Crying/screaming waiting for food (does it hurt them)?

Boy, I am just full of questions today.

Our girls do not eat on a set schedule. Their feeds are 2.5 - 3.5 hours so I never know when to have the bottles ready. Unfortunately, this means that when they wake up and want food, they want it NOW. I can never get their bottles warmed up fast enough so they end up crying for a good 5 minutes. This happens at almost every feed so it makes me wonder if this is bad for them. I have heard people say that babies who cry too much can make them "stressed". There is just no way to calm them down until they get their bottle.

Is this unhealthy for them?

 

Boy, I am just full of questions today.

Our girls do not eat on a set schedule. Their feeds are 2.5 - 3.5 hours so I never know when to have the bottles ready. Unfortunately, this means that when they wake up and want food, they want it NOW. I can never get their bottles warmed up fast enough so they end up crying for a good 5 minutes. This happens at almost every feed so it makes me wonder if this is bad for them. I have heard people say that babies who cry too much can make them "stressed". There is just no way to calm them down until they get their bottle.

Is this unhealthy for them?

 

No, crying for 5 minutes won't hurt them! Most experts agree that anything up to 15 minutes is fine.

 

It is fine for them to cry a little bit at that age. The stress comes from significant sustained crying not a little wait time.... a little crying is par for the course for twins!

 

I used to totally rush like a psychotic to get their bottles ready cause I felt the same way you did. But my doctor said it's actually good to let them cry for about 5 minutes. He said it is actually aerobic for them and healthy for them to cry a little bit. No, it won't HURT them and you will kind of get used to it. Just keep your voice soothing and talk to them while you get it ready. I just keep saying, "O.k. O.k., it's coming. I know you are hungry sweeties, it's coming." and so on. I even started showing them the bottle and then turning their highchairs to face the microwave so they could see that they were in there and getting ready. They know that that is part of getting their milk ready. They love to watch the bottles spin around inside and they know when the micro beeps that it is time to eat. Don't know if you micro or heat on stove but either way make them a part of what you are doing to get their food ready and keep a calm demeanor. It will be ok. Babies cry. It's just what they do. There is no harm in it.

 

I have wondered this myself at times. I have read that it is okay but if you have to have a twin wait to feed then you should switch turns For example, Baby A eats first so the next time Baby B eats first.

 

This is nice to read and a question I've wondered myself!