Double Duty : The Parents' Guide to Raising Twins, from Pregnancy Through the School Years [Paperback]

Christina Tinglof (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1998

What lies ahead for expectant parents of twins? Immeasurable joy, plus many sleepless nights. Parenting twins is unlike parenting siblings of different ages. From infancy through the teen years, twins require a bit more energy and diplomacy, plus lots of clever ideas. Double Duty: The Parents' Guide to Raising Twins, from Pregnancy Through the School Years offers plenty of reassuring advice and practical strategies for coping with the challenges that lie ahead. Featuring a wealth of tips from couples with twins who've lived to tell about it, Double Duty covers everything from managing a multiple pregnancy to the first days of school. Whether you're concerned about bonding with two babies at once, getting them on the same schedule, or separating your inseparable duo for a day, Double Duty suggests many comforting solutions. It covers such twin-specific issues as:

• How to increase the chances of a healthy pregnancy
• How to prepare home and family for the arrival of twins
• How to survive the critical first month
• How to breastfeed or bottle feed two infants at once
• The pros and cons of dressing twins alike
• How to encourage paternal involvement
• How to avoid speech difficulties in twins
• How to avoid unhealthy competition between the siblings

Christina Baglivi Tinglof has had travel features published in the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune Boston Herald, and Westways Magazine. Now, as a full-time mother, she writes on parenting for LA Parent and Central California Parent magazines. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Kevin, and their fraternal twin boys, Joseph and Michael.

Editorial Reviews

Review

In 1994, more than 96,000 twin births were reported in the U.S. Regardless of the cause, the shock--and sometimes panic--a woman feels when she hears that she is going to give birth to twins cannot be overlooked. Christina Baglivi Tinglof, in her new book, Double Duty, attempts to guide moms and dads through twinning trauma with tips that will make their life easier. Tinglof organizes her tips into "Top Five" lists and sprinkles them throughout the book. These lists include "Top Five Comfortable Sleeping Tips for Extremely Pregnant Women," "Top Five Bedtime Strategies," and "Top Five Ways to Establish Each Child's Individuality." Parents of twins will note the author's "Top Five Birthday Party No-Nos": One cake--one song; the shared gift faux pas; one guest list; playing up twin status; identical kids--identical gifts. An appendix filled with additional resources, as well as where to get free samples of baby products, makes Double Duty an extremely practical book for ! those blessed with twins. -- GRAND RAPIDS PARENT, October 1998

Mothers of twins hold other mothers of twins in high regard, so the fact that a woman with young twin boys found time to write a book makes her something close to holy in my book. Double Duty, by Christina Baglivi Tinglof, is a fine primer covering a broad range of advice, presenting both sides of the coin on topics ranging from pregnancy to the school years. As we moms of twins know, all twin issues take on a heightened level of complexity. Designed with lots of "Top Five" lists, the text, often humorous and always clear, offers intelligent choices when pondering the panoply of pros and cons regarding things like the safety of twins amniocentesis, bed rest, separate classrooms, to go to work or to stay home, etc. So--how do you go out with two infants or toddlers, or breastfeed for two, or conquer air travel or stop two from crying simultaneously? Presenting the opinions of parents of twins and parenting experts, it's all here without ever being preachy or didactic. In her closing "cliches" (her word, not mine), she reminds us to ultimately "listen to your heart," and her book is long on heart.--Reviewed by Hilary Hartman Kip -- LA PARENT MAGAZINE, November 1998

About the Author

Christina Balivi Tinglov has written for L.A. Parent magazine and is the mother of twin toddler sons.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (April 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809230194
• ISBN-13: 978-0809230198
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #469,480 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #38 in Books > Parenting & Relationships > Family Relationships > Twins & Multiples

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very well written, November 17, 1999

By 

Kellie Hart (Novato, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Double Duty : The Parents' Guide to Raising Twins, from Pregnancy Through the School Years (Paperback)

I am expecting twins and have bought several books on this subject. This was the first book I actually read from cover to cover! It was well organized and informative on the things I felt most important (like how will I shop for groceries with twins?). I reccomend it highly and I believe that it will keep your interest throughout.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars To be bought with other baby books, don't just rely on this, August 22, 2000

By 

Angela Sargeant (Sydney, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Double Duty : The Parents' Guide to Raising Twins, from Pregnancy Through the School Years (Paperback)

Initially I thought this book was great but then realised some of the impracticalities. To suggest that you take your twins to the supermarket using two shopping carts (pushing one in front and pulling one behind you) made me laugh... I can't see how this is possible when you have four little hands grabbing things out of the cart and off the shelves!

There are some really good tips though, such as how to keep the twins amused. Also the section on statistics and twin types was very interesting.

I suggest parents also buy books such as "What to Expect the First Year" by Arlene Eisenberg.

20 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Been there, Done that, October 29, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Double Duty : The Parents' Guide to Raising Twins, from Pregnancy Through the School Years (Paperback)

My identical twin girls turned 2 in September. I bought this book when they were about 4 months old. It's taken me a while to get around to commenting as I've been, well, kind of busy although it does indeed get easier. I found some of the information helpful, some obvious. When I read the comment about the possibility of the two babies crying at the same time discussed as: "Actually that doesn't happen too often..." you could probably hear me close the book. Honestly, with the best care and complete attention, it happens OFTEN! They are two people who want ALL of your attention NOW! It's understandable and still very challenging. Would I want it any other way? Absolutely not, but it's still exhausting and sometimes very frustrating. Twins are not double the experience. It is exponentially harder and exponentially sweeter. More hugs and love and more fuss. My answer to this? Take a deep breath and love them more.