Tips for formula feeding twins please

[iVFtwins26]

Hi all, I have twins on the way in December & I have a 3 year old that was breastfed for over 2 years. Iv decided to formula feed the twins as breastfeeding really ruined my back, it was the hardest thing I ever done. and I can’t imagine BF 2 babies. Also will probably have c section this time and think with formula I can get more help with husband or sister’s feeding the babies.

I have no experience with formula making and have been trying to read what I can.
can anyone share with me their best methods making formula for twins? Any easy hacks? How did you do night time feeds? Also how many bottles would each baby need per day and how did you even carry so many bottles & hot water flasks when out? I was thinking to get a backpack just for the bottles/formula/flask. & keep nappies and clothes in a different bag? Or did you use a separate bag for each twin?

I have been seeing videos on the nuby rapid cool and the tommee tippee perfect prep.
i am also thinking to get the mom cozy bottle washer/ steriliser
everything is so expensive & breastfeeding was free and lightweight lol but anything to make things easier with twins. Thank you!

Have you had a look at the Multiples Section @iVFtwins26? You might get some good tips from Mums of twins in there

Oh thank you I didn’t know about that section I will repost there! Thank you x

No problem. I hope you get some useful tips in there

I don’t have twins but have 2 children still with bottles and the momcozy bottle washer has been the best money I’ve ever spent! If you’re going to buy it I would invest before they are born so you get maximum use out of it.

We didn’t mix any formula- we used Aptamil 1 ready to feed, which the hospital had also used when they were born premature as it’s more calorific than my breast milk (they said). It’s great- seems thicker and creamier and they loved it. We had little bottles to go out, and big one litre bottles for the fridge. We got the girls used to having it straight from the fridge/ room temperature so we didn’t need to warm the feed. Saves so much time and faff- could get a feed ready so fast!

We had a Tommy Tippee machine when formula feeding our twins. Would highly recommend one.

10 years ago we used the tiny bottles of premade in the hospital.
We got a Tomee Tippee Perfect Prep machine at home/visiting relatives. Used premade served at room temperature when out and about to cut down on faff. Carton of premade, just open and pour into clean bottle when ready to feed.
We tried a few different brands and settled on Hipp Organic.
Congratulations, twins are brilliant!

When I say premade I don't mean powder you made earlier, you can buy formula ready to serve liquid as a previous poster said. Most brands do it.

That’s definitely on the top of my list! How many times a day did you use yours? Iv seen people have limescale problem with them but I’m sure that can be sorted easily

Oh that sounds so ideal at the newborn stage for twins! I didn’t think of that. I will definitely write that down. Must have cost a lot. How long did you do this for did you switch to formula once they were abit older? Did you have to keep the little bottles in a cool bag when you go out? X

Is it the perfect prep one in that beige colour? I’m thinking to get that too it gives a hot shot & the price isn’t too bad. Well I was thinking to use the flask method but keep seeing this tommee tippee machine. Was it high maintenance for you? X

I think I will definitely use the pre made for the first few months! It sounds easier not having to heat up or measure anything especially for 2. Did you use tap water or bottled water for the prep machine? Thank you so much xx

Yes, perfect prep. Think it comes in a few colours. We had a blue one. Great for us – makes a bottle in 2 minutes.

Bottle feeding twins will always be high maintenance due to the amount of bottle washing involved, but it is what it is.

The ready-made formula is always an option, as mentioned by several, but it’s very expensive.

My first question would be, will formula feeding really make life easier or are you just adding more jobs and kit to the list?

Get in touch with the twins trust or look at Katheryn Stagg on Instagram. She has lots of information about breastfeeding multiples which might help. There is also combination feeding as an option. This might allow for easier overnight feeding (breast) and then bottles in the day if needed. I knew a twin mum who would breastfeed one twin and bottle the other for a feed and swap at the next feed.

Laid back positions might also be better for your back and allow you to feed both babies at once.

As for formula feeding, ready made could be easier over night. Though expensive.

Both the perfect prep type machines and rapid cool flasks have safety concerns. They basically don’t get hot enough for long enough to kill the harmful bacteria in formula powder. This might be more of an issue if the babies are born early.

From my experience ready made was the easiest but most expensive option.

I fill it twice per day with one baby that has 6-8 bottles and one that has only has a couple now. I can get about 6-8 mam bottles in with no problem. I’ve not had any issues with limescale and I’ve had it 6 months!

Premade formula is easier but it’s hideously expensive compared to making up powder feeds.

I have been thinking this too the past few days as I’m getting all the info I can. Bottle feeding does seem like a lot of work. & with twins the formula will be so expensive. I just don’t know if I can go through those first months breastfeeding as it was so traumatic the first time even though it did get easier. Maybe I can try combo feeding will have to see how I’m doing at the time. It will maybe put less pressure on me. That’s a good idea about swapping. I will check the sources you have given me thank you. & yes all these gadgets seems to have a lot of issues and it’s making me abit paranoid. Didn’t have to think about machines and sterilising or bacteria with my first. So it’s a huge difference & more stress it seems! X

Oh twice a day doesn’t seem too bad. Maybe I will use it morning and night. You’re right I just went Sainsbury’s to check formula prices and to think we will be buying double for twins it’s going to be soo expensive x

We switched to Aptamil 2 when they were older- and then onto cow’s milk as part of normal feeding when 1-2 years old.

It was relatively expensive, but worth it to me as it made life so much easier, and they seemed to like it a lot.

We had the 70ml bottles which come with a sealed teat to use when out and about in the early days- it doesn’t need to be refrigerated or cool boxed if unopened. These little ones were one-off feeds for us generally.

https://www.boots.com/aptamil-1-first-milk-starter-pack-ready-to-feed-6x70ml-10175040?srsltid=AfmBOooqxT9j5LWLehEcTOVlFogdC3E2Xj5FRUDYJslmlcmCc6Ks6PSX

Later on we would take out a sterilised Mam bottle, and a fresh 200ml bottle of Aptamil one, and pour in the right amount for the feed. When back from a quick trip we would put the excess in the fridge, (has to be used within 24h). We wouldn’t have kept it open and unrefrigerated on a very hot day though.

The one-litre bottles we kept in the fridge once opened, and they have to be used within 24h once open. Didn’t have a problem using it up with twins and all the feeds!

I formula fed my twins and used a nuby rapid cool....highly recommend!! Just pop in the formula and boiled water and it's ready in a couple of minutes. Had a kettle upstairs in the bedroom for night feeds and used a Milton cold water steriliser and had one in the bedroom and two downstairs. Worked really well and not expensive either

Definitely would recommend Kathryn Stagg and Breastfeeding Twins and Triplets UK on Facebook if you’re even thinking of BFing. They helped me no end and while it was difficult starting BF with my twins it’s so much easier now than FF (I FF my older two). I suspect we’d have been paying out at least £30pw if we FF.

For my 5 month old baby I get through about 1 tub per week of formula so £30pw is probably about right for twins if using powder. We use cow and gate as it’s the cheapest brand, I learnt from experience when I had my toddler we started with Hipp which is more expensive.

The premade milk is about £1 per little bottle so £2 per feed for twins. If you’re doing 7 feeds per day that’s about £14 per day, £98 per week!

I also have a friend with twins and she combi fed with no problem mainly bf and topping up with formula.

Hi thank you so much for this it has been really helpful! I think I will definitely buy those for the first week! X

I have really been contemplating the nuby rapid cool it’s raved about a lot. I was thinking though if I just had a flask with boiled kettle water inside & another flask with room temp boiled water, it would work the same way right? As the rapid cool apparently needs time to reset? So did you wash it after each use at night feeds? X
iv seen the cold water steriliser but having to hand wash bottles for twins and air drying them all seems a lot of work, that’s why I was considering the momcozy washer x

I will definitely check them thank you? How long did you manage to BF? The first 2 months are hard I remember I cried each time I BF but I pushed through then it got easy. I just feel like with twins I will give up easily. Especially with bleeding and engorgement issues. & leaking so much!

I just showed this to my husband and we are both so shocked at the spending we will have to do 😅
I suppose if I BF it would cut the cost. Thank you for sharing. X