Dad's Guide to Twins

Episode 348 of the Dad’s Guide to Twins Podcast Show Notes Today we continue our father of twins interview series with Russell Newman, father of twin boys, a singleton daughter, and expecting fraternal boy/girl twins. Listen as we explore his twin parenting journey, including: Why they needed to move after finding out about their first set of twins When the twins spent 2 weeks in NICU and had ther...

Figuring out if your twins are ready for preschool is one of those parenting decisions that sounds simple until you actually have to make it, twice, for two kids who may be in very different places developmentally . The good news? There are real, concrete signs to look for. And once you know what to watch for, the decision gets a whole lot clearer. ⚡ Quick Takeaways Twins preschool readines...

Having a built-in playmate from day one sounds like it should make independent play easier. In reality, it can make it a lot harder. When your twins have always had each other right there, learning to play alone is a skill they actually have to be taught. The good news? It’s absolutely doable, and it’s worth every bit of effort to get there. I’m not saying your twins shouldn&#821...

If you have twins, you already know that conflict is basically a full-time job in your house. The real goal, though, isn’t to referee every argument. It’s to eventually work yourself out of that job entirely. Teaching your twins to negotiate and compromise with each other on their own is one of the best long-term investments you can make as a twin dad. It takes patience and consistency...

If your twins spend any time at school or in social settings, you already know it happens constantly. They get lumped together as “the twins,” treated like a matching set, and sometimes never really seen as two separate people at all. My girls have dealt with this for years, and it has been one of the more surprising parenting challenges I didn’t fully anticipate when we found ou...

Your twins have been each other’s built-in best friend since day one. But at some point, usually around preschool or kindergarten , the world starts asking them to be individuals. That’s when things get interesting. Whether your twins end up in separate classrooms or you’re simply trying to help them develop their own friendships, figuring out how to facilitate separate playdates...

Teaching one kid to brush their teeth is a project. Teaching two at the same time? That’s a whole different level of logistics, patience, and toothpaste on the mirror. But here’s the good news: with twins, you actually have a built-in secret weapon. They have each other. And if you play it right, that sibling dynamic can make the whole learning process a lot smoother than you’d e...

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-...

When my twin girls started getting homework in grade school, I thought I had this parenting thing figured out. I’d survived the sleepless newborn nights, the synchronized potty training , the terrible twos times two. How hard could homework be? Turns out, managing two sets of assignments every single night is its own special challenge. Some evenings, one twin would breeze through her workshe...

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 fears like monsters under the bed, scary shadows, or loud noises don’t stay contained to one child. They bounce back and forth, amplify, and suddenly you&#8...

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 transition right now, I feel your pain. That sacred afternoon window when both twins sleep simultaneously? It’s basically the only thing keeping you sane...

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, you’ll quickly realize that traditional baby containment methods won’t cut it. One baby gate? They’ll figure out how to open...

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 modeling “please” and “thank you” from infancy, even before they can talk Twin-to-twin empathy is a unique opportunity you won’t have with singletons Consisten...

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. It’s completely normal, but it can be tough to watch. Quick Takeaways Twins naturally start comparing themselves arou...

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 corner of the sandbox and build elaborate castles together, completely content in their world of two. It was sweet. It was also a little concerning. Here’...

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&#...

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 other wasn’t, and we found ourselves managing different schedules while also trying to keep everyone from melting down by 4 p.m. Here’s what I learn...

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 makes even the simplest details slip away. Here’s the reality: you’re responsible for keeping two little humans alive and thriving, but your brai...

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 character. And as we all know, your job as a dad, of course, is to “build character.” Right? Twin dad Kris Lloyd noticed that even when he bough...

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. This brings up the question: how do you keep one twin healthy when the other is sick ? Is it Worth it? Every time one of our twins get sick, we have to ask...

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 one week while the other was a social butterfly. Just when you thought that was the pattern, they switched and the social standout would cry hysterically w...

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 when they arrive and it’s up to you to fill it with the structure they need for healthy development. Creating and sticking to a consistent schedule for slee...

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 foll...

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 your doctor. Talking to Your Doctor You’ll want to find a good doctor that you can trust and with whom you can have a comfortable relationship....

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 Choosin...