Juggling two babies - is there a trick I’m missing?

[Mumlovestoast]

Hiya

My twins are almost 5 months old, and getting them to sleep isn’t a problem, moving them once they’re asleep is 😩

I’m EBF, I feed them at the same time, which in theory should save time, but once they’re asleep I’m trapped. They won’t feed separately, they like to hold hands etc
I can’t move them from the feeding cushion to their chairs or crib or wherever without waking at least one of them up (usually both). We co-sleep at night so night time is not a problem, I plonk them back where they came from once they’re fed. They refuse dummies, I’m attempting bottles of expressed milk but they don’t want those either.
Yesterday I sat trapped on the sofa for hours, attempting to entertain 12yr old DD, and trying to do DHs paperwork because he’s out working 14hr days so I can stay at home with the DCs. The twins were still asleep on me when DH handed me a stir fry at 9.30 and I had to hold it close to my face and scoop the food in 😂 then I ended up crying on poor DH because I couldn’t move them without them screaming the house down and I hadn’t even managed to pee all day because they were either napping on me or I was trying to settle them back down again after moving them. It’s like bloody Groundhog Day. I’m going round in circles.
Think they’re starting with teething pains so that’s not helping either.

It’s probably impossible, but I just wondered if someone out there had a better idea of how I can put them down for a decent nap, together, without sprouting an extra pair of hands.
If it’s impossible, I can live with all the extra cuddles I’m getting and just live in a shit hole for now. It’ll balance itself out eventually. I’d just like to be able to make a brew once a week 😂

[ineedaholidaynow]

Can you feed them, but move them before they fall asleep on you?

I only had one, so no expert. But as DS got older I might feed him to sleep at night, but during the day, he would still be awake when I stopped a feed

[babysharkah]

I bottle fed mine but can you move them off the feeding pillow into a bouncy / vibrating chair to help keep them asleep?

[RosieAway]

Wow, I really feel for you as I’m often trapped under just the one.
As I don’t have twins, not sure this would work, but I’ve taken to feeding my baby for naps both laying on the bed, so then I just sort of prop her up with a firm pillow once she’s asleep then I sneak off.
Sooo cute that they love holding hands btw

[Mumlovestoast]

I think the feeding pillow is half the problem, it’s gone from the standard little cushion to some industrial sized foam one that I can’t just push off me, it takes up half of the sofa but OMG it’s ace, it’s stopped me hunching over all day and both babies fit on it.
Can’t really feed them in bed, I home ed my other DD so if I go upstairs out of the way she’s going to be doing sod all til I get back.
Very very occasionally they’ll nod off in their chairs, but I’ve more chance of stepping in unicorn poop.
At the min I’m sitting on the floor, ones in the chair and I’m leaning over trying to put my finger in her mouth til she drops off, while I feed the other one but she’s having none of this shit and is also being kicked in the head by the one in the chair. Oldest DD has buggered off upstairs because she can’t be arsed to learn the finer points of animal farm 😂 it’s quite comical tbh

[MoMandaS]

Have you tried getting DD to give them the bottle while you're out of the room?

[BabiesComeWithHats]

Accept there will be some screaming. Honestly, it sounds brutal but you can't keep two babies alive and stay sane without it!

Granted, my perspective is a bit skewed beucase my DTs had reflux and there was ALWAYS someone screaming, but you can put a baby down and let them grizzle while you go to the loo. They won't be emotionally scarred for life, honest. As they get older you will need them go to sleep without being on the boob, so don't be afraid of letting them self settle a little bit more.

[MoMandaS]

Or can she help extricate you from under the cushion?! By stopping one of the babies rolling off it as you move it. That's not ideal really though, is it? Do they sleep in the pram if you take them for a walk? Just wondering if you could bring it in and transfer them to that then roll it back and forth for a bit. That worked for my eldest. Twins would usually nod off in bouncy chair but by this age one of them was using a bottle, so I'd feed them, put them in cots, lean over one cot to bf one for a minute while giving the other the remains of the bottle! Not v comfortable but didn't take long and soon they got used to napping in cots.

[Mumlovestoast]

DD has ASD so I can’t really leave her with the babies, I’m sure she’d be fine but the screaming alone is enough to give her a meltdown etc, they won’t have bottles anyway.
I’m ok with screaming babies, it’s the calming them down afterwards, especially when they’re overtired. Once they’ve started they don’t stop without boob and they’ll hold their breath. So I just whip my boobs out again to shut them up and the cycle begins again.

Think all I’m after is a way of picking up and carrying two decent sized babies at once. But I’m not sure if that’s even possible

[Mumlovestoast]

DD has attempted moving the cushion, she’s not the gentlest, but she does try, bless her

[Theweasleytwins]

I used to sit on the sofa all day and either fed the twins or they slept, not a lot else got done (apart from watching Supernatural)

[BertieBotts]

Allegedly you can get two in a sling at once, but I think that would kill your back.

Do you have any space you could set up a double buggy and push back and forth to get them to nap in that?

[Mumlovestoast]

No room whatsoever for a buggy in here. I’ve got a bugaboo donkey, it’s not massively wide, but neither is my living room.

I’ll just sit with my boobs out all day, if the DCs are happy, I’m happy. Luckily DH makes lunch for us so DD just has to grab it when she’s hungry. My family have keys, eventually someone turns up and makes me a cup of tea.

[MoMandaS]

What about Snugglebundls (think that's what they're called)? I used them but can't remember how long for (used slings mostly). They're like little hammocks with handles.

[Propertywoes]

I had one of those cushions. I would wait till they were asleep and then gently move them off it to the sofa either side of me. Sometimes I would wear a soft sling then once they were asleep tuck one into the sling for security while I moved the other.

[MoMandaS]

Remembering more now! When they were newborn I used to move them off the cushion using their sleepsuits in a sort of kitten hold. Yours will probably be too heavy for that now, but the Snugglebundls should work - look on ebay for secondhand. I chucked mine out the other week in a fit of decluttering, or I could have sent them to you!

[Blueuggboots]

Can I just say huge kudos for feeding Both of them for so long. That in itself deserves a HUGE pat on the back.
Hope you find a solution soon

[Mumlovestoast]

I used to pick them up by their sleepsuits, I can still do that with the smaller one, she now grabs it in a “pick me up” gesture 😂 the bigger twin..... not a chance!!!!
Had no idea about snugglebundles, just ordered two on prime. Hopefully that’ll make life easier! Thank you so much for that

[magpie24]

Just replying to say that them holding hands is the cutest thing I've read in ages. No practical advice I'm afraid, I only have one!

[MoMandaS]

Oh good, hope so! Just so you know, in case you didn't, there's a twin sling called the Twingo which I found indispensable from about 5 months onwards, both for going out and about and sometimes around the house when nothing else would settle them. One goes on the front and the other on the back. Used it until they were almost 3.

[Mumlovestoast]

Not sure if they’d like a carrier, they like looking at one another. But it’s worth knowing, just in case.

And yep, babies holding hands is so cute. They cuddle up together at night too. It’s ridiculously cute. Just as well really cus they’re hard work, so I need that bit of a reward 😊

[MoMandaS]

Mine used to always have their feet entwined when in carrier. You're right about needing the rewards! Such hard work but it does get easier and easier, overall!

[Mumlovestoast]

Awwwww twins are amazing. We’re all so lucky to have them.

[Doublethecuddles]

After lunch I used to feed mine put them in the buggy and go out for a walk and they would always fall asleep. I would then leave them in the garden sleeping. It always meant I got fresh air and somehow kept me in touch with the outside world.