Tandem BFing Logistics at Night (XP from Multiples)

4legsRbest · September 2014

So, how does/did this work for you in the newborn phase if you tandem fed? I am trying to figure out what I need for sleeping arrangements to pull this off (I am 35 weeks and stressing out about this detail now). My DH will get up and help me get situated for as long as I need it, but I would like to eventually to do it on my own. Our house is setup to where our master and the twins room are on the main floor, but are on opposite ends of the house. I have a formal sitting room I was planning on using as our "day nursery" which is in between the bedrooms. I will have my set-up in there for feeding on the couch but am not sure where everyone should sleep at night and how to arrange it for efficiency sake. If we sleep in my room then I have to have a way to get them to the day nursery in order to feed them, do I get a bassinet with wheels (will they both fit in a single bassinet for 2-3 months)? Or can I carry both to the nursery to feed them at the same time (thinking of carrying 2 seems odd)? I will eventually put them in their room at 10-12 weeks but prefer for them to sleep in the same room as me at first. Am I over thinking this? Any advice? I only have experience with a singleton - TIA!!

mrsmopar67 · September 2014

Keep them in your room.

mommatotwo2 · September 2014

I would definitely not plan to keep the babies in the same bassinet. Even with twins, they'll likely be at least 5-7 pounds apiece, so 10-14 combined and most bassinets only go to 15 lbs. That said, the moms on the multiples board might feel differently or have a different idea about multiples sharing a sleeping space.

As far as logistics, I feel it's definitely best to have baby close to you at least the first 2-3 months, when cluster feeding is quite common and overnight feeding will be fairly frequent. With my singleton, it worked best for me to keep her in the pack n play in our living room and sleep on the couch. I did this because I didn't want her crying to wake her (then) 5 year old sister up. The pack n play had an attached changing table, so I could do changes and everything right there. Bonus was that my tv was in the livingroom, and it made those nighttime wake ups a little less painful because I could binge watch OITNB, Call the Midwife, and a few other Netflix favorites while I was up nursing.

Best of luck to you!!

mommatotwo2 · September 2014

Also, I think carrying them at the same time will become easy to you, after some time

Think about things you probably managed to carry in arm 2, along with your singleton newborn. I know I've personally carried various baby gear+baby, a laundry basket+baby, even my then 5 year old+baby. It's doable. The logistics of picking up 2 wiggly and wobbly neck newborns admittedly a bit more intimidating, but I'm sure you'll figure it out and become comfortable with it!!

CNYBride05 · September 2014

1st congrats! I remember you from PgAL!

My early experience with twins was maybe not the norm, so I'm not sure how much help I am with the actual BFing logistics. We had to supplement/use bottles for a while which made nite feeding a pain in the ass. I also didn't tandem feed until they were much bigger (5ish mos?).

I can tell you that our girls slept in RnPs on either side of the bed from birth-7ish mos. We transitioned to the crib and then right back into our bed and we now bed share. It's not for everyone, but makes nite feeds so much easier. We are also pretty crunchy, AP-lite-rs, so we never did sleep training or CIO and my girls still nurse every 2ish hrs at nite.

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Tandem BFing Logistics at Night (XP from Multiples)

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