Alone With Your Twins? Here are 5 Tips for Bottle Feeding Your Twins

Last updated on January 24th, 2024 at 08:35 pm

Intimidated about bottle feeding your twins alone? Here are 5 tips to get you started with your solo bottle feeding adventure with twins.

The first time you bottle feed your twins alone can be very intimidating. Anything you do for the first time can bring on a little anxiety, but when you have two hungry babies demanding to eat NOW, it’s a whole other ballgame!

Just remember to breathe, give yourself a LOT of grace, and take it one step at a time. Learning to bottle feed twins simultaneously will save you a lot of time, allowing you to have more breaks and time to get things done in your day. It’s a skill that you and your babies will be learning together and it’s definitely a skill worth mastering if you are going to be alone with them often.

Keep in mind that when your babies are newborns it will be difficult to feed them simultaneously. Their necks aren’t strong enough to hold up their heads yet. Wedging a rolled-up blanket behind their necks will help to prop them up better for tandem feedings. As they get older this will not be an issue anymore, and all three of you will have mastered the duo feed! In the meantime, here are some tips to get you started.

Tips for Bottle Feeding Your Twins Alone

Above all else, don’t get yourself too worked up over bottle feeding your twins alone. You WILL get the hang of it and your babies WILL be okay. Take a deep breath and dive in.

1. Change Diapers Before You Start Your Feeding

This will make the babies as comfortable as possible and avoid leaks and blowouts, which would interrupt the feeding. Bonus, if you are bottle feeding your twins in the middle of the night, you don’t want to change the diapers after the feeding as it might wake them up if they are starting to doze off. Trust us. Change the diapers first.

2. Set Up Their Seats

There are several different configurations you can try out. Try placing two bouncer seats or car seats on the floor in front of the couch and sit in between them — on the floor — with your back against the couch. Another option is to place them in two Boppy pillows on the couch while you sit on the couch in between them. If your highchair seats recline, you can put the babies in them reclined back and sit in a chair or on a stool. The Table for Two is a great seat that allows both babies to sit close together. Check that out if you’re going to be alone with them a lot.

3. Prepare Your Feeding Station in Advance With Supplies

Have the bottles prepared and burp cloths and pacifiers handy. Make sure everything is within arm’s reach so you don’t have to get up and leave an angry baby because they aren’t being fed.

4. Avoid Bottle Propping

We do not recommend this. Propping bottles runs the risk of suffocation. Make sure you are present throughout the entire feeding. If you need to take a break you can put the bottles down and give the babies their pacifiers to keep them calm for a few minutes.

5. Don’t Forget to Breathe!

It may take time to get the hang of it. Once you do you are going to rock it!

It may feel a little hectic and out of control the first time you do this. The more you do it the more it will become rote. It will become a lot easier and the babies will also get used to it. They will then understand how this all works. As time goes on they will learn to be a bit more patient with the bottles, and with YOU! Feeding both babies at the same time will help you to maximize your time, and in turn, will allow you to have more free time and more sanity.

Try Dr. Brown’s bottles for their incredible ability to reduce gas and fussiness in newborns, and now with their Options bottles, you can remove the vent after your babies are past the gassy phase. Dr. Brown’s Options grows with the needs of your babies and offers healthy benefits whether your little ones are experiencing feeding challenges or not. Options gives you the power of choice.

How Do You Bottle Feed Twins Alone?

If you haven’t attempted bottle feeding your twins alone yet, you might be wondering how to manage. Not to worry. Follow our steps above and learn what minor changes or adjustments will work for your family. You’ll get there in no time.

How Babies Can Be Fed Individually if Two Babies Are Hungry at the Same Time?

This just takes practice and a little creativity. Try different set ups until you know what will work best for you. Be patient with yourself as you figure it out.

Can I Feed My Twins From the Same Bottle?

The official answer here is a resounding no. However, if you find that you accidentally feed both babies from the same bottle, don’t panic. Many of us have in the middle of the night.

In short, it can be easy to have a bottle out longer than it should be when you are sharing a bottle between babies, especially in those early weeks when you aren’t sleeping much. Also, if one twin needs special formula or medicine at any time, it will be so much easier if you are already feeding out of separate bottles.

How Do You Bottle Feed Twins at Night?

Quickly and quietly. I’m kidding. Kind of. Basically, you want to keep lights and sound low. Don’t turn on the TV or overhead light if you can avoid it. Change the diapers and then feed with as little stimulation as possible. Don’t forget to ask for help when you can/need to. Maybe your partner can switch off with you to give you a break. Communicate those needs before you are exhausted and frustrated with 2 crying babies at 2 am.

How Many Bottles Do Twins Need?

You want to have a days worth of bottles per baby if you can. That’s roughly 16 bottles total. It will really save your sanity in the early weeks if you don’t have to stop to wash bottles 2 times a day to keep the twins fed.

Bottle Feeding Basics All New Parents Need to Know

How Can I Bottle Feed My Twins at The Same Time?

Getting Over The Guilt of Bottle Feeding Twins

Latest Twiniversity Articles