Schedule before going back to work

[linz]

I go back to work Feb 2 but after the holidays wanted to start getting into more of a routine. My twins eat every 3 hours during day but sometimes go 4 hours at night (I dont wake them). So they aren't eating at the same time each day.

How do you get them on a schedule of waking and eating at a certain time? Do they naturally fall into one or do I need to start waking them at certain times? I worry more about my mornings and having to feed/pump/get ready.

(They're 10 weeks but were born at 33. They are starting to have more awake play time during the day too).

[Deleted]

Daycare is really good at routines. Let daycare do it.

As far as mornings go, when you have to get up, you wake them up. Generally, let the kids sleep and do your own stuff first. Then get them up and do the marathon to daycare.

[Deleted]

At 10 weeks I wouldn't worry about it too much.
Both my kids just fell into patterns on their own.

Daycare is also really good at schedules and I I just follow it somewhat similairly at home.

[dcrunnergirl52]

If they're already eating every 3 hours, you're off to a great start!

Thankfully ours came home from the hospital on a 3-hour routine and were born at 36w4d, with no NICU time. We got them on the same schedule by waking them at the same time each morning, so they were eating at about the same times each day. For us, it was a little crazy b/c they'd both wake at 5am to eat and then they'd go back to sleep. We'd wake them for the day around 7am and feed them again around 8am. I clearly remember our schedule was feeding them at 8am, 11am, 2pm, 5pm, and 7:30pm for a long time. I still sometimes look at the clock at 11am and thinking about feeding them--four years later.

Then, we started a bedtime routine very early on and began putting them to bed at the same time each night. So, at 7:30pm we started our routine and put them down by 8pm. All this really helped for when I went back to work and to save our sanity b/c otherwise it felt like someone was always eating. Of course, if they got hungry before the 3 hour mark, we'd always feed hem but that rarely happened. They were like little clocks. I know a lot of mom's don't like the idea of a schedule/routine but it's a different ballgame with multiples.

[bowies]

Give yourself a few days to trial run your mornings. I only have a singleton, but my schedule is (roughly) as follows:
5:20 - Wake and shower, makeup, do hair
5:45 - H wakes and showers, gets dressed
6:10 - DS wakes, H changes his diaper
6:15 - I feed him
6:35 - H changes DS's clothes, I get dressed
6:45 - Pack up my stuff and leave

My H handles DS from there, either leaving at 8 to do drop-off or staying until nanny shows up at 8:30. If DS wakes prior to 6:10, we leave him to babble in the crib or he gets put in the bouncer.

I pump on an every-three schedule, so usually 9:15, 12:15, and 3:15.

[VillainV]

I agree with not worrying about it until you get closer to going back. Honestly, when they're that young, it's a fast-moving ballgame. Once you figure out how much they eat and how often, they change it up on you!!

What works for me is basically getting myself up early and getting COMPLETELY ready to go (all bags packed and loaded in the car) before waking C up. Then all I have to do is get him dressed and fed, and we leave.

Sometimes he wakes up before I'm ready for him to be up....fortunately my husband can entertain him or start getting him dressed most days. Otherwise I'll just feed him and let him chill while I finish getting ready.

The first few days will feel really hectic. Try to get as much stuff packed or set out the night before so you don't have as much to do in the morning. A few dry runs won't hurt :-)

[linz]

Forgot to mentiom FIL is watching them so no daycare. He pry wont do a schedule unless I have one.

And yes they eat at the same time.

[linz]

Dec 22, 2014 11:21:52 GMT -5 dcrunnergirl52 said:

If they're already eating every 3 hours, you're off to a great start!

Thankfully ours came home from the hospital on a 3-hour routine and were born at 36w4d, with no NICU time. We got them on the same schedule by waking them at the same time each morning, so they were eating at about the same times each day. For us, it was a little crazy b/c they'd both wake at 5am to eat and then they'd go back to sleep. We'd wake them for the day around 7am and feed them again around 8am. I clearly remember our schedule was feeding them at 8am, 11am, 2pm, 5pm, and 7:30pm for a long time. I still sometimes look at the clock at 11am and thinking about feeding them--four years later.

Then, we started a bedtime routine very early on and began putting them to bed at the same time each night. So, at 7:30pm we started our routine and put them down by 8pm. All this really helped for when I went back to work and to save our sanity b/c otherwise it felt like someone was always eating. Of course, if they got hungry before the 3 hour mark, we'd always feed hem but that rarely happened. They were like little clocks. I know a lot of mom's don't like the idea of a schedule/routine but it's a different ballgame with multiples.

They were 8 11 2 5 when leaving NICU. I let them sleep at night so we got off that but I'd like to return to it since those times are stuck in my head. They usually wake up together which is nice.

Did they naturally wake up to eat overnight at those times?

[dcrunnergirl52]

Dec 22, 2014 11:52:44 GMT -5 linz said:

Dec 22, 2014 11:21:52 GMT -5 dcrunnergirl52 said:

If they're already eating every 3 hours, you're off to a great start!

Thankfully ours came home from the hospital on a 3-hour routine and were born at 36w4d, with no NICU time. We got them on the same schedule by waking them at the same time each morning, so they were eating at about the same times each day. For us, it was a little crazy b/c they'd both wake at 5am to eat and then they'd go back to sleep. We'd wake them for the day around 7am and feed them again around 8am. I clearly remember our schedule was feeding them at 8am, 11am, 2pm, 5pm, and 7:30pm for a long time. I still sometimes look at the clock at 11am and thinking about feeding them--four years later.

Then, we started a bedtime routine very early on and began putting them to bed at the same time each night. So, at 7:30pm we started our routine and put them down by 8pm. All this really helped for when I went back to work and to save our sanity b/c otherwise it felt like someone was always eating. Of course, if they got hungry before the 3 hour mark, we'd always feed hem but that rarely happened. They were like little clocks. I know a lot of mom's don't like the idea of a schedule/routine but it's a different ballgame with multiples.

They were 8 11 2 5 when leaving NICU. I let them sleep at night so we got off that but I'd like to return to it since those times are stuck in my head. They usually wake up together which is nice.

Did they naturally wake up to eat overnight at those times?

After the first month or so, they naturally woke up around 2am and 5am. Even when they didn't wake at 5am, DH and I would do like a "dreamfeed" at 5am while they were sleeping b/c then they'd sleep longer in the morning. That gave me time to exercise, get ready for work, etc. before getting them up for the day. Otherwise, they'd be up for the day at 6am or so.