How to Plan an Outing With Twin Infants

Planning a simple outing to the store for can be a big chore with 1 baby. With 2 babies, trying to go somewhere can seem insurmountable. It helps tremendously to have two adult caregivers during outings with twins, but sometimes that isn't possible. There will be times when you need to take your twin infants with you to the grocery store or pediatrician's office and you find yourself alone. Getting out by yourself with twins can be done successfully with some planning. Here are some steps you can take to make your outing go smoothly.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Easily maneuverable double stroller
• 1 large, stocked diaper bag

1. Try to carefully plan the outing, if possible, for a time when you can get everything done and get home before the twins need to be fed and changed. Short trips are easiest to accomplish.

2. Pack a large diaper bag with bottles (if you will be out long enough to need them), burping cloths, diapers (at least 4, but maybe more based on the length of time the outing will be), wipes, small infant toys or teethers, 4 pacifiers and pacifier clips, and 2 changes of clothes.

3. Take all of the necessities out of your purse (wallet, keys and anything else you simply cannot do without) and put them in the diaper bag. Some diaper bags are equipped with a convenient compartment for credit cards, money and keys, but if yours is not, put all of the purse items you need in a large ziploc bag and put it in the diaper bag.

4. Try asking a nearby friend or relative to ride with you to be an extra hand. Someone you know might be happy to do this for you to help make your outing go more smoothly.

5. If you will be by yourself during the outing, put each baby in the double stroller and secure them. If there is a large enough storage area under the stroller, put the diaper bag in there, if not, hang the diaper bag from the handle bar of the stroller.

6. If you are at a store where you will need a shopping cart, plan to push the stroller in front of you with one hand and pull a shopping cart behind you with the other hand. It can be done, but may require a little practice.

Tips & Warnings

• Plan to be stopped often by well-meaning people who want to comment on the twins. Be polite, but don't let yourself get held up talking to someone for long. Remember, you are trying to get done and get home before time to feed the twins again.
• If you do need to feed the twins while you are out, don't panic. Find a quiet place to sit down and pull the stroller alongside you. Recline the stroller seats and hold or prop the bottles for the twins while you sit and supervise.