Hi, my name is Annemarie and I am the Client Services director for Night Nannies.
I use this blog as a way to give you tips and idea's in all areas of childcare and development.
Posted 19 August 11
Twins and demand feeding
For years Ive been saying that twins should tandem feed and have simultaneous routine. Even though I have 20 years in the field, unfortunately it sometimes takes actually having your own to realise there are other ways. This epiphany also happened to me 7 years ago when I had my first baby in regards to not wanting to use controlled crying anymore.
With my twins I took my own advice and pushed myself to tandem feed and establish simultaneous routines. When I was pregnant I looked at all the options in regards to twin feeding pillows and all looked massive so I opted to buy a large singleton feeding pillow similar to the one I had with my first baby 7 years ago. I was also lucky enough to be given a full size twin feeding pillow aka table. Well it looks like a table that fits around your body. Kinda like a TV table but attached to you. I am small in stature and found this table like apparatus extremely uncomfortable and like I was performing some kind of circus act. Although I successfully managed the art of tandem feeding I detested it. It was'nt relaxing and each baby kept falling off the breast and I would have juggle to put each back on without the pillow moving under the propped up pillows and towels. It just did'nt seem convenient or the relaxing breastfeeding I remembered with my first baby. So I did the unthinkable and went against my own advice and decided to demand feed one at a time.
This has worked a treat. Both twins are extremely happy and love their one on one time feeding without having to kick each other in the head or fight for Mummy's attention. Mummy is also a happy and relaxed calm Mummy who continues to enjoy feeding her now 6mth old twins. I feel so lucky I have been able to successfully breastfeed both my twins for 6months now and hope to continue for at least another 6months. I had all the usual fears of will I have enough milk? how will I juggle two? But Mother nature seems to find a way and we have done it! yay
The routine has fallen into place naturally as I have one very hungry little boy who sets the pace and I then just feed his sister straight after he has fed which has worked perfectly. Their sleeping patterns are the same in that if one is tired I put them both down for a sleep. Both are fantastic at settling after using Night Nannies settling techniques and we are a all relaxed, happy and calm family of 6. (13yo, 7yo, twins 6mths, Mum and Dad.)
It took a few weeks, realistically probably about 2-3 months of teaching my babies to self settle using the gentle techniques but now Im reaping the rewards where I can put them both down when theyre tired and they will simply go to sleep. Sometimes they have a little grizzle and may need a tummy rub but 95% of the time off they go. Im dreading teething which will probably muck up my perfect baby routine but I know theres always a light at the end of the tunnel and we will get through the ups and downs of parenthood. Its so nice having babies again after such a long gap in between. Unfortunately it seems to go so quick.
Posted 30 August 11
Twins and their cute relationship
My twins are 6 months now and its amazing watching them grow and develop. Difficult not to compare in developmental milestones even though they are boy and girl. Its funny though as one will jump ahead with rolling or physical movement and the other one will take their time. Then the one that took their time with rolling suddenly leaps ahead with eating solids and teething.
One of the things that has amazed me the most is right from the beginning how close they were. Even though they are fraternal they have cuddled up to each other and held each others hands. They now smile at each other and try and interact together. Its very cute but also an amazing insight into twins and how babies relate to each other.
They have also started laughing at the big brothers who constantly try and make the twins laugh now.
Twins really are in a world of their own which is an amazing little world.