Solids + Bottles + Naps = No time to get out!

I am finding it very difficult to get out of the house these days. Up until two weeks ago when we introduced a 3rd meal of solids, the girls and I were out almost everyday for playgroups, errands, shopping etc. Now with 3 solids, 4 bottles and 2-3 naps, I am finding it very difficult. I am actually feeling a little housebound today. They aren't on finger foods yet but is that when it gets easier? Can you replace a lunchtime meal (for example) with a handful of cheerios or puffs? I am so confused.

The girls also don't hold their own bottles and get fed at the same time so that is also why it is more difficult. Perhaps they need to learn to wait while the other one is eating their bottle. Is this what some of you do?

Thanks in advance!

 

I found it getting easier when they are off bottles. Bottles really slow you down with 2 babies, for me anyway! We were off bottles at 11 months, and I had a lot more freedom starting then. When they drop to one nap, it will really open up the day, and that is usually somewhere around 15 months. Although, sometimes you just have to do it! For your sanity! Having a quick meal here and there will not hurt them!

 

Once my girls settled into a nice nap schedule, I figured out a feeding schedule that would let us out between naps. Here is what we did around that time, maybe it will help you! I would occasionally give them a morning nap in the car (driving for longer than necessary) if I had a lot to get done in one day.

6:00 wake
6:30 bottle
7:00 solids
9:00 nap
(time to go out after this nap - before lunch)
12:00 solids
12:30 bottle
1:00 nap
(time again to go out after this nap - before dinner)
4:30 solids
(occasionally would run an errand here - if I didn't mind the 5:00 after work traffic)
6:00 bottle
6:30 bed

ETA: I would not let them sleep if I ran errands between a.m. nap and lunch so they would still take their normal afternoon nap.

 

I think you should try to get them on a 2 nap schedule. I feel that really helps too. My twins are on a 2 nap schedule since 4 months (with an early bedtime), my oldest was 6 months. I always feed them right after a nap, or right before, so that I have the time in between open. I do take sippy cups with water (they're practicing) and puffs / cheerios as a snack (not to replace a meal).

We do bottle at 6 am (back in bed)
Wake up at 7 am
Solids at around 8-8.30 am
Bed at 9.00 am
Bottle when waking up 10/10.30 am
Solids at 12.30 pm
Bottle at 12.45-1.00 pm
Bed at 1.00/1.15 pm
Bottle at 3.00 pm (when waking up)
Solids at 5.15-5.30 pm
Bottle at 6.00 pm
Bed 6.15 - 6.30 pm (they used to go to bed at 6 pm but recently we pushed it forward a little bit).

And they do hold their own bottles 80% at the time (my boy definitely does ... my girl rather plays with it, and sometimes looses it along the way).

 

Our neighbor who is a grandpa of twins, got us these bottles that have a straw in them and are attached to a pacifier type nipple. I think they are called podee or something. He loved them for when he babysat his granddaughters. Our girls could help feed themselves about when they could sit up. I didn't use them that much since I felt guilty about missing out on the bonding experience, which I think was pretty silly at this point, but it might be something to try. We're in about the same place, but the twins do well eating on the go (in the stroller or when we are out). We're close to only 2 naps a day, and that really helps too.

 

Hi Tee...I am going through the same problem. We have just dropped a bottle and are down to 3.

Here's what we do now.

7am bottle
7:45am breakfast
9am nap
11:30am lunch
12:45-1pm bottle
1pm nap (drink of water and a mum-mum when wake up)
4:30pm dinner
6:30pm bottle
7pm bedtime

If I have to go out around lunchtime I do the bottle before we go out and solids when we get back. At 8 months I think it is ok to skip solids at lunch and give a larger bottle instead..they are not quite dependent on solids at that age. I have just started introducing some simple finger foods and we are 9 months tomorrow...yikes!

 

Hi,

I'm also in the same boat as you. My girls are 7 months & this is our sched:

7am Wake (I noticed you all give bottle when they wake, I tried that but then later they won't have breakfast even after 2 hrs...what do I do?? I currently skip the bottle)
7:30am breakfast
8:30am bath & play
10m nap
11:30am wake
12:00 lunch
1:30pm bottle
2pm nap
3:00 to 3:30 wake
4:30/5:00pm dinner
6pm dessert
7:30pm bottle
8 bedtime
12:30 bottle & sleep again (yes they still wake up for a feed here!)

Is this sched ok?? It suits me & I do out between meals.
How much does yr 7 month old eat?
Mine are really playing up, they hardly finish a jar between. If I force they will throw up. They only like sweet potatoes, Squash & fruits. What else can I give them?
What do you feed them??

Does yr babies wake up in the middle of the nite?? Mine wake up crying & they go back to sleep if I give their paci's. I dont give it in the day only at bedtime. What am I doing wrong here pls???

Sorry so many questions...thanks in advance
Hina

 

I don't remember what our schedule was at that age, but it was definitely hard to get out! It helped that we didn't add a 3rd meal until 9-10 months (even though the ped will say that you "should," there is no reason to, unless your babies seem to really want it). But the thing that really started to open up our schedule was when we started switching bottles to sippies. You can give sippies of milk at the same time as a meal or snack, rather than having to give the bottle and solids with some time in between. We started this at about 11 months, I think.

One thing we did was to make a stroller nap part of the schedule. (This was on weekends only, since they're in daycare M-F.) On Saturdays I would pack them in the stroller right at the first naptime, and walk someplace. They would sleep and I would stop somewhere and get coffee. Then, when they were on finger foods, I could also make that their first snack time. (FWIW, having morning naps in the stroller didn't interfere with taking midday naps in the cribs -- I know everyone says it's a bad habit, but it worked for us.)

You might be able to tinker with your schedule -- and you can also give some snacks or bottles while you're out & about, if that works for you -- but even if you can't figure anything out, remember that this stage only lasts a few months. It definitely gets easier when you give up bottles.