Babysitting is fun, exhausting, overwhelming and by all standards an emotional roller coaster ride. Now multiply that by two and you can get an idea of what it would be like to babysit for twins. Not to discourage you from it, but it helps to be prepared if you’ve never done a sitters job for twins before. Because it will be a bumpy ride by all measures!
And anyone who says they are double the trouble hasn’t really babysat twins before. Because you need to give it your all to look after one child, but looking after two of the same age requires more than you can handle at times. So all you got may not be enough if you aren’t prepared.
This little guide will help you stay prepared, maintain focus and remain motivated through it all.
1. Arrive a Little Early
Getting to know the kids beforehand can give you the head start you will need to stay in the loop regarding their habits and routines. It gives you and the parent ample of time to discuss tasks, schedules, meal plans, nap times etc. It also gives you the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the kids in the parents’ presence. This way you could develop a level of trust and friendship that would greatly help once the parent leaves.
2. Ask Questions
Don’t just expect the parent to brief you with all the necessary information. This is probably new for them also, and having to deal with twins can take the mommy brain syndrome up a few more notches. So have a list of necessary questions prepared beforehand. How many bottles the kids take if they are young? How often do they take a nap? Bath time? Mealtimes? Favorite snacks? Favorite activities? Disaster control methods? Screen time limitations? Bedtime restrictions? Having answers to all these and other important questions will help you cater to them in a manner and environment that they’d feel secure in.
Any babysitter will tell you that a hungry, overtired, uncomfortable child can get pretty aggressive, pretty fast. So understanding their cues and heeding to their demands in a timely manner can help run things as smoothly as they can with twins.
3. Prepare Beforehand
Having all things handy beforehand can work as a helping hand. So layout the pajamas, prepare the snacks, have the bottles washed and sterilized and activities ready for take-off at all times. Doing so would mean you can focus on the kids rather than running around trying to juggle 8 balls at the same time.
4. Name Tags
This is particularly important for identical twins. They wouldn’t judge you for not knowing who is who at this early age, but they definitely will get frustrated if you keep mixing them up. Putting on name tags on the both of them, at least for the first few sittings, will help you and the kids remain focused on the more important matters.
5. Stick to the Routine
Easier said than done with two young kids trying to bring two separate worlds crashing down on your head, but give it your best shot! Through the poop blasts, spillages, untimely snack demands, and the ever-famous tantrums try sticking to their routine. Having a to-do list can greatly help with staying on track. Try to get the kids excited about their routine rather than forcing them to it, because if normal kid behavior is anything to go by, the more you push, the more they’d bounce!
6. Get them Busy
Getting kids busy is the best time to be creative and productive! Rather than frustratingly waiting for them to take a nap so that you can get work done, get them involved! Make meal preps, nappy changes and bath times fun and exciting. The busier they are, less likely they are to fight with each other or throw tantrums. Though make sure you put them to sleep on time. An over-tired child is a ticking bomb, and overtired twins a ticking nuclear plant!
7. Pay Attention
We all need some time to wind down, but with two kids of the same age on your watch, this is quite not possible. So ignore the desire to sneak in a phone call or browse through your social media profiles; because it only takes those few seconds of inattentiveness to turn the tables around. Wait till nap times or screen time to wind down. Until then, be grateful if you could sneak in a quick trip to the loo even!
8. Distract
Kids do get into fights, especially those of a similar age. And the best tip from sitters to deal with such conflicts is to distract them with other activities. The more you try to discipline an emotionally unstable child, the more they’d retaliate. Try to divert their attention to happier thoughts and busier activities.
9. Don’t Compare
Inarguably the worst thing you can do when babysitting twins is to select a favorite. “Wendy is being a good girl, why can’t you behave the same way!” This leads to frustration and feelings of resentment. Kids might start acting like little adults from early on, but their logical understanding is still under the developmental stages.
So rather than comparing, be encouraging towards both of them. Talk to them in a way that they think of themselves as a team. Exercise fairness and kindness when around them. So if there isn’t enough cake for both of them, eat the cake yourself and offer biscuits instead! Parents would already have learned the need for two of everything, but if one sippy cup is green and the other blue, don’t offer it to them if they are already on the verge of a fight. Try to separate them with different activities and offer again.
10. Double the Trouble and Double the Fun
One thing you need to keep reminding yourself is that they are small kids and have not really developed the sense to think logically. They will pick fights, nag each other and be jealous. And all these emotions are important for their healthy development. By providing a healthy, happy and non-competitive environment, you can encourage them to be more compassionate and caring towards each other. Attributes that they’d unknowingly thank you for the rest of their lives! So be a little patient and show a lot of kindness. They’d soon follow suit and reciprocate all that and more in a way that’d make your heart melt thousand times over every passing minute.
So there you are! Your very own babysitters Sitters city guide to babysitting twins to help you get started on this intensively laborious journey. It might seem difficult, but once you get over the overwhelm, you will actually enjoy yourself!
