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Juggling Twins: The Best Tips, Tricks, and Strategies from Pregnancy to the Toddler Years
"Practical advice and a healthy dose of humorthis book has exactly what parents need to help them survive and thrive with multiples. Recommended reading for all mothers of twins."
Deborah Platek, MD, Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
The best twin-tested tips used by real moms
The stresses that come with raising two babies are numerous - but they are predictable and manageable. From a mom who's been there, Juggling Twins is a funny, realistic, and reassuring guide for every new mom of twins who may be asking herself, "Can I really pull this off?"
From pregnancy to health issues, to eating, sleeping, bathing, and leaving the house, Juggling Twins is packed with the detailed, authoritative information that parents of multiples crave. Author and mother of twin boys Meghan Regan-Loomis offers an indispensable toolkit of solutions and techniques, designed to create order out of the chaos and help you catch your breath during this daunting and exhilarating time.
You'll learn how to: Nurse two babies at the same time, comfortably and efficiently Get exactly the help you need from family and friends in those first few weeks Safely transport two babies at once when it's just you and them Survive the nights by breaking them into shifts (that include you sleeping) Stockpile the right food and supplies in advance of their arrival Maintain your identity and your marriage through the madness
Get prepared, stay calm, and count your blessings (two )raising twins can be a wonderful, intense challenge that draws on the best in you.
Deborah Platek, MD, Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
The best twin-tested tips used by real moms
The stresses that come with raising two babies are numerous - but they are predictable and manageable. From a mom who's been there, Juggling Twins is a funny, realistic, and reassuring guide for every new mom of twins who may be asking herself, "Can I really pull this off?"
From pregnancy to health issues, to eating, sleeping, bathing, and leaving the house, Juggling Twins is packed with the detailed, authoritative information that parents of multiples crave. Author and mother of twin boys Meghan Regan-Loomis offers an indispensable toolkit of solutions and techniques, designed to create order out of the chaos and help you catch your breath during this daunting and exhilarating time.
You'll learn how to: Nurse two babies at the same time, comfortably and efficiently Get exactly the help you need from family and friends in those first few weeks Safely transport two babies at once when it's just you and them Survive the nights by breaking them into shifts (that include you sleeping) Stockpile the right food and supplies in advance of their arrival Maintain your identity and your marriage through the madness
Get prepared, stay calm, and count your blessings (two )raising twins can be a wonderful, intense challenge that draws on the best in you.
- GenresParentingNonfiction
324 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2008
15 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
January 13, 2024
There are definitely some helpful tips/things to consider in this book, but I couldn’t get past the author’s apparent belief that only women are capable of taking care of babies. All of the people she suggested you call on to help you after birth were women—your mom, mother in law, aunts, etc. Eye roll! There were also some truly unhinged infant sleep suggestions.
September 7, 2019
It was ok. By now, I've had my healthy dose of what to expect when you're expecting twins (doom and gloom, mostly, haha), so I didn't take any of the "warnings" that close to the heart. What I'm having trouble with is that the lady doesn't seem to have a very deep understanding of child development. So, if you look at this book as a sort of like "girl talk" from one mom to another, what she says is for the most part ok. I just wouldn't rely on just that.
October 16, 2014
There are books written for all different kinds of readers, this one was not written for me. I am not a huge fan of the exaggerated, or sarcastic comments that make me not trust the author. The book is well written, but just not what I needed in my time of need.
November 26, 2025
Out of date, judgy and not particularly helpful.
January 4, 2017
funny, insightful...an easy ready.
September 6, 2010
This post is entirely self-oriented and it is doubtful whether it will be relevant to anyone who ever reads this blog. That said, I am writing it because I am having twins in November! Being somewhat clueless about what to expect and how to handle them when they are born, I decided to find a book that would give me some advice. The Amazon reader reviews enthusiastically recommended Juggling Twins: The Best Tips, Tricks, and Strategies from Pregnancy to the Toddler Years, and so here I am now, having read it cover to cover and ready to share what I’ve learned.
I could hardly get through the first section of the book without crying. Everything sounded so daunting. The author, a high school and English literature teacher who wrote this book after her own experience with twins, certainly doesn’t try to whitewash the difficulties of caring for the newborns. Paragraphs like this one urging me to hire a nanny for the first few months didn’t make me feel secure about my abilities to cope after leaving the hospital:
“Prepare for the cost [of hiring a nanny] as best you can, as early as you can, understanding that as outrageous an assault on your budget as it may seem, it is not a luxury any more than expensive medical care or car repairs are luxuries. Even if you partner is totally on board and can be home to help care for the twins, it is still essential that you have help…. You can expect to pay over $100 per day or over $200 per night for this service.”
$100 per day for a nanny? That’s not happening. Even if your partner can be home to help care for the twins? My husband will be working full time and going to school full time when the twins arrive.
Many other comments made by the author early on in the book were no more inspiring. Take back all the cute baby clothes you get at your shower and use the money to stockpile diapers, because diapers are going to cost you a fortune. Be prepared to feed the newborn twins every two hours. Oh, and it takes about an hour to feed both of them, because you can’t do it at the same time unless you have help, so every other hour of your time (night and day) will be spent breast feeding.
I read all the sections covering the time up until the twins are three months old, and after reading those, I had to take a breather. What was the purpose of this book, anyway? Was it trying to make me spend my entire third trimester in depression and dread?
After spending a week gathering up my courage, I plunged ahead into the next portion of the book. Things started to look a little brighter. The author had very helpful advice about how to get out of the house with two babies (don’t lock yourself out of the house while one baby is inside and the other baby is in the car). I also appreciated her suggestion of setting weekly goals for yourself (read for twenty minutes a day, get out of the house with the kids at least twice) so that you don’t go crazy just taking care of babies all the time. Other good tidbits gave counsel about how to get the twins on the same sleeping schedule at night, how to get them to nap without waking each other up, and how to deal with potty training two at once.
I finished the book very excited about having the twins and feeling positive about my abilities to take care of them. Now, I just have to figure out how to get through the first three months without hiring a nanny….
I could hardly get through the first section of the book without crying. Everything sounded so daunting. The author, a high school and English literature teacher who wrote this book after her own experience with twins, certainly doesn’t try to whitewash the difficulties of caring for the newborns. Paragraphs like this one urging me to hire a nanny for the first few months didn’t make me feel secure about my abilities to cope after leaving the hospital:
“Prepare for the cost [of hiring a nanny] as best you can, as early as you can, understanding that as outrageous an assault on your budget as it may seem, it is not a luxury any more than expensive medical care or car repairs are luxuries. Even if you partner is totally on board and can be home to help care for the twins, it is still essential that you have help…. You can expect to pay over $100 per day or over $200 per night for this service.”
$100 per day for a nanny? That’s not happening. Even if your partner can be home to help care for the twins? My husband will be working full time and going to school full time when the twins arrive.
Many other comments made by the author early on in the book were no more inspiring. Take back all the cute baby clothes you get at your shower and use the money to stockpile diapers, because diapers are going to cost you a fortune. Be prepared to feed the newborn twins every two hours. Oh, and it takes about an hour to feed both of them, because you can’t do it at the same time unless you have help, so every other hour of your time (night and day) will be spent breast feeding.
I read all the sections covering the time up until the twins are three months old, and after reading those, I had to take a breather. What was the purpose of this book, anyway? Was it trying to make me spend my entire third trimester in depression and dread?
After spending a week gathering up my courage, I plunged ahead into the next portion of the book. Things started to look a little brighter. The author had very helpful advice about how to get out of the house with two babies (don’t lock yourself out of the house while one baby is inside and the other baby is in the car). I also appreciated her suggestion of setting weekly goals for yourself (read for twenty minutes a day, get out of the house with the kids at least twice) so that you don’t go crazy just taking care of babies all the time. Other good tidbits gave counsel about how to get the twins on the same sleeping schedule at night, how to get them to nap without waking each other up, and how to deal with potty training two at once.
I finished the book very excited about having the twins and feeling positive about my abilities to take care of them. Now, I just have to figure out how to get through the first three months without hiring a nanny….
April 24, 2013
'Juggling Twins' was definitely a fun and useful read. I appreciated Regan-Loomis' sense of humor that seemed undimmed by such daunting subject matter. After all the pregnancy books I've read lately, it was nice to graduate to a book about what actually happens after the babies are born. And information about the logistics of post-birth care feels cursory at best.
As with any parenting book, I do disagree with a few of her ideas. The primary one being that one needs to hire professional help to get through the first three months. For some people this will simply not be affordable. While I understand the need to stress that learning to care for two babies is not something you should feel needs to be done without support, some of us just can't afford an overnight nanny. She does concede the point, but only after half jokingly suggesting that you take out a second mortgage on your house to hire a professional. At this point, with our budget, I will be happy if I can hire a teenager friend of the family to come in a couple times a week just to help with the dishes. Near the end of the chapter about getting help, her strident tone took away from her otherwise engaging prose and down-to-earth approach.
The chapter about what you really need to have ready for the newborns is very helpful. I am using it as a template to sort through the vast amount of baby stuff out there that is all marketed as 'must haves'. There is excellent information on how to enforce sleep schedules, handle breastfeeding two in succession or at the same time, and all the rest you may expect from a book about learning to handle newborns or any number. The tips for traveling are empowering, giving the reader a sense that just because you are now caring around two doesn't mean you are tied to your house, or even your state.
Perhaps the single most important thing to take away from this book it that a twin pregnancy (or any multiple pregnancy) is NOT the same as a singleton pregnancy, and it follows that learning to care for two (or more children) isn't the same as learning to care for one. Regan-Loomis' admission of this was refreshing when compared to our friends' and family's repeated assertions of "Oh, you'll figure it out." Certainly a lot of what she says could be chalked up to common sense (don't leave one baby in the house alone while you put the other in his car seat, for example). But when faced with the overwhelming and life changing event that is on the horizon, sometimes being told and re-told the obvious is indeed helpful.
As with any parenting book, I do disagree with a few of her ideas. The primary one being that one needs to hire professional help to get through the first three months. For some people this will simply not be affordable. While I understand the need to stress that learning to care for two babies is not something you should feel needs to be done without support, some of us just can't afford an overnight nanny. She does concede the point, but only after half jokingly suggesting that you take out a second mortgage on your house to hire a professional. At this point, with our budget, I will be happy if I can hire a teenager friend of the family to come in a couple times a week just to help with the dishes. Near the end of the chapter about getting help, her strident tone took away from her otherwise engaging prose and down-to-earth approach.
The chapter about what you really need to have ready for the newborns is very helpful. I am using it as a template to sort through the vast amount of baby stuff out there that is all marketed as 'must haves'. There is excellent information on how to enforce sleep schedules, handle breastfeeding two in succession or at the same time, and all the rest you may expect from a book about learning to handle newborns or any number. The tips for traveling are empowering, giving the reader a sense that just because you are now caring around two doesn't mean you are tied to your house, or even your state.
Perhaps the single most important thing to take away from this book it that a twin pregnancy (or any multiple pregnancy) is NOT the same as a singleton pregnancy, and it follows that learning to care for two (or more children) isn't the same as learning to care for one. Regan-Loomis' admission of this was refreshing when compared to our friends' and family's repeated assertions of "Oh, you'll figure it out." Certainly a lot of what she says could be chalked up to common sense (don't leave one baby in the house alone while you put the other in his car seat, for example). But when faced with the overwhelming and life changing event that is on the horizon, sometimes being told and re-told the obvious is indeed helpful.
October 8, 2013
This book was a good starting place for us. It's not too serious, so it didn't overwhelm us with lists of things we were going to have to do. It did, however, give us an idea of some of the things we are going to be up against. The author definitely has her own perspective, which is both good and bad.
Her perspective makes the book more entertaining than one written generically. For example, she believes in significant weight gain during pregnancy. She's also against co-bedding, and in favor of using "play yards" (apparently the term "play pen" has been lost to political correctness). While I may not agree with all of her points of view, it's more interesting to read than wishy-washy advice.
On the other hand, since she has an older child, much of the advice is given from that perspective. We were panicked by the amount of help she said we'd need in the first month. Towards the end of that chapter, we read the part that started, "The amount and type of help you need is determined in part by whether or not you have an older child or children." Although we realize the first month will be tough, the specific prescriptions she gave grew out of her own experiences. (We're still looking forward to your visit, Mom.)
Now that I look at this book after a month or two, I see more good stuff in it (which baby goods are must haves and which are superfluous). Still, I value it the most for the sense of perspective. As such, it might be a good one to borrow from the library, if possible.
I think the part that sticks with me from the book is the following (for reasons I don't understand, it's presented as part of a poem):
Reading that was the moment where I realized, "Oh, no, people will be coming up to me to say stupid things in a grocery store. I've structured much of my life around not having to talk to strangers." In that moment, my twin panic grew by leaps and bounds
Her perspective makes the book more entertaining than one written generically. For example, she believes in significant weight gain during pregnancy. She's also against co-bedding, and in favor of using "play yards" (apparently the term "play pen" has been lost to political correctness). While I may not agree with all of her points of view, it's more interesting to read than wishy-washy advice.
On the other hand, since she has an older child, much of the advice is given from that perspective. We were panicked by the amount of help she said we'd need in the first month. Towards the end of that chapter, we read the part that started, "The amount and type of help you need is determined in part by whether or not you have an older child or children." Although we realize the first month will be tough, the specific prescriptions she gave grew out of her own experiences. (We're still looking forward to your visit, Mom.)
Now that I look at this book after a month or two, I see more good stuff in it (which baby goods are must haves and which are superfluous). Still, I value it the most for the sense of perspective. As such, it might be a good one to borrow from the library, if possible.
I think the part that sticks with me from the book is the following (for reasons I don't understand, it's presented as part of a poem):
The next time we are shopping for tomatoes
And yet another cart-pushing poet succumbs
To the irrepressible need to proclaim "Double Trouble"
Reading that was the moment where I realized, "Oh, no, people will be coming up to me to say stupid things in a grocery store. I've structured much of my life around not having to talk to strangers." In that moment, my twin panic grew by leaps and bounds
July 6, 2011
I thought this was one of the more useful books I've read recently. It's not medically based, just gives tips on dealing with the day-to-day management of twins. I liked that she also had an older child to handle, and she seemed very practical. When she did get into medical territory, I wasn't as into her opinions (she's very pro-nursing, for example) and there wasn't a ton of medical validity to any of her claims (she points out she's not a doctor, nor was the book written with one). But those parts were easy to skip around. This would be a good book to get and use as a resource throughout the years, since some of the chapters (Traveling with Twins) might not be relevant now, but would in the future. . .when you've forgotten what the book says. She also gives a thorough list of resources at the end.
June 24, 2013
This book was just okay for me. It seemed to mostly focus on the author's experience, sometimes that was presented as the only logical way to do things. Other times additional perspectives were introduced but rarely elaborated upon. The author introduced sleep training saying it was more complicated than just letting the babies cry themselves to sleep however did not specify what made it more complicated. I got annoyed easily at suggestions that were presented as rules- such as forgoing a baby shower in order to just have a party people bring diapers to. Good idea, but the author acts as though anyone that doesn’t do it this way is crazy. That is a running theme for most topics. I agree the book is funny at times, but I found the tone more sarcastic/insulting. Maybe I would laugh more if my babies were here already and I had the additional perspective.
October 24, 2013
My progress with this book was initially very rapid, but slowed till I forced myself to slog through the last bits. It's a good book, with plenty of useful information, but I've found that books on parenting issues tend to take on a very interpersonal tone, and this book was like hanging out with your smart, snarky but exhaustively bossy friend. She's great in emergencies and, almost contradictorily, at parties, but being around her for a long while just saps your energy. You know she's (mostly) right, but who likes being steamrolled all the time?
There are certainly very valuable tips on managing life with twins, and her candid accounts of her own trials and errors were the kind of reassuring thing that prospective moms of twins definitely need to read. Perhaps in several months I'll revisit this review, as I can better endorse or dismiss her suggestions then.
There are certainly very valuable tips on managing life with twins, and her candid accounts of her own trials and errors were the kind of reassuring thing that prospective moms of twins definitely need to read. Perhaps in several months I'll revisit this review, as I can better endorse or dismiss her suggestions then.
December 9, 2014
this is the best "twins" book i've read (and i've read quite a few at this point) mainly for the practical suggestions for how to deal with breastfeeding, sleep training, etc. obviously there were some ridiculous suggestions, like hiring professional help day and night in the beginning (i'm pretty sure the people who can afford that are not reading this book, they are just hiring more people to help), and inviting everyone you have ever met to a party where they have to bring a case of diapers. but overall i thought that this book was more realistic than most, and i love the sample daily chart provided. i do have to say that i may never forget the author's description of her post-pregnancy navel as resembling a "cow's anus" - that one will haunt me for awhile.
July 10, 2012
Good lord! Reading this book stresses me out!! Some advice seems a bit ridiculous (I am not going to ask "everyone I know" to come to a diaper party for us)but some really good advice, too....one of the best tips thus far has been that although knowing how to calm babies is important, keeping myself calm is even more important and the first step. Makes sense intuitively, but helpful to have it written out for me. Also has some good basic strategies for the first couple of weeks - I imagine that we would have figured it out, but it's helpful to think about and visualize it a bit now, ahead of time...
August 5, 2016
I just eat up these sort of books. Written by one mom's personal experience, you have to take the advice for what its worth, but I love getting the first hand stories. She has lots of advice (hire a nanny) which may be a little ridiculous for our circumstances but I appreciate her tone and her realistic outlook. I know these babies will be a blessing, I don't really need a book to tell me that, I need books like these that will help me survive all the blessings with my sanity intact(for the most part anyway!) I think the author and I could be friends, which is always a good way to end the book.
August 9, 2012
I was very disappointed with this book. The best advice she gave was to keep a notebook/log of who pooped when and who ate what since the sleep deprivation will leave you in a fog. That was true and helpful and I did keep a log for almost the entire first year (we had some medical issues too, so it was very helpful to keep the log). However, she advises moms to get used to the babies crying it out and I can't stand for that. I didn't let my twins CIO and you don't have to either. I would advise instead for moms of twins to read "Mothering Multiples" by Karen Gromada; i found it overall to be a much better and more helpful book.
March 20, 2010
I really liked some of the tips in this book expect for the chapter about hiring a Nanny. She made it sound like there is no way to survive having twins without having a Nanny, and that is just not a possibility for us. I think a chapter on what to do if you cant hire a nanny would have been helpful. And I REALLY do not think it is good advice to tell people to cash in their retirement plan in order to pay for Nanny. That is really bad advice!
Other than that, I really liked the book and loved the diaper shower idea!
Other than that, I really liked the book and loved the diaper shower idea!
July 28, 2012
This is an easy to read book about early stage life with twins. Less of a textbook than some other baby and twin books, it is scattered with humour and personal stories as well as advice. Somewhat disappointing to read the section on "Single mum with twins" or "raising twins alone" or whatever it was called ONLY to see it give advice on keeping your marriage together! Perhaphs change the title of that section, Meghan. I won't be able to comment on the advice until I've had my own twins but even as a read it is worthwhile.
September 7, 2010
I appreciate anything that helps me learn a little more about my current situation. This book had some excellent pointers and ideas and I really appreciated it. I felt like there was a LOT of stuff for when they were newborns though...and not much after that. I need to find something for their current stage--and for when the moving begins because, let's be honest, that's where I might have a mental breakdown.
May 22, 2011
Juggling Twins really helped me feel a bit more in control while I was awaiting the birth of my twin girls. The author had practical advice - such as the need to schedule people to help you after the babies are born, and the importance in the first couple weeks of getting your partner and family to feed the babies for one shift so that you can catch up on sleep. I found I used this book the most before the babies were born and in the first couple months.
April 7, 2016
I skipped the first half of the book since my twins are already 5 months old. I liked some of her advice. None of what she says is groundbreaking, but this could be a good book to read if you haven't already read many books about twins (I should probably stop at this point!). Just keep in mind that the author is a mother sharing her personal experience and opinions, not a doctor. This isn't a bad thing, just something to be aware of.
October 18, 2008
The first few chapters are a bit ridiculous. It makes you wonder who this author thinks she is. At one point she suggests the necessity of getting a Nanny. And says that you should. If you don't have the money...oh well. Beg people for it. Just get a Nanny. Once you get past the pre-birth chapters, however, the advice is good and humorous.
September 3, 2016
This book felt like because she needed so much help, she feels like no one could possibly do it with any less help than she had. A huge, negative Nancy, you cannot do this alone, it's going to be so hard, good luck if you try. The tone of the book was overwhelming and I didn't appreciate it. It wasn't groundbreaking advice wise either. I was less than impressed.
March 23, 2010
this book was written with a good dose of humor (which I am sure I will need!) but I don't know how much practical advice I got from it? Mainly it told me I should do nothing this pregnancy but sit on my butt and gain 70 pounds. Hmmm.
July 27, 2016
There is a lot of useful information, but there is so much information it's difficult to sort out what you need and when. And, though I appreciate a realistic viewpoint, it borders on negative at times.
January 23, 2009
Of all the twin books I read, this one was the best, good advice, good humor.
July 19, 2010
Funny and informative as well as balanced.
February 11, 2013
Inetersting tips. Sarcastic and blunt writing style
April 14, 2016
A mother of twins shares helpful information with realism and a touch of humor. It covers many practical day-to-day situations and questions.
September 10, 2012
Lots of good advice. Hope to put a lot to good use!
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews