Teaching Toddler Twins to Stay Close to Parents

Teaching Toddler Twins to Stay Close to Parents

From Dad's Guide to Twins by Joe Rawlinson, twin pregnancy and raising twins expert

February 4, 2026 · 11 min

About this episode

This episode discusses strategies for teaching toddler twins to stay close to their parents while walking in public.

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 them walk. Except walking means you’ve got two little people who can dart in opposite directions while you’re standing there with exactly two hands. I’ve been there with my twin girls. That transition from strapped-in-the-stroller to walking-beside-me-in-the-parking-lot was genuinely terrifying at first. But here’s what I learned: most twins between 18 months and 3 years can master staying close through consistent verbal cues and clear boundaries. It takes patience and plenty of practice runs, but it absolutely works. Why This Stage Feels So Overwhelming Parents of singletons have it easier here, and that’s just math. They’ve got one kid and two hands. You’ve got two kids who can run in completely opposite directions, both with the impulse control of, well, toddlers. When my girls first started wanting to walk everywhere , I felt like I was constantly choosing which child to chase down while the other one…

Topics covered

  • toddler twins
  • parenting
  • independence
  • safety

Keywords

  • twin parenting
  • toddler safety
  • walking with twins

Mentioned in this episode

Products: double stroller

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