how do you feed both at once?

mpstochlinski8

My twins are on the same schedule give or take a few mins some days. Im having to supplement with formula for both but try to nurse or pump and give them bottled BM with each feeding. Now that DH is back to work, most of the night and day feedings Im on my own. Looking for some pointers on how to get them both fed at once without it being too crazy! So far since tandem hasn't been terribly successful (one isnt a good latcher yet) I have tried bottle feeding in boppys, car seats and trying to wake one earlier to feed before the other is up but all in all that takes too long since they are eating every 2.5-3hrs.

how do you feed both at once if you aren't only tandem nursing? TIA

Omega20

So you tried feeding them both at the same time in the boppies?  That's how I did it.  I would put both boppies on the bed in front of me, set up both bottles, burp clothes, and everything else I needed on the night stand.  Then I'd put a receiving cloth on each boppy so they wouldn't fall through (when they were really little).  I'd sit indian-style in front of of them and use one bottle in each hand.

I've heard others have done it like that but with bouncy seats instead of boppies.

Good luck!

lochy02

Omega20:

So you tried feeding them both at the same time in the boppies?  That's how I did it.  I would put both boppies on the bed in front of me, set up both bottles, burp clothes, and everything else I needed on the night stand.  Then I'd put a receiving cloth on each boppy so they wouldn't fall through (when they were really little).  I'd sit indian-style in front of of them and use one bottle in each hand.

I've heard others have done it like that but with bouncy seats instead of boppies.

Good luck!

 

This, its rough but you have to do what you have to do to not have a screaming baby waiting on food

ColleenS629

I don't have advice on the non-tandem part but you said that tandem nursing hasn't been terribly successful... have you tried using a nipple shield? I can BF both my twins separately without the shields but when I tandem nurse them, I need to use at least one shield. They will both latch themselves on with the shields but I need two hands to latch each one without the shields. I can latch the first but I need the shield for the second to latch himself (since I'm then using one hand to support the head of the latched baby). It's not ideal to always be using the shield, but I NEED to be able to tandem nurse them to get an hour of sleep at a time and keep my sanity.

Other than that, can DH help at least with just with the bottle feeding? You could change them, BF, pump (Do you have a hands free pumping bra? That could let you pump while you bottle feed to save some time) prepare the bottles, etc. and he could just wake up for the actual feeding part? I feel like a jerk because it seems like everyone here lets their DH sleep when he's back at work, but I can't do everything myself and DH gets up with every feeding to change them and bring them to me. He falls back asleep while I BF and then he helps me burp them and get them back down. I think it's nice to try to let your DH get more sleep, but you can't let yourself get too run down either by trying to do everything all day and night.

Lilystar82

Omega20:

So you tried feeding them both at the same time in the boppies?  That's how I did it.  I would put both boppies on the bed in front of me, set up both bottles, burp clothes, and everything else I needed on the night stand.  Then I'd put a receiving cloth on each boppy so they wouldn't fall through (when they were really little).  I'd sit indian-style in front of of them and use one bottle in each hand.

I've heard others have done it like that but with bouncy seats instead of boppies.

Good luck!

 I did exactly this. I also had binks on hand for burping. I'd burp one while the other had a bink, and then switch. It took awhile but once I got into a groove it went fast. Good Luck!!  

mpstochlinski8

wow thanks, lots of good advice!! I dont mind using the boppys on the bed, just wanted to see if there was some other way that I could try. The car seat wasnt as cozy on my end having to lean over so much. Gota say what a GREAT idea to pump while I feed them, Im going to try this amazing time saving tip!! DH tells me to wake him if I need him but I try to do it alone but there are nights when he just hears them and knows I need a hand and comes in or if I just need him I'll wake him but since he works construction, Id really prefer he get some rest for his own saftey at work and since Im a SAHM and he works alot its just better if he gets a bit of sleep. When he's home and on days off he does of course do all the feedings with me and we have a system down if its both of us. I just dont feel I have a solid system when alone yet. Thanks for the feedback, going to try things out tonight, next feeding in an hour

Mrs. Alice

I still don't have the confidence to tandem nurse by myself, so when they are both demanding at the same time I will do what I call "tag team nursing" - feed one for a few minutes while trying to console the other with my free hand and then switch back a forth until they are done.  If I'm bottle feeding I prop them both up on a regular pillow on the couch and hold one bottle in each hand.  They have gotten faster with nursing and sleep longer stretches at night, but it still takes up to an hour to nurse and change both.  This further reminds me that I need to get over my fear of tandem feeding them without assistance...

nbk2d9q

Omega20:

So you tried feeding them both at the same time in the boppies?  That's how I did it.  I would put both boppies on the bed in front of me, set up both bottles, burp clothes, and everything else I needed on the night stand.  Then I'd put a receiving cloth on each boppy so they wouldn't fall through (when they were really little).  I'd sit indian-style in front of of them and use one bottle in each hand.

I've heard others have done it like that but with bouncy seats instead of boppies.

Good luck!

 

I did this exactly. At about 5 months Tucker started holding his own bottle - thank god! and then I held Dominic's. Now they both hold it and I try to get a couple of things done in that rare moment that I have when they are both occupied. LOL! It's so hard to find time to do anything anymore. They are both up on all 4s rocking back and forth now....I fear crawling is in the near future.