10 Day Old Newborn Eating Every 1.5 hours...normal?

I had boy/girl twins 10 days ago and the girl is eating every 2.5-3 hours, which seems reasonable. The little boy wants to eat EVERY 1.5 hours, even at night. He also seems gassy. Is this the normal or the beginning of colic?

BTW: I was aprehensive about having twins but I am enjoying them so much! If only the little boy would let me sleep!

 

Sounds fairly normal to me--are you breastfeeding them?
If you're not and he's gassy, it's probably the formula.

 

10 days is about time for the 2 weeks growth spurt for some babies. His tummy is only the size of his fist and can't hold much liquid at once so depending on how fast it goes through him, he very well could be hungry that much. It won't last very long

If you are breast feeding it will digest even quicker and as for gassy and the formula.. if he's gassy and you're nursing it could be something in your diet making him think he's hungry because his tummy hurts.

 

The growth spurt makes sense!

I am feeding a lactose sensitive formula already and my Dr told me to try Mylicon before we switch to a different formula.

I was trying to keep them on the same schedule but there is NO WAtY if he continues like this!

 

mine were still in the NICU at 10 days and they were on feeding tubes but I think they still got fed every 3 hours. I would vote growth spurt. Also its a little pricier but we switched to Nutramigin when my dd was having issues with formula and it was a MIRACLE!

 

Definitely normal. When babies are growing at a rapid pace, they need to eat more often. It should settle down within a few days. My gf's baby is on formula too, and is 8 weeks old and still eats every 2 hours. Some babies just need to eat more often than others! Totally normal!

 

Totally normal. And the gassiness is fairly normal too.

 

I agree with all the PP's. Twins are wonderful.. and don't worry about the nights right now- there will come a time shortly when they will both sleep for longer stretches of time!

 

Sounds like a growth spurt to me too! Glad you're enjoying the twins and hopefully they'll get settled into a more regular pattern soon.

 

Okay guys an update and another "is this normal" question!

We are now eating every 2 hours, which is a little better, but they are eating so much!! Between 3 and 4 ounces! Is there anyway to stretch the time between feedings or will it just come with maturity? They are 3 weeks old now.

 

Still normal And at this age their intake should not be restricted. Feeding on demand is what the drs recommend. So if they're hungry and take the 3-4 oz then let them! And as for stretching feeds, you can try holding them off with soothers for a bit...but really... I'd feed them when they're hungry! Because in the amount of time it takes for you to hold them off, you could have just fed them and had been done with it! lol......I speak from experience!!! Laugh.

 

Glad it's stretched out a little bit! That does sound like a lot (I think! I honestly can't remember how many oz/feed anymore.. when I swore I'd never forget! :lol but as long as they're not spitting up a ton and they don't seem gassy and uncomfortable then they're probably just getting what they need. Unfortunately you have to just ride it out. Although I am sure it feels like it will never end, it will.. and before you know it you'll have little ones who sleep for nice stretches at a time and have a very regular pattern.

In order for you to get more sleep: trade off feedings with your husband through the night, or each take care of one baby for the night so you only have half the work. Some people also did shifts; one partner taking all the feedings until midnight and the other partner taking all the night time ones. Have diapers all ready to go so it only takes a few seconds to change them in the night and/or don't change them every feeding unless you have to. Put them in your room (if they're not there already!) and have bottles ready to go in the fridge for the night. Leave any bottle dishes for the morning and do it all in one shot. Basically do whatever it takes to make it through. Hang in there!

 

Try offering them 5 oz, see if they make it 3 hours? How big were your babies at birth? Our pediatrician told us that smaller babies have the tendency to eat more than their peers to catch up. Ours were 6#5oz at birth each - which was about 25-30%, and by 2 months they went up to 90%- 95%... Our pediatrician was amazed as well. That's how they got so big, so fast. We weren't stuffing them on purpose, but they were starving all the time. They were eathing every 2,5 hours during the day and every 3 at night and usually they were finishing 4-5 oz. We tried to feed them more often during the day - 2,5 hours this way they started to make it longer during the night - they started with 3 hours, then few weeks later they made it 4 hours and so on. I know it sounds like they are eating a lot, try maybe to offer them a bit more during the day see how it goes. Hang in there, you are doing a great job!!! Try to remember some moments once in a while, at times I feel like the first 3 months are all a blur .

 

Thanks for the advice!! I will just keep chugging along and hope they have more "reasonable" hours soon!