Keep your kids safe with these 12 first aid skills you NEED to know!

The identical twin sisters Brittany and Briana Deane Salyers, who married identical twin brothers and went on to have genetically identical siblings, open up to PEOPLE about their life together in Virginia

From wiggling a toy to tummy time, discover engaging and entertaining two-month-old baby activities you can use to support your baby’s overall development.

George W. Bush reportedly told Jenna Bush Hager not to 'ruin' her twin sister Barbara's chances at getting into Stanford University

You're going to want to bookmark this.

When breastfeeding twins, a double nursing pillow is essential, but so is trail mix, Netflix, neck pillow, & a generally lazy disposition.

Identical twins Briana and Brittany Deane and their twin husbands Josh and Jeremy Salyers look back at their 2018 double wedding ceremony

Child proof your house especially if you have little ones! Do you have a tot who is just beginning to explore the world? Here are some great child safety

From wiggling a toy to tummy time, discover engaging and entertaining two-month-old baby activities you can use to support your baby’s overall development.

As an RN, I have had lots of occasions to talk with new Moms who felt their newborn was not getting enough milk or maybe not good quality milk.

My own experience of newborn twins. A overview of my experience of raising identical twin boys with a three year old to entertain too!

A mom of twins issues a crib warning as her son was trapped between two cribs. She asks twin parents to not place your twins' cribs side by side.

Try out these fun apple theme STEM challenges for preschoolers to elementary. Apple STEM activities are awesome hands-on learning for fall!

What does a newborn twins schedule look like? Learn what to expect and how to introduce routine to twin babies.

If you’re having twins or other multiples, help is on the way! Learn how you can save on diapers and formula with multiple births programs from big-name brands.

Make physics fun for young kids this fall with an apple gravity experiment! Easy to set up, and fun to play and learn with.

Getting out of the house with twins can seem challenging. But it is something you are going to have to get used to. Here is how to get out alone with twins.

A free printable baby care journal with a baby care log sheet - perfect for new moms!

Help keep your home clean and tidy, and teach your children life skills and responsibility with this cute and practical rainbow Chore Chart. It is a cleaning checklist that covers a week of daily chores. It prints on legal size paper 8X14. Comes with a list of chore ideas by age group. Please remember that the chore list is purely a suggestion; you know your child best! Customize the chart for each child, by adding their name to the top! Check out this Menu style chore chart; perfect for picky kids! https://www.etsy.com/ca/MsGrahamABC/listing/1511802097/kids-chore-chart-cleaning-checklist?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1688996450908

This is NOT a sponsored post, I just really like these items 1. Use toy straps to assign each car seat. I always loved using the the Pippalily Toy Strap with … Continue reading "20 Tricks, Items And Life Hacks That Make Life Easier With New Twins"

An easy and comprehensive guide to help you have your twins on the same sleeping schedule. It will save you time and sanity, a must read!

"You've got your hands full!" This phrase is, bar none, the most common reaction from people when they see me out and about with our three girls ("Your poor husband!" is a close second). A mom grocery shopping with three kids under three is always going to attract some attention, but a mom grocery shopping while wearing two infants and pushing a toddler in a grocery cart gets a lot of attention. She might even get her photo taken by strangers once or twice a week (no joke). Unlike some twin moms, I don't mind the attention that our twins bring. Instead of getting annoyed with this very common (and understandable) reaction, I always smile back, raise my arms up in the air while my babies sit all cozied up on my hips in their ring slings and say "Well, technically, I am hands-free". Then we all have a good little chuckle. I have written pretty frequently about my love of "wearing" our babies. When Isla was born I was gifted a Moby Wrap by a very good friend and that single gesture literally changed my life and the way I would child-rear. Prior to that moment, I had never even heard the term "babywearing". Sure, I'd seen the popular "baby bjorn" (a carrier which, by the way, does not render the same baby wearing benefits as other carriers and wraps) but other than that, I knew nothing about it. Once I learned how to use my Moby Wrap, I was obsessed and wore Isla all snuggled up on my chest for approximately four months non-stop. Ever since, I have been a huge advocate of "baby wearing" and all goodness that it promotes between mother and child. The benefits of baby wearing are vast. Babies who are worn regularly are shown to have positive "attachment" to their parents, they cry less, and are (in general) happier. Baby wearing has been proven to help physical, cognitive and verbal development as well. The list of "pros" goes on and it is my personal mission to help expose as many people to the beauty of baby wearing as I possibly can, because I truly see it as a gift and something that makes motherhood (particularly twin + toddler motherhood) so. much. easier. And, let's face it, I am totally down with anything that allows me to free my hands so that I can easily drink wine enjoy the park with our toddler. When I found out we were pregnant with twins, I instantly began to research whether or not it was possible to wear two at once. Knowing how wonderful it was to wear (and simultaneously bond with) Isla, I desperately wanted to be able to share the same experience with the twins. I hit the world wide web looking for answers and I found it in the form of "tandem" baby wearing. I am happy to say that our twins have been held and carried almost as much as any singleton baby. This is a feat that I am super proud of but one that could not have been accomplished without the art of babywearing. Sure, I might be an inch shorter by the time our twins turn one, but it'll be an inch lost to gain a mile. Or something like that. Anywho... Turns out, there are lots of ways to wear twins (or two infants close in age) and I have tried many of them. When I get "into" something I tend to go "all in" so I have accumulated no fewer than ten different carriers in which to wear our twins and Isla. I will go through some of my favorite types of carriers and carries in this post. Please note: This is not a "how to" (but I will post links to articles and videos when appropriate) and you should baby wear at your own discretion, as some of these methods require some skill and if not done correctly can injure your baby. Also, I am not a baby wearing pro and all the opinions about the carriers and best ages of them are my own. Always check with the manufacturer and do your own homework/research as well. In other words, please do not sue me. Thank you. Okay, here goes... The Moby (aka "stretchy") Wrap: The Moby Wrap was the first wrap I ever owned so it holds a very special place in my heart. This awesome PDF illustrates the many ways to use this wrap. It is fantastic for one baby, particularly a very little baby - but it is also great for wearing newborn twins. I tandem wore the girls in my Moby wrap using the "twin cradle carry" for the first three months and it was fantastic. Once both of them started to clock in at over ten pounds, however, I found it too much weight on my front to be comfortable and because of the stretchy nature of this wrap, after an hour or so the babies would get all slouchy and saggy. (This is the same reason you should not use a stretchy wrap to wear twins in a front and back carry, fyi). I also found all the fabric to be very hot in the summertime. If you are having a winter baby, the Moby wrap is your friend! Cost: $40-$50 Pros: A super snug fit, baby is very securely attached to momma, baby is almost instantly put into a coma-like slumber once settled. Cons: It's a TON of fabric and can be intimidating to learn the wraps. Not great for summer time as it can get very hot, not easy to take a sleeping baby out of it without waking, with twins you are really limited to only a front carry. Best age: I preferred my Moby for newborns up until 3/4 months (but really babies can be worn in a Moby much longer). The Ring Sling: This is, right now, my numero uno preferred way to wear the girls. I have Lite-on-Shoulder Baby Sling which are super affordable (some ring slings can cost upwards of $100) and they are, as the name suggests, light and easy. I seriously LOVE the ease of use and convenience of them. Most of the other methods of baby wearing I mention here usually lull the girls into a pretty deep sleep because I use the chest-facing positions which limit the view and provide closeness to mamas heart and chest (natural sleep aids), so when I don't want the girls to fall fast asleep (say, right after a two hour nap) I will pop them in the ring slings and we'll take a walk or go grocery shopping. They get the benefit of stimulation but still have the closeness of mama. When the babies are on me they are almost always content and hardly ever cry or make a peep. We can go about our business happily and with no fuss and drama (as opposed to in a stroller where one or both are usually fussing at any given time). Cost: $30-$100 depending on material, retailer and/or if you DIY Pros: Very easy to get on and off, good for when you want babies to stay awake a bit (but they will happily fall asleep eventually if tired in these slings), these pack very small and are super easy to keep in a purse or diaper bag for when you need them. Good for summer as the material is light and breathable. Cons: When wearing two, after an hour or two you will feel it. Not my favorite way to carry sleeping twins (I prefer the wearer-facing position on the chest for sleep). When wearing two, you are definitely a 'wide load' (not, however, as wide and bulky as a double stroller). Sometimes it can be tricky to get the "seat" right if you are just starting out. Best age: I prefer the ring slings when a baby has good neck strength and is a little bit more "sturdy", so from 3 or 4 months on. The Woven (aka "not-stretchy") Wrap: Many "hardcore" baby wearers swear by the woven wrap because they are so incredibly versatile. There are many different kinds but I have a size seven Didymos Wrap which is the size most recommended for tandem wearing. A woven wrap is similar to the Moby wrap, but it does not stretch and so it can be used for a whole host of carries that a Moby can't, like front and back carries (whereby one baby is strapped on your front and one strapped on your back) which are for sure the most comfortable way to wear twins, but also the most complicated. If I am alone and need both babies to go to sleep and for whatever reason can't put them in their crib, I love this wrap because both zonk out after about five minutes. The downside of using this wrap for the front and back carry is that if the baby on the back wants out, you must rouse the baby on the front as well. The other downside is that you can't really see the baby on the back so I have been known to ask, "Hey, can you tell me if this baby is sleeping?" to the grocery store checkout clerk or a random passerby. I have also resorted to taking awkward selfies with my iPhone in order to see the baby in the back as well. Cost: $70-$250 depending on material, size and brand. Pros: Most comfortable, balanced way to carry twins. Very versatile (many different types of carries can be done using these wraps) Cons: Twin front and back carries are the most tricky and require the most skill, like the Moby, these consist of a LOT of fabric and can be very warm, not typically an "easy in/easy out" type of carrier. Best age: Newborns to toddlers, depending on the type of carry The Soft Structured Carrier: I have five of these. Two Ergo Performance Carrier, two Mei Tai Carriers and one Tula Toddler Carrier (for Isla). These are great and super easy once your babies are sturdy enough for them. I have just started using these with the twins (one ergo on front, one ergo on back) and man, is it a breeze and SO much more comfortable for longer walkds than a tandem hip carry. While I do prefer the closeness that the wraps and ring slings provide, as the twins get bigger these will be the standard way I wear them. The carrier we used most with Isla on the boat was, hands down, the Ergo. Cost: $40-$130 depending on brand/type Pros: Super easy to get on and off, comfortable to wear, offers the most balanced way to wear twins. Cons: Slightly bulkier than the ring slings, can get warm. Best age: (in my opinion) 6 months to toddlers (you can wear younger babies in these using an infant insert but I prefer the snuggliness of the wraps to these for tiny babies) The Baby K'Tan Breeze: I am a big fan of the Baby K'tan Breeze. I don't know of any other mom's who use these, but they are very light (great for hot climates or summer babies) and super easy to use (unlike the wraps, which take some practice) but still provide the same front cradle carry like the Moby or woven. I have two of these carriers, one for each baby and I have tandem worn them on the front by shifting one baby to my left and the other to my right. While this did work, it was pretty difficult to execute and very exhausting to have almost thirty pounds of baby hanging at my front so Scott and I use these carriers independently when we can each wear a baby and we want them to sleep. They are great to travel with when you want to pack light. Cost: about $60 Pros: Light and super easy to get on and off, great for when you want baby to sleep, great for hot climates or summer months. Cons: They don't feel as "secure" as the wraps, can't really adjust the fit, and you are pretty limited to the types of carries. You also must make sure you get the right size which can be tricky. And while you CAN wear two smaller babies at once it is not easy nor pretty, and probably not recommended (I have just done it out of desperation). Best age: 2-3 months and up since the fit isn't as snug. So...if you are keeping track, that is twelve carriers for our kiddos. Kinda crazy, I know. But anyone who is into baby wearing will tell you it's an addiction. Kind of like tattoos. Or not. Either way, once you start - you're not going to want to stop. It's healthy, convenient and a fantastic way to travel with the littles (by boat or plane or just out and about), way, way easier than carting a stroller (have you seen the size of twin strollers?!) Wear those babies and you, too, will quickly see first hand the advantages and benefits. Happy bonding :) Some notes on Babywearing: Your baby might resist babywearing at first. This is normal. Some fussiness and crying does NOT mean you should give up and that they won't ever like it. Practice makes perfect. With all our babies, there were tears at first - but as soon as I started moving (sometimes I had to walk around the block) they settled and each time it got easier. Now, they get excited when they see me putting on the carriers they love it THAT much. Many of these wraps and soft structured carriers can be used together. For example, you can wear one baby on your front in a Moby wrap and then have a baby on your back in an Ergo. There are many combinations that can be made with different carriers for tandem wearing! Dad's (and others) can wear babies too! When we go out on "family walks" I often prefer to ditch the stroller and have Scott wear one of the twins on his front, Isla on his back and then I will wear the other twin. Super easy and fun - not only is it a good work out for mom and dad, but it promotes bonding and development for baby! When wrapping, the tighter the better. It will feel strange and too tight at first, but remember how compact those babies were in the womb? That's the type of closeness you want. A snug fit is much better (and safer) than a loose one. There are MANY more types of baby carries and carriers out there! Everyone has their favorite carries and carriers and what has worked for me may or may not work for you. Many communities have programs where you can rent baby wraps and carriers to see if you like them before you buy them so look for baby wearing groups near you. Resources: Babywearing 101: Probably the best downloadable PDF illustrating MANY carries and carriers. Babywearing Tips and Tricks: A nice Pinterest board dedicated to all things babywearing! Wrap Your Baby: A page dedicated to wrapping twins. Ideas and Videos included. Babywearing International: Non-profit dedicated to promoting babywearing. Choosing a Baby Carrier: A small explanation of the types of carriers. Slings, Wraps and other Carriers - Where, How and Why: Article by one of my faves, Kelly mom. Soft Structured Carrier Comparison Chart - This. Is. Awesome. And shows all the different types of soft structured carriers.

I'm taking a break from Birth Circles today, to talk Birth Plans. If you have an idea of what you would like your birthing experience...

Husbaughts in Red 1. Congratulations on having twins. You are now an instant celebrity. You will be stopped everywhere you go and people will tell you any twin story they have. They will tell you about how they wish they had twins, their sister has twins, how their best friends growing up were twins, or how their neighbor down the street has twins. You just nod your head and smile. They don't realize you don't have time to talk or that it is a huge deal you're even out of the house, but that's ok. Pinch a kid till he cries and you instantly have a convenient way out of that non-versation. There's little chance these people will have some earth-shattering insights to turn your life around, so don't feel obligated to listen to them talk for long. The people you do care to talk to are the ones who actually have twins and know you don't have much time to talk. They are the ones who just slow down their walk, tell you how cute your babies are, and how old their twins are and keep moving. You also have several people stop and tell you they have triplets. Holy cow. You want to bow down at their feet and praise them for being super parents. The best thing these people can tell you is "We survived." This can buoy your spirits and carry you through the rougher spots. It also never hurts to hear people think your kids are cute. 2. Lower your expectations to 0. It's now normal for your house to look something like this. Seriously. I know there are people out there who can have twins, triplets, or octuplets and still keep their house tidy. These people are called cyborgs and they must be hunted down for the safety of all humanity. Plus they make the rest of us look bad. 3. You will be doing at least a load of laundry every day to keep up with the massive mess of puke stained clothes and burp cloths. STOP SEPARATING THE WHITES AND COLORS. Seriously, when it comes to kids' stuff, just don't bother. Use cold water on everything, lump it all in, and get the job done. You'll save your sanity as well as a few bucks off your utility bill. 4. And when you get sick of doing a load a day, go buy a couple dozen more burp cloths and start doing laundry only every other day. Also be sure to set aside time to do your own laundry every week. Your instincts will tell you "I just did a load, so I should have shirts/shorts/socks/underwear for tomorrow." Don't listen. Set a day and push all your adult laundry (meaning grown-up laundry, not Adult laundry; you're probably not using that much these days anyway) through on that day. Also, take into account that you can do a lot of baby laundry all at once, but because of its diminutive size it will take you till three weeks after you're dead to get it all folded. Plan accordingly. 5. Find ways to teach your babies from the day they are born to lay on the floor and entertain themselves. Explain to them several times a day that there are two babies and only one mama. Books and toys are awesome distractions. Lay down a kid for tummy time with a book and a couple of stuffed animals to look at. When they start getting fussy, swap it out for something new. The longer they're on the ground the more comfortable they feel there, so keep them entertaining themselves as long as possible. 6. Have several meals in your cupboard that takes less than 3 minutes to heat up. That is literally the amount of time you have to eat every meal for the foreseeable future. No joke. Hot Pockets FTW. 7. Speaking of food, your crockpot (aka Slow Cooker) is your new best friend. But feel free not to get acquainted for at least three months after the arrival of your babies. 8. Attempt to get out of the house at least once a week for a change of scenery. Your first day may go something like this: Pack the diaper bag and get everything ready to go. Change both babies into clothes. Feed the babies simultaneously. Burp one baby. Second baby pukes all over himself. First baby pukes all over you. Change second baby's clothes. Change your clothes. Put babies into carseats. Catch puke again that comes exploding out of each of them. We call these "Protest Pukes." Decide it's not worth it to change them again and just take them wet. Run the stroller down to the car. Scoop both carseats up and put them outside. Shut your foot in the door as you lock up. (Optional) Finally get in the car and go to Target. (Or the national bargain chain of your choosing) While at Target picking up the 3 things you came to get, both babies will attract all sorts of attention which slows you up and makes them scream. It will be awesome. And it will get better. I promise. 9. Go back to work one day a week despite the stress it causes leading up to that one day. Remind yourself that it's good for everyone. This mama gets to use her brain/essentially do the same thing I do at home, but to big people and these sweet boys get their daddy's undivided attention for a full day. I've seriously had some of my favorite experiences on these days where it's just me and the boys. Don't forget to take pictures. Mamma usually works the camera 'round here, but just buckle down and snap a picture or two. 10. Have a singing star. Nothing entertains quite like it does. Except Daddy. Daddy's the best. 11. Learn how to nurse a baby standing up. You very well may be walking all over the house with one baby attached so you can take care of the other baby. I have no experience in this area. 12. Always have your camera ready and take as many pictures as you can because your sleep deprived self will not remember the first few months of their lives. No joke. Take pictures AND video of everyday things. It might seem like a waste at the time, but even though our boys are only 6 months old we already look back at the videos of them as newborns and reminisce. 13. Learn how to multi-task. 14. Don't bother doing up the clasps on your nursing bra, feeding times come all too quickly to bother with that. 15. Just go ahead and move into the nursery with your babies so you can sleep walk your way over and help them in the night. Danielle's sleepy self tends to auto-magically take care of almost all the late-night baby situations. I tell her in the morning she can always wake me up and get me to help, but her instincts are so strong she rarely has the presence of mind to take me up on my offer. NOT THAT I'M COMPLAINING. 16. If you absolutely have to go shopping by yourself with the babies, you can only get 3-5 small items because that is all the room you have in your cart. 17. Have your husband cook you breakfast every morning. You very well may turn into Gaston from Beauty and the Beast and be able to eat 5 dozen eggs. This leads me to point #17.5... 17.5 If you want your husband to do something, tell him. Now is not the time to play the "He should know what I'm thinking" game. From all husbands everywhere, this is our solemn plea: "Either do it yourself or tell us about it. Don't expect us to know anything." Husbands don't cope mentally as well as wives do. Those shoes you keep tripping over don't even register on our radar. The fact that neither of us has eaten in 14 hours somehow doesn't trigger the thought "Maybe I can make food!" If you want it, ask us. 18. Don't listen to people who tell you to sleep when the baby sleeps. That's rubbish. When you have two, and specifically when you are nursing two, you EAT when your babies sleep. Sometimes that's the only time you have and you need to eat SO MUCH FOOD. Husbands, this only applies to you to the extent of making sure your wife is fed. You come second every time. I've never nursed a baby and I don't think I ever will, but I imagine it's like having a leech drain a half pint of blood out of you 4-10 times a day. With that perspective, husbands, step up and learn to fix food your wife likes. No, ordering pizza won't win you husband points. 19. Keep a sense of humor. Catch up with your spouse when you are both up with a baby at 3 in the morning instead of grumbling to one another. Laugh instead of cry over the freshly pumped breastmilk you spill all over the kitchen floor. Watch some Bill Cosby as you scrub the never ending mountain of pump parts and bottles. Sometimes laughing is the only thing that keeps you from crying. Self deprecation is the name of the game. Your pride has no place in a house with twins. If you screw up, point it out to her and laugh about it. If she screws up, mention the last time you screwed up worse and laugh about it. It won't be very long before you screw up again and need a little forgiveness from her, so don't ever let pride stand in the way of being happy. 20. And most importantly, stand over your babies and watch them sleep for a few minutes every single night. Kiss your spouse and thank the Lord for sending you these two perfect little babies and remember how amazing the whole thing is. Seeing them sleep will melt away any rough times you had during the day and rejuvenate you for the day ahead. Our boys had a few challenges with their NICU stay, Briggs' 20-day hospitalization, and a minor surgery for both of them, but we look at them and know they're perfect. No matter what goes wrong there are people worse off and you should feel blessed. We certainly do. Final thoughts: Parenthood is awesome. Danielle and I get more joy out of seeing our boys' personalities develop than we've ever experienced before. We feel closer as a couple, and we feel Christ's love through them. I believe it has also given us an insight into how Heavenly Father can love us so much despite all the ways we screw up. I've been peed, pooped, and puked on more times than you can imagine, but I love these boys more every day, and Danielle and I grow closer every day. ****Update: We have now written an updated surviving twins post about how life is one year later. You can see the newest post here.****

Babies grow fast, so it's crucial to know how they develop. A baby milestone chart can be of great help for parents who are new to the game.

The Twingaroo twins carrier/diaper bag combo is a godsend for parents with multiples (or two little ones very close in age).

Are expecting twins? That’s double the diaper changes, double the delight and double the fun. But, is there any complications of twin pregnancy? Learn More!

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We are SO excited to be back in our daily tot school routine. Now I use that term loosely because our routine is a bit on the fly since adding little miss Aubrey to the mix in April. Instead of having a set time for tot school, we jump right into our fun activities anytime […]

From wiggling a toy to tummy time, discover engaging and entertaining two-month-old baby activities you can use to support your baby’s overall development.

Hello friends! I'm Kelly from Here Comes the Sun and I am so happy to be here today as the new Printable Contributor at Uncommon Designs. I love creating printables, have an Etsy shop where I sell my creations and am happy to be able to share my love of printables with you! Fall is

Identical twin sisters Jill Justiniani and Erin Cheplak both gave birth to sons on May 5

From wiggling a toy to tummy time, discover engaging and entertaining two-month-old baby activities you can use to support your baby’s overall development.