The Second Year with Twins 17.5 Months Old

Last updated on February 28th, 2024 at 07:41 pm

Learn what to expect with your infant twins 17.5 months old, including tips, tricks, and advice from real twin parents who have been there.

All content on this website, including medical opinion and any other health-related information, is for informational purposes only and should not be considered to be a specific diagnosis or treatment plan for any individual situation. Use of this site and the information contained herein does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others.

Your Twins 17.5 Months Old

Welcome back returning twin parents! Hello and welcome to the new twin parents who are just finding us today!

You made it through your first 16 months as a twin parent and you’re now well into your 17th month of twin parenthood. What a huge accomplishment! Little known secret: we knew you could do it!

Now what? Well, this is a good place to start. We have plenty of information and resources to help you navigate twin parenting with your twins 17.5 months old.

Our twin parenting tips come from our very own experienced twin parents from around the world! These parents have all been there, done that, and are ready to share their tips and tricks with you.

This second year is full of excitement, questions, and even some anxiety. Not to worry, we’ve got your back. We’ve laid out all our best tips, tricks, and advice for twins 17.5 months old.

Got preemies? Make sure to consider your premature twins’ corrected age when reviewing whether or not they are meeting their milestones at appropriate times. In the vast majority of cases, preemies catch up by school-age and go on to succeed at the same level as their peers. Learn more about preemie developmental milestones here

The Second Year with Twins 17.5 Months Old — Twins 17 months old

What to Expect with Twins 17.5 Months Old

You’ve probably noticed that your toddler doesn’t eat as much as they did when they were babies. And there’s a good reason for that: They’re not growing nearly as quickly as they once did.
A toddler-sized portion is about one-quarter that of an adult-sized portion — think: ¼ cup of cold cereal, ½ an ounce of cheese (a 1-inch cube), and 1 ounce of meat, fish or poultry.
Even if your toddler has been using a utensil for months, chances are, she’s only just started getting the hang of it.
Toddlers need about 11 to 14 hours of sleep a day, including naps. At this age, many take two daily naps that last around one to two hours each.
Starting around this time, you will see your toddlers making more of their own small decisions and taking less of your instructions. This is normal and is a part of their growth and development process.
Your chatterboxes may be able to string a couple of recognizable words together, though most little ones this age don’t speak intelligibly at all and are still babbling.
Other common behaviors these days: throwing anything and everything they can toss and opening the fridge a million times a day, both examples of showing off a new skill.
They may also have figured out how to rip off their diaper — you know, the brand new one you put on two minutes ago.
Don’t be surprised if your toddler’s attachment to her favorite comfort object or her thumb kicks into high gear. Cuddling a stuffed animal or sucking a thumb is a toddler’s way of blowing off steam
If you haven’t already, look into joining a local moms of multiples club (aka twin club). Read about local twin clubs here or join our Twiniversity monthly twin club on Zoom by signing up for a Twiniversity Membership.

Want to be the first to know about giveaways, deals, and more just for twin parents? Sign up for the Twiniversity email list! Subscribe today to get emails about giveaways, events, weekly article roundups, and more! Pregnant with twins? We’ll be sending you a weekly twin pregnancy email to keep you on track with your pregnancy to-do list! Click here to learn more… and while you’re at it, check out our Complete Baby Safety Course and Twin Parent Memberships.

Common Concerns From the Moms Who Have Been There With Twins 17.5 Months Old

How delayed is too delayed when it comes to twins and language?
How can we cut costs with twins?
How do I deal with double tantrums?
How to deal with biting?
What can I do to encourage my twins to s hare?

The Twins Tale Podcast by Twiniversity is an intimate look into the lives of twin parents and their twins at all ages and stages, from birth through college. We interview twin parents in the trenches and ask all the burning questions you want to know about raising twins: schedules that work, feeding your twins, getting out of the house, finding sanity, and so much more. Subscribe for FREE today!

Milestones & Developmental Leaps Parents Have Noticed With Twins 17.5 Months Old

What’s going on with development in twins 17.5 months old?

Your twinnies will try climbing stairs either by walking up or even kneeling, and will hold either the rail or the side of the wall to support themselves.
Will try opening bottle caps. Can turn and twist knobs and taps.
Will compete for what they want and may resort to snatching, hitting, pushing, shoving, or even biting to get it.
May have few favourite songs and will sometimes even groove to it.
Will get increasingly steady while walking and will also insist on walking independently.
Can stop, bend over, pick up an object, stand up and continue walking.
Will experiment climbing on furniture, bed or any high platform.
You can kind of figure out which hand is likely to become their dominant one.
Might start sneaking out of bed all by themselves.
Sometimes use their whole arm, not just wrist and fingers, while coloring or painting.

Inform your doctor if your child:

Doesn’t try to climb furniture.
Is not enjoying the company of other kids.
Almost never hugs or doesn’t show the need to be hugged.
Is unable to eat with her fingers or hold a spoon.
Not eating enough or not eating at all.
Doesn’t express herself with her voice or through gestures.
Still crawls most of the time.

Challenges You Might Experience With Twins 17.5 Months Old

There are some challenges to look out for with twins 17.5 months old

Are your twins biting? This is a common complaint around this time. Read more about how to deal with biting here
Toddler teething is no fun! Those molars might be coming up. Check out these teething tips.
This is often around the time that your twins may begin fighting over toys and even you! Learn how to encourage your twins to sharing here
Parents say that they are dealing with twins who get into everything, now that they are mobile. Learn about keeping your babies safe here

Tips from Parents of Twins 17.5 Months Old

Take some tips from experienced twin parents!

Stick to a daily routine and try putting them to bed consistently at the same time.
Read lots of books to your twinnies, even repeatedly, as it helps them identify patterns and learn new words faster.
Encourage them to walk, especially barefoot, as it develops their balance.
Prepare for them to fight. A lot.
Don’t compare your twins to other mom’s singletons.
Take more pictures than you think you should. They will LOVE to look at them with you soon!

Got twins? Us too! The Twiniversity Podcast with Natalie Diaz was created BY parents of twins FOR parents of twins, from your pregnancy days through your twin’s teenage years, this podcast covers it all. It’s all about parenting twins, offering plenty of strategies for making life better, parenting hacks, and, of course, humor. We are laughing WITH you every step of the way.

Feeding and Nap Schedule for Twins 17 Months Old

You’re really going to want a schedule for your twins! Be adaptable, but try to be as consistent as you can. Here is a suggested feeding and nap schedule for twins 17 months old. You will notice that milk is primarily given in addition to a meal, not used as a meal itself now.

7:00 – Wake up time! Breakfast and Milk
8:00 – Free playtime
9:00 – Snack
10:00 – Nap (at least 1 hour)
12:00 – Lunch and Milk
12:00 – Free playtime
2:00 – Nap (at least 1 hour)
3:00 – Snack
4:00 – Free playtime
5:00 – Dinner and Milk
5:30 – Bath time
6:00 – Book time & Milk
7:00 – Bedtime

Do the best you can every day to keep them on the same feeding and sleeping schedule. When you get off track try again for the next feeding or nap.

Do everything in your power to feed your twins together to make sure you get breaks. If they are on opposite feeding schedules, you will never get a break — and you deserve one!

Are You a New Twin Parent?

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The Twin Survival Guide From Pregnancy Through the First Year”

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Accessible and informative, What to Do When You’re Having Two
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When to Call the Doctor

It’s better to overreact 100% of the time than to underreact once.
Natalie Diaz, Twiniversity Founder and Mom of Twins

When it comes to calling your doctor or seeking medical advice, you have to learn to trust yourself. If you feel something isn’t right, it probably isn’t when it comes to your twins. When in doubt, call. That’s why the offices have an answering service and staff on call at night or on the weekends.

That being said, there are a few guidelines to follow. There are a few circumstances under which you should call your doctor and get medical advice, or even call 911. When you call you should have a pen and paper handy and be prepared to give the following information over the phone:

Immunization records
Any medications, dosages, and times last taken (even over the counter drugs)
Medical history
Your baby’s temperature
Mention that the baby is a twin, in case of a contagious illness

Any time you see the following symptoms with your twins you should contact your pediatrician immediately.

Blood in vomit
Blood in stool
Seizure
Suspected poisoning
Bleeding you cannot stop
Unable to move
Limpness
A rectal temperature of 100.4 or above
Sleeps more than usual or will not wake up
Yellow skin or eyes

Call your doctor as soon as possible if one or both of your twins experiences any of the following.

Refusal to eat for multiple feedings in a row
Diarrhea or vomiting
A cold that will not resolve itself or gets worse
Unexplained rash
Signs of dehydration (no tears, no wet diapers, sunken eyes, sunken soft spot)
Ear drainage
Will not stop crying

When to Call 911

Please note that when you call 911, you and your baby will be taken to the nearest emergency room. This may or may not be located at your preferred hospital.

Your baby is turning blue or taking more than 60 breaths per minute
Your baby has a seizure which lasts more than 3 minutes or you cannot reach their doctor by phone immediately
Suffers from convulsions, unconsciousness, or irregular breathing following a fall or from bleeding
You think your baby may have a skull, neck, back, or pelvic fracture (DON’T move your baby)
Your baby suffers from a compound fracture where bone is sticking out from the skin (cover it with a clean cloth and do not touch it)
Your baby has bleeding you cannot stop after applying pressure for 10 minutes

Again, learn to trust your gut. When in doubt, call and see what your doctor thinks. Believe it or not, they’re happy to help.

What You Should Read for Twins 17.5 Months Old

Need some twin parent friends? Get the support you need with a Twiniversity Membership. Benefits include a monthly twin parent club meeting on Zoom, access to a private Facebook group just for twin parents, and a video library of twin parenting lessons. Visit Twiniversity.com/membership to join today!