Dad's Guide to Twins

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 emotional well-being matter deeply. Here are some ideas on how to maintain your mental and emotional footing during this intense time: Acknowledge Your Experien...

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 ho...

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 most common fears that you don’t need to stress out about: “I’ll never be able to tell them apart” – This fear is us...

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 tw...

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 milestones can be frustrating and sometimes even worrying. Let me share some perspective and practical advice on how to handle these...

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...

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 journey. Understanding Our Comparison Instinct Parents of twins often feel guilty about comparing their children, but it’s important to recognize...

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 to match their developmental stage. Toddlers are still learning to regulate their emotions, communicate effectively, and understand social dynamics like s...

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 country during the twin pregnancy Helping others tell the twins apart Juggling a full time job and running your own business while raising twins Toddler’s rea...

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 products for babies, toddlers, and children, has released their 2024 Innovation Awards list . Let me highlight some notable winners. The Parents Pick award went...

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 in regards to passports. For our family here in the United States, we first got passport cards for our children (including our twins) because we knew we h...

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 Gynecologists ( ACOG ), twins are more likely to experience growth restriction, which can lead to lower birth weights. Range of Birth Weights The birth weight of t...

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 possibility of it happening twice and the what that means for you. Before we start, let’s make sure you know about some key vocabulary associated with pregnan...

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 personalized attention. It isn’t uncommon for teachers to have trouble telling your twins apart – even we as parents sometimes do a...

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 the unique joys that come with raising two babies at once. Here are some of the best things about raising infant twins, supported by my experiences and insights...

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 with any kid, of course. But particularly twins because they’re usually playing together, or spending time together and it’s much easier...

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 to a birthday party when you have twins can be nuanced and subjective. Based on the advice from other twin parents, here are several perspectives and uniqu...

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 weeks about twins Trouble free pregnancy and delivery Getting support from family and friends Hospitals were busy for regular scans and had to push for a plan. 3...

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: When twin fraternal boys look very different Developing different interests in children One twin physically gifted vs other not Having two additional boys after...

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 twins in first grade Separating twins at school and twins’ reaction Different friend groups Different activities for all 3 kids Deciding which parent will...

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 with their first child when the hospital is far from home the twins were 6 weeks early dealing with 3 weeks in the NICU using a camper to stay close to hospital...

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 about possibility of having twins to actually having them One twin was breech so had to go to hospital for cesarean One twin had breathing issues and almost had to...

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 children including having 3 under 3 managing terribles twos and opinionated toddlers challenges of getting twins to sleep climbing out of cribs and how to fix that movi...

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 out of the crib Handling twins with two older children One twin in NICU for 9 days while other twin is home Welcoming another baby into the family after twins Sle...

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 concerns transforming into wonderful big sister Going through multiple failed adoptions before getting the twins When one twin spent 4 months in the NICU Selli...