Ready or Not, Here We Come!: The Real Experts' Guide to the First Year with Twins

When I found out I was pregnant with twins, a twin-mom friend told me that this was the only twins book I'd ever need. I found it immensely helpful before and after I had my boys. It takes you through strategies that never come up with one child: how to feed two screaming babies simultaneously, how to get them on the same schedule, how to handle all those bottles, etc. Best of all is the book's tone: funny and encouraging (similar to Vicky Iovine's "The Girlfriends' Guide" books). The book never tells you what you MUST do, but it offers real-life examples from real moms of twins, so you can try out what works for you. We mothers of twins need all the help we can get, and I really felt like this book was there for me during some very tough times.

I've read several books on life with twins, and they've all been at least a little helpful and funny. But this is the first I've read where the author already had a toddler before the twins came, and so it was nice to get her perspective and understand what that reality will be like for me. I like that the author really did have some good ideas and based on diverse experiences (she did breastfeed, and then switched to formula, so she understands pros/cons and strategies of both), and she has her circle of moms-of-multiples friends whose experience she draws on and shares as well. One thing I noticed missing from the book was reference to or strategies for handling life with babies while they're stuck for a time in the NICU. I was looking forward to understanding how we might manage NICU visits with a preschooler at home. I realize that there is no magic answer on how to deal with life with twins, but in my opinion, this book does indeed do a good job. If you're looking for another similar book to read, I'd also recommend Twinspiration by Cheryl Lage, especially if these are your first babies and you don't have other children at home. Also, for general multiples-pregnancy info, I highly suggest buying When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads by Barbara Luke.

This book is different from most other twin/multiples books in that it is not only practical but funny and understanding as well. It's filled with the basic information plus little hints and shortcuts that are essential to keeping your sanity with twins. Most of these shortcuts aren't covered in any other of the dozens of twin books I have read. The girlfriend type perspective keeps you laughing. "Ready of Not..." covers everything from what baby items you won't need two of, to establishing a schedule. I can say that my husband and I referred to this book dozens of times in the last year. Of all the twin books on the market (I can say I've probably read all of them!) this is my favorite.

When my twin boys were born, I was so overwhelmed. My first thoughts after reading this book were "THANK GOD someone gets it". What mom doesn't need to be reminded that it is not only OK not to be perfect, but normal. This book also gave me solutions for issues such as how to leave the house with twins, and how to feed two crying babies at once. Most importantly, I learned to approach the tougher times with a sense of humor, be creative in problem-solving, its ok to ask for help, and to remember every day what a true wonderful blessing twins are! I so look forward to Liz's next book as I am venturing into year two!

Anyone who reads this book and doesn't absolutely love it is nuts! I have a 2-year-old son and 4-month-old boy/girl twins. Admittedly, before my twins were born, I might have thought Elizabeth's take on the amount of work involved with newborn twins was a bit exaggerated. But now that they are here, it's become clear that she's right on! The reality of twins is that you probably won't sleep very well for the first few months, your house won't be immaculate, and you might eat more cereal for dinner than you did previously. If you have older children, you might occasionally feel torn early on regarding the amount of quality one-on-one time you are able to give them versus the amount you could give them before the twins arrived. But that's reality. The other reality, which Elizabeth makes quite clear, is that twins (as well as their older siblings) are an amazing blessing, and each challenge that presents itself has a strategy or two that can be employed to address it. In the end, more than worrying about the state of her house, the state of her diet, or the state of her hair, what's most important is that parents work their way through this time with a sense of humor, an appreciation of the blessings they've been given, and the knowledge that it gets easier and more fun with each passing day. I highly recommend this book for anyone expecting twins --- or anyone who's given birth to them in the last year. I also recommend a few more medically based books on raising babies, such as The Baby Book by William Sears, M.D., and Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth (which Lyons also recommends) to help you understand the more medical aspects of raising children (these books provide detailed information on babies' sleep patterns and getting them on a sleep schedule, and ways to address medical challenges such as reflux and colic), but Lyons' book provides the hysterical girlfriend-to-girlfriend approach (much like Vicki Iovine) that most expectant and new moms of twins welcome with open arms!