When do they start sleeping for longer periods of time?

The twins are 17 days old and I am so exhausted. I am feeding them formula at night and then after the feedings I am pumping so I have enough to feed them the next day. I was BFing at night too, but it just got too overwhelming, I was constantly feeding them. During the day I alternate them - one on the breast and one gets a bottle of breastmilk. They are on a three hour schedule no whether they eat formula or breastmilk, wanting to eat every three hours.
Last night, it was every two hours - on formula. So after feeding both babies and then punping, basicalliy, I get no sleep at all. I feel like my whole life is feediing babies right now. I know this won't last forever, can someone give me a ballpark figure as to when they start sleeping more at night? It would help to know what others have experienced.

Re: When do they start sleeping for longer periods of time?

DS started sleeping thru at 3mos, I think he was 12lbs (I heard somewhere that weight has something to do w/it too)
Hang in there!!!

Re: When do they start sleeping for longer periods of time?

when we started swaddling DS at 5 weeks, he started sleeping for longer periods of time.

Re: When do they start sleeping for longer periods of time?

I nurse both boys together so that saves lots of time....and since i'm exclusively bf I only pump when I need milk for the freezer....my boys go down after a bath at 9...once in a while one will wake up around 1 or 2 (but never both of them)....and both wake up to eat around 4:30....then they wake up for the day around 8:30 - they are almost 10 weeks old.

Re: When do they start sleeping for longer periods of time?

DS started sleeping for longer periods of time around 4 weeks. Hang in there, Lauren!

Re: When do they start sleeping for longer periods of time?

My son went from sleeping 5 hours at night to 8 to 10 hours at about 7 or 8 weeks.

My doctor also mentioned about 11 lbs they should sleep more at night...

Hang in there...and I admire you for BF twins...I would never have the will power to even think about it...

Re: When do they start sleeping for longer periods of time?

yep at 3 months we'd get 5 hours overnight hang in there!

Re: When do they start sleeping for longer periods of time?

Every baby is different and it will get easier. Emerson ate every 3 hrs as well, and still does during the day, but we were very lucky because at 7 1/2 wks she started sleeping through the night and has never looked back. It's so much easier when they sleep at night........I hope for you it happens sooner than later. Hang in there.

Re: When do they start sleeping for longer periods of time?

DS is 5 weeks old. Sometimes he goes through one long stretch at night where he sleeps 4 or 5 hours, but he usually eats every 2-3 hours. He also started cluster feeding recently. DS went through a growth spurt around 3 weeks where he was nursing every 2 hours. Your twins may go through that soon. Hang in there. Hopefully, you'll get some more sleep soon.

Re: When do they start sleeping for longer periods of time?

12 weeks for us

Re: When do they start sleeping for longer periods of time?

As you know I only have one baby and I feel like all i do is feed her. She is now 2 mths old, FF only and still eats every 2:45-2 hours, 6 oz each feeding apx. My DD is over 12 lbs and I think she would sleep longer than 3 hrs each night but she has reflux and it wakes her too often. I am actually going to see the dr about this today again.

B/w changing diapers, feeding, and cleaning up spitup/vomit, I am so exhausted. I can ONLY imagine how you feel, with 2 babies, and BFing at that.

I want to know the answer to the same ? you asked.

Message edited 1/16/2009 11:23:43 AM.

Re: When do they start sleeping for longer periods of time?

I think at 4 weeks he was doing 5 hours, 6 weeks was 6-7 hours, 8 weeks he only woke once during the night and then at 11 weeks he slept through the night. I believe weight has a lot to do with it also, once he hit that magical 12 pounds he did a lot better. The first few weeks are pure torture and I give you a ton of credit to do it with twins. What helped us was having my MIL stay at our house 1-2 times a week and do all the night feedings, she was a godsend. Also, I FF so I split the night with DH- I would go to bed at 7pm and sleep until 1-2am, made a world of difference!! It DOES get easier