CARING FOR QUAD FAMILIES
four babies. We haven’t known each other very long – but we have this really strong bond.”
Selina, from Winchester, Hants, said: “I’ve been lucky because Carla has gone through everything first. I’ve been able to learn from her experiences.
“In the beginning I wanted to know how she managed to feed all four babies at once.
“Carla told me how she’d come up with the idea of rolling blankets to use as a bottle prop.
“Then I was worried when mine weren’t sitting up at the right time, so I messaged Carla and she told me that it was fine, hers were the same.
“We’ve been able to share tips on things like what high chairs and strollers to buy – although I normally come out best because Carla’s are a few months older, so she has gone before me.”
Carla added: “Yes, she can always make the better choice because I’m the one who has to trial everything out – her stroller is the better, lighter one, her van is the easier one to drive.”
Selina, who recently returned to work as a nurse for one 15-hour shift a week, explained how vital the solidarity is. She said: “Because Carla’s the only one who truly understands what it’s like, I always turn to her when I want to vent.
“In January I got asked to leave a cafe because they said my stroller was a fire hazard.
“I was mortified. Everybody was looking at me and I felt like I’d done something wrong.
“Other friends were like, ‘Well, why couldn’t you just leave the stroller outside?’
“But I messaged Carla and she understood. How can you leave a stroller outside and then carry in four babies?”
This week the pair and their brood of 10 kids finally met for the first time to enjoy a day out at RHS Garden Wisley, near Woking in Surrey. Carla said: “It’s the first time we’ve met, but I feel I’ve known Selina for years.
“It’s been just like meeting up with an old friend.”
Little Darcie and Myla also quickly became the best of pals.
They were each especially thrilled to discover they were not the only little girl with four baby siblings to cope with.
And if stealing each other’s food at lunchtime is a good indicator of friendship, the two sets of quads also struck up a bond.
Remarkably they even managed to have their afternoon naps all at the same.
But when it came to sitting still in a row together and smiling sweetly at the camera, the quads were not quite so cooperative.
Carla said: “One would stop crying and another would start. And trying to get them to stay in one spot was impossible.
“We’d get one to sit still, but then another would crawl off or decide they wanted to lie down.
“I don’t think other visitors could quite believe what they were seeing.”
Both mums have thousands of followers on Facebook and Instagram, where they share a daily insight into their lives.
Carla can be found on the sites as crozierquadsplus1, while Selina is outnumbered_by_five.
SELINA TORBETT ON LIFE WITH HER BABIES