Trouble sleeping

Hi, I am a grandmother of twins. My daughter, Megan had her twin girls on Jan. 6, 6 weeks early. Ashley came home in a week and Alexis came home in 2 weeks. They are now 8 weeks old and doing wonderful. She has not been able to get them on a feeding schedule, however. She has been trying really hard to get them to wait 4 hours, but sometimes they just won't stop crying until you give them a bottle and then they only drink a couple of ounces and fall to sleep. A pacifier helps some, but mostly it seems like they want to be held all of the time. Any suggestions? She is only able to get an hour or two of sleep at a time and we were hoping to get them on some kind of schedule.

 

Well developmentally going by their adjusted age, they are only 2 weeks old. Asking a 2 week old to go 4 hours between feedings is really a very, very long time IMO. And since they stop crying when she gives them a bottle, they are obviously hungry. At that age (mine were 8 weeks early) we might have been getting every 2 hours all day and all night. We didnt start getting into a predictable routine until they were closer to 4 months. Before that we were all over the place. The prematurity factor plays a huge roll in the sleeping milestone.

 

At that age, preemies should be eating every 2-3 hours so I agree with the PP when she says 4 hours is a long time. Saying that, however, mine moved themselves to a 4-hr routine when they were 4 weeks old and thrived on it. I would advise your daughter to try feeding them sooner and seeing how they get on. It´s so tough in the beginning and I was majorly sleep-deprived (as all of us on here!) but she will get there. GL & KUP!

 

My little guys are now 3 months old and eat every 3 hours during the day and then will STTN. We didnt start getting into a predictable schedule until shortly after 2 months old. Until that point when the boys showed signs of hunger I fed them. I was feeding around the clock every 2 hours. It seems like a lot but that time period of them needing to eat that often does not last long. IMO the longer you wait to feed them and the harder you try to force the schedule you would like on them the harder and more stressful it is going to be. When they are that young they pretty much run the show. Understanding that meant that things were much more calm around our house.

 

I agree with all the previous posters. At that age we had to work in shifts to get sleep because mine were eating ever 1.5-2 hours around the clock. Either my mom or husband would take the 7pm to 1-2am shift and I would do the rest. Thank goodness for them or I would never have gotten any sleep. It's rough in the beginning. We wanted them on a schedule but they were not having it. Finally now at 4 months we are on a nice routine.

 

I agree with all the PP. 4 hours is too long between feedings at that age, IMO. They are crying because they are hungry!! I hate to sound harsh but....She shouldnt be making them wait to eat. Babies at that age shouldn't be "told/taught" when it is time for them to eat....If they are hungry, she should feed them. Mine were eating every 2 hrs at that point. They were born 7 wks early. They are 3 months now and eat every 3 hrs. It will get easier! The beginning is very hard but her body will adjust to less sleep. We are all going through it or have gone through it.

 

I wanted to add. it is possible that they are falling asleep after only eating a couple ounces because that is all they need. Mine ate only 2 ounces at 2 wks adjusted....or they could just be worn out from crying.

 

Thanks everyone for the info. I will pass it on to her.