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Discovering you're expecting a baby is one of those life changing moments. Your world as you know it has altered and the news can be a shock for even the most prepared of parents-to-be. If you are pregnant with twins it's fair to say that that shock is twice as great! Here at twins.co.uk we hope to be able to give you a little help both before the birth and after! |
 Essential maternity clothes for a growing bumpTuesday 15th of May 2012 Versatile and stylish, the range of Red Herring maternity clothes will not just make you feel great, they'll not break the bank either. Ideal for mixing and matching, the collection of maternity tops, dresses, trousers and skirts are designed to adapt to your changing shape and will be equally useful after the birth of your twins until you get your figure back. You'll be a yummy mummy in this Black jersey maternity dress which has a wrap-style design with a plunging crossover neckline, three quarter sleeves and ruching along the front side seams to accommodate a growing bump. Perfect to wear as a dress or equally good teamed with leggings, tights or jeans, it can be dressed up or down with accessories to look different every day of the week if necessary! Available in sizes 8-18 this wardrobe essential is for sale online for £25. more Twins development study from King's College, London Thursday 10th of May 2012 Why are some children from the same family so different from each other? With twins having both the same genes and growing up in the same environments the study of their development may have the answers. With the help of over 15,000 families, the Twins Early Development Study based at King's College London, is one of the world's premier studies of how genes and environments shape development from birth to young adulthood. Started in 1994 and lead by eminent psychologist Professor Robert Plomin, researchers are using the latest discoveries in psychology and genetics to untangle the complex interplay between nature and nurture. more  Twin baby bibs for a pair of monsters or a pair of divasTuesday 8th of May 2012 Whether they are boys or girls or one of each flavour, twins are a handful so why not accept the fact and demonstrate your wonderful sense of humour in the face of adversity with these humorous baby bibs made and designed especially for twins. These tongue in cheek bibs are made of 100% cotton and have secure velcro fastening at the neck and the hand printed slogan is durable and hard wearing. The Monster 1 / Monster 2 bibs are perfect for both sexes especially if they're a pair of little rascals and the Diva 1/Diva 2 design is great for a couple of little girls with attitude. They'll make mealtimes more fun and are unique and distinctive baby gifts. A set of two bibs are available online for £6.99. (Also available: "Be Afraid" "Be Very Afraid" Bibs and a Copy/Paste design) more Book about breastfeeding and caring for twins (or more) Thursday 3rd of May 2012  If you are planning on breastfeeding your new twins, then Mothering Multiples - Breastfeeding And Caring For Twins Or More is going to be an essential book for your bookcase. Written by Karen Kerkhoff Gromada, a lactation consultant and La Leche League Leader, this unashamedly pro-breastfeeding book, from La Leche League International aims to give mums of twins the confidence and knowledge they need to successfully breastfeed their babies. Many women feel they'll not be able to breastfeed two babies and often don't receive sufficient support from health professionals. Mothering Multiples is written in a positive and encouraging style, and not only is it packed with essential information on breastfeeding, there is also information on pregnancy issues, how to manage tasks as a multiple mum, getting enough sleep, maternal care, and the inclusion of older babies in the enlarged family. A must for parents of twins to read and then dip into when needed. morePersonalised greetings card celebrating the arrival of twins  Tuesday 1st of May 2012Make your congratulations card truly personal with a greetings card featuring a washing line with twins clothing AND the names of the new arrivals. This Personalised Card has a glossy laminated finish and is large too (A5 size). Printed in full colour on high quality 350gms card, it is beautifully designed and produced and not only can you personalise the front of the card with the twins names, you can choose to add an inside greeting message too. If you do choose to print a message inside, they'll even send it directly to the recipient for you. If you want to add your own handwritten message, you just leave the inside blank and request an extra envelope which will be posted to you with the card. Priced at just £2.99, you'd be lucky to get a card of similar quality without the personal touch for the same price. A great buy for anyone looking to congratulate new parents of twins. more Child proof your home with this 'safety in the home' kit Thursday 26th of April 2012  Once your twins find their feet and you have two tots running around causing havoc in all directions, to keep them safe (and the house in one piece) you need eyes in the back of your head. All children are inquisitive. Cupboards, doors, appliances, lids and openings of every type are fascinating to small children but may represent a hidden hazard. Luckily help is at hand in the shape of the 'Child Proof Your Home' Kit. Included in the pack are:
4 x (dual pack) Universal Cabinet Door Locks to lock cabinets containing hazardous substances such as cleaning fluids and medicines.
4 x Universal Door Stoppers to prevent doors from slamming and possibly squeezing your childrens' fingers.
4 x 2 Universal Strap Locks which are perfect for a multitude of uses such as fridges, freezers, doors cupboards, toilet seats and more.
2 x 4 Corner Cushion Guards which are great for covering hard edged tables and stands.
2 x 4 Corner Guard Protectors ideal for the sharp corners of tables, shelves, fish tanks and lots more. The strong adhesive pads are designed to fix securely without damaging doors and the locks will foil little hands whilst allowing mum and dad easy access. This is one of the few times that having twins is no more expensive than having one baby and this kit is a 'must have' for any household with twins. moreMake the headlines with the arrival of twins Monday 23rd of April 2012  If you're looking for a unique and personalised gift for new parents of twins then how about creating a 'Daily Mirror' Spoof Front Page Newspaper announcing the arrival of their bundles of joy. It's simple to do too. Just fill in the names of the proud mum and dad and those of the twins in the appropriate boxes on the order form. Then upload a photo, add the date you wish displayed and who the article is written by (yourself, of course). The page is created and you can preview your spoof newspaper to make sure it's perfect before ordering. Lastly, choose a gift presentation - choose between a full colour "Tabloid" size (28 cm x 36 cm) single sheet for £11.99,
or a full colour four-page Tabloid size 'wrap' for £19.99, ideal for wrapping around an actual Mirror newspaper. You can also choose to present it in a 31cm x 38cm presentation case which protects the Spoof Newspaper or frame it so that it can take pride of place on a wall. This 'fake' personalised newspaper is a great fun gift which will be much admired by everyone and will last so much longer than a couple of baby outfits. moreBoots discount voucher code on pushchairs, nursery furniture and car seats Wednesday 18th of April 2012  Every penny counts these days, especially if you have twins and have double the expense! So take advantage of these three discount voucher codes when you shop online with Boots. First up, if you're looking for car seats, you'll get 10% when you spend £80 or more in a single transaction by using discount voucher code CAR5347 at the checkout! If it's nursery furniture you're after, you'll save 10% when you spend £100 or more in a single transaction using NURS100 at the checkout! Finally save 10% when you spend £80 or more in a single transaction on pushchairs using discount voucher code PUSHC80 at the checkout! (these vouchers are valid until 1st May 2012) more20 fingers, 20 toes rompers for twins Tuesday 17th of April 2012  The 20 Fingers / 20 Toes romper bodysuits, are a perfect gift set for a pair of twins gift! They come in a set of two and have an envelope style neck for easy get on and get off and three popper closures at the bottom for easy nappy change. The bodysuits are made from high quality, thick (200gsm), 100% organic cotton and printed with non-toxic print that uses no chemicals and does not damage the cotton fibres to ensure a soft feel with a funky design. Each comes gift wrapped in a separate funky Milk Carton which come with a re-useable lid.
There are three different sizes to choose from (0-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-18 months).
Price £23.99 for a pack of two. more Twins On Board sign for your car Thursday 5th of April 2012 You've got twins so why not boast about it with this Twins On Board Sign for your car. Not only can you announce how special your family is to the world, other drivers are alerted to the fact that your car is carrying a special and precious cargo. These superior quality car window safety warning signs are supplied complete with a 20mm suction cup, ready for immediate use. They are extra thick, ensuring they are durable and have a gloss laminate finish. They are printed using 100% light fast inks - the bright colours ensure high visability. Price £3.99 (FREE delivery). more Create the perfect sleep environment for twins when you're out and about  Tuesday 3rd of April 2012The award-winning Twin Snooze Shade is a blackout blind created specially for double strollers. Not only does it have UPF50+ to protect baby's delicate skin and eyes from the sun's harsh rays, it allows even the lightest sleepers to get good quality sleep when away from home as it blocks 94% of light to create a dark, calm and shaded environment. No more having to drape blankets and jackets over the pram, the breathable stretchy fabric allows air to circulate and also provides protection from mosquitoes, insects, cats, wind and chill. The Twin Snooze Shade features handy 'sneak-a-peek' front zips to quietly check on your babies at any time. The shade is a universal fit, for all popular double-width strollers with one or two sun canopies and comes with a small mesh storage bag When naptime is over, it can be used to provide extra shade over the front of the stroller hood on forward-facing pushchairs. A great everyday essential for parents wanting to maintain their babies' sleep schedule and for letting babies get the sleep they need any time parents are out and about. Price £39.75. more A canopy covered wagon built for two Thursday 29th of March 2012  With summertime just around the corner and trips out planned for the family, keeping your twins happy and safe becomes a priority.
They don't want to be cooped up in their pushchairs. And you don't want to be chasing after them in all directions all day either. Where's the fun in that?
So why not inject a little adventure into your day out by giving them their very own wagon to ride around in.
Big enough for two and suitable for 18months - 4/5 years, this canopy covered wagon is great for fun outdoor family trips.
The canopy (which is detachable) is great for sun protection and there's a large storage compartment under the hinged rear seat. Two contoured seats, seat belts included for added security and the deep leg well ensures that the twins travel in comfort.
The beauty of this wagon is that riding around becomes fun. The twins will love the freedom it gives them and even when they do get out to stretch their legs, they'll want to get back in at every available opportunity. moreThe Petite Star twin pushchair now half price Monday 26th of March 2012  Check out the Petite Star Twin Charisma, which has been slashed in price from £400 to just £199.95.
This three wheeler twin pushchair is perfect for twins and can be used from birth up to four years. It has pneumatic tyres (pump included) and a lockable front swivel wheel, so it looks great and is very manoeuvrable. The babies sit side by side and there's a handy in-built viewing window in the hood. The rear skirt can neatly be folded up to reveal a mesh summer hood for extra ventilation on summers day. For inclement weather, the raincover and fleece lined footmuff (which matches the colour of the pushchair) are also included in the price too so there's nothing extra to fork out on either. Each of the seats can be reclined independantly and a single-hand folding frame and large basket make it great for mums too. The pushchair is compatible with Petite Star infant car seats to create a fully fledged Travel System.
All in all, a great buggy at a fabulous price. moreA Floatie for twins gives you an extra pair of hands at the swimming pool Thursday 22nd of March 2012  It's a good idea introducing your children to water at an early age and swimming is also a great exercise for mums looking to rediscover their long lost stomach muscles. But as you've only one pair of hands, it's impossible to take twins to the pool on your own.
Or is it?
Thanks to this Bouyancy Aid for twins, you can help babies to gain confidence in the water, even if you're all by yourself. Okay, so it's a brave mum who'll do a swimming pool trip with young twins solo and it's always nicer to have a real pair of extra hands. The beauty of this Twin Floatie is that if dad or a friend come along, you'll both get the opportunity to have a proper swim by yourself as you can take it in turns to watch the twins. Suitable for babies weighing up to 15kg, this inflatable floatie has two seats and comes complete with coloured balls. moreRaising Twins - the essential guide from birth to young adult Monday 19th of March 2012  Who says that they don't come with a handbook! Here's a book that'll take you from the birth of your twins all the way up to the demanding and stressful young adult stage. Raising Twins - The Essential Guide From Birth To Young Adult by Clare House, a mother of identical 21 year old twin daughters, is also a Twinline listener for parents of twins who have worries or problems. She's experienced the joy and difficulties of bringing up twins first hand and the book is a practical, step-by-step guide for all parents expecting or raising twins. Raising Twins starts at the beginning – pregnancy – covering the first scans, body changes and personal care, before moving on to birth and coming home – preparation, equipment, labour, feeding two babies, and more. Tips include managing the endless demands of toddling tykes, twin clubs, attention seeking, starting school and being in separate (or same) classes, right through to teenage years and leaving home. Always practical, the author discusses the role grandparents can play, dad’s role, relationships with other siblings, identifying identical twins and how the friendships that twins make are affected. Featuring the personal experiences of both the author and those she has spoken to, Raising Twins is easy to follow and dip in and out of. This book is a must for anyone with twins and is available online for £8.44 (rrp £12.99) moreAre Brad and Angelina expecting second set of twins? Thursday 15th of March 2012 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie already have twins - Vivienne and Knox, but sources close to the couple have told reporters that Angelina is pregnant again . . . with another set of twins. If they're correct, this will bring their brood up to eight and at this rate, if they have any more, they really will need to book a full railway carriage / aeroplane when they travel! According to those same sources also claim that Brangelina are engaged and planning to marry this year. Whether the notoriously argumentative couple can make it to the altar with the stress of a wedding and the hormones that comes with a double pregnancy remains to be seen. For anyone interested, once you have a set of fraternal twins, you're twice as likely to have another set in future pregnancies. Fraternal twins occur when the mum releases more than one egg. This can occur naturally, however the main cause of two sets of twins in one family is due to the fact that an increasing number of women are taking fertility drugs to boost their fertility. The drugs work by stimulating more than one egg to ovulate which increases a woman's chance of not just getting pregnant but of having having twins, triplets or more! more Twin sized playmat Monday 12th of March 2012  This huge puffy Twin Size Playmat has been specially designed to be one of the few mats on the market to accommodate twins. Suitable for use from birth onwards, the multi-textured surface and colorful design helps stimulate babies senses while playing with the fun activities helps develop fine and gross motor skills. The mat features special features such as plastic rings, bird squeaker, baby safe mirror, crinkling sea waves, jumping fish and textural sand. Also included are three soft toys that can attach to the mat - a squeaking frog, a soft ball with chime bell sound and a musical bee. When the twins have finished playing, you simply fold it up and the velcro tab and handles make it super easy to transport too. moreA "Double Blessed" t-shirt perfect for parents of twins Thursday 8th of March 2012  If you're looking for a gift for someone with (or expecting) twins or just fancy treating yourself to a T-shirt celebrating that you're a member of the twin mum club, then how about a Double Blessed T-shirt. This quality t-shirt is made from 158g, 100% cotton jersey knit, has double-needle stitched sleeves and bottom hem for long-lasting quality and the neckline is accented with bound-on self trim. Printed on the front is a cute graphic of twin angels sitting on a cloud and the words "Double Blessed". Available in white, pink or yellow in four sizes (S, M, L and XL) it costs from £15 online. If you're pregnant with twins, get a larger size to wear as a comfy maternity top. Not only will it look great, you'll be telling the world how blessed you are and explaining just why your bump is so big!! moreThe perfect garden toy for twins - a see saw Monday 5th of March 2012  Fun on a see saw requires two people, that are the same size so what better outside toy to enjoy in the garden could there be for a pair of twins. Not only are they guaranteed a playmate to enjoy the see saw with, the chances are that as twins, and as such the same age, they are the same weight (or close enough) to have hours of outdoors fun together. This Sturdy Wooden See-Saw has been designed to offer years of use. It is beautifully crafted, simple to assemble, will look stunning against any picturesque garden backdrop and, more importantly, will keep your kids entertained for hours. At either end of the 3m long main beam (made of pine) are two shaped seats made from waterproof material. The pine handles offer a feeling of security and comfort when holding on. The see saw not only comes with a full 10 year warranty against rot and infestation, but has reached all BS EN71 safety standards too. Suitable for toddlers from 18 months to chldren of 6 years. moreLocal babysitters and home helps Thursday 1st of March 2012  What every mum of twins needs is a spare pair of hands and here's how you get them. Simply log on to FindA Babysitter.com. Their huge database of 100,000 childcarers across the whole of the UK allows parents to quickly find and connect with candidates that live and work locally. Carers including babysitters, nannies, au pairs, childminders, cleaners, housekeepers and tutors, display references, background checks and detailed info about themselves to parents. Many are bilingual / multilingual, perfect if you want your children exposed to another language. Many have childcare degrees, some are students, some already have experience looking after twins / babies but all love caring for and looking after children. You can choose to sign up for a full paid membership which allows you to contact carers directly and gives you direct access to background checks or you can sign up for no cost whatsoever which allows you to search for carers, see their references and post job ads on the site. moreBeautiful maternity / nursing clothes from Babes with Babies Monday 27th of February 2012  When you're carrying twins, good fitting, stylish and comfortable maternity clothes are essential. Some manufacturers seem to go out there way to make you feel even fatter and frumpier than you do already so we're delighted to have found Babes With Babies who sell elegant clothing and gorgeous accessories for pregnant women, new mums, and those buying gifts for them and their babies.
There's so many great clothes to choose from, but here at Twins HQ we just love this Georgiana Sleeveless Maternity Evening Dress by Mothers En Vogue which would be perfect for parties, weddings or when you just want to feel a little bit fabulous. It's designed for both pregnancy and beyond - the dress has ingenious easy breastfeeding access via a double-layer (to feed your baby simply pull the neckline to either side to reveal openings on the inner layer). The cut and styling at the waist works brilliantly all through pregnancy and with a postnatal tum and the dress is available in five sizes (8, 10, 12, 14, 16) and two colours - lilac as shown or black. Price £75. moreBook Day fancy dress costumes perfect for twins Thursday 23rd of February 2012  World Book Day is on the 1st of March. Don't strain your eyes looking for appropriate costumes for your twins, because we've already found these kid-size Fancy Dress Costumes from the much loved search and find Where's Wally books which will be just perfect for a set of boy / girl twins.
The Child Where's Wally Costume includes a long sleeved, red and white stripey top, blue trousers with an elasticated waist band for a comfortable fit, a matching bobble hat and a pair of black glasses with round frames.
The Where's Wally Girl Costume is based on Wilma, Wally's girlfriend and twin sister of Wenda. It includes a long sleeved red and white stripey top, blue skirt with double hem stitching and a half-elasticated waist band, a matching pair of red and white striped tights, a bobble hat and the finishing touch is a pair of black glasses with round frames.
The outfits are also available separately - £19.99 for the boys costume, £18.99 for the girls Wheres Wally Costume but buy both together and save yourself some money as a Set Of Two Boy / Girl Where's Wally Outfits is available online for £33.99 (a saving of £5).
The costumes come in three different sizes - small (age 4-6), medium (age 7-9) and large (age 9-12). more- Twins won't less blindness stand in their way Monday 20th of February 2012  20 year old identical twin brothers Michael and Dan Smith from Barnet, North London have not let adversity get in their way, despite both being left almost totally blind by a cruel and rare hereditary eye condition. Leber's Optic Neuropathy affects mostly young men and results in visual loss due to degeneration of cells within the optic nerve. Michael lost his sight first. Within just a few weeks, the first year medical student with a glittering future ahead of him, went from having perfect vision to only being able to make out shadowy shapes. Less than a year later, aeronautical engineering student Dan also lost his sight within a few weeks. The twins are not just brothers but best friends too and their common suffering and close bond has helped them get through what must have been a terrible and devastating time. Michael had to give up his dreams of being a doctor and both twins had to adapt their lives, learning Braille and learning how to cope day to day without their vision. But rather than feeling sorry for themselves, they have demonstrated an amazing strength and resilience - Dan is continuing with his degree whilst Michael who is in football training for this year's Paralympic Game, is now studying geography at King's College London and hopes to be a disability lawyer when he graduates. Dan and Michael are also embarking on a 350-mile tandem bike ride from London to Amsterdam in April 2012 hoping to raise £10,000 for Blind in Business, a charity which helps blind and partially sighted people into work. Click www.justgiving.com/sevenmenfivebikes if you'd like to sponsor them in their fabulous efforts. moreUnderbed playtable with drawers Wednesday 15th of February 2012  There's nothing worse than tidy up time for toddlers when all their toys end up in one big box. This is particularly true with sets of toys. But it's less of a problem with this underbed table which is not just a brilliant play area, it's also useful for toy storage for bedrooms that are short on space. The table will fit under most beds and as the storage drawer is on castors, your kids can just wheel it out by pulling on the jute rope handle. If they've spent all day creating a masterpiece, it can be easily preserved as because it's on the table, no one is going to stand on it. The top of the table is reversible - one side features a blackboard, the other side is white. The three drawers offer plenty of space for favourite toys - be it a train set (featured), cars, characters, lego or whatever else they love to play with! moreEncourage your twins to eat by being creative with their food Tuesday 7th of February 2012  If you have / know twins with a poor appetite this could well be the perfect solution. Take playing with your food to a whole new level with the Food Face Plate as this novelty plate has a blank face printed on it which can be embellished creatively by you (or the kids) to add hair or beards, hats or earrings, eyebrows or anything else you can think up! Make dinner time fun, create characters and stories that will not just encourage them to eat but actually look forward to meal times. "Mr Mashed Potato Hair went out one day. But it was soooo windy that he started to go bald. Suddenly . . . his eyebrow disappeared too!" The twins will be keen to play their part in the story and before you know it, job done!
A happy, fun and productive mealtime. The plate is dishwasher and microwave proof and is gift boxed.
Mr Food Face Plate is available online for just £9.99. Also available Ms. Food Plate. moreThe best twin pushchairs on the market Thursday 2nd of February 2012  A twin buggy is possibly going to be the biggest investment that new parents of twins are going to make so it's important to get it right. Buggies and strollers are cheap, light and ideal for everyday use, but if you lead an active lifestyle you’d be better off with a more expensive all-terrain pushchair. Travel systems can make life easier if you use your car a lot, allowing you to click car seats directly onto the pushchair and saving waking the babies up, but are more expensive. Tandem pushchairs (where one twin sits behind the other) have the advantage of being narrower than side by side buggies but can be more cumbersome to manoevre and often only one of the seats fully reclines making it unsuitable until the twins are at least 6 months old. Pushchairs which fully recline are ideal for newborns as they can lie flat, but are generally bulkier and heavier than lightweight buggies. For an overview of the pros and cons of some of the buggies on the market today moreA breast feeding cushion that'll help you feed both twins at the same time Monday 30th of January 2012  Breastfeeding both twins at the same time? Then you'll love the My Brest Friend Breastfeeding Pillow, recommended by both Lactation Consultants & Osteopaths. The adjustable back, arm and elbow rests help eliminate sore backs and shoulder stress when breastfeeding and allow the mother to create an ideal breastfeeding position without straining muscles. The pillow works as it stays securely in one position once on - it wraps around the mothers waist using a silent release clip strap and doesn't slip when she moves. The back of the cushion helps with the mums posture, preventing sore necks and backs. The babies lie comfortably on the pillow, at the correct height for latching on - no pulled nipples or crying babies as you adjust position. The pillow is covered in an easy wash, zip off cover in hypo-allergenic cotton and has been designed to be perfect for women who've had a C-section too. Every breastfeeding mum of twins should have one! morePrevious |
Twin pregnancy The first year The toddler years How to improve your chances of having twins Celebrities with twins Deals and offers Twin strollers / twin buggies Essential reading for parents of twins Twins in the news Maternity clothes Fancy dress costumes for twins Clothing for twins Must haves for twins Must haves for mums Gift ideas for twins Safety with twins Gift ideas for older twins Services for twins |