My 16 week twins were three weeks early and have slept an eight-hour stretch at night since they were eight weeks old
My twins were three weeks early and have slept an eight-hour stretch at night since they were eight weeks old. They seem to need a lot of sleep during the day and as long morning and afternoon naps keep them cheerful (they\’re very grumpy without them) without interfering with their night-time sleep I have kept them long.
Now they are 16 weeks I am hoping to drop the 10pm feed, but am not sure how to tell if they’re ready. For several nights they have gone through to 7.30am on 1.5oz at 10pm: if I don’t offer them the bottle again after they stop to wind they will easily settle again. But if I do offer the bottle again, they will still take up to 5oz at that feed. They never used to mind being woken at 10pm, but they are now becoming more and more bad tempered when I wake them, thrashing about and arching their backs (especially Beattie) when I try to feed them. I tried leaving them to go through once a couple of days ago, but they woke at 4.30am. They weren’t hungry then (and I think Beattie only woke up because Charlie was crying) and weren’t too hard to re-settle, so I suspect it was just habit that meant they woke nine hours after going down… but I’m now too scared to try again in case the waking in the night starts again. I’m not sure whether not to try again until they start on solids (which I don’t think will be very soon): all my friends’ babies started going through the night from 7 to 7 the first time they tried it. They’re so peaceful when I go in at 10pm these days I can hardly bear to wake them for the sake of an ounce!
The twins feed at 7.30am 7-8ozs, 11am 9ozs, 3pm 5ozs, 4.15pm 4ozs diluted pear juice, 6.15pm 8-9ozs, 10pm anywhere between 1-5ozs.
They nap at 9-10.30am, 12-2.15pm and 4.30-5pm. They are settled by 6.45pm.
Twin 1 weighs 15.1oz and twin 2 13lbs 13ozs.
Although you may feel that it is not worth waking the twins at 10pm for them to take only an ounce or so, it would be best to keep this feed in place until solids have been introduced. The reason being that a growth spurt can often occur around the 4 month mark. If your babies are only having four milk feeds a day their hunger needs are unlikely to be satisfied and, as a result, they may start waking early in the morning.
Many mothers find that by the time their baby is four months old they can “dream feed” at 10pm. Pick each baby up and feed them whilst they are still asleep. You will find that they will take a feed of several ounces and settle back to sleep with no resistance. It does not take long to do and should mean you will continue to have two babies who sleep well in the night and wake at 7.30am.
There is a case study in Gina’s Compete Sleep Guide, page 92, which shows what can happen when this feed is dropped too early. For a week or so your babies may sleep through but then begin to wake earlier and earlier with hunger.
The guidelines at present recommend waiting until nearer 6 months before weaning. Some babies may be ready a little earlier than this. The signs to look for are that your babies are taking full milk feeds at least 4 times a day (a full feed is 8ozs); taking full milk feeds and still showing signs of either not being satisfied with this amount after a feed or starting to demand a feed long before it is due, which could include waking earlier and earlier for the next feed; showing a great deal of interest in other people when they are eating; putting their hands and other objects into their mouths, exploring the tastes and textures; dribbling excessively and starting to chew on things.
If you feel that your babies are showing these signs and are not yet six months discuss with your health visitor or doctor when you should begin weaning.