7 Month Old Fraternal Twins Eating Every 2 1/2 Hours

Each child is different, all I can offer is my experience from my daughter who was born at 30 weeks and had similar eating troubles. When babies 1st start on solid foods, their digestive system needs time to adjust too, it's hard sometimes, but try to be patient.
She was on an acid reflux medicine, that did not help much.
She is my oldest & 6 yrs old now. She was never ever able to drink a full 8oz bottle of milk or formula at one time. She is perfectly healthy & has a healthy appetite, it will come in time.
The latest information I know is; solid foods should start about 6 months for breast fed babies, but 4 months old for formula fed babies). Basic order....in general yellow first with rice & oat grains, orange and pale green next with barley & wheat grains(1-2 months after started solid foods), then dark green & red last(about 10+ months of age) ***citrus fruits, corn & melon are exceptions to this color rule & should go at the after 10 month age

I did the same with the cereal rice in the bottle, oat to eat). I did not mix foods at 1st (let her eat the cereal, then the fruit after or veggie after...she'd eat the cereal from being hungry, then eat more of the fruit/veggie because of the taste. Not at 1st, this took several days.
The fruits seemed too sweet for her, she did better with the 1st veggies instead of fruits (1st fruits=applesauce, pears, ripe bananas, 1st veggies=acorn squash, butternut squash, sweet potatoes)
When I switched to making my own food instead of storebought, that also helped her reflux & digestion out (the storebought jarred food tended to be sweeter & more watery than I prepared). That was harder to start, but once I started freezing it in ice cube trays to have handy 1oz servings, my feeding time went better; either heated up in a coffee mug or could let thaw in a leftover/washed baby food jar. I also started earlier feeding her 3 times a day, trying to make lunch the larger meal for food, and also giving her more bottles at nighttime (like a 4 oz bottle every 45 min to 1-1/2 hrs apart a few hrs before bedtime....think of it like a snack before dinner, then fed her food for dinner with a bottle, then a bedtime snack or dessert).
Night time, well that was the hardest for me, it took more time, but I knew 'I' had to do suffer though it for the longer term benefit. No one had any suggestions for me, this is just what I decided to do; When she woke up, I would tell her it's not time to eat yet, and give her a pacifier. I would stay near her & comfort & reassure her, but repeat that it wasnt time to eat yet. Each night I would wait a little longer before feeding her, finally she got used to it. I was tired for awhile, but I am sure not near as long had I not done it, and it wasn't too long after she actually started sleeping through the night.
As she grew, she still needed a 'snack' before bedtime to help her sleep better.
It was a long time however (several years) that she started eating larger portions. Her stomach was just not large enough to handle more at 1 sitting. Some people are just made that way (I know I wish I could shrink my stomach to be that way...lol)
Oh yeah, and playing with her A LOT before & after dinner and getting her outside in the evening whenever possible to get her nice & tired helped for nightime too.
Sorry, I tend to be long-winded, I just hope something in my little dissertation might help :-). I can feel for you as you are tired & get frustrated, but just try to stay patient, this will pass & one day they will sleep through the night (so you can wake up in fright to make sure they are okay). Best of luck!

I agree with the other answer an adjustment might be just the thing- if you are nervous about that though- just know that reflux babies are just fussy until their systems grow some- I have 4 children and my last was the hardest child- she was born at 33 weeks and the first 3 months were sooooo hard- she did the same thing with the smaller amounts of formula- it was better and she just ate more often- but at 7 mos even eating ever 3 hours or so is normal- you might want to seek the advice of a pediatric gastroenterologist. They can sometimes help in ways that your pedi can't. Good luck!

wow, you have some big preemies. My 32 weeker wasn't that big until well after her first birthday.

She also had reflux and I was told to feed her often with small amounts. I was told to put cereal in her formula, but when I had my third, also with reflux, my ped said they no longer recommend giving cereal in the formula for various reasons, including developing diabetes as that's been a big problem in young children these days.

I used Reglan and Zantac with all my reflux babies and never had to increase the doses as they got better as they grew. I sat them in the swing or bouncy seat (semi reclining position) after feedings.

Anyway, it sounds like eating every 2-2/12 hours 4-5 oz is good for them, don't try to force them to eat more.

They probably are unable to eat more at one time because of the reflux. Do you have a pediatric chiropractor in your area? Twins are much more susceptible to spinal misalignment, especially in their little necks, because they have much less room in the womb than single babies. Things to look for are a persistent head tilt, irritability, ear or sinus problems, and even the digestive issues that your boys have. Chiropractors have helped many babies with reflux because they balance the nervous system. And a pediatric adjustment is safe and extremely gentle, nothing like what you might be picturing for an adult.

This article on "picky eaters" may be helpful - good luck!
http://blogs.goddardsystems.com/Cedar-Park-TX/2009/12/26/...

I have 11 month old twin boys (born @33 weeks and are 19 and 20 lbs) and after 5 months I put them on Similac advance early shield and they did not have reflux anymore. Not sure if it was because their system was maturing or the formula. My ped would give me guidelines of how many ounces to feed the boys in a 24 hour period, so it didn't matter if they ate every 3 or 4 hours, they would be right on. If they ate more I gave them more if they were hungry. Babies go through growth spurts and sometimes require more food. You should not worry about giving them too much. We also did not start solids until 6 months because of adjusted age. As for the reflux med, ped put them in it but was useless, did not help.

did you talk to your pedi about changing the formula for one for reflux problem my twins at 7 month eat about 8oz each feeding and cereal with fruit in the morning ,veggies at dinner because the sugar in the fruit don't let my kids sleep and they wake about 2 times a night for feeding it stop at they first birthday now they sleep all night

I dont have any experience with twins or a preemie but I do with acid reflux. I had to give my daughter less ounces more often because if she had to much in one feeding she would spit up like crazy. Also, all Similac formulas were terrible for her, same with adding rice to her bottles. We finally tried Enfamil Gentlease and it has worked for us since 5 months (she is now 10 months). I second Amy's comment on the chiropractor too. We went to one and it has helped so much. Its safe and doesn't hurt them at all. Good luck!!

I was pregnant with my 2nd son when my cancer returned and I had to do chemo while pregnant. My son was born with many problems, food allergies and gastric problems. While I breast feed he did the best, but I was only able to do that for three months due to had to return to chemo, but I was a good producer and pumped enough to last me another 3 months. After that it was a nightmare of formulas,none of which he could keep down. I went through them all and finally the pediatric gastroenterologist gave me Peptum Jr. which is mainly used for tube fed babies. My son was never able to hold down cereal or any baby food until he was 1 yr. old and he was constantly sick with stomach viruses. At 1 yr. old I discovered a Nutritional Supplement company that is in the Medical Physician's Desk Reference. I showed it to my cousin, a Pharmacist, and we both decided to try them (she had 2 twins with severe reflux like you). The supplements were rejected by my pedi gastro, but not by my pediatrician, so I quit the pedi gastro and gave them a shot. The results were amazing! My son began to eat a variety of foods after about 3months of taking them and while he still has severe food allergies, he eats lots of vegetables and a variey of other good foods. We are also on a mostly gluten free diet, cereal contains lots of gluten and that may be why your babies are not improving. My son could never digest any baby cereals, except for the gluten free variety. My cousin also saw drastic changes in her babies and recommends them in her pharmacy to all the distraught mothers she sees. If you want more information on the Nutritional Supplements here is the web site: www.buildresidual.usana.com. The company is USANA Health Sciences and your pediatrician or pharmacist can look them up for you in the Medical Physician's Desk Reference. You can also email me with any questions at: ____@____.com all this helps. V. De La Garza

I am no pro when it comes to twins or premature babies....but I am pretty sure that they make a formula that has extra carbs for the acid reflux and that putting the cereal in bottle should be a no no, but I am no ped, but totally disagree.
As far as the feeding, maybe switch to a faster flow nipple(if they are on slow flow maybe go to med) and so forth....they may eat more. Are you sure they are hungry? Prob are!
It is a poss they they may have a small reaction(tummy cramps), etc....to either the bananas or oatmeal. I would try green beans or apples, pears...etc...avoid bananas for now...
I would give them as many calories during the day as poss, and feed them there evening meal at 6pm(cause if they are having issues with the bananas or oatmeal(giving that to them at 8pm is keeping them awake and or not comfortable enough to stay alseep).
Say they wake at 7a.m.(example)
7a.m.~5oz
9a.m.~ rice cereal with fruit( lay them down for an hour nap)
10:30~ 5oz
noon~ lunch(green beans with cereal)
1pm~5oz and afternoon nap
3pm~ 5oz
6pm dinner
Then give them like 2 oz at 7pm.
Bath/play/ect.....
then at around 9 give them a 5 oz bottle...burp...and bed.
See what happens.
That is 27 oz from 7am-9pm(maybe they will wake around 3, then they will eat like 4oz, and that will make 31 oz), but hopefully they stay asleep.:)

Have you tried getting them on some reflux medicine? I had on etwin with reflux and getting the right dose of medication made a huge difference. It may be partly that they are just in the habit of eating that often. Try extending the time during the day they go between feedings by 15-30 minutes at a time- play, walk, etc so you start pushing it out to at least 4 hours. They should not have to eat every 2 hours at that age, even being adjusted for being premature. I got caugght in the same type thing with my twins, they got accustomed to eating that often, and I had to make myself start spreading the feedings out more. They may cry a little bit at first, but it only took me a couple day to get mine to go 4-5 hours between feedings. And once they start going longer they will eat a little more. And I would make sure like someone else said that your nipple isn't too slow, so they can eat enough without working too hard at it. Good luck- seemslike mine got easier at the 6 1/2 month mark, so hang in there!

I think you should just feed them as much as they want, don't worry about ounces, etc. If they are growing good, then you don't need to push extra food. Just follow your baby's lead don't worry about any other babies and what they are doing. Also, one of the worst things you can do for reflux is overfeed! EEvery 2.5 hours is fine--they sound like they are eating good. Just go with their flow--I don't know why you are trying to change things up--I think you will be more miserable forcing a new pattern for no real reason!!