I have 14 month old boy/ girl twins and they were born at 33 weeks. At 3 pounds 15 ounces a piece they were little. They were in the nicu about twenty days and when they came home from the hospital they were on a PERFECT schedule. I fed and changed them every three hours and when one was done feeding the other would just be waking. I had to bottle feed (breast milk)because I had to measure how much they ate. Even with all of the extra things I had to do with my premies I did not find it difficult at all. Now they are still a little small but walking, talking and enjoying life!

Yes, PSB, tandem-nursing twins is not only easy (most of the time), it’s time-saving and cost-efficient! I have nursed my boys (3 years old) at the same time since they were born, allowing me more sleep and more time. At first it takes practice to find the positioning that works for you, but with all things, it’ll work itself out in time.

I highly recommend this to all twin moms.

Yep, schedules are KEY! Our twins are still on a strict sleep schedule (they’re almost 3 now). It amazes singleton parents (not to say singleton parents don’t schedule their babies). Most of my friends (who have generally have one child) don’t understand the need for strict schedules. Tell ya what, life was miserable until we got our schedule down.

Wow Cheryl, you’re a rock star. Breastfeeding one baby was tough enough for me, I can’t imagine two at the same time. I always assumed if I had twins I would nurse one and have the husband bottle feed the other, then switch them at the next feeding. I guess nursing both could be easier (though not on your body) in some ways, because you don’t have to prepare or clean bottles. You must’ve been drinking water non-stop! And not sleeping!

Cheryl, thank you for that information–that sounds like a great strategy. Congratulations on breastfeeding twins!

Hi Andi and Joy (and others who may not be chiming in!)–

Absolutely understand — and thank you for voicing — your concern!

To respond; in our instance, we were breastfeeding our twins tandem every feed — which worked very well for all three of us!

At the advice of both our twins’ pediatrician (also a twin mom) AND a lactation consultant, we were advised (more like mandated!) to stick to a 2.5 – 3 hour nursing routine. Not only to keep my supply up (which had dipped severely to due to exhaustion and over-stimulation spurred mastitis) as well as to prevent our lower birth weight twosome from losing too many calories from “suck exercise” during lengthy and “too frequent” (their words, not mine) nursings.

Each family is different; and I do genuinely appreciate your concern (without judgment!). Thank you for allowing me to clarify what worked for us.

Wishing the Jolie-Pitts, and all new parents the very best as they discover what parenting practices work best for their unique situations!

The “frequent feeding schedule” of every 2.5-3 hours comment really concerns me. Babies–especially early ones–should be fed more frequently, and by the baby’s request, if possible. Breastmilk digests really quickly, so unless someone is formula feeding, this is not often enough.

I was a bit confused by this part “doctors often put smaller twins on a frequent feeding routine (like every 2.5 – 3 hours/24 hours).”

ALL newborns need to eat 10-12 times in a 24 hour period which = AT LEAST every 2.5-3 hours.