How to Babysit Toddler Twins

Preparing to Babysit

If they are identical twins, give them name tags that they could decorate. This prevents having to learn which one is which! However, if the toddlers are fond of taking it off, try to get to know who is who by paying close attention to personalities and physical attributes. If one is a boy and the other is a girl, then that won't affect you (unless you can't get the names straight).

Start off playing or doing a craft. You can take them to a park, but make sure it isn't too cold or dark and the parents are okay with it. You can also try finger painting with yogurt on tin foil, play Pretend games by incorporating their favorite activities, sorting games, singing and dancing to nursery rhymes and favorite kid songs (Baby Shark is a common one), making music, and reading books together. If you are wanting to make music with pots and pans, be sure that you don't bang too loud, especially if the twins live in an apartment complex or town-home with thin walls.

Let them spend a little time alone by providing a different activity for them but still in an area where you can keep an eye on both of them (i.e. Justin could play with his cars while Justice plays with her Barbies). It allows the twins to let go of any tension between the two. Keep a good eye on both and equally distribute your attention to each twin if they have alone time.

Don't completely ignore one. They might tell the parents in their own way about how you neglected them and pampered the other, and you certainly don't want that! You could have them learn teamwork by having them verse you in seeing who can build the biggest tower with blocks or by who can stack the most books/pillows.

Don't yell at them or say mean things. Treat them like you're there to hang out with them instead to just boss them around. Be wary about what you say, since young children easily pick up words and will repeat them at any moment. Instead of saying words such as "Stupid" or "Shut up!", say things such as "Silly!" and "No, no, don't do that." Yelling at them will cause some tears, more yelling back, and/or cause the twins to start yelling at their parents or older siblings when you're gone. As the old saying "Monkey see monkey do," they'll certainly see the way you act and might imitate it!

Near bedtime or nap time, allow each twin to pick out one or two books each and read it to them. Some popular books for young children are "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?," "Goodnight Moon," and "Hungry Hungry Caterpillar." Try asking them questions over what you read. For example, you could say, "Could you find me the horse, Paige? Could you find me the chicken, Peyton?"

Choosing their Meals

Breakfast. They might like cereal with some low-fat milk, toast with faces made with grapes/orange slices, or pancakes/waffles. If you plan to prepare foods such as pancakes, make sure you cut them into bite-sized pieces to avoid choking.

Lunch. A simple grilled cheese sandwich, mac n' cheese (also great for dinner if you're in a hurry or you're feeling stressed!), or sausage and beans on toast (the toast is optional. Be sure you add some dairy (i.e. a cheese-stick or milk), a side of fruit (opt for apple slices or grapes), and a side of veggies (why not some canned corn or carrot sticks with ranch?)

Dinner. Tacos (be sure they are soft tortillas), pizza, or you could order something/ take them out to eat if you have a government-approved driver's license. If you are going to pay for the toddlers without the parents giving you the money to do so, you can ask for them to reimburse you, and save all receipts for proof.

Playing Games

Pretend. Just simply start with a theme and move on. Try to incorporate the twins' interests in some games. For example, if Ellen loves princesses but Ellie is a fan of Paw Patrol, pretend that the puppies save the queen or the puppies get to have dinner with the princess while you "cook" meals using play food. And don't get overwhelmed if they try to change things up; simply embrace the fact that you are now a mixed breed of a horse and cow (how you got there, who knows) and move on with the game.

Sort toys. Ask each kid to take a turn sorting toys into groups. Better yet, you can teach them colors or pattern recognition by asking them questions such as the following: "Put all the red cars by the TV." or "Could you bring me three of your green trucks?"

Fun Food. Ask the kids to sort their food or to make a shape out of it. you could say: "Could you make me some eggs and carrots?" or "Could you get me the ice cream, banana, and apple?" You could pretend that you're the customer at the restaurant and that they are the cooks. While you play restaurant, encourage good manners and say "please" and "thank you". You can also give them a quick lesson over how to set a table; don't get frustrated if they don't understand. They're only toddlers, so they won't grasp what you say all the time.

Maintaining Safety

Keep them away from hot stoves, especially if they are on or they are off but still cooling down. If they get too close, instantly redirect them away by allowing them to do something else. Turn the stove and oven off as soon as you are done with it to avoid any possible burns.

If they need to use the potty if they are toilet-trained, you might need to help them with washing their hands or getting the right amount of toilet paper. At bath time, always make sure the water is not too hot or too cold; test the water with your elbow, as that is more sensitive than your fingertips. Be sure to sit in the bathroom with them and help them bathe or just watch them; you might want to ask the parents if they need a bath before bed and if they are comfortable bathing together. Don't ever let them swim alone; it would be best if you go in the water with them. Make sure they are wearing floaties in a pool or at the beach if they can't swim.

When you play games like tag, make sure you have enough room. The best idea is to go outside, but if you can't, put all breakable things away on a high shelf/cabinet and push the rest to the side. You should also remove toys or items that they can easily trip on, and be sure that they aren't wearing socks while you're playing tag. One wrong move and they can slip and hit their head on hard flooring!

Remove matches, keep outlets and cords covered, always keep the door locked, and always watch them. Taking your eyes off of them for even a minute to check the latest post from your friend on Facebook could result in injury, drowning in the tub, or some sort of mishap that will be on your account.