When do babies start to feed at faster rate?

[Beckster99]

i have 7 week old twins who take one hour on average to feed; mainly bf'ing but also giving f to top up or allow me a rest once or twice in 24 hrs.

Boy takes just as long with bottle, girl takes 30-45 mins.

Do they gradually become speedier or more efficient or can I do something to help this along?

Beckster, I would say this is spot-on average for babies of this age...can understand that with twins it feels like a long time.

Yes, they do gradually become speedier - see the threads on mumsnet worrying about their babies (any time from say, 10 to 20 weeks) who take 5 mins to feed, because they are concerned they can't possibly be getting enough.

I can't think how you would speed up this normal, developmental process. It comes with maturity. It would be like trying to hasten the day your baby sits up, or walks...it happens when it happens

Hello Beckster (that's what I call my little DD ). I have 3.5 week old twins and am bottle feeding them. DD esp takes aaaaaaages most of the time (sometimes an hour, with breaks in between for dozing, stretching, puking, nappy change etc), although this morning she managed 105ml in 10 mins which is a record for her. DS2 (the other DT) is usually quicker but an average session is 1.5hrs from the first nappy change to getting the second one back in bed. Very tedious.

Can I be nosey and ask how long yours are managing between feeds? Mine seem to vary and sometimes are desperate after three hours and sometimes it is four hours and I am peering at them anxiously waiting for them to wake up and ask for milk as I can't relax knowing a feed is due.

Hmm, my little Beckster is making a pitiful mewling noise now .

Thanks for the feedback, very reassuring. I presumed/hoped things would naturally develop further so I look forward to the next stage. I am lucky in that the girl is already starting to sleep 5-7 hours some nights so I may feed the boy twice before she wakes up (although she suprises me once a week with an off night) and have even managed to get 3 hours in one go on occasions!!

Egg; I know exactly how you feel, my dd had one of those off nights I mentioned last night and took an hour to feed and half hour to settle. I get frustratd for a few mins amd then remember that they are only 7 wereks old so shouldn't expect them to perform at every feed/day.

To answwr your qu; in the day they are now just about managing to last 3-4 hours, although I do still top up every now and again especially the boy who requires more.

For the past week we have tried to stick to feeding in the day around 11, 3 and 7 to subtly encourage a regular pattern, however, in the night we still feed on demand.

We decided to not feed them together at night because the girl sleeps more and if we did wake her up she would fall asleep whilst feeding. If they wake up at the same time my dh will bottle feed one with formula.

In the early days I would get uptight planning the next feed time before the last one has finished, I am a little more relaxed now, I think it comes with time.

Congrats Egg; it's so wonderful having twins!

Thanks for info . Had our second crappy night last night but agree I no longer wake them to feed together (well, one after the other) at night as although if they feed well it does mean I get a longer stretch, if they are not ready they are too tired or not hungry enough and it doesn't help. Plus as you say we want to encourage longer sleeps at night (but they only happen in the day ).

I also have to remind myself that mine are not even four weeks old and I can't expect them to do anything! I am hoping to get them into a routine as it did help me with DS, but trouble is I do want them to have last "day" feed about 7pm but DS1 goes to bed at 7:30ish and at the mo it works much better when their feeds happen to fall about 5:30 and 6pm so they are asleep while I bath him, read to him and get him to bed, so he still gets his special time. Lord knows how I will work it out, I guess when they feed a bit quicker I can feed them at 6:45 or something while DS1 plays for a while.

DD did a record feed yesterday morning, 105ml in 10 mins (or something similar, my mind is a blur.,..). If only they were all like that. The worst bit is I have to keep them upright for about 10 mins after each feed or they just throw up in the cot. The temptation is always there to put them down quicker but whenever i do I regret it! It's hard though when the second one is screaming hungry and you are sitting there cuddling the first one getting the burps out and holding them (sticking them in their chairs sometimes works, but sometimes they are still sick, esp DS2).

Sorry, long post. Must go and drink more coffeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

Know how you feel Egg, not only about long post (so nice to rabbit on) but good to have someone going through same experiences / challenges at similar time.

My only solution to when the last one is settling down whilst the next is waking up is to disturb dh; typically just happened and when I placed dd on bed whilst he got himself 'positioned' for feeding, she dozed off!!!

Out of interest, do you sleep both in same room or different?

We lasted only a few nights with both babies in our room, them moved the more vocal (ds) into bedroom behind our heads so we could work out which baby was crying and try not to wake the other - and dh if possible (esp now he's back at work). It also meant we could come round slightly slower, rather than jumping out of bed like crazy!!

Hi beckster. Mine sleep in their own room in one cot together, but I sleep on the floor in there, so then DH gets a more undisturbed night so he can still function for work, and there is no room for them in our room. I was planning not to sleep in their room but found it easier in the end. DH does the last evening feeds so some time between 9 and 11 normally, while I go to bed, and I normally get to sleep from 9-12 or 9-1 or something (if I am lucky) in our room in the lovely bed and then I take over feeds and move into their room.

I never manage to jump out of bed like crazy, I really struffle, esp when getting out of the sleeping bag when in their room, it is so warm and cosy...

Sorry about repeating myself in my last two posts, I think I was just so proud of DD's fabulous feed I told you twice .

Just taken DS1 to nursery, I have my doula arriving in half an hour, then she leaves about 2:30 and my mum is coming for the night so I will have lots of help today, which is good as I only got 2 x 45 mins sleeps after being woken at 1am . Have had two coffees and feel FAB at the mo!

Going to get them registered today!