Feeding both at the same time...

I have tried a couple of times to feed the boys at the same time, and it doesn't seem to be any easier. I have done it in car seats and bouncy seats. The problem is burping. And it somehow seems to take an hour to feed them both (the same amount of time as feeding them seperately). Does anyone have any feedback. They seem to be taking longer to eat, the older they get. I thought it would be the opposite. Also, they love to pretend like they don't want anymore, and then I put them down and feed the other, and they start screaming for more. I have the patience during the day, but it get's frustrating in the middle of the night.

How long does it take to feed your twins? Together and seperate.
Do you feed them at the same time? If so, what are your strategies?

I would appreciate your feedback. =)

 

I've only fed them at the same time a couple times during the first months. The last time I tried, using the carseats, they both vomitted during the feeding. I felt soo bad I couldn't bring myself to do it again until they were 7 months old and could hold their bottles.

This is what I did when feeding them seperately:
- Have the one I'm not feeding in the bouncy seat at my feet so I can bounce if they get cranky.
- I'd also have a couple toys with me on the couch [and maybe a cloth for them to play around with] to hand them when they got cranky while waiting to be fed.
-When I was done feeding one they'd switch positions [unless it was time for a nap and at that time I'd just put the one that just ate to bed, bouncy, swing, etc.. and then grab the other out of the bouncy and feed them.]

 

By the time they were 3 months I changed the nippel to the medium flow...that might be why they take long to finish their bottle..
they get tired and stop and then keep drinking because they are still hungry. MY pedi said that as long as they don't choke
they faster nippel was fine.

I usually did feed them at the same time, specially at night and in MANY different ways depending where I was.

At night I would put them both on a pillow (elevated) or one on a pillow and the other on my side or in between my legs, I did that
most often. On the couch I would put one on the boppy pillow and the other one on the side of me again (so that they would be up on the floor both of them on a boppy pillow (one each) It just takes practice....
dh never fed them by himself at the same time.

good luck and it is true, time does go by fast...by the time you get really used to bottles you will start feeding solids

 

I used the car seats. Honestly? I don't think I ever fed them seperately unless I had another person with me. They always ate at the same time. I'd put a bib on each (they always dribbled) and put them in the car seats. I'd then sit between them on the floor. I held the bottles until one needed to burp, then prop the other's bottle with a big blanket just long enough to burp. Then I'd grab a different blanket, prop the one that just burped and burp the other. You mentioned taking a long time to eat...are they maybe ready to go up a size nipple?

 

Look at those adorable bear bums in your ticker! I love it!

Okay, sorry back on topic! The first thing I thought when I read your post was "Were they in the NICU?". Because of they were 31 weekers, I'm going to assume yes. My boys were 33 weekers and feeding them was the toughest struggle! The nurses at the NICU taught us some jaw and face massages that help stimulate their eating. We also had to cut them off after 30 mins of feeding. When we got home, I still did the jaw massages while feeding but let them go for an hour if I could, but usually they were done pretty quickly b/c they didn't drink much to start with. Even now, I'm struggling to get them to eat enough. I'm going to try and describe the jaw massage and hope it makes sense! You need to do this with a smaller bottle (not big and round like Avent...more Gerber 4oz size). Rest the bottle in the crook between your thumb and pointer finger close to the nipple. When the nipple is in the babies mouth, use your thumb to brace your hand at the babies jaw (near chin) and rub the jaw with middle/ring/pinky fingers. The area near their ear (where the jaw connects) is easy to stimulate and encourage more sucking. I really hope that made sense! I was able to eventually do that for both at the same time, but it took practice. I also didn't have to do it every time. The first month the boys were in the NICU and the second month I had my mom during the day and fed the boys together at night alone. The third month, my DH deployed and I altered their eating schedule 30 mins apart so I could try and breastfeed more (which didn't work). By the fourth month I was a pro at feeding and burping (and they didn't need to burp as much them either).

Lots of hugs! You are doing a great job!

 

I find it to be the opposite. It was so much easier to feed my girls at the same time when they were smaller. I'm having the hardest time feeding them together because now they are trying to sit up, trying to crawl...they just won't sit still. I have two of the busiest, determined babies on the planet. I am now feeding them 30 minutes apart and it seems to be working better. Otherwise, they will not finish or won't even eat their babas.

 

QUOTE(ktfan @ Jun 14 2009, 06:13 PM) [snapback]1353849[/snapback]
I used the car seats. Honestly? I don't think I ever fed them seperately unless I had another person with me. They always ate at the same time. I'd put a bib on each (they always dribbled) and put them in the car seats. I'd then sit between them on the floor. I held the bottles until one needed to burp, then prop the other's bottle with a big blanket just long enough to burp. Then I'd grab a different blanket, prop the one that just burped and burp the other. You mentioned taking a long time to eat...are they maybe ready to go up a size nipple?



This is exactly what I did and still do, for at least half the feeds of the day. Otherwise I start before they get fussy so that they aren't screaming while i'm feeding one. I try to feed them speratley at least a few times as day becasue *I* need the contact. They could care less, but Mama needs the cuddles...lol.

 

Thank you all for your tips and words of encouragement. As for the nipples go, they are already on medium flow (because they were on regular flow in NICU and because I use formula with added rice starch). I asked my husband the other day if we should try fast flow because they are eating so slowly. He said no because milk comes out of their mouth a little while drinking, but maybe I should try it. I actually have a few, and I don't think it will hurt to try.

Also, I hadn't been using bibs... seems easier... I will try that. And with the burping, I am going to try propping the other one and maybe even get one of those bottle slings.

I love this place! You guys are great! Thank you! :wub:

 

I have always fed both together unless someone else was there. I have always fed them in boppies. Now i am transitioning into highchairs on bad days because my DD just wants to crawl. (hopefully that will change). Anyways, as far as burping I would place the one i was not burping on their tummy kind of draped over the boppy while I burped the other one or like pp prop the bottle while burping the one. Alot of the time I placed both over the boppy and burped both at the same time, sometimes that worked better. I agree with pp, try the next size nipple.

 

I had a very hard time feeding them in bouncers or car seats b/c I have a bad back, and b/c one would get super-mad when I'd stop to burp the other. I ended up getting the Podee hands free bottle. I'd put one in the bouncer with the bottle, and hold the other. Then half way through I'd burp the one I was holding, then switch and burp the other. That way they could continue eating while the other got burped, they got to eat at the same time, and even get held while eating for a while.

Good luck!

 

I always feed mine at the same exact time and in the beginning put them in the boppy pillow and as they got more mobile/bigger switched to the bouncy seat. About 2 months ago we bought high chairs (Graco) that recline and I now put them in the recline position and feed them and luckily they are pretty calm about waiting their turn while they both get burped....if they are cranky unfortunately they cry.

 

Just another technique that worked for me.

Place them in the bouncy seats and place the seats back to back. Sit on the side of the seats and rest your elbows on the side of each seat. GL!

 

I have never found feeding at the same time easy. Both my girls have reflux so are fussy eaters and require lots of burping it is so much easier to stagger the feeds,much quicker than at the same time. IN the earlier days there were times when i HAD to feed them at the same time to stop whoever got impatient screaming the house down LOL. I would place them both in carseats sit in front of them. They didn't like having to wait while i burped them but after they had a bit of milk in there bellies they became more patient. Still to this day i feed them seperately and i can be done in 30mins now they eat faster. Hope you find some tips that help but if not just stagger the feeds it can be just as quick.

 

When my boys were that age I did it different ways depending on what was easiest at the time:

1. Boppy pillows - placed directly in front of me leaning over them holding the bottles. To burp I'd place one on each knee sometimes at the same time sometimes separate, and jiggle my knee and let the bouncing motion work the gas up. Sometimes leaning them over my knees tummy down helped the burping.

2. On my thighs: I'd sit on the couch with a baby on each side of me, prop their heads up on my thighs and hold the bottles in their mouths. I'd burp the same way, jiggling them on my knees sort of using the technique outlined in "Happiest Baby on the Block."

3. Hold one/bouncy seat one: I sat on a rocking chair, a real rocking chair and not a glider, though I'm not sure it makes a difference. I had one in a bouncy seat next to me on my left and the other one draped down my front (a position I learned from the daycare center - for some reason it works best with my wiggly easily distracted boys) and hold the bottle down with my left hand for the one in the bouncy seat and with the right hand hold it for the baby draped down my front.

Singing to them while feeding them has always helped because it helps their focus.

Now I put them in their SBS umbrella stroller and sit on the couch in front of them. They hold their bottles now, but didn't when I started this approach. I wish I had discovered this method sooner because it helps keep them from distraction. They've been able to sit in the umbrella stroller since about 4 months old but I only figured to feed them in it at home a couple of months ago, though I've fed them in it while out and about since about 4 months.

 

I feed my boys at the same time in bouncy seats. This is my technique and from start to the last burp, it takes me 30 minutes.

put bibs on boys
place boys in bouncy seats as far upright as possible (that way they are not sloutched(sp?) in the chair)
prop the boys heads towards me with receiving blanket
sit in between the seats
hold bottles
when one needs to burp, take bottles out of both boys and turn on the vibration of the seats. If I only get one burp, I burp the other...
continue to feed until finished.

If one of them finishes before the other, I burp that child and put back into the seat. Then i hold the one that needs to be finished.

It has taken some practice and yes, sometimes one of the boys gets pissed, but I let him cry. Afterall, I am teaching him to be patient and wait for me to be done with his brother.

GL,
Jenn

 

I find it easier to feed mine together on the couch. I have an overstuffed couch with big arms. I sit right against the right arm of the couch, with one baby draped down my front and resting their head on the couch arm. I hold that bottle with my right hand. Then the other baby is laid down along the length of my left thigh beside me, with the head near the knee and legs under my elbow, propped up on a pillow, and I hold that bottle with my left hand.

I rarely if ever burp until the end of a bottle. But sometimes my dd (who has reflux), will need a burp so I'll either try to prop my ds's bottle (he's usually the one beside my leg because he wiggles less), or just take it away and let him cry for a minute, my dd usually burps fast!