Q&A: Tandem Feeding Logistics

Carrie asked in the comments:

My twins are due in October and I want to tandem feed. That is the only way I will get anytime with my two year old. My concern is how the heck I am going to get both girls up on to the nursing pillow and latched if there is no one to hand them to me. And how can I lay down and still feed two babies?

In the very early days of breastfeeding, you may need some help getting settled, but once you get the hang of tandem feeding you’ll be able to manage it all by yourself!!  Here are some tips:

1. Create a nursing “nest” someplace with extra room – maybe on the bed or the couch, or even the floor (rather than a rocking chair or armchair).  This will give you some space to spread out as you get everyone settled. Arrange your pillows in advance and have a basket with the phone, TV remote, water, and maybe a special toy or book for your 2-year-old to make nursing time special.  I have a friend who made her nest in the corner of an L-shaped sofa, and another who used one of those arm/back pillows for support in bed.
2. Put the babies in a safe “holding area” that you can reach from your “nest.”  Some moms use a crescent shaped nursing pillow (something like a Boppy pillow or “baby lounger”) on either side of them on the couch, or a bouncy seat on either side on the floor.  When they’re smaller, you may be able to just rest them on the couch next to you, depending on your furniture setup.
3. Get settled with the pillow, then lift one baby at a time up onto the pillow with you.  You may want to use a rolled up receiving blanket behind the baby for added support and reassurance, though the baby is more likely to roll toward you than away as you lean over for the second baby.  Sometimes having the babies swaddled makes them easier to scoop up – you can unswaddle them once they’re on the pillow.
4. Once both babies are on the pillow, many moms latch the “easier” baby first, then help the baby that needs some extra assistance. Others start with the baby with the stronger suck, so that baby’s sucking will help out the second baby.
5. To burp the babies, you can keep one baby latched while lifting the other to an upright burping position, or roll the “need-to-burp” baby onto his/her tummy to burp.

You can also nurse laying down. Some moms find that at night they prefer to feed one baby at a time, while others create a semi-reclined nursing position and cradle one baby in each arm.  Depending on how big your babies are, you may need to adjust to find a comfortable position that still enables the babies to have a nice, deep, comfortable latch.

As with everything in parenting, you will become the expert in your babies.  This is one method, but certainly not the only one.  Do what works for you!!