Having Triplets in the same Kindergarten class

 The school year is halfway over now, so I wanted to post an update.  My experience with our decision to enroll the triplets in the same class. 

Having multiple children comes with so many decisions and choices. One of ours was to keep the triplets together.  I know this issue creates some heavy debates and controversy for both sides.  I feel they were born together, raised together, and why not educate them together? The school administrator left the decision up to us, and why add to any anxiety they may already be feeling about starting school by forcing them to separate?

It's difficult for non-multiples to understand the bond between triplets. It's a unique relationship. It begins even before birth and often endures longer than marriages, friendships or a parent/child relationship. For young children, being together is all they have ever known. If they want to be together, then they should be together.

Separation can be a traumatic experience. It's not that they can't ever be apart, they are simply better off together. As individuals, they are more confident, productive and effective learners when they are in the same environment. Certainly, there will come a day when circumstances require them to be separated. Allowing them to learn and develop together now will make that transition easier when that time comes.

I couldn't be happier with it.  Our girls are very independent all on their own, they don't need a separate classroom to create individual personalities or behaviors.  They have their own friends and share some.

 I am very involved at the school, I believe that we have the best teacher in the school to teach our trio.  The teacher and I get along, we communicate when needed and are literally on the same page. For me, I feel that having them together creates a consistent learning environment, both at school and at home when I need to reinforce with homework, learning the same thing at the same time.

Literally, because the girls have the same homework each night, I sit down with them as a group and we go over one set of homework.  Assignments are the same, which makes my life easier. The girls are on three different reading levels, so they do have three different books, but the assignments are the same.  I have come to understand exactly what the teacher requires.

 Parent conferences are conducted over the phone and talk about multi-tasking, she is able to get three kids progress reports and conferences done all at once.  Class field trips, no reason to have to choose one child to chaperone, I spend the day with all three girls, and am able to capture special moments with all of them, and take pictures, instead of having to only choose one.

Class parties are a breeze, I make goodie bags for one set of students, 24 kids, not 90! Oh and their teacher, I spoil her so good! I send extra school supplies often. She got a massage gift card for Christmas and I have helped decorate her classroom.  All of which benefits my girls.

I have read both sides of this, and actually my sister who has a set of twins chose to separate, so I have fairly evaluated both decisions. Which way is best? There is no one right answer. Consider your own children. Are they independent from one another, or do they seem to depend on each other for comfort? Some twins or triplets hardly bat an eye about being apart, while others are as thick as thieves. You know your own children's personalities and temperaments well enough to make the right decision. Some schools will support your decision to keep them in the same class, some won't, get familiar with your school district's policy. Once you make the decision about whether to keep them together or separate them, be sure to work closely with their teachers and monitor your twins' or triplets' progress closely. It's the best way to figure out what works and what doesn't.

With two or more children in the same grade at the same time, sometimes convenience is the best reason to keep multiples together in the same class, with one set of assignments, tests and teachers to keep up with. It's not an issue of being selfish, or lazy. Rather, it is a matter of choosing the situation that affords the best management of family logistics. Don't downplay or deny the importance of parental convenience or feel that you're taking the easy way out. Parenting twins and triplets is difficult enough, and if keeping them in the same class meets their needs and yours, then it is the right choice.

I just wanted to share what works for me, my children and our life.  Our choice is made for next year, and actually all of Elementary school we have decided they will stick together until they express they want to be separate.  And its pretty cool, I already know who I will request the twins have in two years as their Kindergarten teacher. :)

Potty Training Triplets & Twins

No more diapers here, finally all 5 are in big kid underwear.

I always get asked what is my trick for potty training three kids, or two at a time.

No tricks, seriously, I never invested in the whole 3 day plan, and I never paid someone to give me step by step instructions. I know potty training twins or triplets seems like a daunting task, or an uphill battle, but when you know they are ready, when they can talk or at least understand you, then you are ready. If your twins are not developmentally ready to train, you'll encounter more resistance and frustration.

Signs of readiness include showing an interest when others use the toilet, the ability to go for an extended length of time without wetting a diaper, being uncomfortable with a soiled diaper, and wanting to wear "big kid" underwear.

One more thing to remember, even though you have two or three children the same age, does not mean they are equally ready.  You know your babies. 

When you know they are ready, you can allow them to be naked. Be prepared to do this on a weekend or a time when you are home.  Set an egg timer, or some kind of reminder to ask them, over and over and over again, ask them if they have to go.

Buy more than one potty seat!  If you try to get by with one -- even if they are training at different times -- I guarantee that there will be a showdown when they both try to go at the same time. For that reason, to reduce squabbles, you may even want to consider multiple sets to place throughout the house. If your twins are stingy about sharing, you can designate ownership, but in the long run, this can cause extra drama for children who only want to go in "their" potty. However, it may be more necessary to specify with a boy and girl, especially if you are using a splash guard or deflector on the potty seat.


We had three potty chairs, they need their own.  My girls and boys prefer the seat that has a cushion over the pot.  Its more comfortable, especially while waiting for a number 2.  I also like that there is a lid, sometimes the kids will go and not tell you, so its nice, incase you have company that the lid closes that up. :) Smile....

We also had a toilet converter for them to go on the grown up potty. they actually wanted to do that more. They wanted to pee like mommy. I let them run around naked and it only took two days, on the third and fourth day the girls were ready. Naps and nighttime are different, they had to wake up dry before you proceed to wearing training underwear. When they can do that, they hate peeing in the underwear, they learn real quick how it feels to be wet in their bed.

     When its time to move on to wearing panties or undies, or underwear, whatever you call them, make sure you take them shopping for them! Let them choose, Super Heroes, Dora, Sesame Street, Princess, let them choose, because you will want to enforce that "Hey, Disney princesses don't like you to pee on them!"  "Captain America would not like to be wet". Trust me, it works...


Buy a travel toilet converter, too.  So when you leave the house, you will have a potty and the converter for inside rest stops or the grocery store. They stow nicely inside a diaper bag, especially for us Moms of Multiples, our diaper bags are a tad bit bigger than a singleton mom...

Get in your mind You can do this, be motivated, be upbeat, yes its hard, its a chore, but you will be so happy, you even get a pay raise when they are out of diapers!!! Laundry bill may be higher but no more poopy diapers to change!

We trained our twin boys, too. They are boys, so its an unwritten fact that they are harder, and they are four, now. I say the boys were harder only because they love standing at the toilet like daddy. Moms cant really show them this...but with boys you put things in the toilet for them to aim at. They love making a sport of it. Cheerios, goldfish, and fruit loops work!

While potty training twins or triplets, you can expect that there will be double or triple the mess. There WILL be setbacks and there WILL be accidents. Know that they're coming and prepare your home accordingly. Stock up on cleaning supplies so that you're ready to address the mess. If you are concerned about permanent stains or damage, protect the areas of your house that cause concern. Use gates to keep potty training twins out of rooms that are off-limits. Put away expensive throw rugs or bedspreads. Cover furniture and floors with tarps. Don't freak out about accidents; simply enlist your child's help in cleaning up, and move on. Maintain a sense of humor; the retelling of these incidents will make for great stories later in life!

Get HAPPY, I mean silly, goofy, OVERJOYED! Do the pee pee dance, do the Poo poo potty dance for them.  Let them flush after they go. That's the best part! Flash the lights on and off and have a mini party, tell their brothers and sisters they went potty on the big kid potty seat! Make a big deal about it. Blow bubbles, sing a song, just make them know they did great! This is a milestone for you and your babies.
The last piece of advice I have is reward them well! Stickers, M&M's, anything they feel is a reward, based on their age and interest.  They deserve it! (And So do you!, Job Well Done, Moms & Dads.)

Keep it in perspective. Like all phases of parenting multiples, potty training is a temporary transition. Your children WILL learn to use the toilet. You WILL get rid of diapers. You can look forward to a day when they stay dry and use the bathroom independently. It WILL happen. Be patient, flexible and loving.
Down the road, you'll look back on this experience and think, "What was the big deal?"