Preparing for the arrival of your twins

Now that the initial shock of finding out you're having twins has started to settle, it’s time to shift focus: preparing for the arrival of your babies. There’s a lot to think about when expecting two and giving yourself time to plan, even loosely, can make a huge difference once your twins arrive.

One of the first things to know is that twins rarely arrive on their due date and most often arrive earlier than 40 weeks. With that in mind, it’s important to dedicate time now to envisioning how you want those early months to look — while also staying flexible if plans need to change.

Feeding: Create a Rough Plan
How you want to feed your twins is one of the most important decisions to think about early on. Are you hoping to breastfeed and if so, do you want to try tandem feeding? Would you prefer bottle feeding with expressed milk, formula feeding, or a mix of both? It can be really confusing and hard to know, especially if these are your first babies or if you want to try a different approach from your last born. 

Having a rough idea of what you’d like to try first will save you mental energy in those early, sleep-deprived days. Knowing your options ahead of time gives you a greater sense of control when everything else feels brand new.

Sleep Environment: Set Up Sooner Rather Than Later
Thinking about where your babies will sleep is another key part of preparing for twins.
Will they share a room? Will you use two bassinets and will they room-share with you for a while? Every family and home is different, so setting up a flexible sleep environment early can help ease the transition. Remember, twin babies often have different sleep needs even when they’re little, so it’s helpful to prepare spaces that can adapt as they grow. 

Support Network: Build It Early
If there's one piece of advice I could give any expectant twin parent, it’s this: seek help and accept it. Having two newborns is more than a full time job and your support system will make all the difference. Start thinking about who can help such as family, friends, or even professional services if available. Whether it’s someone to help with meals or tidying up the house, look after the babies while you nap or take your toddler to the cafe, having an extra set of hands makes all the difference.