LA PARENT MAGAZINE, November 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


GRAND RAPIDS PARENT, October 1998
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.


Book Description
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.


About the Author

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

FROM THE PUBLISHER

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.

SYNOPSIS

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￯﾿ﾽ 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￯﾿ﾽve lived to tell about it, Double Duty covers everything from managing a multiple pregnancy to the first days of school. Whether you￯﾿ﾽre 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.

FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature - Janet Morgan Stoeke

The great thing about this book is that it offers wonderful organizational tips. And a new mother of twins is desperate for all the help she can get along those lines! It is a detailed and thorough book for raising babies, but the school years part is totally devoid of the real stuff of living with twins. I looked, and yup, the author's babies aren't there yet. Regardless of this minor problem, (by the time you get that far, you are a lot less desperate) most of the book works, occasionally hitting the perfect button for a specific situation, but most importantly, lending that poor mother the chance to read something about her predicament. There is sympathy, and a knowing understanding of the complexities and challenges of the toughest months. Once in a while I wanted to interject my own clever tricks, but overall, it is a solid and helpful book for a singularly stressful and disarmingly wonderful event.

ACCREDITATION