Feeding twins

I'm curious as to how other mommies handle two screaming babies at the same time, feeding wise. My DH is a huge help when he doesn't have to work...he'll feed one and I'll feed the other. He works 12 hour shifts and there are days when I'll be handling the boys on my own...for 48 or 72 hours straight. Since my babies are only 5 weeks old, they're eating 3-4 ounces every 3-4 hours and it takes a lot out of me, especially when they're both crying. I've been switching off by giving an ounce or two then going back to the other baby.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

Re: Feeding twins

from day 1, i pumped so that they would each get a bottle and no one had to wait. i put them each in a boppy pillow and held the bottle to their mouths. when they were old enough to sit up, they each had a maclaren chair they were fed in. i did that until 12 months when i stopped the botttle

Re: Feeding twins

My babies always took bottles because I pumped and supplemented with formula.
I would either sit on the floor or the couch, with a boppy on either side. I would hold a bottle in each hand, and feed them at the same time. I would then take turns burping them (DD was always better at waiting...still is!)
Once they were big enough for high chairs, I put their chairs side by side and fed them at the same time.
Now, they hold their own bottles and life is great! Just remember that things get easier and easier as each month passes. Enjoy them being itty bitty, but know this is the hardest it will be!

Re: Feeding twins

Re: Feeding twins

I would hold one and prop the bottle for the other....

When it was time to burp I would switch babies....

I used playtex nursers for my bottles. They worked great and the girls were holding their own bottles before they were 4 months old.

When that was the case one got held and the other would sit in their bouncy seat drinking their bottle. Then I would switch mid way....

Re: Feeding twins

I had mine in the boppy pillows...propped almost from day one and held a bottle in each ones mouth with my hands. The worst part was when one had to burp. I would either prop one bottle or just let one baby scream for the 1/2 a minute ( hopefully ) it took to burp one and then burp the other.

I always propped the bottles...bought bottle props, but pillows worked well too. It was too hard to do any other way.

You become a pro in time, I swear!!!

I would also kinda sit on the couch sideways with pillows and put them there and hold the bottles.

I got SUPER lucky, my girls held their own bottles by 6 months , maybe even sooner ( my son NEVER did)..I just put their hands on it constantly to try to get them to learn to do it. lol

Hang in there!!!!

Re: Feeding twins

Like everyone else said I used the boppy pillows side by side and fed them simultaneously. Sometimes I used their car seats side by side...that worked great too. Good luck! You will get they hang of it soon.

Re: Feeding twins

I used to sit on the floor or couch and hold one and have the other in the boppy or bouncy seat. I would prop the 1 bottle and then would burp the baby i was holding them switch off and put the other in the bouncy of boppy and hold and burp the other.

You will become a pro....believe me!!

Re: Feeding twins

when they were small and I fed them both bottles I would put one boppy on the couch and sit one baby in there and then sit the other baby in the space between the boppy and the.back of the couch. This way they were nice and close. They would cry a a little when I went to burp them. Now I sit them in their bouncy seats. I just started proping their bottles...and they are really getting close to holding their own bottles. It gets easier I promise!

Re: Feeding twins

Thank you all so much!!

The two boppy pillows are working out great! I thought my littlest one was going to slide down but he didn't!

Re: Feeding twins

I fed mine in boppies when they were little-while I pumped LOL-I had a hands free pumping bra, set them up in their boppies and held or propped the bottles, so I had pumped and fed both of them in 20 minutes.

When they were about 3-4 months they started drinking thei rbotle sin the FP infant to toddler rocker

Re: Feeding twins

I actually prefer feeding them seperately right now as I bond more at that time with each of them. It does take longer but I love the one on one time. They are only 3 months old. I breast feed, but not exclusively. When I bottle feed, I basically stagger their schedules by 1/2 hour. My daughter has an internal snooze button and doesn't mind so much waiting so she tends to be second. Sometimes they both cry at the same time so I feed them at the same time in their bouncy seats - once they have a little in them burping is not a problem since they are no longer in the panic mode once they have eaten some. At this point they are eating every 4 pushing 5 hours. When they were eating every 2 1/2 to 3 hours it was harder because once I feed one then the other it was time to start again, but this is what I prefered. When breast feeding they take turns as well, but sometimes I am able to get them to feed at the same time. They seem to like this because they look at each other when doing so. I do the football hold, it's easier for me. But everyone told me and I tell you too, it does get easier and I am looking forward for it to get even easier going forward. GL !

edited to add: My daughter doesn't have to wait for seconds anymore since I found my son will wait if I rock him with my foot in his bouncy seat or rock and play sleeper while I feed her and I don't feel bad anymore making her always wait so they take turns being first!

Message edited 7/11/2011 2:40:07 AM.