--How can we stop our baby from escaping from: 

                 a) the stroller--Try buying separate shoulder straps at a baby 
                 store. Also, sometimes a waist band can go over one shoulder 
                 and under the other arm. 

                 b) the high chair--A harness (that snaps to a leash for outside 
                 use) can be used to hold a child in. Just tie the harness to the 
                 back of the high chair. 

                 c) the crib--This can be a real childproofing nightmare. Some 
                 people swear by crib tents, an expensive mesh dome that fits 
                 over the top of the crib. They're between $60-80, so picking 
                 one up used at a second hand sale might be a good investment. 
                 It's possible that if one doesn't show the others how to get 
                 out, the problem might be solved. Some parents have put the 
                 escaper in a separate room to avoid the domino effect. Besides 
                 that it may be necessary to put the sides down (so there isn't 
                 such a distance to the floor), and begin considering toddler 
                 beds. Toddler beds could just be the crib mattress on the 
                 floor for awhile. 

                 --What ideas do you have for potty training? 

                 Try just concentrating on one child at a time. Here's one mom's 
                 story: 

                 "The key question is are your children physically ready to be 
                 potty trained. With my trio I knew they were ready since 
                 when I put a clean diaper on after breakfast they were dry 
                 for about three hours. I always thought potty training would 
                 be the most horrendous experience and it was the easiest thing 
                 I ever did with my three kids.They were 2 years 7 months old 
                 and they were trained within one month. I never played any 
                 games with potty training. This was purely a physical function 
                 that had to be accomplished. I trained them in the summer 
                 which made it easier and every two hours whether they had to 
                 or not I took them to the potty and told them it was time to go. 
                 I bought three potty seats which I never used. They always 
                 wanted to go on the big potty. I also bought the donut ring to 
                 insert into the potty which I never used. As said in the 
                 beginning the important thing is that the kids need to be 
                 physically capable of controlling themselves." 

                 Here's another parent's strategy: 

                 Have them each drink a big glass of liquid and set the timer 
                 for 20-30 minutes. (The timer really helps keep you on track 
                 as well as is a signal for the kiddos.) Explain to them that when 
                 the buzzer or bell goes off they get to go to the potty ( and 
                 try to sound like it's exciting). When they succeed, give a 
                 sticker or other reward. The first day or so you'll need to 
                 plan to do nothing but this and do it several times a day. As 
                 soon as they associate the feeling of a full and then empty 
                 bladder with going to the potty, it begins to work.  

                 Many parents report that one child just won't train, which can 
                 be frustrating. One parent recommends the video, 'It's Potty 
                 Time' from Learning Through Entertainment 1-800-445-5142 
                 (the company name says it all!). Also, letting a child run around 
                 pants-less may help him/her be more aware of what's going on. 
                 In the end these families report that they just let the child 
                 determine when he was ready to train, and it happened with 
                 less stress. 

                 --What do you think about "leashes" for toddlers when 
                 we're out somewhere? 

                 Most people feel that they are necessary for safety, even if 
                 it's not what you'd prefer to use if you had one child. One mom 
                 says, "I've never used hem, but had them in the diaper bag at 
                 all times. One thing that should be done --make sure you "fit" 
                 the harness on the child before using them in public and code 
                 them as each child is different. It took me a good 3 minutes 
                 each to get them fitted properly. I liked the Safety First 
                 brand as no velcro was involved. The velcro just ripped away 
                 when it was tugged on the other brands." 

                 --What are some good ideas/resources for disciplining 
                 toddlers? 

                 Most of the problems involve toy snatching, biting, and 
                 physical abuse. Removing them from the other children seems 
                 to be the best solution. One family sets up a pack 'n' play in 
                 their limited space to have a place to separate the offender. 
                 The book 1-2-3 Magic by Thomas Phelan is highly 
                 recommended for all age children. It's available at 
                 1-800-442-4453. 

                 --How can we encourage the children to be individuals? 

                 Most families feel this happens on their own, regardless of 
                 whether they are dressed the same, in same or different 
                 activities, etc. Often the frustration for kids comes from 
                 adults not remembering which one is which, or knowing anything 
                 about the child as an individual. Sending one child to a relative 
                 overnight or for an afternoon outing can really help--not only 
                 that child but the ones that are left at home get more 
                 attention, too. 

                 --What are some activities/toys that will entertain my 
                 toddlers? 

                 One really popular toy is "Magnadoodles." This may be a toy 
                 you must have three of. They can learn to color at a pretty 
                 young age, just make sure markers are washable; there is also 
                 edible finger paint if you're that ambitious. Playing with foods 
                 can be the most convenient thing since so many toddlers put 
                 everything in their mouths. Most kids enjoy pots and pans, 
                 plastic refrigerator containers, and wooden spoons. Stroller 
                 rides are especially fun at this age, as are park baby swings. 

                 Once the weather is warm a small baby pool is a good 
                 investment--it can be used as a sandbox, too. 

                 --Since my children already have playmates their own 
                 age, should we send them to preschool? 

                 Preschool can be expensive, but most parents feel that at least 
                 one year of it was a good investment. It can help their 
                 language skills and get them used to a different structure than 
                 they get otherwise. Some cooperative preschools offer a 
                 greatly reduced price for help during the session. Also, some 
                 high schools run pre-school programs as part of their 
                 curriculum, and these can be free or much cheaper than 
                 regular programs.  

                 --Should they go to separate preschool sessions, or is it 
                 okay for them to attend together? 

                 Practically speaking, it's really unrealistic to try to put them 
                 in different classes unless they are all at the same time. With 
                 a little help from the teacher your kids should be able to 
                 function individually in the same class. Each family is 
                 different, so play this one by ear. 

                 --How can we encourage others to treat our children 
                 individually--for example, they get one joint birthday gift 
                 from people, one invitation to parties, etc.? 

                 Start by example. If they are invited to a party, take three 
                 gifts. Try to encourage families to just invite one child over; 
                 sadly, often triplet families report very few invitations for 
                 playdates because parents think they have to take all three. 
                 When a relative sends three birthday cards, three Valentine's 
                 cards, make sure to thank them for the extra effort. 

                 --We have one of our group that is not progressing at 
                 the same rate as the others. What should we do?  

                 If the difference isn't severe, it may just be due to variations 
                 in individual development. If you're not sure, have that one (or 
                 all of them) evaluated by your county's early intervention 
                 program. In most counties this is a free evaluation by 
                 specialists in all areas of development. If your child qualifies, 
                 you may receive a variety of benefits free or at a greatly 
                 reduced cost to you. Among these benefits can be special 
                 preschool programs, home physical, occupational or speech 
                 therapy, even babysitting for you and your husband to get out. 
                 Check under your county government listings in the phone 
                 book. 

                 In the end though, you may just need to encourage other adults 
                 to not compare or play favorites, no matter how unintentional. 
                 Children usually adjust to differences more easily than you 
                 might think. 

                 --We have one child that demands a lot more care than 
                 the others. How can we make it more even or help the 
                 other children understand their sibling's need?  

                 John Rosemond, a parenting columnist, says he thinks that 
                 parents who try to make things fair do a disservice to their 
                 kids. Everyone is different, everyone has different needs, so 
                 why try to even things out? 

                 Nonetheless, parents never want a child to feel neglected, so 
                 as much one on one time as you can manage is a good solution. 
                 There's a point where parents must let go of the guilt and do 
                 the best they can. There are advantages to being a multiple, 
                 but there are also disadvantages the kids have to learn to 
                 accept. 

                 --What are some ways to cut back the cost of having 
                 three toddlers/preschoolers? 

                 Use as many homemade toys as possible- use your imagination! 
                 Go to as many garage sales and thrift shops as you can- toys 
                 are incredibly inexpensive second-hand. Toddlers don't care if 
                 their clothes are fashionable- buy inexpensive clothes that will 
                 last. Use your imagination when playing- singing songs and 
                 dancing is free! Look for outings and storytimes at public 
                 health units and public libraries- they are usually free and a 
                 good break for the kids.