As any parent will tell you, having children is one of the best and most joyous blessings you can ever have in your life; they will also tell you that it can be one of the biggest headaches as well, especially when getting out of the house to go shopping, to go to church, or just to grandma’s house for the day. This stress can compounded exponentially for parents of multiples, especially during the baby and infant stages. However, if you are the parent or parents of twins, there is a solution that will help prevent those outings form becoming overwhelming and stressful. That solution: preparation. We have heard that time and again throughout our lives, that preparation is the key to success, and never is it more true than when you have to take the kids on an outing.

The following ideas will help give you a starting point when preparing to take your twins out of the house for the day. For example, you know you need to bring the appropriate baby products with you, but how you organize them can mean the difference between a smooth trip or one filled with crying and tantrums. For instance, how many times have you stressed yourself out trying to make sure you grab everything you need? The answer here is probably more often than you would like to admit, but if you remedy this by keeping a fully packed diaper bag with non-perishables in your car at all times, you will always be ready to go whenever you have to, you will just need to grab some food for both the twins and yourself and you’re all set. Too, as part of you fully packed diaper bags, try including some quick change kits that consist of a diaper, some baby wipes and travel diaper rash cream – this way, should you need to change a diaper whilst out, you have everything in one handy bag and won’t lose precious time fumbling around the diaper bag for everything you need. You should also make sure your diaper bag contains toys, snacks and receiving blankets that can be used for a changing area or to keep your baby warm if necessary.

Once you have the basic baby supplies assembled, you need to make sure you do not forget to take some food with you, for both you and the twins. There is nothing worse than trying to console a screaming infant, or two, and realize you forgot to pack the food. Since your diaper bag is likely filled to the top by this point, one of the best ways to make sure you have what you need is to bring along an insulated lunch pack. This will not only keep the bottles cool, but will provide a quick access bag from which to grab a bottle quickly. For you, bring along some trail mix, a banana and some bottled water. Dealing with twins, whilst joyous, can also be incredibly draining and without replenishment, you will find yourself low of energy and patience quickly. Too, you should bring along some aspirin or ibuprofen for those times when your head is just pounding too hard from the commotion. With the supplies at the ready, you can turn an outing with twins from a potential nightmare to a cool, calm experience.

Content guidance provided by Amy Hall, M.O.M (Mom of Multiples)