Calling all mommies of "Irish Twins!"

[Sleeping~Beauty]

My children are 18 months apart. It just started getting a tiny bit easier, and now we are trying for a third! But the first year and a half was really hard.

1) Go when someone else has the kids. The supermarket is really hard to do with two babies in tow.

In regular (non grocery) stores, I always use my stroller.

My Baby Bjorn was my best friend for most activities.

2) I didn't want to displace my 18 mo out of his crib, so we got another crib. It's funny that my youngest was out of his crib way before my oldest. They are just completely different personalities.

3)Mother's helpers are wonderful and sanity saving. Try it out for a week to see if you like the helper and if it fits your family. If you think you found the right person, just say that you'll do a one week trial run (and pay them either way). Also, your in the house so you know what's going on.

I only started using a girl just this last year and it's been great.

4) Probably the younger one.

Mine were more like, what the heck is this thing?

This was my 18 mo when the tiny bundle came home with me.

Good luck! I'll be asking for advice when I have to balance three.

 

[Straycat]

Congrats and welcome to my world.

Both of my babies were born in 2006, one in January, one in December. They are 10 and a half months apart. Right now, my daughter is 14 months and my son is 4 months.

My daughter is a late walker, she cruises now, takes a few steps on her own, will walk if I hold one of her hands but definately prefers her fast crawl. So, when I leave to go out, she has to be carried in one arm and the other hand is carrying the infant carseat. Add to that a diaper bag (had to upgrade to a larger one) and a purse (downsized that so it would fit in the diaperbag) and the house/car keys and I need a couple more hands.


They share the nursery at this point because we don't have a spare room, of course we invested in another crib. We actually kept the little one in the pack and play bassinet thingy in our room until he slept thru the night so as not to retrain my daughter to wake up during the night. Now that he sleeps all night, they are both in there at night. But, he will wake up at night once in a while and wake her up - fun fun.

My little girl was 10 1/2 months when we brought Sebastian home, she did not like him at all... cried and cried the first night. I was so sad for her, that I did that to her. But within a couple days, she adjusted and now she loves her little brother.

We bought a double stroller, its definately a necessity for trips to the mall. As for the grocery, my big baby sits in the front of the buggy, and my little one is in the car seat in the back part of the buggy. Nope, not much room for groceries, some can fit on the sides, some can fit underneath. This really only works when we need just a few items otherwise, shop alone when DH can watch kids, or send him with the list.

If you are a stay at home mom, you really don't need the extra help. Maybe the first week it would be nice to have your Mom or someone like that come over to help out, or have DH take a week or so off of work. After that, you will handle it no problem. I work out of my house (when the kids are sleeping mostly) and take care of the house and kids and I'm handling it okay.

There are tough times of course, like next Friday, both kids have a well child visit to the pediatrician. They are both due to have shots. Unfortunately, my DH can not go with me, I'm on my own. I can imagine that it will be a bit overwhelming to have both babies crying from their shots at the same time and me trying to hold and comfort both. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger, right?

Its going to be a tough year I'm sure, one gets into everything now, the other doesn't crawl yet... just wait till he is crawling, I'll be in big trouble then. =) It will be nice when both are out of diapers as well. But you know what, I savor every minute of thier lives, they are my last babies and they are growing so fast already, I'm going to miss this first baby year when its gone.

Sorry its so long, if you have any questions, feel free to PM me.

 

[mookie]

Congrats and welcome to my world.

Both of my babies were born in 2006, one in January, one in December. They are 10 and a half months apart. Right now, my daughter is 14 months and my son is 4 months.

My daughter is a late walker, she cruises now, takes a few steps on her own, will walk if I hold one of her hands but definately prefers her fast crawl. So, when I leave to go out, she has to be carried in one arm and the other hand is carrying the infant carseat. Add to that a diaper bag (had to upgrade to a larger one) and a purse (downsized that so it would fit in the diaperbag) and the house/car keys and I need a couple more hands.


They share the nursery at this point because we don't have a spare room, of course we invested in another crib. We actually kept the little one in the pack and play bassinet thingy in our room until he slept thru the night so as not to retrain my daughter to wake up during the night. Now that he sleeps all night, they are both in there at night. But, he will wake up at night once in a while and wake her up - fun fun.

My little girl was 10 1/2 months when we brought Sebastian home, she did not like him at all... cried and cried the first night. I was so sad for her, that I did that to her. But within a couple days, she adjusted and now she loves her little brother.

We bought a double stroller, its definately a necessity for trips to the mall. As for the grocery, my big baby sits in the front of the buggy, and my little one is in the car seat in the back part of the buggy. Nope, not much room for groceries, some can fit on the sides, some can fit underneath. This really only works when we need just a few items otherwise, shop alone when DH can watch kids, or send him with the list.

If you are a stay at home mom, you really don't need the extra help. Maybe the first week it would be nice to have your Mom or someone like that come over to help out, or have DH take a week or so off of work. After that, you will handle it no problem. I work out of my house (when the kids are sleeping mostly) and take care of the house and kids and I'm handling it okay.

There are tough times of course, like next Friday, both kids have a well child visit to the pediatrician. They are both due to have shots. Unfortunately, my DH can not go with me, I'm on my own. I can imagine that it will be a bit overwhelming to have both babies crying from their shots at the same time and me trying to hold and comfort both. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger, right?

Its going to be a tough year I'm sure, one gets into everything now, the other doesn't crawl yet... just wait till he is crawling, I'll be in big trouble then. =) It will be nice when both are out of diapers as well. But you know what, I savor every minute of thier lives, they are my last babies and they are growing so fast already, I'm going to miss this first baby year when its gone.

Sorry its so long, if you have any questions, feel free to PM me.

Wow. It's really good to hear from someone in the thick of things right now! Good advice, Straycat! You might have to join me and Michelle for that glass of wine....but I see you're in Florida....I know the weather is definitely better there. Maybe we come to you?

Anyway, I'm sure I'll be PM-ing you, if you don't mind. I'd love to hook up with a buddy to get advice and support from every once in awhile.

Good luck with the well baby visit next week!

 

[binny]

my girls were born 9-3-98 and 8-11-99 DS was 4 1/2 when the last one was born.


It was tough but it wasnt terrible. I always tried to shop with dh. None of my kids could stay in a sling they all hated it. So we just did the 2 cart thing.



We used a pack n play with the bassinet option when little one was born. Then we ended up getting anothe crib after all.


Like Denae, my girls are the best of friends. They are so attached to one another it is amazing.


Good luck! We love having Irish Twins.

 

[Marie17]

One thing I can suggest is not to stress out about it all.

I have 5 kids but only 3 little ones that fall into that category 4,3,18months (16 months apart between them). Going from 2 to 3 little ones takes a little adjusting. (My other older two were 3 years apart.)

First thing I did was buy a triple stroller. I didn't want to be tied down to having a sling on while out - I preferred them to be strapped in. I would go to the mall so that the boys could adjust to be out in it. This is how I trained them and me on "adventures" and behaving. If you are in the stroller, everyone (including ME) needs to be patient. All little ones need to remember that MOMMY only has 2 hands but 3 little boys who have 6 hands that want me. We all have to take a turn. I did this so that they realized that when we were in public they could not pitch fits to get attention. Having a stroller always allowed me to leave immediately from a store if needed.

I did this for a few weeks after the baby reached 3 weeks old until they were really ready to go to the toy store or Target. My husband did practically all the grocery shopping for the first 6 weeks and lots of cooking & helping out.

I found the hardest part was really just the first 6 weeks and MY WORRYING about having to go out in public and make sure nothing happened to any of the little ones. But the stroller was such a blessing to us - it helped me to get the kids out of the house. To help me in getting out for walks outside and at the mall. It allowed the two older ones little treats - they LOVED the cookies at the mall and getting an icee or julius.

I made sure that when we go to the doctor for regular appointments - to schedule as many as was needed to cut down visits that are needed. When the baby had his 2 month check they also did an 18month well baby check. When the baby had his 4 month check they also did a 3 yr check.

And to make "errand days" easier - we have a van with a DVD system. This is such a great treat for them and me.

I also joined a gym after the baby was born. I cannot imagine life without it. It helped me to keep sanity and some pounds off. They have nursery care starting at age 6 weeks and they kids like going to it. I can go there in the morning after the older kids are at school (I have 5 total) and go work out, relax in the sauna, take a shower (that is such a treat when you have so many little ones) and get my day started all before 11am.

Our word for the boys was "responsibility." Even the ladies at the gym would ask the little ones if they had their "responsibility" before leaving. One would carry a bag with cups - the other had the diaper bag - Mommy would have her gym bag and the baby. The new word is "patient."

 

[Straycat]

You can come and visit me in Florida if you like but I don't know how much 'better' the weather is than where you live, it was almost 90 degrees here today. Feel free to contact me anytime, I'd love to hear from another IrishTwin mom.

Marie - the gym thing sounds wonderful, I'll have to see if one around here will watch the babies while I work out.