Positive Parenting |

May 4, 2011

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Part 5 Worrying What to Expect When Expecting Multiples: How Can You Prepare For Getting Around With Your Babies When You Are Pregnant With Triplets?

This is another post in this series of what to expect when expecting multiples.

In an earlier post, we discussed the kinds of questions that arise while you are pregnant with triplets.

One question I worried about when expecting my multiples was “How do I get the babies from place to place by myself?”

Well it came down to basically two essentials: car seats that fit in the car and an easily maneuverable stroller.

1. The Car.

A car is a necessity to get to most places these days.

And when you’re pregnant with triplets is a great time to figure out your options.  So you have seating for the babies before you bring them home from the hospital.

You’ll need to be able to get each child into the car before your can get your triplets from place to place. And to get them into the car, you need to buy car seats that fit properly all in a row in your car.

With quadruplets, in my case I needed four car seats!

So I had to find three car seats that would all fit on one seat of the minivan.  The fourth child had a captain chair.

Finding car seats that would fit across the back of the minivan took several attempts and a very patient salesman.  He kindly and considerately carried the seats to the minivan so I could see if they would fit and then would carry them back to the store, when they did not fit.

It took 3 tries before I found the correct ones that all fit.

2. The Strollers.

Now I used a special quadruplet stroller called a Runabout quad stroller.

Runabout Quadruplet Strollers

And yes, they make them for triplets too.

What’s special about a Runabout?

Well, it  allowed me to have freedom.

Now the Runabout is a different type of multiple stroller.  For instance, the babies are all lined up in single file one behind the other. This definitely has some advantages…

1.    A single wide stroller is easier to maneuver in narrow aisles at places like a grocery store and discount department stores.   In the grocery  store, I would push the stroller in front of me while pulling the grocery cart behind me.  While I took up almost a whole aisle length, it worked.

2.  By having the girls in one line, they could not play with each other or grab bottles from their sisters.

This stroller allowed me to take the girls myself without having to bring along their dad, a volunteer or a nanny.

How do you maneuver such a long narrow stroller around corners?

It’s easy once you know the trick…

The trick to turning is to pop a wheelie so you can easily turn the stroller.  Now this does take a little practice.

I also used this Runabout stroller as an exercise jogger.  The Runabout is very sturdy, well-built and lasted a long time.  I used it until my girls were four!

It’s a good investment.  And you may be able to resell it later.

Again deciding about a stroller while you’re pregnant with triplets will save you worry and aggravation after the babies are born.

These tips helped my babies not just survive but to thrive.

I’m looking forward to sharing additional tips with you in the future.

Join Tips For Moms of Multiples membership site – Its Free!  Receive the latest information on product recalls, how to organize your life and more.

Click here to get the details!

To Your Abundant Life with Multiples,

Kimberly O’Bannon
Ambassador of Positive Parenting, www.howtoliveonpurpose.com
Founder, www.TipsForMomsOfMultiples.com
AKA MultiMommy

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Part 5 Worrying What to Expect When Expecting Multiples: How Can You Prepare For Getting Around With Your Babies When You Are Pregnant With Triplets?

Positive Parenting |

April 20, 2011

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Part 4 – What to Expect When You Are Expecting: How Can You Prepare When You Are Pregnant With Triplets For Hiring Caregiving Support?

I am going to continue my series on What to Expect When You Are Expecting by discussing what types of caregiving support you may want to get when you are pregnant with triplets.

Are you weak as a jellyfish from being on bed rest while pregnant with triplets?

Are you tired from traveling back and forth to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)?

Are your emotions like a roller coaster from the triplets health conditions?

Are you stressed because of lack of sleep and hormonal imbalances?

Such is the life after giving birth.

But it doesn’t have to be this stressful.

The solution to your stress and getting balance back into your life is called . . .

A Nanny Service

I was fortunate that my church gifted me with some money to hire a night time nanny for 4 days a week for about a 6 week period.

My husband and I would switch off the nights when she was here. In other words, one night he would stay up with the nanny to feed and prepare bottles and such with the nanny’s help, next night I would.

And yes, the other nights we would both be up with the babies.

But I did not think about the nanny service until after the babies were born and around 6 weeks old.  It was very difficult at that point to search for a nanny service and interview the nannies. And then I ended up paying WAY too much.


pregnant with triplets

I really would suggest to anyone who is pregnant with triplets or more and planning on using a nanny service to do your research while you are pregnant, so that you will be ready when you need someone.

Remember to make sure the nanny service is reputable. Check references of the nanny service. Does the nanny service have a good reputation?

Find out what the billing process is before hand, so you are prepared.

Do you pay the nanny directly or the agency? Do you have to pay taxes for the nanny or are they independent contractors?

You’ll want a nanny service that does:

1. Complete background checks on the nannies

2. Allow you to review the nannies’ resume

3. Provide reviews of the nanny from other moms

4. Allow you to access the nannies’ references

After I no longer needed a nanny, I found a nanny service that is nationally known and respected and meets all of these criteria plus more.

Check it out for yourself.
www.tipsformomsofmultiples.com/nannyservice

To Your Abundant Life with Multiples,

Kimberly O’Bannon
Ambassador of Positive Parenting, www.howtoliveonpurpose.com
Founder, TipsForMomsOfMultiples.com
AKA MultiMommy


Article Source:

Part 4 – What to Expect When You Are Expecting: How Can You Prepare When You Are Pregnant With Triplets For Hiring Caregiving Support?

Positive Parenting |

April 16, 2011

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Part 3 Worrying What To Expect When Expecting Multiples: Pregnant With Triplets and Wondering Where Your Babies Will Sleep?

Today I would like to continue tips and tricks suggestions from my series on What To Expect When Expecting Multiples.

As you recall, we were discussing the questions that arise when you’re pregnant with triplets and thinking about what to do once you bring the triplets home.

Such questions as:

  1. Where will they sleep? Cribs or bassinets in the living room? Should they sleep together?
  2. How do I feed three babies at the same time?
  3. How do I get them to sleep threw the night?
  4. How do I get them from place to place by myself?
  5. Will family/friends be able to help me and if so, how will that process work?

So lets discuss the question of where will the triplets sleep? Will they be together, at first, or separate?

pregnant with triplets

Now I had a special situation.

All my quadruplets had reflux, at least for the first couple of months.

So my solution was to prop them up in their car seats and use the car seats as their “beds”.

Then I placed the car seats next to me on the couch.

This helped for two reasons: one, they were close by and thus it was easier than getting up and down all night to their cribs and second, it kept their reflux under control.

So what are some options for you?

There are just a few choices.

Co-bedding in a crib with each other . . .

  • Individual bassinets
  • In a twin pack n plays or . . .
  • Maybe even in their car seats.

You may want to think of a couple of alternatives besides these while your pregnant with triplets.

You may not know if your babies will need special care (like to prevent reflux) until after they’re born but it is best to plan ahead as much as possible.

I know from experience that it is stressful to be pregnant with multiples and on extended bed rest.

Your mind can just go crazy worrying about all the issues the babies could face and how you’ll care for all these precious little babies.

Why don’t you take just 5 minutes each day to take your mind off your worry while your pregnant with triplets by listening to a program called “Overcome the 3 Deadly Mistakes That Cause Stress, Overwhelm and Burnout ebook Package”

The package offers an amazing simple technique to having less stress and overwhelm in your life 5 minutes from now.

Included are the three big secrets that allow you to avoid and recover from stress and burnout.

You owe it to yourself and your future triplets, to check it out.

Work to become as relaxed as possible while pregnant with triplets, because the stress certainly does not go away after they are delivered. J

To Your Abundant Life with Multiples,

Kimberly O’Bannon
Ambassador of Positive Parenting, www.howtoliveonpurpose.com
Founder, TipsForMomsOfMultiples.com
AKA MultiMommy

Original Article:

Part 3 Worrying What To Expect When Expecting Multiples: Pregnant With Triplets and Wondering Where Your Babies Will Sleep?

Positive Parenting |

March 30, 2011

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What Do You Do When Your Two Year Old Identical Triplets Misbehave In Public?

When children are little it’s hard to get them all doing the same thing at once.

And when you are out in public it’s not only frustrating but also potentially embarrassing as your kids may be making a scene . . .

identical triplets

The other day my husband and I were out at a restaurant when I noticed a set of identical triplets sitting with their mom.

Two of the boys were eating happily, while the third one was fussing.  Everything his mom offered him was met with a loud, “NO!”  

The people around them were staring.  The mom had her head in her hands.  She had an expression of utter despair on her face and was obviously frustrated.

I turned to my husband and asked, “Do you remember those days?”

Oh how I can relate to that poor mother!  It is so challenging to have more than one child all eating at the same time.  Even getting them all not fussing is a HUGE accomplishment.  For some reason especially when you’re in a public place like a restaurant!

So what can you do when your two year-old identical triplets misbehave in a public restaurant?

1) You can leave the restaurant, either getting take-out to have at home or just fixing them something at home.

2) Take the misbehaving child aside to determine the cause.  The child above was rubbing his eyes and yawning.  I wondered if it was time for his nap . . .

3) Keep your identical triplets on a schedule and take them after their naps.  When they’re rested, they’re more likely to be in good moods and see eating out as an adventure not a chore.

4) Choose a restaurant where each child likes something on the menu.  This increases the likelihood that all of your children will enjoy the meal.

5) Consider feeding your children in their stroller. This way they cannot wander off and are less distracted.  Many children often seem more comfortable in their own stroller which is familiar to your identical triplets.  This is especially true while the restaurant may be unfamiliar to your kids, they know their stroller.

Sometimes no matter what you do, it seems as though your kids will defy you.  

While sometimes it’s related to their age, there are positive parenting ways to change their behavior.  

Do you know that “time-outs” actually are not a good way to control your stubborn child?  And that a lot of advice from “child experts” may actually lead to low self-esteem and bigger problems down the road?  

It’s true!  

What’s the answer?  Positive parenting.  There are many ways to help your children grow into healthy well-adjusted adults.  

And now you can find them in a new resource.  Click on this link for techniques to end bad behavior.

To Your Abundant Life with Multiples,

Kimberly O’Bannon

Ambassador of Positive Parenting, www.howtoliveonpurpose.com
Founder, TipsForMomsOfMultiples.com
AKA MultiMommy  

Read the original post:
What Do You Do When Your Two Year Old Identical Triplets Misbehave In Public?

Positive Parenting |

March 24, 2011

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If You Work Full-time And Become Pregnant With Triplets, What Are Your Child Care Options?

So you are pregnant with triplets. That is great news!

If you return to work after the birth of your triplets, then who will care for your three bundles of joy?

pregnant with triplets

What will be your child care costs?

Can you afford to go back to work?

And, will it be worth it?

There are many things to consider.

There is the financial cost, in addition to the psychological costs of leaving your babies.

I like what a friend of mine did after she had triplets.


Nancy, who is a nurse works Friday to Sunday 12 hour shifts at night at a local hospital.

Her husband who is a teacher, watches the triplets on the weekends while she is at work.

Although she’s tired on Mondays when she watches the kids, they pay zero for child care..

In addition, Nancy gets to raise her girls while keeping her career. So it is a win-win for everyone.

Although you are just now pregnant with triplets, it is not too soon to think about your options for child care.

So what are your child care options?

  • Daycare centers – a chain or not for profit
  • Home daycare centers – much smaller and sometimes cheaper
  • Nanny care – live in or daytime
  • Relative/Friend care for children
  • One partner stays home while the other one works and then switch off

Each of these options has both positives and negatives to consider.

Daycare centers:

Pros: Large group to socialize with, start learning at a young age, create independence.

Cons: Increased exposure to illnesses, exposure to bad behavior, higher child care costs, less individual attention.

Home daycare centers:

Pros: Exposure to less children means less germs and less bad behavior to pick up on. Get more individual attention. Less costly option.

Cons: Don’t have structured academics, no backup if the care giver gets sick, doesn’t have the same licensing requirements as large daycare centers

Nanny care:

Pros: More convenient than out of home care, more flexible hours and children stay in the home.

Cons: Most expensive childcare option, no one to supervise the nanny, no backup child care if she quits, becomes sick, or is otherwise unavailable

Relative:

Pros: More personalized attention, caregiver has personal interest in your child, very inexpensive especially if the relative doesn’t require  payment

Cons: Sometimes it is hard to have an employee-employer relationship with a relative, your childcare styles may conflict. If the relative is older, it may be hard for them to keep up with triplets.

Stay at home parent:

Pros: You get to be there for your child’s developmental milestones, you can control the quality of the care, and you can avoid feeling guilty for leaving your triplets.

Cons: Can be very draining physically and emotionally with triplets, can lead to an identity loss from leaving a career, can cause a financial strain.

If deciding about what to do for child care is stressing you out consider ways to reduce that stress now.  Come up with a plan and talk to others about their experiences.

Are you tired of feeling stressed out, Burned Out and In a Constant State of Overwhelm?

When you’re ready for a change you owe it to yourself and your babies to find out now how to Overcome The 3 ‘Deadly’ Mistakes That Cause Stress, Overwhelm and Burnout ™


The Three 'Deadly' Mistakes That Cause Stress, Overwhelm and Burnout by Robert and Terri Lynn TallTree


Kimberly O’Bannon
Ambassador of Positive Parenting, www.howtoliveonpurpose.com
Founder, TipsForMomsOfMultiples.com
AKA MultiMommy

Read more here:
If You Work Full-time And Become Pregnant With Triplets, What Are Your Child Care Options?

Positive Parenting |

March 24, 2011

| by

If You Work Full-time And Become Pregnant With Triplets, What Are Your Child Care Options?

So you are pregnant with triplets. That is great news!

If you return to work after the birth of your triplets, then who will care for your three bundles of joy?

pregnant with triplets

What will be your child care costs?

Can you afford to go back to work?

And, will it be worth it?

There are many things to consider.

There is the financial cost, in addition to the psychological costs of leaving your babies.

I like what a friend of mine did after she had triplets.


Nancy, who is a nurse works Friday to Sunday 12 hour shifts at night at a local hospital.

Her husband who is a teacher, watches the triplets on the weekends while she is at work.

Although she’s tired on Mondays when she watches the kids, they pay zero for child care..

In addition, Nancy gets to raise her girls while keeping her career. So it is a win-win for everyone.

Although you are just now pregnant with triplets, it is not too soon to think about your options for child care.

So what are your child care options?

  • Daycare centers – a chain or not for profit
  • Home daycare centers – much smaller and sometimes cheaper
  • Nanny care – live in or daytime
  • Relative/Friend care for children
  • One partner stays home while the other one works and then switch off

Each of these options has both positives and negatives to consider.

Daycare centers:

Pros: Large group to socialize with, start learning at a young age, create independence.

Cons: Increased exposure to illnesses, exposure to bad behavior, higher child care costs, less individual attention.

Home daycare centers:

Pros: Exposure to less children means less germs and less bad behavior to pick up on. Get more individual attention. Less costly option.

Cons: Don’t have structured academics, no backup if the care giver gets sick, doesn’t have the same licensing requirements as large daycare centers

Nanny care:

Pros: More convenient than out of home care, more flexible hours and children stay in the home.

Cons: Most expensive childcare option, no one to supervise the nanny, no backup child care if she quits, becomes sick, or is otherwise unavailable

Relative:

Pros: More personalized attention, caregiver has personal interest in your child, very inexpensive especially if the relative doesn’t require  payment

Cons: Sometimes it is hard to have an employee-employer relationship with a relative, your childcare styles may conflict. If the relative is older, it may be hard for them to keep up with triplets.

Stay at home parent:

Pros: You get to be there for your child’s developmental milestones, you can control the quality of the care, and you can avoid feeling guilty for leaving your triplets.

Cons: Can be very draining physically and emotionally with triplets, can lead to an identity loss from leaving a career, can cause a financial strain.

If deciding about what to do for child care is stressing you out consider ways to reduce that stress now.  Come up with a plan and talk to others about their experiences.

Are you tired of feeling stressed out, Burned Out and In a Constant State of Overwhelm?

When you’re ready for a change you owe it to yourself and your babies to find out now how to Overcome The 3 ‘Deadly’ Mistakes That Cause Stress, Overwhelm and Burnout ™


The Three 'Deadly' Mistakes That Cause Stress, Overwhelm and Burnout by Robert and Terri Lynn TallTree


Kimberly O’Bannon
Ambassador of Positive Parenting, www.howtoliveonpurpose.com
Founder, TipsForMomsOfMultiples.com
AKA MultiMommy

Link:
If You Work Full-time And Become Pregnant With Triplets, What Are Your Child Care Options?

Positive Parenting |

March 1, 2011

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Twin Sisters: Will They Have A Special Bond?

Are you pregnant with twins, triplets or more?

Do you wonder if the babies will look alike (identical) or different (fraternal)?

Will the twin sisters act exactly alike if they are identical or be totally different if they are fraternal?

I had quadruplet girls, which are two sets of twin sisters . . .one identical, and one fraternal.

Before I became pregnant, I had no idea that you could become pregnant with both identical twins and fraternal twins at the same time!  I also didn’t have any idea there’s a different type of relationship between identical twins and fraternal twins.

Twin Sisters

So let me tell you a few things about my kids . . .

Well first of all, the experts say identical twins have a special connection.  I never really believed this was true until I saw it myself.


Do you know identical twins answer questions simultaneously?

It really is kind of funny the way they give the same answer in unison.

It’s not like they practice this or anything.  They just always have been able to answer the same way when people ask them something.

Have you heard of the special bond identical twins have?

Yes, it’s true!

My identical twin girls,  Natalie and Nicole, always want to play the same thing.  They even want to dress alike!

The also spontaneously hold hands while we’re walking outside.

Did you know identical twins sympathize with each other?

Well at least mine do.

When one twin gets hurt, the other one will go up and hug them and love them.

Natalie and Nicole just have this extra special bond and connection since they are identical.

Did you know that one of the identical twin sisters usually is more dominate then the other one?

I see this all the time with my girls.  Nicole is the more dominate one.  She isn’t bossy or anything, she just tends to be more independent.  In contrast Natalie wants Nicole around for comfort and security.

One of the ways I am working on making all four of my girls more independent and feel special is The “I AM a Gift to the World!” Challenge created by Chief Robert TallTree and Terri Lynn TallTree

It’s a challenge showing you how to tell people they’re important to you.  Anonymously!  And it can easily be used to show family and friends how much you — or your loved one — care about them.

It’s F-R-E-E — and FUN!  Plus there are some great prizes available!

Just click on the image or this link for more information . . .

To Your Abundant Life with Multiples,

Kimberly O’Bannon
Ambassador of Positive Parenting, www.howtoliveonpurpose.com
Founder, TipsForMomsOfMultiples.com
 AKA MultiMommy

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Read more from the original source:
Twin Sisters: Will They Have A Special Bond?