Finding Time for Self-Care as a Twin Parent

If you're parenting twins and someone tells you to 'just make time for yourself', I can almost hear the eye-roll. When two little people need you, finding even ten quiet minutes can feel ambitious.

But self-care doesn't have to be a spa day, a 5am workout or another item on an already impossible to-do list. Sometimes it's simply being allowed to sit down, eat a meal while it's warm or ask for help without feeling guilty.

Start smaller than you think you need to

A proper drink and a snack, a short walk, a few minutes with a book or a shower without interruptions all count. Choose something that genuinely helps you feel more like yourself rather than something that looks impressive on social media.

Swap vague offers of help for specific requests

Instead of 'I'm fine, thanks', try 'Could you take the children for half an hour while I rest?' or 'Would you mind doing the washing up?' People who care about you often want to help but aren't sure what's useful.

Protect a tiny part of the day

It might be ten minutes after the children go to bed, a coffee while someone else handles the school run or one evening each week to see a friend. The time doesn't need to be long to matter. If you share parenting with someone, agree how each of you can have a break.

Find twin parents who understand

There is something reassuring about talking to someone who doesn't need the logistics of twin life explaining. Look for a local multiples group or a welcoming online community. Twins Trust is a UK starting point for families looking for information and connection.

Remember that rest is productive too

You do not have to use every nap or quiet moment to clean, answer emails or get ahead. Sometimes the most useful thing you can do is sit on the sofa. The chores will still be there later.

When self-care isn't enough

If you feel persistently low, anxious or overwhelmed, it deserves more than a bubble bath. Speak to your GP, health visitor or another trusted professional. Asking for support with your mental health is as valid as asking for help with the practical side of parenting.

A gentle question to finish

What's one small thing that would make this week easier for you? It might be asking somebody to take a job off your hands, or it might simply be giving yourself permission to pause. Parenting twins is a big part of your life, but you're still you.

For a gentler bedtime moment with both children included in the story, discover I’ll Miss You While You’re Sleeping, one of our bedtime books written especially for twins.