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Having twins is magical and wonderful. You get to have double the fun and double the love. You also get double the work and twice as many challenges.
Challenges that actually make you stop in your tracks and think because you have to run through the scenario in your mind first to make sure you know how to proceed safely.
It sounds weird, but it's true. The last thing you want is to be in a situation where you don't have enough hands to do what you need to be able to do.
Consider this. You're taking a single baby downstairs. It's no big deal. Taking two babies downstairs at the same time can get tricky. You've got a baby in each arm and you're making your way down the stairs. It's going great until you realize, three-quarters of the way down, that the baby gate is still closed. Are you going all the way back upstairs to put them down in their cribs so you can open the gate, load them up again, and then try this over again? Or are you going to try to juggle two babies while trying to maneuver the gate open with a single finger?
A lot of the things you would instinctively do when you have one baby become near-impossible with two because the tasks become much more difficult or can't be done safely when you have twins...
A lot of the things you would instinctively do when you have one baby become near-impossible with two because the tasks become much more difficult or can't be done safely when you have twins—especially two brand-new babies who don't have any neck or core strength yet.
When I was expecting my twins, a few of the people and organizations I asked for twin-specific advice told me, "Well, you do it like this (insert activity here), but times two." And I kind of smiled back in silence because this answer is sort of a case of That's Easier Said Than Done.
To me, this advice means they personally haven't experienced actually doing those things with two babies because the way you approach things when you have multiple newborns at the same time is much more different than when you have a single baby.
For example, how do you safely bathe two newborn babies when you're flying solo on bath day? You can read about that, here.
How do you successfully sleep train two babies who are trying to fall asleep in the same room at the same time? You can read about that, here.
How do you safely load and unload two newborns into and out of the car if you're on your own?
Well, let's tackle that one now.
When you're on the go but on your own
As a parent, you try to be ready for any scenario. As a parent of multiples, you try to anticipate any issues you might run into where you need more hands than you literally have. You learn to think ahead, for preventative troubleshooting purposes, in ways you didn't know were necessary until you became a parent of twins.
Still, it's sometimes impossible to recognize certain challenges until you're actually trying to get something done for the first time with your twins.
Like loading and unloading your newborns into and out of the car when you're flying solo for the day.
You don't want to have to run back and forth into the house for things you've forgotten. No, once you've transported your twins outside, you want to be able to get them into the car and be on your merry way.
So, you pack up everything you'll need in your diaper bag. I highly suggest getting a backpack-style diaper bag, so that both hands are free to carry your twins in their infant car seats.
We had the Lekebaby Diaper Bag Backpack and it was big enough to fit everything we needed for our twins without being cumbersome. Plus, it was cute.
Lekebaby Diaper Bag Backpack
This is the Lekebaby Diaper Bag Backpack. It's got plenty of room for everything you need when you have twins. It's got plenty of pocket organization, plus a changing pad, and it keeps your hands free for both of your babies.
One of my favorite things about this bag is that it's easy to carry because it goes on your back and leaves you with both hands free for whatever you need. And speaking of whatever you need, if you're wondering what you need or or two of if you're having twins, we've got you covered.
Dude, where's my car?
Before you get your twins loaded into the car seats, consider where your car is. Is it in the garage with a closed door, or is it in the driveway where someone could potentially see a lone baby if you have to go back into the house quickly for whatever reason you might have.
Maybe you forgot your phone or keys, or maybe you just realized your coffee is hitting and you need a side quest to the restroom before you hit the road. This is why I always prefer to park inside a locked garage when I have to load the babies into the car because I never want to leave them alone in the car or driveway, even for a second.
Wherever your car is, do anything you need to do before you take the babies outside because, again, you don't want to have to go outside and then Hulk everything back inside for the smallest but necessary reason.
At this point, make sure you've loaded your car-seat-compatible stroller into the trunk because you don't want to get where you're going and realize you've forgotten to pack it. This happened to us once. Fortunately, both parents were on the scene and we were able to haul the car seats where they needed to go together.
Bring your twins downstairs and put them into their bassinet, pack 'n' play, or high chairs—wherever you can put them down safely while you get your babies buckled one at a time into their car seats by the door.
For infant car seats, get ones that you can click into and out of their bases in the car. This will make your life much easier because you can just pop your babies in and out of the car with the push of a button.
We had the Chicco KeyFit 30 infant car seats and bases and they were fantastic. Easy to use, easy to carry (read: easy to carry two at once!), and easy to install into both your car and a separate stroller (more on this, later).
Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat and Base
This is the Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat and Base. It's a rear-facing seat for infants ranging from four to 30 pounds. The click and connect bases allow you to easily remove the seats with the press of a single button.
Then, once everyone's buckled into their seats and you've got everything you need (pull a Santa and check that list twice: purse / wallet, keys, phone, diaper bag, water / coffee, bottles and / or snacks for the babies, if needed, etc.), throw your diaper bag on your back, sling a car seat onto each arm, lock the door behind you, and head out to the car.
This is one instance where this process is easier if you're in a closed garage. If your car is "out in the wild," bring both car seats to the passenger side of the car, put one seat on the ground by your feet where you can easily see it, and click the other seat into the base in the back seat of the car.
Then, shut the door, grab the other baby's seat, head to the driver's side, and click them into their base in the back seat.
Then, hop into the driver's seat, throw your diaper bag onto the seat beside you, and you're on your way.
Keep an eye out for prime parking
When you get where you're going, park in the best possible spot (obviously, this isn't always doable, but keep an eye out).
At the store, you'll want to park next to the cart return, so that if you have to leave your babies in the car for three seconds while you put the cart back, they're right within sight and reach of you.
...unless you're a parent of or caregiver for multiples, chances are good that other drivers do not consider the fact that you might have twins and need to open the doors on both sides of your car wide enough to get the car seats inside.
If you're going to the pediatrician's office, keep an eye out for a spot that's going to be easy to access both sides of your car. Even though it's a pediatrician's office, unless you're a parent of or caregiver for multiples, chances are good that other drivers do not consider the fact that you might have twins and need to open the doors on both sides of your car wide enough to get the car seats inside.
While the reserved parking spots for "those with little ones" are nice and close to the entrance, look for a parking spot that leaves you open on one side (the end of a row, for example), so that you have a higher chance of not being crowded out if someone parks closer to one edge of their spot.
I've had someone park right on the line beside me (yes, at the pediatrician's office) and I had to take the car seat to the other side of the car and reach across the entire back seat while lifting a car seat with a newborn in it over top of the other base and stretch across the back seat to the other car seat base, in order to click them into place before I could then scramble back out, grab the other baby, and click the other twin into place. It sucked majorly and I clearly haven't forgotten it, which is why this paragraph is being written right now.
Anyway, once you're parked, grab your handy-dandy car-seat-compatible stroller out of the trunk. We had the Joovy TwinRoo+, and it was amazing.
It was compatible with our car seats and made it super easy whenever we had to take the twins anywhere in the early days.
It's got a great cargo area underneath, folds down compactly for transport, pops and locks into shape with one fluid motion, and has room for two baby bottles plus two coffee mugs for mom and dad. You can read more about why we love this double-stroller, here.
Joovy TwinRoo+
This is the Joovy TwinRoo+. It's our pick for best stroller for newborn twins. Perfect for quick errands or doctor's appointments.
When you're in a parking garage, you tend to be in closer quarters, so be extra mindful of both vehicle and pedestrian traffic when you're loading and unloading your babies.
Chances are quite low that someone's going to nab one of your babies, and while it might sound silly, it's not impossible, especially when you're distracted with getting the first baby into their base in the car. Plus, there could be steady traffic to worry about.
When you have another adult or older kid with you, it's easier to know there's an extra set of eyes on your kids, but when you're flying solo, you always have to make sure you have an eye, if not also a hand, on both of your babies, which can be tricky when they need to go on opposite sides of the car and one of them is still sitting in the stroller.
When it's time to unload your babies from the stroller and get them back into the car, be aware of your surroundings and any traffic (vehicles and also people).
If possible, park your stroller beside your car, away from any vehicles that might be driving by, and make sure to engage the brake lock. If there are cars parked on either side of your vehicle, park the stroller as close to the edge of the car as possible, so that it's as far as can be from any passing cars.
If I can't use the parking spot next to mine to unload the twins, I usually open the rear car door, then back the stroller in so it's nudged parallel to the back of my vehicle and still not in the roadway behind the car. Then, unclick one car seat from the stroller and pop it into the base while keeping an eye and ideally a hand or foot somehow on the stroller.
Once they're safely in place, unlock the stroller brake, roll it out of the way and shut the car door. Stroll over to the other side, and repeat, while keeping an eye on the baby on the other side of the car. Then, close the door, return the cart to stall you ideally parked beside (if you couldn't park beside it, lock the door using the actual keys and not the door panel, so that you don't accidentally lock the keys inside by mistake), and hurry the cart back.
And with that, head on over to the driver's side of your car, hop in, and you're ready to roll.
Homeward bound
When you get home, park in the garage or driveway, then pull your phone out, go into your apps, and unlock your front door with the August Home Wi-Fi Smart Lock.
This prevents you from juggling two car seats, whatever else you're carrying in, AND trying to dig out your keys while there are possibly crying babies beside you.
Just tap a button, see that the door is unlocked, and you're all set.
August Home Wi-Fi Smart Lock
This is the August Home Wi-Fi Smart Lock. It allows you to lock and unlock your door remotely from anywhere. It helps you get in and out of your home hands-free while you're carrying your twins in their car seats.
I can't tell you how many times this lock has saved me when my hands have been beyond full or when I have had zero desire to go digging through my bag to try to find my keys, which have somehow found a secret pocket to sneak into.
All you have to do is open the app, pick your entrance (if you have multiple locks installed throughout your home), hit the button to unlock the door, and in you go.
An extra bonus is the fact that this lock is essentially childproof. As much as your little ones could be trying to make their way outside, they don't have the strength and dexterity to physically turn the lock and move it from the closed position to unlocked.
So, they can pull on the doorknob all they want, but they won't be getting anywhere.
And when this lock chimes as it unlocks at the end of the day, the KNOW it means daddy's home from work, and they scream exuberantly and make a beeline for the door to greet their dad. It's really sweet.
The lowdown on loading up the car
Parents of multiples learn to think ahead to try to foresee any challenges they might run into while out and about with their twins, streamlining the processes wherever possible, to help things go as smoothly as possible.
That's probably why you're here right now, reading about how to safely load and unload your newborns into and out of the car when you're on your own.
Run through the process in your mind to make sure you're not forgetting anything—because if you do, that means hauling two babies in their car seats, plus whatever else you're lugging with you, back inside for what is likely a small but integral item.
Look for parking spots that will give you the space you need to easily load and unload the car seats into and out both sides of your vehicle.
And if there are any steps in the process that can be simplified (like using a smart lock to open your door instead of struggling to find your keys at the most inconvenient time), do it. Sometimes, the key to success literally isn't a key at all.
What have you done solo with your newborn twins and what made the process easier? Do you have ways to simplify the process when out and about with your babies? Let us know in the Comments section below.
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