I don't know whether this is a FACT but i have been told it is generally true that twins children are often about 6 months behind other children in development.
That would certainly account for the slow potty training, which I have mentioned before.
There are other things:
Son didn't walk until he was 18 months! Daughter was just about 11-12 months.
Neither of the twins had smiled at all when they were a few months old and should have reached that milestone.
In her early months my daughter hardly openned her eyes.
And throughut his first year my son rarely smiled.
Now they are 3 and certainly over the past year I would say they enjoy books that my fist singleton child enjoyed when he was perhaps a year younger.
I hink they could catch up. They are growing well now. So my daughter is massive (not fat) and my son, who is more danty, is also wearing clothes for his age, this wasn't the case a year ago.
And they start nursery soon
Monday, 19 December 2011
Friday, 16 December 2011
Twins, Nappies and Potty Training
I was a little embarrassed that my son reached his third birthday in nappies.
I can't remember when his twin sister mastered knickers and the potty but she was about 2 and a half, which also seemed a little old. I kept trying to get her going sooner but she really wasn't ready. But once she got the hang of it she was quickly dry at night too.
Now our son. About a week after his third birthday I simply insisted. I fully suspected that he could control his bladder and he knew when he was about to do a wee. Well he got the hang of it really quickly with very few accidents. All kids get there in the end.
I can't remember when his twin sister mastered knickers and the potty but she was about 2 and a half, which also seemed a little old. I kept trying to get her going sooner but she really wasn't ready. But once she got the hang of it she was quickly dry at night too.
Now our son. About a week after his third birthday I simply insisted. I fully suspected that he could control his bladder and he knew when he was about to do a wee. Well he got the hang of it really quickly with very few accidents. All kids get there in the end.
National Geographic this Month on Studies of Twins
I haven't got this issue about Twins but it looks interesting.
You can see more here:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2012/01/twins/miller-text
You can see more here:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2012/01/twins/miller-text
Sunday, 3 July 2011
When Should we Start Practicing for the 11 Plus
As the summer holidays are about to start we have discovered that a substantial number of children in the same class as our eldest are all signed up for summer tutorials in preparation for the 11+ which is taken in Sept at the beginning of year six.
No my son is not in year 5 but year 4. The 11+ is 14 months away. I looked on some websites and it seems lucky that I didn't delay. The more well organised started 11+ training in year 2 or 3!
I have discoved construction toys are good for 11+ because help many logical and non-verbal reasoning skills.
So playing with lego is OK for my 9 year old this summer holiday but TV will be severely limited.
Reading and puzzle books are to be encouraged.
Playing most DS & Xbox games are not.
And will all this careful planning of leisure activities, practice papers and private coaching help? Well, apparently yes: www.suite101.com/content/video-games--computer-aids-for-eleven-plus-preparation-a377852
No my son is not in year 5 but year 4. The 11+ is 14 months away. I looked on some websites and it seems lucky that I didn't delay. The more well organised started 11+ training in year 2 or 3!
I have discoved construction toys are good for 11+ because help many logical and non-verbal reasoning skills.
So playing with lego is OK for my 9 year old this summer holiday but TV will be severely limited.
Reading and puzzle books are to be encouraged.
Playing most DS & Xbox games are not.
And will all this careful planning of leisure activities, practice papers and private coaching help? Well, apparently yes: www.suite101.com/content/video-games--computer-aids-for-eleven-plus-preparation-a377852
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
Potty Training Twins - One Has Master the Toilet & the Other is Refusing to be Without a Nappy
All advice is welcome as I am at a loss. My first child was out of nappies at 2 years 4 months and it took him less than a week to master pants and blader control once he decided he wanted to do it.
I was told girls are faster at these things so when I had the twins... well at 2 years+ my daughter was leaking like a... well she liked to drink lots of water and without a nappy she was like a walking water feature.
It was about 2 years 6 months beore she got the hand of knickers & the potty and it took ages not an over night success. Then by 2 years 8 months she was also dry at night. So she caught up with her older brother on this success.
Now at 2 years and 9 months the twin brother is resolute, he is not going without a nappy and he doesn't want to try the potty or the big toilet. So what do I do?
In many ways he likes to copy his twin sister: he always wants to play with what she has, dress like her and do what she is doing. But he is putting his foot down on this one. He says he will do it when he is bigger!
I was told girls are faster at these things so when I had the twins... well at 2 years+ my daughter was leaking like a... well she liked to drink lots of water and without a nappy she was like a walking water feature.
It was about 2 years 6 months beore she got the hand of knickers & the potty and it took ages not an over night success. Then by 2 years 8 months she was also dry at night. So she caught up with her older brother on this success.
Now at 2 years and 9 months the twin brother is resolute, he is not going without a nappy and he doesn't want to try the potty or the big toilet. So what do I do?
In many ways he likes to copy his twin sister: he always wants to play with what she has, dress like her and do what she is doing. But he is putting his foot down on this one. He says he will do it when he is bigger!
Monday, 23 May 2011
Looking for a nursery for the twins
We are going to visit a nursery this morning. The twins are entitled to their free hours from next January and that time will be here soon. i know you need to ook well ahead if you want certain days in popular nurseries.
Without their free hours it will cost about £18 per hour to send two of them to nursery, such a lot of money! So i am doing my reseach. Some will charge exrta if you are late collecting them. I'm always late so that's not good for me. Some offer discount for siblings, that is good.
I was very happy with the nursery my oldest child went to, it was Fledglings in Ramsgate. I like these details:
1.they were only given water to drink because juice is bad for teeth
2.the children had times in different rooms through the day, as well as an outside play area there is a big hall
3.they went out for walks
4. they had their own packed lunch which i provided, what ever he did not eat would come home to me in the box so I would know. The nursery could provide lunch but I like to know what he is eating.
Some nurseries are awful. When research for my older son I went to see one in Thanet (not in Ramsgate) which was so awful that I had many sleepless nights feeling sorry for the children who were there.
The owner looked like a witch, that was sign number one! The youngest children (under 18 months) had to stay in one small room ALL DAY. They didn't go in the garden, out for walks, or even play in a different room. They did go to a dining room for lunch. The witch told me it was too much upheaval to take the little one to the gardens but the bigger ones did get out to play.
She told me she couldn't trust her staff to take them out for walks in pushchair because they could be smoking and on the phones to their boy friends. She told me the youngest children couldn't have books in their room because they would get ruined. Can you imagine leaving your toddler in such a unstimulating environment all day. What about in the care of a witch with bad attitude. in fact, it must be pretty awful to work there too!
From a web search I can see that there is still childcare at the sme address but it appears to have been taken over in 2004. Lets hope changes for the better. Perhaps Hansel and Gretel stayed at the nursery and pushed the witch into her own oven.
Without their free hours it will cost about £18 per hour to send two of them to nursery, such a lot of money! So i am doing my reseach. Some will charge exrta if you are late collecting them. I'm always late so that's not good for me. Some offer discount for siblings, that is good.
I was very happy with the nursery my oldest child went to, it was Fledglings in Ramsgate. I like these details:
1.they were only given water to drink because juice is bad for teeth
2.the children had times in different rooms through the day, as well as an outside play area there is a big hall
3.they went out for walks
4. they had their own packed lunch which i provided, what ever he did not eat would come home to me in the box so I would know. The nursery could provide lunch but I like to know what he is eating.
Some nurseries are awful. When research for my older son I went to see one in Thanet (not in Ramsgate) which was so awful that I had many sleepless nights feeling sorry for the children who were there.
The owner looked like a witch, that was sign number one! The youngest children (under 18 months) had to stay in one small room ALL DAY. They didn't go in the garden, out for walks, or even play in a different room. They did go to a dining room for lunch. The witch told me it was too much upheaval to take the little one to the gardens but the bigger ones did get out to play.
She told me she couldn't trust her staff to take them out for walks in pushchair because they could be smoking and on the phones to their boy friends. She told me the youngest children couldn't have books in their room because they would get ruined. Can you imagine leaving your toddler in such a unstimulating environment all day. What about in the care of a witch with bad attitude. in fact, it must be pretty awful to work there too!
From a web search I can see that there is still childcare at the sme address but it appears to have been taken over in 2004. Lets hope changes for the better. Perhaps Hansel and Gretel stayed at the nursery and pushed the witch into her own oven.
Sunday, 15 May 2011
The Twins Have Chicken Pox
My daughter had Chicken Pox and there was no sign of them on her twin brother. The GP told me two things.
The boy would develop all the symptoms exactly 14 days later and he would get it worse.
Well, the 14 days are correct. Amazing! I don't know whether it will be worse as the poorly symptoms are just starting and I don't know why the GP made such a prediction.
More about Chicken Pox on my previous post.
The boy would develop all the symptoms exactly 14 days later and he would get it worse.
Well, the 14 days are correct. Amazing! I don't know whether it will be worse as the poorly symptoms are just starting and I don't know why the GP made such a prediction.
More about Chicken Pox on my previous post.
Sunday, 8 May 2011
Why do Children Always Need the Doctor Out of Hours
I have noticed that my three children most often get sick enough for me to want a clinical opinion at the weekend. Usually Saturday just after normal GP suggeries have closed.
I don't think there is any answer as to why, how do their little bodies know that most medical staff have gone home?
Yesterday was a typical example. Boy twin was coughing and a bit miserable Friday night and Saturday morning but waited until midday before he started heavy breathing such that i thought he might need to be admitted to hospital for a nebuliser! Actually I managed to get to see the out of hours doctor within 2 hours, which is probably faster than I would have seen my GP! Antibiotics were prescribed.
Only last week girl twin developed Chicken Pox. Sure enough the very first spots appeared on Saturday, sure enough Sunday was followed by bank holiday Monday. I was fairly certain it was Chicken Pox.
I know that GPs do not need to see Chicken Pox, there is no treatment but soothing Clamine Lotion and Paracetamol. My daughter had red, painful eyes, however, so I wanted to check that it wasn't actually Measles or whether she needed treatment for Conjuctivitus. The doctor told me sore eyes is a symptom of Chicken Pox as well, I didn't know that, and there was no treatment. Her eyes are much better now, by the way.
This short film introduces the symptoms of Chicken Pox
I don't think there is any answer as to why, how do their little bodies know that most medical staff have gone home?
Yesterday was a typical example. Boy twin was coughing and a bit miserable Friday night and Saturday morning but waited until midday before he started heavy breathing such that i thought he might need to be admitted to hospital for a nebuliser! Actually I managed to get to see the out of hours doctor within 2 hours, which is probably faster than I would have seen my GP! Antibiotics were prescribed.
Only last week girl twin developed Chicken Pox. Sure enough the very first spots appeared on Saturday, sure enough Sunday was followed by bank holiday Monday. I was fairly certain it was Chicken Pox.
I know that GPs do not need to see Chicken Pox, there is no treatment but soothing Clamine Lotion and Paracetamol. My daughter had red, painful eyes, however, so I wanted to check that it wasn't actually Measles or whether she needed treatment for Conjuctivitus. The doctor told me sore eyes is a symptom of Chicken Pox as well, I didn't know that, and there was no treatment. Her eyes are much better now, by the way.
This short film introduces the symptoms of Chicken Pox
Tuesday, 19 April 2011
I saw an iCandy, I was pushing a Maclaren!
I was enjoying an outdoor cup of coffee at a cafe in the sun today, while the twins were playing in the dirt, when a very smart twin pushchair came up and loitered along side me. I was fascinated to see it in action because it was an iCandy.
In case you do not know the iCandy is reputedly one of the most desirable twin strollers. It can take twins from birth and is a travel system with two car seats but it is a tandem.
To my mind that is a big BUT.
Sure enough the child behind has a very limited view and doesn't like it. One of the twins always draws the short straw which is why i was adamant that we were only having side by side pushchairs.
To its credit the iCandy has an adjustable handle bar and looked very easy to push. Whereas my twins were in the very popular Maclaren Techno. Another stroller which I would not recommend because it is bulky in the car, heavy to lift in and out the boot and not light to push. You can't easily push it with one hand and the handles are a bit too high for me, i am not quite 5'3". When folded it doesn'r stand you have to lay it down.
I prefered my We2 Combi (called the Combi Sport in the US). It is nothing to look at but it is the lightest weight double buggy on the market, much lighter than the maclaren. It was really difficult to work out how to fold the Combi at first, I had to watch an online video, but it was worth it. When folded it stands on its own feet, taking up very little space. It has a single handle bar across the back so you can push with one hand. The greatest disadvantage with the We2 is storage. The baskets underneath are small and dificult to access. and it was near on impossible to hang bags on the back of the buggy.
The We2 and Maclaren are for those with a budget of less than £300 whereas the iCandy is 2 or 3 times as much, depending what bits you are buying.
Twin ICandy Pear official promo film is here:
In case you do not know the iCandy is reputedly one of the most desirable twin strollers. It can take twins from birth and is a travel system with two car seats but it is a tandem.
To my mind that is a big BUT.
Sure enough the child behind has a very limited view and doesn't like it. One of the twins always draws the short straw which is why i was adamant that we were only having side by side pushchairs.
To its credit the iCandy has an adjustable handle bar and looked very easy to push. Whereas my twins were in the very popular Maclaren Techno. Another stroller which I would not recommend because it is bulky in the car, heavy to lift in and out the boot and not light to push. You can't easily push it with one hand and the handles are a bit too high for me, i am not quite 5'3". When folded it doesn'r stand you have to lay it down.
I prefered my We2 Combi (called the Combi Sport in the US). It is nothing to look at but it is the lightest weight double buggy on the market, much lighter than the maclaren. It was really difficult to work out how to fold the Combi at first, I had to watch an online video, but it was worth it. When folded it stands on its own feet, taking up very little space. It has a single handle bar across the back so you can push with one hand. The greatest disadvantage with the We2 is storage. The baskets underneath are small and dificult to access. and it was near on impossible to hang bags on the back of the buggy.
The We2 and Maclaren are for those with a budget of less than £300 whereas the iCandy is 2 or 3 times as much, depending what bits you are buying.
Twin ICandy Pear official promo film is here:
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
Why Buy Twins Identical Presents, Gifts, Clothes and Stuff
My twins are only two years old, they could not be more different and they are boy girl but i can see a definite reason to choose identical everything for them.
They have both wanted a beanbag seat, like their older brothers. When granny bought two last week they have fought over who with have the red one with numbers. Can you believe neither of them want the one with police cars and fire-engines? Having two identical whatevers just stops any chance of an arguement.
Even items that are almost the same but not quite can be the focus of a fight.
Don't get me wrong. Being twins they grow up learning to share and there are plenty of toys which they simply have one between the two of them. There is a lot of co-operation and laughter but i am coming to the conclusion that if I am buying two of something it might just be best to buy identical orange ones not one in pink and one in blue. If you know what i mean.
They have both wanted a beanbag seat, like their older brothers. When granny bought two last week they have fought over who with have the red one with numbers. Can you believe neither of them want the one with police cars and fire-engines? Having two identical whatevers just stops any chance of an arguement.
Even items that are almost the same but not quite can be the focus of a fight.
Don't get me wrong. Being twins they grow up learning to share and there are plenty of toys which they simply have one between the two of them. There is a lot of co-operation and laughter but i am coming to the conclusion that if I am buying two of something it might just be best to buy identical orange ones not one in pink and one in blue. If you know what i mean.
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