We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
In an ideal world, you'd always have one parent or caregiver available per baby. You'd never be short-handed and you'd never be wishing with every fiber of your being that you could sprout three new arms when it feels like you need to be in three places all at once.
If you're a parent of twins, you've probably got a series of these type of heart-attack-inducing scenarios flooding through your mind. If you're a soon-to-be parent of an incoming duo, you'll know soon enough. In the meantime, imagine one baby racing toward imminent danger, and then, as you're patting yourself on the back for being within arm's reach, so you can safely grab them in time, you notice in your peripheral vision that your other twin is running equally as fast toward just as big of a hazard...in the opposite direction.
Imagine one baby racing toward imminent danger, and then, as you're patting yourself on the back for being within arm's reach, so you can safely grab them in time, you notice in your peripheral vision that your other twin is running equally as fast toward just as big of a hazard...in the opposite direction.
Now, the situation has turned into a Choose Your Own Adventure, wherein you must choose, in a split-second, who's in bigger danger and gauge how fast you can run (read: teleport) or if you can make any sort of sound that will have them pause just long enough to allow you to swoop in and grab them both before anything happens. Then, you all sit in a heap on the floor while you try to catch YOUR breath and they simultaneously use all of THEIRS to voice their outrage that you saved them both from hurting themself.
Now, imagine this game with the added element of water and the very real danger of drowning. Not something any parent of multiples wishes to tread solo. At least, I didn't.
So, whenever bath time for the twins came around and I happened to be on my own, I made sure there was never a chance for me to be in a situation where I had to pick between my two babies.
While this bath routine calls for a few extra steps, it's well worth knowing that everyone's safe.
Get set up
Before you start the bathtime theatrics, make sure you have the next feed for your babies ready to go (or as ready as possible), so that you aren't scrambling to make a bottle–make that TWO bottles–while they're crying.
Make your way to the nursery and have each baby hang out in their crib while you grab one of their rocker chairs from wherever you've been using them last and set it up on the floor in the bathroom. Make sure it's close enough to where you'll be sitting, so you can reach out and rock the chair with a foot, should the waiting baby realize they'd rather be in the tub right now.
Then, grab their towels and lay them out within reach of the baby bathtub. This was our go-to tub from when they were newborns.
Fisher-Price Rinse N Grow Tub
This tub has a newborn sling that can be adjusted as your babies grow and it can be used without the sling once they can sit unassisted.
It has a newborn sling that can be adjusted as they grow, and we're still using it now, without the sling, and they're almost two years old.
Draw the bathwater, and definitely don't forget the bubbles! The twins love splashing around to see which way the bubles will fly, and I find the formula helps them wind down, so they're ready to drift off to sleep shortly after bath time wraps up.
Johnson's Bedtime Baby Bubble Bath
Who doesn't love bubbles in their bath? This formula by Johnson's is gentle, smells delightful, and is proven to help improve baby's sleep.
Once you've got the bubbles a-brewin', get your bath time playlist going. I prefer some boppin' tunes with some essential classics from the '50s. Pick what'll get you all having fun and jammin' out during tub time.
Bathe those babies
Grab whichever baby is going second and buckle them into the rocker chair in the bathroom. Make sure they have a teether or toy to keep them (hopefully) entertained while you go back and grab the other twin.
Dance your way into the bathroom with the other baby. They'll get a kick out of it and will light up when they see your reflections in the mirror.
Wash 'em up. I can't get enough of this sweetly scented baby wash by Johnson's. It's called CottonTouch, but it smells like that New Baby Smell to me. It's so delightful.
Johnson's CottonTouch Newborn Baby Wash & Shampoo
You know that New Baby Smell? This is it, bottled. Use this when you bathe your twins and you won't want to stop smelling their hair.
Once they're all scrubbed, let them splish splash while keeping an eye on your lounging baby to make sure they aren't trying to climb out of the rocker…even though they're buckled in, they still might try to activate their Go-Go-Gadget-Arms to reach the toy they inevitably fumble while they're waiting.
Then, lotion and diaper them up and put them in their crib, while you go and grab your Relax-a-Baby from their rocker.
Grab your squeaky clean twin, towel them off, and pull the plug on the tub. Then, lotion and diaper them up. We love this baby lotion by CeraVe. It's not greasy, it has no parabens, perfumes or dyes, and it moisturizes the skin to help maintain the protective skin barrier. I find it helps keep things giggly (read: non-squirmy) if you announce which part you're lotioning, whether it's their nose, their arms, their belly, their legs, or their toes. Plus, the repeition can help them learn the different parts of the body.
CeraVe Baby Lotion
This hydrating baby lotion by CeraVe is gentle on your little one's skin and does a great job of keeping things as smooth as, well, a baby's bottom.
Once that part's done, put them in their crib, while you go and grab your Relax-a-Baby from their rocker. Put them into their respective crib, then get the first baby into their snuggly jammies or whatever they're going to be wearing.
If the bathtub turns into a toilet
In the event of a This-is-Not-a-Drill-Number-Two fiasco in the bathtub, be sure to ditch the water and sanitize the tub. Despite having double the babies to bathe, we've yet to run into this problem. I'd like to think it's because we always wait at least an hour after meals before popping into the tub, even if that means doing a mid-afternoon bath session instead of one just before bedtime, but maybe we've just been lucky. If our luck should run out, I will update this article.
Do it all again
While the twins are in their cribs, drain the tub and draw a fresh bubble bath. Some people might say this is a waste of water. To them, I say, to each their own. But if I were a twin (which I am) and I was sharing a bathtub with my sibling (which I have), I'd want the fresh water...because if my twin peed in the water during their bath, I'd rather not use that water to get squeaky clean. And, yes, while urine is essentially clear (so, how do you really know it's there?) and sterile…no, thanks.
Now, back to business. Put your fresh-as-a-daisy babe into the rocker chair, make sure they're buckled in and have something to entertain them, and then repeat the whole process with baby number two.
And that's how you bathe your twins when you're alone. At least, that's what worked for me. If this can help anyone else who's wondering about the logistics of bathing their twins when they're flying solo, I'll be glad.
How do you manage bathtime with your twins when you're on your own? What works for you? Do you have any tips or tricks? Let us know in the comments section below!
Read more
How to Cut Your Baby's Nails Without Having a Heart Attack
There are few things more daunting than having to cut your baby's nails. The sheer idea of having to trim those sharp, little talonesque daggers (seriously, how do they get so sharp?) is more unnerving than the unexpected sound of nails on a chalkboard, which your toddlers could surely do if they had the dexterity, the know-how, and the supplies needed because their nails grow so darn...
What Should I Buy New and What Can I Buy Used for My Twins?
Babies, in general, require a lot of belongings. Twins need almost twice as many things. Whether you're buying things new or sourcing items second-hand, the costs can add up quite quickly. If you have any family or friends who recently welcomed a baby, they may give you some gently used items, which can help as you collect things and get ready to welcome your twins. When you're buying...
Seat Check Saturday: Keeping Your Kids Safe & Secure While on the Road
The most important cargo you'll ever transport is your children. It's crucial to ensure you have their car seats installed properly, safely, and securely throughout all of their different growth and developmental stages, from car seat, to booster seat, to seat belt. With twins in tow, you've got double the seats, double the anchors, and double the lives to protect. Taking the time to...
We Go Together: The Most Creative Halloween Costume Ideas for Your Twins
It may still be a while away, but I'm of the mindset that it's never too early to start planning for Halloween costumes. Finding all of the right elements to pull off just the right look for whatever you're dressing up as can take time, and when you're trying to find costumes for your little kiddos, especially newborns, it can be hard to track down the right sizes of whatever you need...