Tandem Feeding

Hi Ladies

I'm curious about how long you were able to tandem feed your twins. Mine are 6 mths now and under 14 lbs, I feed them at the same time pretty much every feed unless we are out. Everyday DH (who I love to death but sometimes thinks he is a lactation consultant with all the advise on BF'ing he gives me) tells me I should start feeding them individually because they are getting bigger and eating faster.

Please tell me I'll be able to do this for a while longer, I find doing them at the same time so much easier and they are starting to discover eachother so it makes it fun....basically I need re-assurance to tell my lactation consultant, oops, I mean my husband that I can keep going!

Thanks

 

I'm glad that your husband takes an active role in your breastfeeding. That is awesome to have that kind of support... even though it might feel like he's stepping on toes sometimes!
Honestly, I tandem fed until they weaned at 26 months! But... I did nurse them seperately a lot of the time under the age they could crawl. After they could move around, if I tried to feed just one, the other would come over to me and insist on eating as well.
I loved the interaction between them when they fed together although sometimes it was distracting for one. I did sing a lot to them (Wheels on the bus etc) to keep them focused on me.
I look at my two year old and am amazed that I breastfed my twins until just over 2. But, I did. I wish I could do it again!
Great job breastfeeding and making it to 6 months! :clapping: You did it! :woman:

 

I never really started tandem feeding until my twins were over 6 months old. You can do it as long as you like. You can learn new positions, like one sitting up on each leg. Or I would often lay on my back and a twin would sit or sqaut on either side of me.

 

Why on earth does he want you to stop? :huh:

We tandem nursed until they weaned themselves - about a month after their 3rd birthday.

 

My guys lasted with tandem feeding until about 10 months, but not due to size; due to activity levels. They were getting too distracted with each other and it became a wrestling match. Since feeds were fewer and so quick, I just went back to feeding them back to back. But as long as they're happy with it, go for it as long as you can!!

Laura

 

still tandem feeding for the most part. I used the EZ-2-nurse pillow up until they were at least 26 mo. old... and now mostly I just nurse them while lying down in bed with one lying beside my on each side. I have to have a little pillow or my arm as support for their heads, but it works great.

there was a time when they distracted each other, and kinda 'fought'... but we got past that for the main part. I wouldn't do individual much just because of the time factor. I say go for it!! enjoy your time!

 

I'm tandem feeding right now. Is he concerned with your supply or logistics or what?

 

Me, too. Mine are 7 months old and I find it easier now than before, not that they don't get a little distracted and wiggly from time to time!! It's nice that your husband wants to be involved, but why change something that isn't broken?! PS I also adore my husband but from time to time I have to address his love of following up our nursing sessions with a bottle! A R G H.

 

Mine are 16 months, and we basically only do tandem now, it's a lot easier than trying to make sure another twin isnt causing trouble, or trying to get picked up

 

we nursed tandem until the girls weaned at 23 months - add me as another who couldn't have nursed one at a time, even if i'd wanted to, once they became mobile. ardon: i'm also curious why your husband is concerned?

 

Still nursing tandem at 16 months. Occasionally DD will roll off the pillow and chase a cat or something, but then she comes back and climbs back on. Since they turned 1 I almost never feed them individually!

 

Tandum nursed until weaning at about 20 months.

 

I don't see why you should stop!

I tandem fed from 0-3 months, then did them individually until 6 months (one had reflux and wouldn't eat lying down) and have just started doing tandem again.

Do what works!

 

There was a brief stint at about 5 or 6 months where I started nursing them individually. Both because they outgrew the pillows and because they were distractible. Soon after that, they figured out jealousy and I couldn't nurse one without the other basically sitting at my feet and crying. They were also getting better at sitting up, so that's about when we started with each of them sitting on one of my legs to nurse. They're still pretty active and some days I have to stop the session for a little bit until they stop bouncing around and standing up, but this generally works pretty well for us. Still no solution to keep them from poking each others eyes, though... working on it.

 

Thanks for the advice, he doesn't want me to stop bf'ing, he just thinks I should do them individually. I'd rather do them together to keep them on the same schedule. For now I think that if it's not broke, why fix it.

 

Tandem nursing frequently here at 3+ years. Although they will whisper "Let's nurse but don't tell (insert other twins's name here)." Cracks me up because they have a sixth sense about if the other one is getting something she isn't.

I say if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

Do what makes you happy. As long as you are happy with it, it works. I don't think feeding them individually would throw you off schedule too much, (as they'd be back to back) but again, nursing is a relationship between you and them- do what makes you happy!

This is so funny!

 

I started to feed one at a time when they were about 7 months - they were getting heavy to hold them both - and to be honest I liked having a little one on one time with each of them.

Sometimes when they wake up - and they are both reaaaaly hungry i feed them together.

But - for me, as a part of our routine, I still tandem feed every night before bed - and they still hold hands as they feed. Thats the feed that will be the hardest to let go when we eventually wean.

 

I still tandem nurse them at nearly 16 months, except if just one is asking to nurse or wakes up before the other one. I very rarely tandem-nursed in public, but apart from that we have no problems with tandem nursing. Mine will usually not accept that I nurse one and make the other one wait. We find enough opportunities for one-on-one cuddling during the day, but nursing one provokes jealous tears - not worth it. I do not think nursing them individually one after the other would interfere with your schedule, so you could try and see how they react.

Do whatever works and you all enjoy!