Hello. Fellow Experienced Moms!

Hi,
Glad to hear they are doing well. I'm a mom of three sons, never had premies. But my feeling is, if the babies are hungry let them eat. As they get older their stomachs will get bigger and be able to hold more. And do not worry, they can feel when you worries/up tight. Enjoy them! They grow up too fast. Mine are now 21, 18 and 15. Relax and enjoy them.
Sincerely
Mrs. T. P.

I never had underweight children, but it might be that they need to eat that often. I found with my children that once they started on solid foods, within a few weeks, they didn't drink as often. Good luck!

Hi C.,
You are going great. Babies need to eat when they are hungry. Don't worry about it.

If you are interested in a solids book, I love the Baby Super Food book. I use it as a guide. It tells you foods to introduce each month and how to prepare them.

Keep up the good work!
L.

Hello C., i actually had these problems with my now 4 yr old daughter. My Grandmother recommended(pediatric approved) was to put baby cereal in the formula. You will need a bigger slit in the bottle(not too big) add about a tsp or so depending on how much formula is actually in the bottle. Just enough to make it a little heavier. This will keep them fuller longer and lengthen time during feedings.

HELLO
YOUR BABIES YOUR CHOICE. MY SON WAS SMALL WE HE WAS BORN AND HE HAD ACID REFLUX. SIT UP EVERYTHING FOR THE FIRST 10 MONTHS. WE FEED HIM SOMETIMES EVERY 1 1/2 HOURS BECAUSE HE WAS HUNGRY. AFTER WE ADDED CEREAL TO HIS MILK IT WAS A LITTLE BETTER.SO DO WHAT YOU FEEL IS RIGHT FOR YOU. YOU ARE THEIR MOM AND YOUR GUT WILL TELL YOU WHATS RIGHT. GOOLUCK!!!!

Hi sweetie how are you? That is great they are sleeping through the night. My girls were premies to they didnt come home until they reached 5 pounds one came home at a time. But any how they were stuck on eating every three hours to until they started sleeping through there feedings. I would feed them when they wake up thats when they started eating more than the usual ounces they tehy were eating. If you are worried about them not geeting aenough food just put a little cereal in the bottle that should hold them for a while. stop feeding them every three hours only feed them when they wake up for it. Trust me If they anything like mine they will start eating. Have fun this is the best ride of your life.

Dear C.,
Keep doing what you're doing and do what makes sense. My son Cory, now 16, was 3 1/2 pounds when he was born. Because he didn't have a big appetite and would occasionally projectile vomit, I fed him about 2 oz every 2 hours. That's all he could handle. A "top" neonatologist we were seeing for my son's "failure to thrive" in Pennsylvania criticized the way I was feeding my son and admitted him to the hospital at 5 months to "regularize his feeding schedule." This was how it was written in my son's medical records. I was 22 at the time. How I wish I had heeded my intuition. In the hospital, 4 ounces were fed every 4 hours to my son through tube feedings like a "normal" baby. He threw up every feeding. And although he was very slow to gain weight under my care, under theirs he began LOSING weight. To make a long and painful story short, he contracted meningitis and interstitial pneumonia on that pediactric ward, I believe because of the daily insertion of the tube in his nose, and he nearly died. Because meningitis causes scarring in the brain, my son acquired hydrocephalus. He had a shunt put in his brain that he will have the rest of his life. I blame myself for ignoring my intuition.

Your babies are communicating to you in their own way exactly what they need and you're doing a great job of responding. While other people's advice is helpful at times, you always need to keep your eye on the ball, on what makes sense. Please keep listening to your babies and yourself. Best of luck to you.
C. B.

My daughter was not premie but she ate between every two and three hours when she was 7 months old. This was often but she was never over weight. Give your babies time it takes time for some babies tummies to grow. Better to follow the babies schedule! Belive me I tried to get my daughter on a 4 hour schedule and she was grumpy! Sometimes it is just better to let them get there on their own!

i have an 8 month old preemie. born 2 months early also. he eats every 3-4 hours except when he sleeps at night. all babies are different but i think it is normal for preemies to eat frequently. he even eats a jar or 2 of baby food with a bottle twice a day, but still eats every 3-4 hours. i can stretch it to 5 hours, but i dont like to. he weighs about 14 lbs. i would keep them on the schedule you have until they dont want to eat that much. they will let you know when that is. otherwise, they need it. if they werent hungry, they wouldnt be eating. you could try to go 4 hours, then they may eat a little more at a time.

Hi C.,
My boy was a preemie too and his eating schedule was very similar to your twins. This seemed to work well for him. He could only eat small amounts of food at one time and he did have some catching up to do as far as weight goes. Every baby is different and so is their eating routine. When you go for their routine check ups the doctor will check to make sure their weight is increasing at a proper rate. Hope this helps.
Diana

Hi C., my name is K. and I have a 6 month old. He was born on time, actually a week late!! and weighed 10 lbs 2 oz. He's now around 20 lbs. Anyway, we started feeding him baby food at around 4 months because he was maxed out on formula and was still hungry! Even though he now has a breakfast lunch and dinner, he takes 4-6 oz inbetween the meals, so I am still feeding him every 2-3 hours. That is great that your twins were able to gain weight and "catch up", and even better that they are good sleepers. Good luck, I just wanted to let you know you weren't the only one, I feel like I am constantly feeding the little guy. Can't imagine 2!

Hi C.,
I think you have a great schedule down for your children. It seems to really work for them and you have them sleeping all night. I would speak to your doctor if you are truly worried about them eating every 3 hours, but if it works for you and works for them I say stick to it. When your children start to eat more at a sitting, which will happen naturally, the feedings will become fewer and farther between. Different things work for different children and since your children were preemies they may need smaller more frequent feedings.

You are their mother ONLY YOU know what is best!!! Good Luck, I can't imagine 2 at a time!
If your babies are doing fine, stick to you guns and forget what others are saying, you could also ask your doctor.

Congrats on your babies. I am a mother of 2. One is 4 and the other 1. They were not premeies but all I can tell you is that every baby is different. Follow what your children are telling you, not what other people are saying. You know what is best for them. They are tiny so their little tummies can't take alot. Just follow your heart. As long as they are gaining weight that's all you should care about.
Good luck

I'm a pediatric nurse and it sounds like they are doing just fine. You have to remember they are going to be a little behind because they are preemies. For their age they should be taking about 24-32oz of formula a day. Formula (or breastmilk) is their main form of nutrition until age one. You can't force a baby to eat. Their stomachs are only a little bigger than a golf ball. My son never took more than a 6 oz bottle and he wasn't a preemie. I don't know how anyone gets a baby to take more, their tummys are just too small. Your best resource is your pediatrician. If you have questions call her/him.

I'm a fellow preemie mom- so glad your little ones are doing well! My son (7 1/2 months - 4 1/2 months adjusted) is still nursing exclusively and is fed on demand, so sometimes he eats every 2 hours, sometimes he'll go 3 or 4 between a feeding. The most important thing (especially if you're bottle feeding) is to feed your babies when they are hungry so they keep the ability to self regulate hunger.If 5 oz of formula or a little bit of solids is all they take and they are showing signs of hunger every 3 hours stick with it! Hope this helps!
A.

Hi C.:

I'm a lactation consultant and speech pathologist and I work with infants to 3 year olds with feeding issues. It's not necessarily unusual at all for your twins to feed every three hours. Also, they would be viewed as 5 months adjusted, not 7 months. Because they may be on the smaller side, they may take in less volume, more frequently, which is a much better way to eat. Also, are they drinking breast milk or formula? If it's breast milk, it's digested more rapidly, and that would account for them wanting to eat every three hours. You can always contact early intervention and have a feeding evaluation done for free, if you're concerned.

I hope that helps!

J. Rabin

HI C.,

I am a mom of preemie twins also (mine were 6 weeks early) they are now in preschool, and I remember feeding them very frequently for a very long time. I had to keep reminding myself that since they were small when they were born that they were going to be a little bit behind the average baby milestones.(So since your babies were 2 months early, developmentally they are probably about 5 months old) I have to tell you that it's wonderful yours are sleeping through the night for you, and they are probably doing that because they are getting enough calories during the day because of your frequent feeding. If they weren't getting enough calories they would wake up in the night and want to eat, so I think you are doing all the right things. If you want to try to get them to eat a little more baby food, you could slowly try to extend their bottle feeding times to every 3 1/2 to 4 hours. But if you feel they are thriving on the schedule you have them on now and it doesn't bother you to keep it up, I wouldn't change anything, it sounds like they are doing great. :)

Sincerely,
L.
Mom of awesome twin girls
and loving every minute :) :)

If that schedule is working for you, keep it. You could wake them to feed them, which may help them to spread out the feedings so they are not eating every three hours, but if they get used to that you will not have the nice block of sleep that you currently have. Good Luck and Congratulations!

Personally, I'd feed them when they're hungry and the amount they want. Your babies are different than anyone elses, and especially being premies they may need to eat more. My dd is 18 months and 95% in height and weight and she still needs to eat every 3 hrs or so when awake. She was never one to get more than 6 oz at a time. Plus, they tell adults to eat every 2-3 hours. I think you're doing great! If the ped says something else then maybe reconsider. But I think babies know when they need to eat and how much...there's no "issues" with it at their age.

C.,
I agree with what the others have said. I did not have a preemie but my son at one year probably eats "something" every 3 hours whether it be milk or a meal or just a snack. Your babies are sleeping through the night and weight is normal. Keep it up and ignore whomever is telling you what to do. The babies will tell you when they are hungry. If they finish bottles consistenly than maybe try larger bottles and then maybe they won't eat every 3 hours if they are drinking more. Twins have to be tough but it sounds like you are doing great!

C.,

Whatever you're doing keep it up, because the fact that they are 15 lbs. at 7 months after being only 2 lbs. at birth is phenomenal. Everyone's baby is different. My daughter turned 6 months on the 21st of July and eats every 3 hours religiously and hasn't taken too well to solids yet either & she was 16 lbs. yeaterday at her checkup so I think you're doing wonderfully.

J.

I would not worry about it my son was 9 pounds 5 ounces when he was born and he still ate every 3 hours. Every child is different. Good luck. D.

Hi C.,
Congrats on getting your babies to sleep through the night. As the other moms said, that is definitely something to be celebrated!

I agree with all of the other mothers that have said to go with your instincts, and feed your children when they are hungry.

My son is now five and was a full term baby (21.25" 9lbs)-- and he ate every 1.5-2hrs until he was three months old, when his doctor suggested introducing cereal. (He was drinking 55-60oz of formula a day, not spitting any up and was still acting hungry). After he started eating cereal, he only needed to be fed every 3-4 hours. As I said, he is now five years old... and he STILL eats every 3-4 hours. He never really eats much at a time, unless we wait longer than the 3-4 hours. He eats small meals and several snacks a day -- I just feed him when he is hungry - though we do have set mealtimes.

Consider how far your children have come since they were born -- be proud of their accomplishments as well as your own. You are doing a terrific job!

Hi C.,

I can't offer any advice but can empathise as my now 10 month old was the same. Only over the past few weeks has he begun waiting longer between feeds. From what I've seen of other babies (and I co-ordinate several playgroups as well as a new moms & babies group so see a lot of babies) many other people experience the same thing. All I can say is, it does get easier.

Sorry I can't be more help!

Good Luck & Congratulations,

R.

Hi C.,

I didn't read that you were the mom of "other people's babies". Don't start thinking you should be doing what mom A or B is doing. You will never be able to keep up.
You are doing great. Your little babies are sleeping through the night. YEAH! Right there is such a feat worth celebrating. Don't expect them to be text-book babies. If your kids are eating every three hours then that is what it is for the time being. It'll will change and the intervals will get longer. Don't rush them into your schedule. Their bodies know what they need. Listen to your children, not the neighbors. You are doing a great job. Enjoy!

Don't worry about what "other people" are saying. You are their mother and as long as you feel good about where they are in life that is all you need. (and your doc is comfortable with their wieght gain, which is GREAT by the way!) Also, what you have to remember is that your babies were born two months early. Developmentally, instead of being at 7 months, they are only at 5. Whenever dealing with premature babies, they have a corrected age up until they are 2 years old. Many children even out ahead of this, but we correct their age anyway. So, don't worry about your beautiful babies. Listen to your heart and not what other people are telling you, unless it's your doctor of course. Hope this helps.

My baby was a month early and ate more often then my other three. Now at a year she still wants to snack about every three/four hours. Every baby is different. Still you know your babies best! If they are hungry feed them. Listen to what they are telling you not others! None of my four sleep through the night that early, my almost four year old still wakes up to climb into bed with us a few times a week, you are so lucky:)

C.:

I'd check with your pediatrician before anyone else. From what I understand, preemies come of age in their own time because they had to work harder at birth than a full-term baby (my son was a full-term NICU baby and the preemies and their parents around him were some of the most amazing people I ever met). If they are happy and healthy and you're ok with the 3 hour schedule, then I wouldn't worry about it unless your dr. tells you otherwise. Also, see if your local hospital has a preemie support group for parents of multiples/preemies. You might be able to get some feedback from others in your area who have gone thru the same thing.

Try to put a little cereal in their bottles. Use enough water to keep it thin enough and use a little bigger nipple. This helps fill them up a little more. My son wanted to eat every 1 1/2 hours when he was little. Worked like a charm. Good Luck!

Y.
Mom of 3 boys(10,7,4)

Well if your doctor says it's ok to give them cereal in their milk, that would fill them up longer and therefore they may not want to eat every three hours. Do they have any problems keeping their milk down? My daughter had that issue for the first 6 months it seemed like and once I started using cereal, there were less feedings and she was able to keep her milk down. If the cereal doesnt work for them, then I would suggest to keep feeding them on their schedule because they would know when they are ready to slow down but it sounds like they need a little more substance to fill them up for longer periods of time.

Hi C.,
I am a NICU nurse and mother of 2 preemies(one 35 week, other 29). My first(daughter, 35 weeks) ate every 3 hours until she was 10 months old, and even at night sometimes. No matter what I tried, she didn't eat more that a few ounces at a time. Our ped didn't worry becasue she was gaining weight. My son(29 weeks) however, ate 6-8 ounces every 3-4 hours until he was 7-8 months old. When they both started eating more food, they spread the time out. If they are gaining weight, go with it. Premature babies have different growing spurts that full term babies. Do what's best for you and your babies, if they are sleeping at night, they are happy and full!!! They won't eat every three hours forever, I'm sure they are still busy catching up! Remember , they are really only 5 months old. Good luck and congratulations. Glad to hear they are doing so well.

Hi,

I come from the "old school" feed a baby when he or she is hungary, and to never wake a sleeping child.

If 5 ounces if all their tiny tummys can hold then that is it.

With them being premature births it will take them time to get to where they should be if they were born on time.

J.

www.noahsarkworkshop.com/jodigilbert18

Hi Carrie,

My guess is a lot of the people who are telling you this never had an under weight child. My son had a really hard time gaining weight in the first month so I always had to be vigilant about his eating schedule. As a result I STILL feed him something every two hours or so and he is 20 months old. The most important thing is that they continue to gain weight. Talk to your doctor about cutting out a bottle now that you are feeding them solids. Your next appt should be a good time to discuss that. That may help stretching it during the day. Especially with them sleeping through the night, I would continue to feed them on demand. That is just my take though, you should talk to your doctor if feeding them less often would significantly help your life.

Good luck!!!

Jeny

Hey C.,
a little about me. I have 4 children,6 yr.old girl, 4 1/2 yr. old boy, 2 1/2 yr. old boy, and a 9 mo. old girl! My days are full! and FUN:-)

I'm not sure if you are breast feeding,but if you are I think it's perfectly normal to feed every three hours!
My nine month old feeds more often than that most of the time..at this age their tummies are still so small that they can only hold soo much and it digests so quickly so then they have to eat more frequently.
anyway, you have to remember that everyone is different. You and me. and each of our children:-)
You have to trust yourself! It seems like maybe you feed them formula?..I'm not judging you.. I just don't know for sure,but I do know that even at seven months children are still growing into the toddlers they will be next year and rearranging your schedule to suit your needs may be fine,but not feeding them less.. I'm not a doctor though.. soo trust your instincs! you know best. and consult your doctor? there may be ways to get them to eat alittle more a each feeding gradually so that then they won't have to feed so frequently:-) let me Know if you want to talk more. A.

This may sound harsh but it worked for my son who was born 4 weeks early. I would hold him off as much as possible and keep his mind off wanting a bottle- alot of times a pacifier would make him happy for about 30 minutes and then start waling again but it was the only way to get him out of the nasty routine he was create (or that I was letting him create- he was my first child :) ) Once I had him out of the schedule then he went to another ounce of food after a while. Do you notice the kids having a lot of gas at all??

Having him sleep that long IS AMAZING. My sons are 6 and 3.5 and I am lucking for them to sleep 10- hours a night!

C.- mother of 2 boys

Hi C.,

You're doing just fine.....feed them what THEY can handle and feed them when they're hungry. Obviously what you're doing is working or they wouldn't have gained 13 pounds in 7 months! Trust your instincts; you don't want to feed them more than they want otherwise they might get uncomfortable. Babies, like adults, know when they're full. Not all children are the same, there is no manual that everyone fits into. You might find that one will start going longer between feedings, or that one might want 8 ounces before the other......as long as they are content just hang in there - it will change at their pace.

Best of luck. M.

C.:
Who are these "other people" that say that say they don't feed thier babies every three hours? Are they mothers of full term babies who have no problems? Are they the medical professionals? Or are they mothers of other preemies? BIG difference! You know your babies better than anyone else is this world - remember that! At this point in development you cannot compair your babies with full term babies - huge difference. Your babies still have very small tummies and probably cannot physically hold more than that at one time. Tell these "other people" to back off and keep their opinions to themselves unless they have had a preterm baby whose development is similiar to yours. As your babies grow and develop, their feeding schedule will space out. At their time not anyone elses. Good luck. Be confident in what you are doing.
K.

Hi C.! I know it's hard not to listen to other peoples unsolicited advice. But you need to do what is best for your babies and for you. I nursed both my girls about every two hours until they were six months old, to the horror of many of my friends, but that's what worked for us. And I fed them every 3-31/2 hours until they were just about a year. I would think with preemies it would be longer. The babies will let you know when they are ready to start stretching their feedings. Just keep do what you are doing, because it sounds like it is working. I think your babies weigh more than my girls at that age and they were full term! Good luck with your babies!

I really don't think YOU can take them off the three hour schedule. My son just turned 9 months old and he still nurses every three to four hours. Other people and things I read said he should be eating more (bigger amount) less often, so I was trying to nurse him only every four or five hours, but he seemed fussy all the time, so I nursed him more frequently again and he's happier. His doctor says he doesn't weigh enough (he's 18 1/2 lbs), and now I supplement him with extra bottles, but he usually only takes 4-6 oz. He has a wonderful appetite, though, so I know his weight is fine. He's just very tall, 31" (off the chart!), and very very active. I started him on baby cereal mixed with milk at around 4 months and he only ate 2-3 tablespoons at first. Then pureed baby fruits and vegetables about 6 months, which he only ate about a half of a Stage 1 jar at first. Now he eats about 1/4 cup of cereal, 2 jars of Stage 2 fruit and vegetables, a half jar of meat, and some finger food snacks throughout the day. Basically, you're doing fine. If you're little ones like to eat a little amount several times a day, maybe that's just what they need. In fact, if they stay little "grazers," when they're older, eating several small meals instead of 3 big ones like most people, they'll probably be healthier and better energized throughout the day. Hope this helps =)

Hello-

I would strongly encourage you to continue your schedule because it is okay if they eat every 3 hours during the day. Be careful in comparing to other babies because yours undoubtedly have their own independent growth schedule. As they get older they will take in more milk/food and stretch out to fewer feedings. My daughter is 7 months as well and she eats every 3-4 hours. In fact, she wakes up once at night to take in another 5 ounces. Another friend of mine has an 8 month old who eats every 4 hours. If your babies are healthy and growing properly, be grateful for their appetite - it won't always be so easy to get them to eat! Take care.

D.

C.,
The best thing I ever learned as a mom is to "Follow your instincts!" Only you know what is best for YOUR babies. Don't worry about what other people are doing... do your OWN research and see if you think you need to change.
I believe you should be educated and then re-evaluate what you are doing, and THEN decide. If in your heart of hearts you know your babies are hungry every three hours- FEED THEM!!
I will say to consider these things-
1- ask your pediatrician, then ask a second pediatrician (preferably ones who are very familiar with dealing with preemies)
2- consider that babies have VERY tiny tummies... your babies may even have tinier tummies than average, and that they empty very quickly
3- the better quality the baby formula you give them, the quicker they will metabolize it- that is a healthy thing to be doing... because it means all those good vitamins and minerals and even fat that they NEED right now to grow is going straight to the places they need it most.... not just in their tummy and straight to the diaper!
4- Consider how often breastfeeding moms feed their babies... it is the same... the milk is so nutritious it gets absorbed right away!
5- If you do consider changing the schedule, do it slowly... try playing with them or massage, etc for 10 minutes before their regular feeding- experiment with this to see if it is the food they are craving or attention from mom... AND as an added benefit, you are delaying the feeding some too. If delaying works, you are readjusting their schedule AND having some quality time.

Hope this helped! I am not a specialist, but I am a mom who had these same concerns. I went with my heart and my daughter is now almost 6 years old and very healthy. Hang in there! Feel free to email me if you want.
-Amanda

my question is the other people that you are talking to do they have preemeies? I dont know much about them but if your babies are hungry, feed them, there not the same size as an average 7month old....I dont think your doing anyyhthing wrong...

D.

Hi!

You have to do what you feel is right. I have 3 children and my middle was taken 1 month early 4lbs 12 ozs. I learned a lot from my mom who is from the old school. When a child is hungry feed them. If you feel they need some solid food to tided the over to the next feeding do it. As my mom put it "Your baby is talking to you listen" milk/forumla may not be enough. If you are happy with feeding every 3 hours then do it. If you really need to try and move them to a longer feeding schedule try something different. They will tell you in their own ways if it's working or not.

You said they are gaining weight you are doing the right thing and are an excellent mommy!

Congrats on your babies! Enjoy them they get big way to fast!
Take care!
K.

congrats on your babies !! You seem to be a wonderful mom, In my experience (17yr, 16yr and 2 1/2 yr) and doing daycare 15 yrs, you are doing great !! They are hungry. You can try giving them a little cereal which may help extend out their feedings. Might I ask, are you nursing or formula feeding? that makes a difference as far as how long between feedings. They are survivors !! Congrats again. Dont compare yourself to everyone else. We are all different in how our children eat and drink.. Every one of my own children were different from each other, schedule wise, and it will just drive you nuts if you compare to others. You are doing a fantastic job with twins, bless your heart, and they are healthy and loved very much. Good luck to you. feel free to email me ____@____.com.

S.

hi,
Firstly i've been a nanny for many years, and i realised after having my first baby that i would get very confused with everybody else's opinions! what i do know babies eat when they are hungry and any paediatrician will tell you that,i think with preemie's there is always that extra concern and i think to say they were born early they seem good weights for 7 months, another thing with them being preemie's there digestive systems will be a little more immature so they probaly fill up quick and stay full for a while are you giving them formula or breastmilk? at the end of the day your paediatrician will be the one who can offer you the best advice all the best J.

Are your babies spitting up every time you feed them? No? Tell other people, "Thanks" and keep doing what you are doing. Every 3 hours is not too much, especially in your situation.

On the other hand, I would NOT advise putting cereal into their baby bottles. With regular baby food they are learning to eat, their intake will continue to increase and sooner than later, you will have eating toddlers. Most doctors are not fans of the cereal-in-formula-thing for choking reasons but rather reccomend making the formula thicker if there is an issue.

Also, I don't know if you are making baby food, or buying it. But you can make baby food and offer your twins a variety even now. My 2 1/2 year old has quite a palette that I am gratefull for when I hear other moms complain their children only eat Kraft mac and cheese.

Simply make and mash sweet potatos or acorn squash, even seedless zucchini. I mixed some grated parmesian cheese into it too (the deli case stuff, not the stuff on the dry goods shelf), later when they are ready for texture, you can add frozen peas to it. Put it in containers and freeze it and you've got fun, fun foods! Mashed bananas, steamed and mashed apples and pears are great too.

Obviously try one food for a few days and look for reactions to make sure your children are not allergic but then enjoy it. Taking your twins out to eat or even at home meal times will be so much more enjoyable in years to come if you aren't trying to talk them into eating their dinner.

Sounds like you're doing a great job!

Best,
L.

Hi C.!

I think you're doing a fantastic job! I have a 2 1/2 yr. old son that was 2 months early. He ate every three hours just like your twins. You're their mom, and nothing can replace that motherly instinct. Do what YOU think is best. You'll soon find out that a lot of people have opinions, but generally whatever your gut tells you is pretty much on the mark. It sounds like the twins are doing great. I hope that they continue to make such positive strides. Best of luck to you!

C.,

Don't worry about their feeding schedule just yet. You have to consider that your twins were preemies, and babies can eat every three to four hours. So try not to listen to everyone else, and do what you feel is right for your babies. They will let you know it is time to cut back on their feedings. As a mom of an 18 month old, I know how hard it is to know if you are doing what is right, but no matter what you do they will be fine.

A.

Wow...what a great story! I'm glad they're alright. I was never one for a feeding schedule for my children(11&5). Every child is different. It's so hard comparing them, yet that is what we all do. If the children are hungry and eat 5oz every 3 hours, I see no harm in that. What does your pediatrician say? I would go by that and how the children are. Not what other mothers say. Good Luck!

Hi Carnie,

I am the mother of two boys 4 and 1. My 1 year old fed about every three hours until he was about 9 months, it was just then that he started eating more. He then had a bottle every 4 hours. He did take 6 ounces though. I stuck to feeding him rice cereal, fruit, and veggies. He never really ate alot either, as long as your twins are thriving I would not worry about what other people tell you. Every child is different.
Good Luck
S.

Hello C. - I have an 8 month old (on the 4th) little girl and a 20 month old son. Kyle had a hard time eating ceral at first but then had no problem. I also pureed all of his food (I had time then..hahaha) But my daughter she is kind of lazy when it comes to eating. She would rather drink 7 (6oz) bottles then take the time to eat real food. I did find that in the morning I feed her about 2 tablespoons of ceral in with one jar of fruit/veggie. At first I tried to feed her all of her real fod first because she loves her bottle and I was afraid that she wouldn't want any real food after her bottle. I start by giving her (Shoveling quickly) as much real food as she will take (About 1/2 of the bowl) then I give her her bottle. She holds that and drinks it all in about 5 mins. Then I give her the rest of her real food. It will take a bit but I am sure that if you start feeding a bit (Not so much that they dont want there bottle because they need that) more real food that will hold them over to 4 hours. My daughter goes to bed at 7pm and wakes at 6am. she eats her food and bottle then..takes a nap at about 8am til 9am. Then she gets a bottle around 10ish or if I wait til 11 she gets her lunch which is just a jar of something (Veggie beef..chicken noodle) and a bottle at or around 12. Then she naps from about 12pm til 3pm. Gets a bottle when she gets up and then around 6ish gets ceral and veggies with a bottle for the night. I guess if you figure it out she may eat every 3-4 hours while she is awake, but she sleeps well at night (11 hours) and her little body needs to make up for that "Not Eating time" I hope that helps.

HI- I would check with the twins pediatrician. If he/she has no problem with the every 3 hours then I would keep doing it. I was told up to 5-6 months the baby dedicates when they eat not the mommy. I fed my daughter when she was hungry or at least every 4 hours if she wasn't asking for it. Best of luck to you. C.

Hi C.,
Congratulations on your twins! I too am the mom of a premie girl who is now 2 and a half. I remember those early days. My best advice to you is not to listen to what others say, but to feed your babies when they are hungry. Which is probably what you've been doing all along. And your twins are strong and healthy because of that. Are the "others" you are listening to parents of premies? You know better than anyone that premies are different than full term babies. And I'd venture to guess that the people you're talking to are not parents of premies. Keep doing what you've been doing because your babies are doing so well. Feed your babies as much as they want when they want it. Good Luck!! J.

C.,
I agree with the other 8 moms who have responded. You and they are doing very well. "If it's not broke, don't fix it!"
Congratulations.
Amy S.

If they seem hungry, I would continue to feed them. I think it is always best to follow your own babies' cues. If it helps, my son is 10.5 months old and still eats every 3 hours or so, even at night. And he's only average size (50th percentile) not overweight or anything. I fed my other chldren (age 3 and 5) when they cued me and it just seemed like the best for them as well.