Feeding schedule with twins

Mcsweets · May 2014

Our twins are about 4 months old (9weeks corrected) and still are taking 3oz every 2.5-3 hours during the day / 5-6 hours at night. I've noticed DD can go longer without feeding, but DS is still at the 2.5-3 hour schedule. So, when we feed him, we just feed her so they stay "together". Everyone said to keep them on the same schedule. Are we doing her a disservice by feeding her before she's hungry? I mean, sometimes she's ready to eat - but she's just not freaking out like DS is.

2nd question - should we be concerned he is still eating so frequently? DS is primarily breastfed - with some formula supplementation.

JTA2426 · May 2014

1. No, I would agree with keeping them on the same schedule, even if one baby isn't quite hungry yet. It will save you time and sanity.

2. That's normal- my 10 month olds still bf every 3 hours (I can sometimes stretch to 4, and they sttn).

PurpleIris30 · May 2014

If she eats, then she is hungry enough.

. I wouldn't worry about a disservice.

It's also normal for breast fed babies to eat more frequently. My girls are 6 months (4adjusted) and they still eat about every 3 hours during the day, but they do sleep longer at night. They get bottles of expressed milk while at work and take 4 oz every 3 hours, but then we nurse several times before bed.

CaliCarly77 · May 2014

My girls eat at 8 a.m., 11, 2, 5 and 8 p.m.. We are often waking one or the other up to eat, but we like the normalcy and consistency of the schedule. One eats about 7 ounces every feeding and the other eats about 4 - 5 oz per feeding. Both normal, per dr. One started dropping night feedings first, then finally the other one did a few weeks after, both sttn since 12 weeks old. They are 4 months old/17 weeks.

carrotcake06 · May 2014

PurpleIris30 said:
If she eats, then she is hungry enough. . I wouldn't worry about a disservice.

It's also normal for breast fed babies to eat more frequently. My girls are 6 months (4adjusted) and they still eat about every 3 hours during the day, but they do sleep longer at night. They get bottles of expressed milk while at work and take 4 oz every 3 hours, but then we nurse several times before bed.

Exactly this.

My boys are about 10.5 mo and up until 2 weeks ago this was our schedule. We recently dropped a bottle/nursing session during the day bc they were both uninterested and not BFing well/ taking all their bottle and it was the right move.

They now nurse 630/7am, breakfast 830am, nap, bottle/nurse 11/1130am, lunch 1200/1230, nap, nurse/bottle 4pm, dinner 6pm, nurse before bed 730p. They nurse once overnight that is always initiated by the same one.

So only now are they going 4-5hrs between BM feedings but they're also eating three very substantial meals per day.

carrotcake06 · May 2014

I will add to my already long winded response that they BF for 5-10min tops these days. That's it. So easy even if it is every 3hrs. And I tandem, so they both are fed in one fell swoop.

Labyrinth3000 · May 2014

My girls are at 6 weeks and take 4 to 5 ounces every 4 hours. 4am, 8am, 12pm, 4pm, 8pm, and 12am. It helps that they are formula fed so they can wait longer and they were on the NICU hospital schedule before we got them home (preemies). I guess they are used to the military schedule and cry right on time for their bottle. They are slow at taking their 4oz but we feed at the same time to get it done faster.

jeephappygirl · May 2014

I don't know how aaccurate the articles I read were but one stated that boys have higher metabolisms than girls. Therefore they digest BM quicker and will be hungry before girls. Another said the make up of mom's BM is different for boys & girls. Moms of boys had a fattier milk than moms's of girls. It did not say how moms of b/g twins produced. My twins are 6 months today and I EP.

I have been in your exact same position. The nights I did not wake DD to eat, she would wake within the hour anyway. During the day I will feed each on demand, but one up both up feed together at night. In the beginning I thought I should have both on the same schedule all of the time. It was more challenging to do that. Also I enjoy one on one time when they are on opposite napping schedules. I was also afraid that "forcing" DD to eat sooner than she needed my cause her to gain to quickly, but she is gaining consistently & ped is happy.

Best advice is do what works best for your family.

Mcsweets · May 2014

Thanks!!! It's so easy to over-think it all

nblondheim · May 2014

Twins are 4 months and we feed them at the same time when 1 is hungry.
During the day we go every 2-3 hours and they get 3-4 oz. During the night it's 6-8 hours.

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