Hi

I am a stay at home mum with my 14 month old twin boys. Lately one baby will not "co-operate" and let me do activities with both of them at the same time, like reading, rolling the ball, actually anything other than feeding.

If I try to then do these things with baby 1, the 2nd baby will come over, tug at my hair, grab my face and turn it to him so he gets my attention.

My question is, what can I do? I have tried putting one bub in the play pen and letting them have turns with me, but this usually ends up with the 2nd baby carrying on to the point that I then can't play with his brother.

Today I have felt really sad about this. I just want both of them to have equal pieces of me.

Any solutions?

I too am having this problem. On the weekend we have now taken to DH playing with one for an hour whiles I play with the other. We are even doing this in the evening for about 15 minutes with each one.

It seems they are becoming totally aware of their individuality. During the day I just juggle between playing with one and then the other trying to encourage ( not very successfully mind you)they play together.

We have also found that now they walk taking them down to the local football oval asnd going to the middle and then letting them both run in any direction makes them both happy and seems to let loose all the energy thus making them "friendlier" to each other when we are back inside

ETA: For reading I now have two of the same books so that they each have one to hold while I read. Stops the snatching

Bumping this up

Hi Joshuakalan,

Mine are 16 months so I know what you mean.

DD has just become really possessive of me. If DS sits on my lap to read a book she screams and runs over and tries to push him off my lap and slide in herself. If DS needs comforting then she starts crying and wanting comfort too. It really gets frustrating, doesn't it?

DD also steals every toy DS starts playing with. He's pretty good about it and goes and finds something to play with, but then DD wants that one. It's a never ending circle. DS puts up with it for so long but ends up getting so frustrated he bites her. I can't blame him but I can't let him either.

It's really hard to know when to get involved in the fights and when to let them sort it out themselves. Last week DS had a particularly bad biting week. Each night in the bath we'd count how many new bites DD had.

As for what to do to get them to play nicely, I really can't help. I'll be watching the thread for more replies. Two of different toys like DG suggested can help but for me DD just wants what DS has so it doesn't really work. Clone yourself perhaps?!

Good luck.

Hi DG and Babaganoush

Thanks for your replies.

It makes me feel better even knowing that other people with twins experience the same frustration.

joshuakalan

At this age we started going to playgroups twice a week.
Yes there were some mornings where I didn't get a chance to even look in the direction of another mum.....but it a great and usually safe place to go to so you can get out of the house.
The new toys, new activities are great for the kids.
It is where they started doing crafty stuff....I hate craft at home
It fills up a morning and then they are ready for bed then just the afternoons to contend with then!!