--- In NewcastleMBC@..., "Mel" <melblumel@h...> wrote:
> Hi everyone!
>
> Sorry to bother you all with more questions but I am facing a new
> challenge some of you may be able to help me with.
>
> Now my twins are 5 1/2 months old and we've just started having
> (well playing with mostly) some rice cereal once a day. Starting
> this has opened my eyes up to a new dilema we may face. I don't
> twin feed for a few reasons (don't need to go on with specifics
> here) so feeding can take anywhere from 40 mins on a good day to 1
> 1/2 hours on a bad day. When you add having to pop two kiddies
into
> chairs and play around with food, then clean them up, put them to
> bed, clean kitchen floor etc up, x 3 times a day and add a bath in
> there somewhere I'm wondering where's the time to have a life??
So
> I'm considering having bottles of formula (to replace the
> breastfeed) at the same time while they're in their chairs and
then
> solids. This should considerably cut down the time needed and
then
> I won't be trying to feed tired grizzly bubs who then take
forever
> to settle to sleep afterwards. So I'm thinking I might bottle
feed
> 3 times a day with solids and breastfeed at the other times (prob
> early morning and before bed). I had always aimed at
breastfeeding
> for 12 months but I can't see any other way of doing it.
>
> Does anyone have any experiences or advice they can share??
>
> Thanks,
> Melinda

Hi Melinda

My twins are 15mths and still continue to make a huge mess after
each meal. The same as you, you feel like you have just cleaned up
after one meal and then you are preparing for the next (I am so sick
of scrubbing food out of the high chairs and I am sure we should
just get a shovel to clean the food off the floor!) They want to
feed themselves and food goes everywhere but there mouths. Someone
told me to buy the cheap plastic shower curtains and put under the
high chairs but as yet I haven't remembered when out to buy them.

They are still demand breastfed one reason I didn't want the hassel
of bottles they were drinking out of a cup most probably around 5-
6mths only water. I also only use disposable nappies and my
reasoning was that I wouldn't have to pay for formula as well.

Bottle or breast have good and not so good for both, you really need
to do what works for you and what you are prepared to do. I am
prepared to leave everything else if I have to and just breastfeed
if they want to, but that doesn't suit everyone. I have continued
to but it is physically and emotionally demanding esp as one doesn't
go all night and usually both will wake during the night for a feed
and the well meaning comments of just give them a bottle it would be
easier.

Sorry I don't feel I helped much, just do what you feel is best for
you at the time and don't feel pressured by anyone else. Every baby
is different and every situation is different just have the
confidence to do what works for you and stick by it.

If you have any more questions esp on breastfeeding (as I have found
it really hard to get advice on this for twins) or anything else
happy to let you know what I did to try and get thru it and out the
other side.

Good Luck
Kim