How To Feed Your Twins: Breast vs Bottle
Twins and Multiple Birth Videos
Think you might be expecting twins? Find out the differences to expect from a multiple pregnancy, including bump size and weight gain.
Worried about your multiple pregnancy? Find out about the pregnancy complications you might face when carrying twins, triplets, or more.
Are you expecting twins? Learn the symptoms of premature labour and find out about pre-term birth in this short film.
Are you expecting twins? Find out the options for your labour and when a vaginal birth is recommended for twins.
Click here to learn about the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) and why your twins or triplets may need neonatal care.
Dr Carol Cooper shares her advice on how parents can stay involved in their babies’ care whilst in the SCBU
Is it really possible to breastfeed triplets? Dr Carol Cooper explains how you can make breastfeeding triplets work.
Should I feed my twins one at a time or both together? Is breast or bottle best? Dr Carol Cooper shares advice to guide you on how to feed your twins.
Will I have time to bond with each of my babies? Dr Carol Cooper offers practical advice on bonding with multiples.
Struggling to cope with crying babies? Dr Carol Cooper offers practical advice and answers why do babies cry?
Is the guidance for weaning twins and triplets different from the advice given for one baby? Find out from Dr Carol Cooper here.
How can I make sure my twins or triplets develop their own identities? Get tips for creating seperate identities for your twins from Dr Carol Cooper.
Why are my toddlers always getting into trouble? Find out about the terrible twos for twins and multiples here.
Potty training can instil dread into the parents of single toddlers, so how do parents of multiples cope? Find out here how to potty train twins and multiples.
Why are my twins naughtier than their friends? Find the answers from Dr Carol Cooper in this short film.
In the following short film Dr Carol Cooper explains some of the factors that lead to poor language development in twins and multiples. Also in this section, learn what you can do to encourage speech development and when to seek help.
How do I choose a good preschool for my twins? Dr Carol Cooper explains what to look for in preschools for twins.
Are you trying to decide whether to place your twins in separate classes at school? Dr Carol Cooper can help
Feeding Newborn Twins
The logistics of feeding two babies at the same time, whether by breast or bottle, is not easy. The ideal is to feed both babies together as this will cut down the length of time you are sat feeding them.
It can take time to synchronise your babies feeding times. If one baby wakes for a feed, gently rouse the other. Your second baby may not feed as much but they’ll get the idea soon enough.
Breastfeeding Twins
It can be difficult to find a comfortable position to breastfeed both of your babies at the same time. There are several positions to try and you may need to try them all before you find one that is comfortable for you and your babies. You may also need to change positions as your babies get bigger. Make sure you have a large glass of water within easy reach before you sit down to feed as breast feeding is thirsty work.
If your babies were born prematurely then they may have difficulty latching on at first. Make use of the midwifery team whilst you are still in hospital and ask a midwife to stay by your side whilst you breastfeed your babies. It will be useful to have an extra pair of hands if one baby needs to be repositioned on your nipple whilst the other is feeding happily.
Bottle Feeding Twins
When it comes to finding the right position and synchronising feeds, bottle feeding can be equally as complicated as breast feeding.
One of the easiest positions for bottle feeding is to place your babies side by side in feeding chairs and sit in front of them armed with a bottle in each hand. This can make it hard to feel close to them, so you may choose to position your both of your babies close to you, although keeping the bottles in the correct position can be a challenge here.
Using different coloured caps or waterproof labels on the bottles will help you to keep track of which baby had what; this is especially useful if a feed gets interrupted.
Dr Carol Cooper, GP
Author of Twins and Multiple Births
All information used in this article was sourced from:
Cooper, C., 2004. Twins and Multiple Births. 2nd ed. Chatham: Vermilion
10688 Revised November 2012
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