Bringing home a new baby is a big milestone in a family’s life. Add an older set of twins into the mix and you’ll find that some of the burdens appear to increase exponentially.

Feeling overwhelmed and sleep-deprived is par for the course for any parent of a newborn. Plus, with a third baby in the family, you’re suddenly outnumbered, too! But don’t despair, adding a third sibling can be easier in some ways as well.

An Easy Addition?
Going from one to two children, parents must learn to multitask, split their attention and deal with the challenges of bringing up each child as a unique and special individual. Parents of twins already have a huge head start on mastering those skills!

“Having a singleton after multiples is wonderful!" says Dr. Rebecca Moskwinski, executive vice president of the National Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs as well as the mother of twins and four singletons. "It is so much easier. When you have fed the baby – you're done! When you've changed him – you're done! (Unlike with twins when it seems you are never finished!) I got to hold him a lot more since there was just one of him. Plus, the twins were used to sharing Mom and Dad with someone else, so it wasn't as much of a shock to them.”

Plus, your twins also already have a built-in best friend for life, and that can really work in your favor as you begin to need more time to tend to the new baby. “Your twins will enjoy playing together and keeping themselves busy,” says Kira Copperman, mother of twins, Joshua and Alex, 6, and Noah, 3. “The unique bond is really a plus, and you should use it to your advantage.”

If you need some time alone with the baby, set aside some quiet toys for independent play, and your children can entertain each other while you are feeding, changing or putting the baby down for a nap. If you want to get the children involved with baby care, assign each child an age-appropriate and personality-appropriate role, such as getting diapering supplies, singing to the baby, turning on the mobile or even taking care of baby dolls of their own.

Preparing Your Pack
In many ways, preparing your twins for a new sibling is exactly the same as preparing a singleton for a new arrival, and all the usual suggestions apply: Take advantage of the scores of great new baby videos and books at your local library or bookstore; enroll your older children in a sibling class at the local hospital; paint a positive but realistic picture of life with a new baby in the house; have the children make a picture book of their life with a new baby; and buy each twin a baby doll of their very own.

And when the baby arrives, the same tactics apply for older siblings: Buy each child a present from the new baby; give each child a role or tasks to help care for the new baby and welcome guests and visitors; set aside special alone time each day with each sibling; and double up on the hugs, cuddles and "I-love-yous."

“The key with any new sibling is to be calm,” says Dr. Moskwinski. “I let the twins hold the baby, and I was there to supervise. They held him for maybe 10 seconds and then lost interest. I think doing that was much preferable to always saying, ‘Don't touch the baby!’”

Stress Individuality
As a parent of twins, you already know the burden twins face of being lumped together with their womb-mate. Add to the mix a new little person labeled “The Baby,” and you can see the potential identity crisis.

“The best way to help each child to grow into his or her own person is knowing each child’s personalities,” says Copperman. Her son Alex recalls that when his little brother was born, each twin was assigned a role in Noah’s life. “I was the protector, and Joshua played lullabies on the piano.” Alex’s role has evolved as Noah has grown into his own person, and he enjoys introducing Noah to his favorite superheroes and building forts together. “I love being a role model,” he says.

If you create a role for each member of the family that can evolve as the child grows and the family structure changes, each child can learn to feel special and unique with an understanding of their place in the larger family unit. “You can spread your love as far as it needs to go to each child,” says Dr. Moskwinski.

I'm Outnumbered!
No matter how you slice it and despite the fact that there’s always enough love to go around, there will still be many times when you’ll feel just plain outnumbered. When that happens, keep your head, take a deep breath and try one of two tactics: Divide and conquer (by having a parent take one child aside for a special errand or game) or ask for help.

“Even if having one is easier than two, a little help can go a long way,” says Pam Fierro, the About.com Guide to Multiples and the mother of twin girls. “Enlist grandparents or other family members, hire a sitter (for either the twins or the newborn) or utilize the support of an organization like a church group or local multiples club for meals.”

When you get overwhelmed, remember, in parenting, as in life, it’s all in how you handle the situation: Approach your children with trepidation and you’re in for a bumpy ride; stay focused and keep your wits about you, and you can forge a wonderful family unit with strong relationships that last a lifetime.

Want to see more?

• Help Is on the Way: Getting the Support You Need to Raise Twins
• Start the New Year Right: Resolutions for Mothers of Multiples
• You Can Do It! 10 Secrets to Surviving the First Year With Twins
• Talk about it!