Daytime Feeding Question

shanaynerz · August 2014

My twins will be 6 weeks tomorrow and they're actually really great night sleepers. We'll put them down around 7 (depending on when their feed is) and they'll sleep for awhile, 4-5 hours, then get up, sleep another 3-4, then another 2-3. But during the day I find they get up every 2 hours to eat, and it's usually DS who wakes first. He tends to eat a lot, but only little bits at each feed. It's kind of frustrating that they get up so often (makes it hard to get much done), but is it normal? I know they're still young and it'll be a couple months before they settle into a napping pattern, but I'm just wondering if there's anything I can do to make it easier on all of us.

We're still doing OUBO, but when he gets up so often, we don't always want to wake DD2 up if it's been less than 2 hours. My thinking is we should try to force them to eat a good amount at each feed, then maybe he won't be so hungry so often? I don't know if the days are more staggered, too, b/c the nanny watches them for a chunk of it, so I'm not really in charge of them. Btw they're FF and we aim for them to take about 6 oz at each feed ideally, but it sometimes is 4 oz here, 3 oz there...

Also, at this age, do you try to make sure they're up for a bit? I read it's a good idea to feed them, then do "playtime" for maybe 30 minutes, then nap, but do people actually do this at this age? Thanks for any advice! Just want to make sure I'm doing everything I can to keep them happy and whatnot.

carrotcake06 · August 2014

6oz at 6w seems a lot.

I wouldn't "force" a newb to do anything.

It's normal to eat every 2hrs or even less during a growth spurt - and there is a growth spurt at 6w.

Sometimes babies cluster feed and then they give you long stretches at night.

I always did OUBU, even during the day bc I tandem nursed. There were some days/weeks when I felt like all I did was feed them, but that's normal. Your life kinda does revolve around their feeding schedule for a while.

karah4816 · August 2014

I agree with the pp 6 oz is a whole lot at their age and eating every two hours is totally normal. Heck, my 8 month olds don't really like to go longer than 3 hours. It's going to be hard to get anything done for a good long while.

shanaynerz · August 2014

Okay just wanted to see what you all think. We thought 6 oz was a lot, too! But DS actually can take that much. We were giving them 4 oz feeds at night and they'd want more, so during nighttime I make 6 oz bottles for them and save the leftovers, if there are any.

Thanks for the advice. Couldn't remember with DD1. I did get her on a nap schedule by 4 months though and do hope to do the same with these guys. Just wish they'd be more predictable, but they're still figuring it all out!

And yeah, I'd rather them cluster feed during the day, and sleep better at night! OUBO has worked well so far during the day, too. It's helped keep our sanity I think. I try to reiterate to the nanny that it'll be hard to get things done, that they aren't going to be predictable for awhile.

ETA: And yes "force" was totally a poor word choice in my OP. DD2 sometimes just needs us to keep offering her the bottle though, or else she'd never eat enough. That's all I meant really. Like she'll be done, then 5-10 minutes be ready for more, so you need to be on top of it.

Ylvelill · August 2014

Mine are 8 weeks now and we just started a bit of a schedule during the day but I try to be very flexible. It is more for my sanity than a need. They are eating around 3.5 oz every 2.5-3 hours during the day and once during the night. I feed them one after the other or at the same time depending on their sleeping.

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