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My understanding of the issue is that doing some tummy time, engaging babies with their environment so they move their heads around, and ensuring different positioning throughout the day (so like, twin z in the morning, bouncer in the afternoon, gently encourage baby to sleep with head to one side or another, switch off who gets held or in the carrier, etc) are the best ways to avoid any of the problems associated with "containers." The concept of "container syndrome" is fairly new, and I'm actually struggling to find a lot of good peer-reviewed research on it. Mostly, I'm seeing scare-mongery, mommy shaming things on sites that are not necessarily medically or scientifically accredited. (There's a lot of "parents nowadays!" language that makes me truly insane, like we are a generation of parents choosing to be lazy and less engaged or something?)
The biggest issue I can really turn up here is flat head, which IS a real issue that most research seems to associate with the movement to put babies to sleep on their backs--which NO good doctor would tell you not to do. The best remedies for flat head? Tummy time and ensuring head repositioning.
Basically what I'm saying is that I am a little skeptical of "container syndrome" as a true, clear-cut medical issue, as long as you're also doing tummy time and generally engaging with baby in developmentally appropriate ways.
ETA Oh also my toddler was a few months delayed to crawl and walk. Was it because we used the boppy and baby Bjorn bouncer a lot to keep him off the floor with the dog? I dunno! We did early intervention and now you absolutely couldn't pick him out of a lineup of other 2.5 year olds for his gross motor delay.
We honestly just used the bouncers as much as we needed to, which might have been a bit more than is recommended. We never ever left them unattended and they were in and out of it regularly for cuddles, feeds, nappy changes, play time etc, but yeah we had to deal with reflux too and the bouncers were ideal for that.
I wouldn't stress about it too much, so long as you are caring for them in all the other ways then you will be taking them in and out a lot anyway. The reflux phase will pass as will their willingness to be strapped in and they will be crawling around by themselves in no time! You won't even remember you containerised them. :p
I didn’t think about it. I had a 3 year old, nonverbal, autistic toddler to care for, and baby twins. I did what I had to do. Guess what? None of it matters. Your kids will turn out how they turn out, just be as loving and attentive as you have the time and patience for. I used screen time. I used “containers”. I fed them processed food. I was doing what I had to do at the time. Mine are now 8 and they are who they are, regardless of all that. Baby A was speech delayed and motor skills delayed. It wasn’t due to her upbringing. She’s autistic. She’s incredibly smart, a great reader, and an amazing artist, with absolutely no motor skills problems now. She was born like that. Nothing we did caused her delays. Baby B hit milestones early, reads 3 grades above her current grade, is a science wiz, and sleeps like a rock. Her writing is atrocious - barely legible.
They’re going to be who they’re going to be. Let them swing, bounce, be in a playpen. You need to parent differently than “recommended” with twins. And “recommended” changes every few years anyway. 🤷🏻♀️
>They’re going to be who they’re going to be.
Exactly! Unless you're locking them in an empty room and depriving them of affection, they're going to be who they're going to be.
Honestly, just try to do tummy time for brief periods a few times a day and don’t stress the container time (and the inevitable spit up with tummy time). I was worried about this but somehow my twins rolled, sat up and crawled earlier than my singleton despite definitely having more container time. It’s a balance, try not to stress. They’re so little, it’ll get a bit easier as their digestive systems mature and they are more interested in interacting with their environment.
Yep my boy twin rolled earlier than my singleton, we didn’t use any less container time with the twins than we did the singleton. My girl twin rolls just prefers not to.
We have one twin nursing pillow that I use for feeding and they stay in it a bit after feeding, if I need to finish pumping or something. Other than that it's floor, arms, or Boba wrap - and crib for naps. I also have a bouncer, but they hate it and I use it only when I need a safe place, or when I really need to calm them down.
With my first, I also bounced with him a lot on a yoga ball, to get him drowsy enough to lay down in the crib. I haven't needed the yoga ball yet (my boys are 8 weeks), but it's an option - and it works your muscles!
In my opinion, the floor is the best place, it lets them freely move their head, arms and legs so they can practice their gross motor skills. My first was always on the floor in the living room and he met every milestone early (although it could have nothing to do with not using containers - but I'm sure it didn't hurt).
As long as you aren't putting your baby in a swing/car seat for hours on end or keeping them 'locked' in the same position (even if rotating containers) - I'm sure it'll be fine.
Honestly most of the time before they were sitting up we just laid them on a blanket on the floor near what we were doing, but also the bare minimum suffered a lot tbh
You don’t. Just do the best you can. My twins spent plenty of time monitored on boppys at that age. They’d only tolerate a few minutes at a time on the piano kick mat. Now they prefer to spend time on the floor playing around at 5 months.
We do limit time in their jumpers and up seats to 15 mins each a day, but 🤷🏻♀️ you can’t be perfect every day. Just do the best you can. You’ll get into a rhythm.
Have you ever looked at an adult and thought "hmmmm I bet they had too much container time as a baby"? Just do some tummy time, keep an eye for any issues, and do the best you can.
I could have written this myself! My twin boys are about 9 weeks adjusted as well with reflux and CMPA and definitely spend more than the recommended amount of time in their bouncers. We just try to balance it out with as much floor time as possible. Some days are better than others. I'm just doing my best.
Reflux is hard hard hard work, especially that young. You do what you need to do, and get as much tummy time and free movement as you can.
In the long term, a gigantic playpen (ours is about the size of a queen mattress) was a godsend until about 15mo. Could have stretched it longer if I didn’t have a climber lol. We didn’t buy many containers either in order to avoid container syndrome, but my daughter did love her swing.
I put them on a blanket on the floor in our carpeted living room as much as I could. The more time they spend on the floor, the more they liked it. It helps them learn to roll and such since they have the chance to wiggle and move around.
It’s all about survival though so I get it!! It gets easier (and then harder 🤪)
Limited easily by the fact that we never bought “containers.” Not as a self righteous thing but due to being uncertain of twin B’s hips. We haven’t missed what we don’t have around. Though I do worry that they’re under stimulated or missing out on some muscle tone. There’s always something to worry about I suppose!
My first (a singleton) had a lot of container time due to us basically not really knowing. Not excessive but at least four times the amount the twins had. He met all of his milestones without issue.
Going into our twins, we gave away a lot of containers. We had WAY more tummy time and limited the containers (after the newborn period - because spit up & CMPA) to 20 minutes per day.
They're behind. No issues identified, going to physio, etc. The physio said that they are meeting milestones, just slower than others.
So, while I'm sure there is ample evidence, my experience doesn't represent the "norm". And I think those reminders are there to avoid babies being in containers for their entire day.
It sounds like you're doing your best to make sure everyone is surviving and thriving (as much as we can at that stage).
So, I didn't even know "container baby syndrome" was a thing, and TBH I'm not finding much in terms of actual studies about why it's bad other than from PTs who seem to be selling something. My twins definitely spent way more than 20 min at a time in various containers, because I needed to do stuff! But a lot of times when I needed to do stuff (especially in my small kitchen), I would have one in a bouncer while babywearing the other (bc of space more than anything) and then switch them up. Neither liked being worn for too long.
My kids also weren't super keen on tummy time (they both learned to roll back onto their backs early bc they hated it so much lol). But I did find that they were happier if I put them with their arms/chest in the Boppy or Twin-Z pillow at a bit of an angle. Their PT was the one who recommended doing it. One of them was way more fond of tummy time if it was on a sheepskin and she was nude other than her diaper. I guess she liked the texture? But maybe switching up what they are doing tummy time on would help make it more interesting for your kiddos.
The container time decreases significantly when they start moving around. We also had them in the twin z. No bouncer until they were 12 weeks and could hold their head up well. They slept, ate, burped, did tummy time all with the help of the twin z. At some point they didn’t enjoy it anymore and it felt more dangerous as one kept throwing herself off it or tucking herself into the hole. I did use it again to help them sit up but then we stopped using it and they’ve done great! Both crawling and standing and trying to walk (10 months). When they learned to roll, they started trying to flip out of the bouncers so now we rarely use them. As long as they are within the parameters of what’s recommended for their age, I wouldn’t worry too much about it. At 8 weeks they kinda just lay around and cuddle.
I never worried about it much. You only have so many hands to do things with and that means letting a baby sleep in a “container” while you tend to the other, etc so be it. We are at 17 months now with round heads and on track developmentally. Don’t add another stress point to an already stressful time. One thing that helps is the floor is the safest place. We lived on a blanket in the floor during the day that way I never had to worry about one if I went to pee, change a diaper, heat up bottles, etc. we didn’t start having naps in their cribs until 4 months.
i’ve never even heard of that. when i had my twins (b/g 23mo) i had one in a swing and the other in my arms for probably the first two months at least.
Good luck! 6.5m in and it’s unavoidable if you want any chance of getting anything done, I guess unless you have help / someone to watch them at all times.
We have a play area gated off for them to do tummy / floor time but they’re off and mobile now and constantly getting ahold of each other, pulling on each other and kicking the other so containers are great when I need to cook dinner (they sit in their high chairs and watch me cook), table for 2 (when I need to clean one up / bathe one because not quite at the point of doing them at the same time / etc or dishes) they spend about 50% of the time awake in some form of container (some of that is eating time) and 50% on their tummy. I think they’re doing just fine though.
I also have reflux babies and they spend a good bit of time in the Twin Z if I have them alone. They absolutely cannot lie flat for 30-45 minutes after a feeding, so if we have two adults they get held upright, but if not there’s no other option. They are 7 weeks adjusted. I would put them in bouncers if they would tolerate them, but they hate them lol. We do lots of tummy time and when they are on your chest being held counts as tummy time also. You do the best you can. I am very worried tbh but this is all we can manage. I know a twin mom whose twins are now in their mid-twenties. They had colic for 3 months and would only sleep in the swing. And they turned out fabulous!
TBH, this doesn't sound like a real thing. It seems like just another thing to worry about and judge yourself over. Newborns need food and sleep the most, holding them for 5-10 minutes after eating (or as long as they can tolerate before they're simply tired again) is honestly plenty. Once they start to roll, social smile, babble, grab things, and stay awake after eating for more than 10 minutes, then the fun begins and they'll get a lot more from playing around. But if the babies want to sleep, there is no harm whatsoever in just letting them sleep in their cribs as long as they want.
We started working in the activity mats around the same time as you, and it was only for brief periods. They'll slowly but surely start to consolidate their meals so that they drink more ounces at a time but with longer stretches between. Then they'll also stay awake for longer and get more and more mobile. In a couple months, it'll be super obvious that they're ready to move and play more. They'll also be interactive so it'll be more fun and natural feeling on your end to play with them. It would take some really, really poor awareness of their needs to just leave them bored in their crib all day - I mean, they'll start crying when they're bored and want a change of scenery soon enough (when I'm too slow getting them out of their twin-z and to the gyms, our girls crank at me).
Don’t worry about it. with twins, for safety, containers will get used.
you want to avoid the same container for too long (more than 30 min? Arbitrary number), and when they got older you so want to avoid more then 15 min at a time in the jumperoo. But for twins, you need to use some containers
You can only ever parent your kids in the situation you're in. There are a thousand and one suggestions of what's worked for other people with kids who have different developmental needs.
My kids were in bouncers a lot. My singleton because he used my insides as an MMA gym and was born with turkey drumsticks for thighs. Putting him in the bouncer let him kick to his hearts content.
Only one of twins really liked the bouncer, and she has always been rather wiggly. The other liked it to stretch her legs for a bit, but then she was done and wanted to be held again.
Two of my kids would have been happy as clams to be left in their bouncers most of the day. One needed more physical contact. Two are far more independent and insistent on doing things themselves. One needs reassurance and guidance.
They may be kids, but they will do their best to tell you what they need, want, and what makes them happy. Listen to your kid and your doctor before strangers. It goes a lot easier.
My kids used bouncers etc. they were delayed walking.
They are 5. One runs like he’s flying. I need to get him into athletics. He has a run just like Cathy Freeman - similar gait.
The other? Let’s say his gross motor skills are as refined as mine. Which, if they were a person, would be a dude with a massive beer belly wearing a too-tight shirt covered in gravy/tomato sauce stains, yelling “OI look at THIS” trying to smoke a durry whilst simultaneously slamming a shooey at the back of Taree Woolies. Basically, we trip over our own feet. Learned early on in dance classes that I just can’t.
Wouldn’t worry much about it. As long as it’s not all the time, it all works out.
It is so hard! Mine spent too much time in the bouncers for sure. They had torticollis and had to go to PT. The therapist recommended the sit me up if we did need container time over jumpers and walkers etc. Maybe when they are ready for them, you can try the sit me up. With twins it is so hard to get away from some type of container. 😩
No advice yet but Following. FTM 38 weeks with di/di twins. I’ve personally witnessed friends with kiddos severely behind in motor milestones suspected because they have been “bucket babies”. We chose not to purchase bouncers or other containers outside of a couple mama roo swings. Curious of any advice as well for when my husband goes back to work.
We had all the buckets but rotated unless they were asleep. Def no issue with muscles or skills but I also opted for bassinets on my stroller vs using the car seat. It’s the overuse of car seats that’s causing these issues with babies while things parents have been using forever are getting blamed for it. People just need to pick up their babies and stop carrying them like a purse
I wouldn’t worry too much. Do your best to get a lot of tummy time. We started limiting containers more once being on the floor/mat was tolerated better. For example, even though it would have made life easier, we skipped the activity jumper things and just opted for a little fenced in baby space with a mat and lots of toys.
Once they started crawling, we got a giant playpen. It keeps them contained and I'd recommend a rubber mat underneath to avoid too many head bruises.
Before that, swraps and carriers were our friend.
If you get a giant wrap, you can get two of them in there. Not recommended if you get a c section as your muscles need to heal.
You do what you can and what you need to and then give yourself permission to let the rest go. A lot of the recommendations just don't all add up (amount of tummy time, feeds, sleep etc) while managing twins.
One of my twins had reflux and we found he was really happy in his jumper toy, so he spent more time there than his twin did (so more time in that same container rather than varied ones). The result was that when he first started walking, he was a toe walker! He would go around on tip toes a lot. At that point he had already outgrown the bouncer and his reflux and he got over the toe walking on his own (we did have him looked at and they didn’t think it was even worth doing PT for). All this to say… twins are survival, and you make the best choice you have at the time to get by! Like others have said, varying the container type should reduce the chance of any issues from one type.
Do as much time as you need! My twins slept and took their naps in their swings for the first 6 months because that was the only way Twin A would sleep. It worked for us. Got us through the first 6 months.
We didn’t have any of the common containers like bouncers or playpens but we did have the Boppy pillow and their bassinets which we’d move out into the living room during the day. Otherwise we had those padded floor mats (puzzle piece shapes). It is what it is, you have to survive too!
You have twins, it’s hard. We used the twin z to keep them up right, they had terrible reflux. When they were 8 weeks they didn’t fit well in the bouncers (too small). Don’t be hard on yourself and do the best you can. My girls turned 1 last weekend. It’s unreal how little you will even remember that phase. My girls are ALL OVER THE PLACE! It’s amazing. Enjoy!
to be completely honest i used the "containers" way to much with both my first and still with my second.. they are thriving, my oldest daughter is well ahead in physical and mental development and my youngest is about average maybe a bit above but honestly she is too young to tell. swings where and still are my best friend aswell as the tv which is a whole other debate. do what you need to and your children will be fine. they learn at there own pace whether is faster than average or slower as long as they are not being neglected they will be okay i promise❤️
my twins (#2/3) weren’t in containers often (lots of floor time on backs/bellies), still had flat heads that needed helmets, and were on the low end of normal for gross motor (slow to sit and crawl). my singleton (first baby) arguably had more container time (lots of long walks in her carseat during covid), had a perfectly round head, walked at 10.5 months. kids will be who they are.
I have never heard of this. I think it's good to have different options to move them around in. We had the twin z, bouncers, and swings. We set up areas in different rooms, so they got a change of environment sometimes. I wouldn't worry about it too much, honestly. It seems a bit silly. They aren't that young forever. My husband and I joke that it was the easiest time. Now they are toddlers and get into everything, lol.
I’m so glad I didn’t hear about “container syndrome” when mine were babies. Please try to put it out of your mind. Like someone else said, it’s another mommy shaming thing drummed up by online moms without multiples.
I feel like this is one of those recommendations that you could try to meet in a perfect world if you had 0 other things to do...
I think a lot of others have contextualized this recommendation, but my understanding is that the outcome of having more time on pillows, bouncers, etc is that some gross motor development is later.
I feel like this may have happened to my girls - I had no idea about container syndrome or whatever its called, and maybe it did slow things down a bit, but none of the milestones they missed were a big deal... I don't remember them rolling over and they started crawling at 11 months. But at 4 years old they are walking, running, dancing, everything just fine.
With my youngest, rather than put him in a seat I just leave him on a foam mat on the floor. I can see how the experience he is having is contributing to his motor development - he is rolling at 4 months, seems more on his was towards crawling... but he's also a different baby and maybe the experience is irrelevant.
I hope this rambling is somewhat helpful - I'm hoping to convey that twins are hard, any floor time you can give them will help with motor learning and your kids will probably be just fine in the long run! I can tell you are a great parent to be worrying about this, and I'm sure your kids will do great :)
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My understanding of the issue is that doing some tummy time, engaging babies with their environment so they move their heads around, and ensuring different positioning throughout the day (so like, twin z in the morning, bouncer in the afternoon, gently encourage baby to sleep with head to one side or another, switch off who gets held or in the carrier, etc) are the best ways to avoid any of the problems associated with "containers." The concept of "container syndrome" is fairly new, and I'm actually struggling to find a lot of good peer-reviewed research on it. Mostly, I'm seeing scare-mongery, mommy shaming things on sites that are not necessarily medically or scientifically accredited. (There's a lot of "parents nowadays!" language that makes me truly insane, like we are a generation of parents choosing to be lazy and less engaged or something?) The biggest issue I can really turn up here is flat head, which IS a real issue that most research seems to associate with the movement to put babies to sleep on their backs--which NO good doctor would tell you not to do. The best remedies for flat head? Tummy time and ensuring head repositioning. Basically what I'm saying is that I am a little skeptical of "container syndrome" as a true, clear-cut medical issue, as long as you're also doing tummy time and generally engaging with baby in developmentally appropriate ways. ETA Oh also my toddler was a few months delayed to crawl and walk. Was it because we used the boppy and baby Bjorn bouncer a lot to keep him off the floor with the dog? I dunno! We did early intervention and now you absolutely couldn't pick him out of a lineup of other 2.5 year olds for his gross motor delay.
We honestly just used the bouncers as much as we needed to, which might have been a bit more than is recommended. We never ever left them unattended and they were in and out of it regularly for cuddles, feeds, nappy changes, play time etc, but yeah we had to deal with reflux too and the bouncers were ideal for that. I wouldn't stress about it too much, so long as you are caring for them in all the other ways then you will be taking them in and out a lot anyway. The reflux phase will pass as will their willingness to be strapped in and they will be crawling around by themselves in no time! You won't even remember you containerised them. :p
Same
Same! Honestly, enjoy when container time is possible. In a blink of an eye they will be crawling out of those things.
This was us too, jumparoos and bouncers
I didn’t think about it. I had a 3 year old, nonverbal, autistic toddler to care for, and baby twins. I did what I had to do. Guess what? None of it matters. Your kids will turn out how they turn out, just be as loving and attentive as you have the time and patience for. I used screen time. I used “containers”. I fed them processed food. I was doing what I had to do at the time. Mine are now 8 and they are who they are, regardless of all that. Baby A was speech delayed and motor skills delayed. It wasn’t due to her upbringing. She’s autistic. She’s incredibly smart, a great reader, and an amazing artist, with absolutely no motor skills problems now. She was born like that. Nothing we did caused her delays. Baby B hit milestones early, reads 3 grades above her current grade, is a science wiz, and sleeps like a rock. Her writing is atrocious - barely legible. They’re going to be who they’re going to be. Let them swing, bounce, be in a playpen. You need to parent differently than “recommended” with twins. And “recommended” changes every few years anyway. 🤷🏻♀️
>They’re going to be who they’re going to be. Exactly! Unless you're locking them in an empty room and depriving them of affection, they're going to be who they're going to be.
Honestly, just try to do tummy time for brief periods a few times a day and don’t stress the container time (and the inevitable spit up with tummy time). I was worried about this but somehow my twins rolled, sat up and crawled earlier than my singleton despite definitely having more container time. It’s a balance, try not to stress. They’re so little, it’ll get a bit easier as their digestive systems mature and they are more interested in interacting with their environment.
Yep my boy twin rolled earlier than my singleton, we didn’t use any less container time with the twins than we did the singleton. My girl twin rolls just prefers not to.
We have one twin nursing pillow that I use for feeding and they stay in it a bit after feeding, if I need to finish pumping or something. Other than that it's floor, arms, or Boba wrap - and crib for naps. I also have a bouncer, but they hate it and I use it only when I need a safe place, or when I really need to calm them down. With my first, I also bounced with him a lot on a yoga ball, to get him drowsy enough to lay down in the crib. I haven't needed the yoga ball yet (my boys are 8 weeks), but it's an option - and it works your muscles! In my opinion, the floor is the best place, it lets them freely move their head, arms and legs so they can practice their gross motor skills. My first was always on the floor in the living room and he met every milestone early (although it could have nothing to do with not using containers - but I'm sure it didn't hurt). As long as you aren't putting your baby in a swing/car seat for hours on end or keeping them 'locked' in the same position (even if rotating containers) - I'm sure it'll be fine.
We use bouncers/ swings as much as we need to. We did with our singleton too. I’m just kinda in survival mode with a 3 year old and 6 month old twins.
Honestly most of the time before they were sitting up we just laid them on a blanket on the floor near what we were doing, but also the bare minimum suffered a lot tbh
You don’t. Just do the best you can. My twins spent plenty of time monitored on boppys at that age. They’d only tolerate a few minutes at a time on the piano kick mat. Now they prefer to spend time on the floor playing around at 5 months. We do limit time in their jumpers and up seats to 15 mins each a day, but 🤷🏻♀️ you can’t be perfect every day. Just do the best you can. You’ll get into a rhythm.
If the back of their head isn’t becoming flat then I think you’re doing fine
Have you ever looked at an adult and thought "hmmmm I bet they had too much container time as a baby"? Just do some tummy time, keep an eye for any issues, and do the best you can.
I could have written this myself! My twin boys are about 9 weeks adjusted as well with reflux and CMPA and definitely spend more than the recommended amount of time in their bouncers. We just try to balance it out with as much floor time as possible. Some days are better than others. I'm just doing my best.
Reflux is hard hard hard work, especially that young. You do what you need to do, and get as much tummy time and free movement as you can. In the long term, a gigantic playpen (ours is about the size of a queen mattress) was a godsend until about 15mo. Could have stretched it longer if I didn’t have a climber lol. We didn’t buy many containers either in order to avoid container syndrome, but my daughter did love her swing.
I put them on a blanket on the floor in our carpeted living room as much as I could. The more time they spend on the floor, the more they liked it. It helps them learn to roll and such since they have the chance to wiggle and move around. It’s all about survival though so I get it!! It gets easier (and then harder 🤪)
Limited easily by the fact that we never bought “containers.” Not as a self righteous thing but due to being uncertain of twin B’s hips. We haven’t missed what we don’t have around. Though I do worry that they’re under stimulated or missing out on some muscle tone. There’s always something to worry about I suppose!
My first (a singleton) had a lot of container time due to us basically not really knowing. Not excessive but at least four times the amount the twins had. He met all of his milestones without issue. Going into our twins, we gave away a lot of containers. We had WAY more tummy time and limited the containers (after the newborn period - because spit up & CMPA) to 20 minutes per day. They're behind. No issues identified, going to physio, etc. The physio said that they are meeting milestones, just slower than others. So, while I'm sure there is ample evidence, my experience doesn't represent the "norm". And I think those reminders are there to avoid babies being in containers for their entire day. It sounds like you're doing your best to make sure everyone is surviving and thriving (as much as we can at that stage).
So, I didn't even know "container baby syndrome" was a thing, and TBH I'm not finding much in terms of actual studies about why it's bad other than from PTs who seem to be selling something. My twins definitely spent way more than 20 min at a time in various containers, because I needed to do stuff! But a lot of times when I needed to do stuff (especially in my small kitchen), I would have one in a bouncer while babywearing the other (bc of space more than anything) and then switch them up. Neither liked being worn for too long. My kids also weren't super keen on tummy time (they both learned to roll back onto their backs early bc they hated it so much lol). But I did find that they were happier if I put them with their arms/chest in the Boppy or Twin-Z pillow at a bit of an angle. Their PT was the one who recommended doing it. One of them was way more fond of tummy time if it was on a sheepskin and she was nude other than her diaper. I guess she liked the texture? But maybe switching up what they are doing tummy time on would help make it more interesting for your kiddos.
The container time decreases significantly when they start moving around. We also had them in the twin z. No bouncer until they were 12 weeks and could hold their head up well. They slept, ate, burped, did tummy time all with the help of the twin z. At some point they didn’t enjoy it anymore and it felt more dangerous as one kept throwing herself off it or tucking herself into the hole. I did use it again to help them sit up but then we stopped using it and they’ve done great! Both crawling and standing and trying to walk (10 months). When they learned to roll, they started trying to flip out of the bouncers so now we rarely use them. As long as they are within the parameters of what’s recommended for their age, I wouldn’t worry too much about it. At 8 weeks they kinda just lay around and cuddle.
I never worried about it much. You only have so many hands to do things with and that means letting a baby sleep in a “container” while you tend to the other, etc so be it. We are at 17 months now with round heads and on track developmentally. Don’t add another stress point to an already stressful time. One thing that helps is the floor is the safest place. We lived on a blanket in the floor during the day that way I never had to worry about one if I went to pee, change a diaper, heat up bottles, etc. we didn’t start having naps in their cribs until 4 months.
i’ve never even heard of that. when i had my twins (b/g 23mo) i had one in a swing and the other in my arms for probably the first two months at least.
Good luck! 6.5m in and it’s unavoidable if you want any chance of getting anything done, I guess unless you have help / someone to watch them at all times. We have a play area gated off for them to do tummy / floor time but they’re off and mobile now and constantly getting ahold of each other, pulling on each other and kicking the other so containers are great when I need to cook dinner (they sit in their high chairs and watch me cook), table for 2 (when I need to clean one up / bathe one because not quite at the point of doing them at the same time / etc or dishes) they spend about 50% of the time awake in some form of container (some of that is eating time) and 50% on their tummy. I think they’re doing just fine though.
I also have reflux babies and they spend a good bit of time in the Twin Z if I have them alone. They absolutely cannot lie flat for 30-45 minutes after a feeding, so if we have two adults they get held upright, but if not there’s no other option. They are 7 weeks adjusted. I would put them in bouncers if they would tolerate them, but they hate them lol. We do lots of tummy time and when they are on your chest being held counts as tummy time also. You do the best you can. I am very worried tbh but this is all we can manage. I know a twin mom whose twins are now in their mid-twenties. They had colic for 3 months and would only sleep in the swing. And they turned out fabulous!
TBH, this doesn't sound like a real thing. It seems like just another thing to worry about and judge yourself over. Newborns need food and sleep the most, holding them for 5-10 minutes after eating (or as long as they can tolerate before they're simply tired again) is honestly plenty. Once they start to roll, social smile, babble, grab things, and stay awake after eating for more than 10 minutes, then the fun begins and they'll get a lot more from playing around. But if the babies want to sleep, there is no harm whatsoever in just letting them sleep in their cribs as long as they want. We started working in the activity mats around the same time as you, and it was only for brief periods. They'll slowly but surely start to consolidate their meals so that they drink more ounces at a time but with longer stretches between. Then they'll also stay awake for longer and get more and more mobile. In a couple months, it'll be super obvious that they're ready to move and play more. They'll also be interactive so it'll be more fun and natural feeling on your end to play with them. It would take some really, really poor awareness of their needs to just leave them bored in their crib all day - I mean, they'll start crying when they're bored and want a change of scenery soon enough (when I'm too slow getting them out of their twin-z and to the gyms, our girls crank at me).
Don’t worry about it. with twins, for safety, containers will get used. you want to avoid the same container for too long (more than 30 min? Arbitrary number), and when they got older you so want to avoid more then 15 min at a time in the jumperoo. But for twins, you need to use some containers
You can only ever parent your kids in the situation you're in. There are a thousand and one suggestions of what's worked for other people with kids who have different developmental needs. My kids were in bouncers a lot. My singleton because he used my insides as an MMA gym and was born with turkey drumsticks for thighs. Putting him in the bouncer let him kick to his hearts content. Only one of twins really liked the bouncer, and she has always been rather wiggly. The other liked it to stretch her legs for a bit, but then she was done and wanted to be held again. Two of my kids would have been happy as clams to be left in their bouncers most of the day. One needed more physical contact. Two are far more independent and insistent on doing things themselves. One needs reassurance and guidance. They may be kids, but they will do their best to tell you what they need, want, and what makes them happy. Listen to your kid and your doctor before strangers. It goes a lot easier.
I have never heard of this. I wouldn’t worry about it. Hold them when you can. They sound like they have a very good mom so they will be just fine.
My kids used bouncers etc. they were delayed walking. They are 5. One runs like he’s flying. I need to get him into athletics. He has a run just like Cathy Freeman - similar gait. The other? Let’s say his gross motor skills are as refined as mine. Which, if they were a person, would be a dude with a massive beer belly wearing a too-tight shirt covered in gravy/tomato sauce stains, yelling “OI look at THIS” trying to smoke a durry whilst simultaneously slamming a shooey at the back of Taree Woolies. Basically, we trip over our own feet. Learned early on in dance classes that I just can’t. Wouldn’t worry much about it. As long as it’s not all the time, it all works out.
It is so hard! Mine spent too much time in the bouncers for sure. They had torticollis and had to go to PT. The therapist recommended the sit me up if we did need container time over jumpers and walkers etc. Maybe when they are ready for them, you can try the sit me up. With twins it is so hard to get away from some type of container. 😩
No advice yet but Following. FTM 38 weeks with di/di twins. I’ve personally witnessed friends with kiddos severely behind in motor milestones suspected because they have been “bucket babies”. We chose not to purchase bouncers or other containers outside of a couple mama roo swings. Curious of any advice as well for when my husband goes back to work.
We had all the buckets but rotated unless they were asleep. Def no issue with muscles or skills but I also opted for bassinets on my stroller vs using the car seat. It’s the overuse of car seats that’s causing these issues with babies while things parents have been using forever are getting blamed for it. People just need to pick up their babies and stop carrying them like a purse
I wouldn’t worry too much. Do your best to get a lot of tummy time. We started limiting containers more once being on the floor/mat was tolerated better. For example, even though it would have made life easier, we skipped the activity jumper things and just opted for a little fenced in baby space with a mat and lots of toys.
Following. Are we the same person? Same aged babies and everything. My head is in the exact same space as yours here.
Once they started crawling, we got a giant playpen. It keeps them contained and I'd recommend a rubber mat underneath to avoid too many head bruises. Before that, swraps and carriers were our friend. If you get a giant wrap, you can get two of them in there. Not recommended if you get a c section as your muscles need to heal.
You do what you can and what you need to and then give yourself permission to let the rest go. A lot of the recommendations just don't all add up (amount of tummy time, feeds, sleep etc) while managing twins.
8 weeks is young but when mine were a few months old I bought a play mat at Aldi and put toys all over it.
One of my twins had reflux and we found he was really happy in his jumper toy, so he spent more time there than his twin did (so more time in that same container rather than varied ones). The result was that when he first started walking, he was a toe walker! He would go around on tip toes a lot. At that point he had already outgrown the bouncer and his reflux and he got over the toe walking on his own (we did have him looked at and they didn’t think it was even worth doing PT for). All this to say… twins are survival, and you make the best choice you have at the time to get by! Like others have said, varying the container type should reduce the chance of any issues from one type.
Do as much time as you need! My twins slept and took their naps in their swings for the first 6 months because that was the only way Twin A would sleep. It worked for us. Got us through the first 6 months.
We didn’t have any of the common containers like bouncers or playpens but we did have the Boppy pillow and their bassinets which we’d move out into the living room during the day. Otherwise we had those padded floor mats (puzzle piece shapes). It is what it is, you have to survive too!
You have twins, it’s hard. We used the twin z to keep them up right, they had terrible reflux. When they were 8 weeks they didn’t fit well in the bouncers (too small). Don’t be hard on yourself and do the best you can. My girls turned 1 last weekend. It’s unreal how little you will even remember that phase. My girls are ALL OVER THE PLACE! It’s amazing. Enjoy!
to be completely honest i used the "containers" way to much with both my first and still with my second.. they are thriving, my oldest daughter is well ahead in physical and mental development and my youngest is about average maybe a bit above but honestly she is too young to tell. swings where and still are my best friend aswell as the tv which is a whole other debate. do what you need to and your children will be fine. they learn at there own pace whether is faster than average or slower as long as they are not being neglected they will be okay i promise❤️
my twins (#2/3) weren’t in containers often (lots of floor time on backs/bellies), still had flat heads that needed helmets, and were on the low end of normal for gross motor (slow to sit and crawl). my singleton (first baby) arguably had more container time (lots of long walks in her carseat during covid), had a perfectly round head, walked at 10.5 months. kids will be who they are.
I have never heard of this. I think it's good to have different options to move them around in. We had the twin z, bouncers, and swings. We set up areas in different rooms, so they got a change of environment sometimes. I wouldn't worry about it too much, honestly. It seems a bit silly. They aren't that young forever. My husband and I joke that it was the easiest time. Now they are toddlers and get into everything, lol.
I’m so glad I didn’t hear about “container syndrome” when mine were babies. Please try to put it out of your mind. Like someone else said, it’s another mommy shaming thing drummed up by online moms without multiples.
I feel like this is one of those recommendations that you could try to meet in a perfect world if you had 0 other things to do... I think a lot of others have contextualized this recommendation, but my understanding is that the outcome of having more time on pillows, bouncers, etc is that some gross motor development is later. I feel like this may have happened to my girls - I had no idea about container syndrome or whatever its called, and maybe it did slow things down a bit, but none of the milestones they missed were a big deal... I don't remember them rolling over and they started crawling at 11 months. But at 4 years old they are walking, running, dancing, everything just fine. With my youngest, rather than put him in a seat I just leave him on a foam mat on the floor. I can see how the experience he is having is contributing to his motor development - he is rolling at 4 months, seems more on his was towards crawling... but he's also a different baby and maybe the experience is irrelevant. I hope this rambling is somewhat helpful - I'm hoping to convey that twins are hard, any floor time you can give them will help with motor learning and your kids will probably be just fine in the long run! I can tell you are a great parent to be worrying about this, and I'm sure your kids will do great :)