before You Leave the House 1. Time Your Trip Strategically Shop during your twins’ most content period—typically after a feeding and nap. This reduces several of the problems that can happen when you’re out. Try shopping during early mornings (7-9 AM) as they tend to be less crowded with shorter checkout lines. Always avoid the dinner rush (4-6 PM) at all costs as the grocery store is a zoo and crazy busy. 2. Pack Your Twin Diaper Bag Properly A trip to the grocery store still needs the basics you’d take whenever you leave the house with the twins: Two complete changes of clothes Double the diapers you think you’ll need Pre-measured formula or expressed milk if bottle feeding Pacifiers with clips (your twins will drop them otherwise) Extra burp cloths for inevitable spit-ups A small toy for each child to distract during meltdowns 3. Have a Solid Plan You can’t just expect to leisurely stroll down the aisles and look at all the options. You need to be prepared. Create a detailed shopping list organized by store layout so you know the route you’ll be taking. Use a grocery app that remembers your regular items and can show you where they are located. Keep the trip focused—this isn’t the time for browsing. Get in and get out! Transportation and Setup Options Once you’re at the store, you’ll need to figure out how to transport your twins AND the groceries. Here are some options: Option 1: The Twin Stroller + Basket Method Use a double stroller with large storage underneath Bring a collapsible grocery basket or reusable bags Fill the basket as you shop, storing it under or hanging from the stroller Best for smaller shopping trips (15-20 items) Option 2: The Car Seat in Cart Configuration Keep twins in their infant car seats Place one car seat in the main cart basket (secure it) Then for the second child pick what works best: Place the second car seat in the cart’s child seat area if possible Use a cart designed for two car seats (available at some stores) Bring a second cart if the store allows it Always make sure your car seats are secure and won’t fall off the cart. Option 3: The Babywearing + Cart Combo Wear one twin in a front carrier Keep the other in a car seat placed in the cart Alternate which twin you wear each trip Best for maximum shopping capacity while managing twins solo as you have more cart space During the Shopping Experience 1. The Entry Strategy Park close to cart return areas, not necessarily the entrance since you’ll know you have to return the cart. Set up your transport system at the car before taking babies out of the car. Have your shopping list immediately accessible on paper or your phone. 2. Managing the Shopping Process Shop efficiently—this isn’t the time for comparison shopping. Use one hand for pushing/steering the cart and keep the other free for grabbing items off shelves. Place heavy items under the cart, not with the babies. 3. Dealing with Twin Meltdowns When one starts crying, keep moving—motion helps. Sing or talk to them constantly, even if you feel ridiculous. If both melt down simultaneously, find a quiet corner to address needs before continuing. Ignore the judgmental glances from others. Focus on taking care of your kids. 4. Checkout Success Tactics Choose self-checkout for small trips and a quicker exit. For staffed lanes, look for cashiers who make eye contact and smile at babies. You have an ally here. Have payment ready so you can quickly finish up the transaction. After Checkout 1. Getting to the Car Ask for help to your vehicle if available (many stores offer this). Let the grocery store employee help load up your vehicle while you tend to the babies. If you’re still solo, put the babies back in the car first and secure them. Turn on the air conditioning. Then load up the groceries. Return the cart to a return area close to your car, never leaving babies unattended. 2. The Home Arrival System Once you’re home, take the babies inside first, placing them in safe spots (swings, bouncers, etc.). Bring groceries in next, focusing on refrigerated items Unpack essentials immediately, leave the rest until babies are settled. Final Dad-to-Dad Advice Remember that each successful trip builds your confidence. What seems impossible now will become routine within months. Start with smaller trips and work your way up. The greatest victory isn’t perfectly executing your shopping trip—it’s having the courage to try it alone. Other shoppers are generally understanding when they see a dad with twins. Don’t hesitate to accept help when offered, and remember that a few difficult moments in the grocery store don’t define your parenting. You’ve got this, Dad! The post Successfully Grocery Shopping Alone with Infant Twins appeared first on Dad's Guide to Twins.

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 has a diaper explosion, or both wailing for different urgent reasons, these situations are inevitable with twins. Here’s my battle-tested approach to handling these high-stress moments. First, Take a Deep Breath It sounds simple, but it’s crucial. When both twins are in crisis mode, your stress level skyrockets. Take a 3-second deep breath. This micro-pause helps you think more clearly and approach the situation with a calmer mindset. Remember: neither baby will suffer permanent damage if you take a moment to collect yourself. Assess and Prioritize Quickly assess which situation is more urgent: Is either baby in danger? (Choking, breathing issues, bleeding) Which situation will worsen more quickly if not addressed? Which baby is more distressed? For example, in the spit-up vs. diaper blowout scenario, the spit-up usually needs immediate attention if it’s affecting breathing, while the diaper situation, though messy, can wait an extra minute. Create a Safe Spot for the “Wait” Baby Keep designated safe spots in key areas of your home where you can place one baby while tending to the other: A secured swing A crib or playpen A bouncer seat with harness A safely positioned car seat (on the floor, never elevated) On a blanket on the floor Even if they’re crying, knowing they’re safe allows you to focus on the more urgent need. The Contain and Return Method Let’s imagine that you’ve got one twin spitting up and the other with a diaper blowout. Here’s what you could do: 1. Place the blowout baby on a waterproof changing pad in a safe area 2. Quickly wipe any spit-up from the first baby’s mouth/nose and position them to prevent choking 3. Return to the blowout baby to start the cleanup and change that diaper 4. Go back and forth as needed, dealing with the most critical aspects of each situation first Preparation Is Your Best Defense Having strategic supplies positioned throughout your home will save you countless times: Keep fully stocked changing stations in multiple rooms Place burp cloths and wipes in every room where you spend time with the twins Use waterproof mats under babies whenever possible Keep a “quick-change” bag with diapers, wipes, and a change of clothes in your main living area Use What You Have In true emergencies, get creative: A clean kitchen towel can temporarily contain a blowout Paper towels can handle spit-up if burp cloths aren’t within reach A towel on the floor can become an impromptu changing station It is OK to improvise. Just keep your babies’ safety your number one priority. Call for Backup When Possible If someone else is home or nearby: Use a specific, direct request: “I need you to take the baby in the blue onesie right now” Assign the simpler task to your helper if they’re less experienced (like asking a young child to bring you a diaper for their baby brother) Don’t waste time explaining everything—just get the immediate help The Aftermath Once both situations are under control: Give yourself credit for handling it Clean yourself up if needed Take a moment to reset before moving on Don’t forget this moment as it should give you confidence handling future craziness Remember This Truth Every twin dad has been through these double emergencies. What feels impossible now will become just another Tuesday in a few months. Your ability to handle these situations will improve dramatically with experience. The fact that you’re reading this article means you care deeply about being there for both of your babies. That commitment is what matters most—not whether you handled a particular situation perfectly. Trust me when I say: you’ve got this. And when you don’t feel like you’ve got this, just do the next right thing for whichever baby needs it most urgently, then move to the next. Before you know it, you’ll be the one giving advice to new twin dads. The post How to handle competing twin needs when they’re both urgent appeared first on Dad's Guide to Twins.