Tandem nursing help

amex0107

For the past 2 weeks, my 5 month twins have not been able to nurse for longer than 15 min., which is unusual.  They seem very distracted, looking around or up at me, & sometimes they're just plain fussy.  Sometimes it's both of them & sometimes it's just one of them.  Neither of them seem to prefer one breast over the other.  It also occurs at every feeding.  The mornings are the worst.  When one is really fussy & crying, it ruins the other's feeding session.  I get frustrated & resort to bottles (mostly formula) for the rest of the feeding.  Has anyone else experienced this?  Any suggestions?  Or is it just a phase?  They have a pediatrician appointment in a few weeks.  If it's still ongoing, I will definitely ask her.

Temp123197812503460

It's very common around that age, they are more interested in looking at the world around, and have also learned they can look around more while eating from the bottle. I started feeding one at a tme around then as it was easier to focus on one baby.If you want to keep nursing I would just keep at it and skip the formula supplements, they will nurse if they are hungry!GL

srbmvp

I feel you pain, my boys get so distracted during feedings. Plus tandem feeding has now become a referee session for me, trying to keep them from poking each other in the eye.

I agree, if you want to keep BFing, skip the bottles and just keep nursing. When they are hungry enough, they will get down to business. They aren't going to starve themselves.

Dragonfly1226

I haven't tried feeding twins yet, but DS did the same thing around that age. It helped if I took him to a quiet, calm room to nurse. I think it's pretty typical developmentally.

brookith

Sounds just like my boys! I love to tandem nurse them, but I find it easier to nurse one at a time sometimes. They are way too distracted sometimes, they make up for it by eating more often though, which can be exhausting as well. Good luck!

HisBelovedPrincess

somewhereincali:

It's very common around that age, they are more interested in looking at the world around, and have also learned they can look around more while eating from the bottle. I started feeding one at a tme around then as it was easier to focus on one baby.If you want to keep nursing I would just keep at it and skip the formula supplements, they will nurse if they are hungry!GL

 

I would also add that since they are not newborns anymore that they have gotten pretty efficient at nursing and really shouldn't take as long as they use to to nurse   15 minutes is a good time. I remember when my boys were about 7 months old and a tandem nursing session would literally take 7-8 minutes and everyone was done. The first time that happened I was like "wait...you guys can't possibly be done!?"....:)

Mrs_MBed

Ditto everyone : especially in regards to supplementing with formula because it will effect your supply.

All of my children did the same thing around that age, but I'm having a harder time with the boys since they often distract or hinder the other one during the feedings.

ColleenS629

It's just a phase. I had to start feeding them only in my room where there is not much to distract them. If I try to feed them downstairs or in their rooms, there is too much to look at and they will hardly nurse at all.