Just chatting

So the twins have started crawling - well the one crawls and get in his way or try and save him from himself and all hell breaks loose :> Lots of fun - he chases ants - he eats flowers and bugs - he chews shoes (like a puppy) - he tries to pull himself up to get to magazines and then almost breaks his neck on the come down. The other is kinda squeeling along on his tummy. Very entertaining when trying to bath them alone at night - any suggestions? I kinda leave one to his own devices while bathing the other one as quick as I can - praying like hell nothing happens to him. Can't exactly put the boys in their cots (for safety sake) as soon as they get home because I kinda think sleep time is going to become something 'bad' and the cot something to despise? Leaving them to play together is also a nightmare lately as they gravitate towards each other and then you got to watch that they don't poke each others eye balls out or try to pull each others ears off. "Got you by the balls" has taken on a literal meaning in our house of late Anyhow any advise would be great!

Oh and the fun begins Ams... hehe. Mine only starting sitting at 11 months so I was fortunate in that sense. With the bathing, can't you bath them together? Or is that too much? I used to lock them all in the bathroom with me, make sure I had napppies and pj's and then get the bath ball rolling... now that they older they bath each other and I inspect to make sure that they have done a good job, lol, that is where it gets easier as they get older

I do think that you have a point about the cots... what about strapping one in a car chair/high chair while busy with the other? Or put one in the walker? I was also fortunate that they boys were home until they were 19 months and so when I got home they were bathed and fed, that was during the week though.

I left my boys when they went for each other, they will set boundaries for themselves... EVENTUALLY. Obviosly I never let it get too out of hand but they need to learn and set the boundaries for themselves (IMHO). To this day they are so used to being rough together that they will be jumping on the jumping castle, butt heads and not even notice, lol, when everyone around feels the pain except them.

All that I can tell you, and I keep reminding you, that the first year is the most challenging then things become, well not easier, just different.

XxX

I bath them together, since they could sit well at about 7-8 months. They really enjoy it and less trouble for me. Once they can stand it also gets easier to rub them down afterwards.

The fun really starts when they start walking, let me tell you! Rachel is a very active baby - she climbs on anything possibel so I have to watch her the whole time. Luckily Olivia is less inclined to climb! I also leave them to sort their troubles out themselves, although I guess two girls are less inclined to poking eyes out - they actually play nicley mostly, chasing each other and so on.

Like DJG says, the first year is the worst, then it definitely gets easier!

For us things got a lot more hectic at 8 / 9 months when my son started crawling! He is like a little hurricane and leaves a trail of destruction behind him. He is now at 11.5 months (10 months adjusted age) standing unassisted for a few seconds, then loses his balance, collapses and laughs hysterically. Grace has just started trying to crawl - hasn't quite mastered the art yet but is quite mobile on her back pushing around with her legs. From what I hear and so far what I have experienced boys are alot busier than girls - and you have been blessed with two!

I bath my babies separately. Grace first, and then put her to bed followed by Michael. Michael is a lot bigger and tries to stand up in the bath, grabs at the hand shower, taps, shampoo and anything he can lay his hands on. He's physically very strong. I'm worried poor little Grace would be overwhelmed! Michael likes to watch while I bath Grace though. They giggle and laugh at one ahother over the edge of the bath - too cute.

Jip, for me it is also getting more difficult now. Bjorn has started doing the crawling thing on his stomach. Gets everywhere he wants to on the tummy. Carmen is luckily not started yet.I take all three of them to our room where the bathroom is, also make sure all the stocks are there, put them on the floor. Then starts with one, usually the one that's crying the most, then put in the car seat. Then do the next one. Big brother usually jumps in bath with them. Mine doesn't want to sit yet, so can't bath them together yet. By the time bathtime is over, it feels like I ran a marathon!!!

Hi AMS

your boys sound exactly like mine! you could have written that paragraph about them.

I use the bath rings in the bath and bath them both at the same time. then they can't slip and cant climb but also can't grab each other. I put lots of toys in the bath and they love bath time. I also have a sive like toy through witch I pour water and they love that too. I take one out at a time and dry them then I dress them together in thier bedroom with thier milk to keep them calm.

during the day only connor was crawling till recently so he could get out of kians way. Now I have introduced "no" and "softly". We practice on the cats and on plants. I think they are improving. But I also leave them to it when they are fighting over a toy.

my problem is they are both so keen to walk and I can't walk two babies all day. we have wakers which have been a life saver, but they also get bored with them. I need 4 arms.

Side Note: I just took Dylan to the dentist to have a tooth checked and picked up a mag and who was there but your three beauties Paula... they are gorgeous

Ag thanks!!

Thanks girls - what fun we all having! Just makes me smile. Was all washed out earlier this week until I gave myself the 'they are only going to be babies once' speech and now its going better again. Re the bath rings - I end up with no space to wash their little thingies! But yes they work on every other occassion. And yes, I also feel like Ive completed the comrades each and every night

Hi - i had such a laugh now reading all your stories, and believe me i see my girls in every picture you are painting...

My rabadoe.....Nica is everywhere - they are both crawling and she stands up against everything. Kiana is my little "dolly" - very prim-and-proper , bit more cautious but not far behind her sister. She does not like standing up against stuff, but loves to walk with you holding her hands.

As for bathing when i am alone, i take both toward their bedroom and bathroom, start running the water while i get their clothes and towels ready in their bedroom. Then i take both to the bathroom , get them undressed and put both into the bath. They are literally everywhere in the bath, crawling over each other, standing up against the taps, and the rails and the walls and playing with toys and splashing everywhere - and just having so much bath fun.... sometimes annoying each other, and other times just laughing!!

the other evening my "dolly" Kiana was standing up where Nica always stands up agains the taps, so her sister decided: "THAT IS MY SPOT!" So she reached out and "attacked her sister by grabbing each one of those teeny weeny bums in her fiesty hands...(like a guy would pinch a girl's butt), obviously this was very ticcklish for Kiana so she starts giggling and cracking herself .... and the next moment Nica litterally pulls her sister off the wall/tap, down into the water, one falling down on the other , both heads under water for a split second.... And i was laughing so much lifting them up into a sitting position.... and they both just stared through their watery eyes at me like: WHAT happenend now!! - But they were fine after mommy told them.... "thats life my angels - You win some you loose some!"

After they spend about 10-15 minutes jolling in the bath, i take Kiana out quickly , wrap her in a towel (tell Nica to SIT STILL) and quickly run over to the bedroom & put her in her cot for a second, then run back to the bathroom (6-8 huge running steps), to make sure Nica is still sitting deadstill as i told her (NOT), and take her out of the bath as well to the bedroom, and wrap her dry. I take Kiana then and put her down to play for a second on the floor while i finish Nica, sometimes she is OK with it, but sometimes she cries until i start with her...... It helps if i bring the bedtime milk to the bedroom as well so that the 1st one finished can start sipping their milk so long.... sometimes if both are totally inconsolable, i put both on the floor in the bedroom and cream/powder them together .... but can still only dress one at a time...
Sometimes is feels like all your energy has been stripped, but other times just makes up for those challenging time...its fun - and i enjoy it to bits.....
wont trade it with anyone.

On the walking thing, i want to add, we bought one of these 4-in-1 things this weekend. its like a little car that a child can sit in, and at the back its got the little handle to push the car as well, and a longer handle for mommy and daddy to push it....

My girls loves this with Nica sitting in the car like a real 4x4 enthusiast, with one arm resting on the armrest. (like the guys hold onto the door with their elbows - you know...) and the other hand on the steering wheel.....and Kiana pushing at the back!! it is so cute!