Sleep Feeding

Hi there,

I have 37 week old twin boys that just came home from the hospital a week ago (were born at 30 weeks). While they were in NICU, they ate every three hours and would take all their feeds. Now that they are home, Alex wants food every 2 1/2 hours - this isnt an issue as he eats terrific. He takes 80 ML in about 15 minutes and usually manages a good couple of burps. Ian on the other hand, is impossible. He rarely wakes up for feeds and it is getting frustrating - he tries to sleep-eat, makes a god awful mess with his food in the process, and it takes about an hour to get his food in him. This is especially frustrating because I have to bottle feed them and by the time Ian ia done, I dont have long before its Alex's turn again. Ive tried tapping the bottle with my finger, sitting him up more, holding his head instead of cradling him, and tickling his feet - NOTHING WORKS!!! We dont bundle them up to feed, they are just in their creepers when they eat...can anyone help me with this?! I dont understand why he's getting so lazy, he was fine at the hospital (in fact, was the more eager eater!)

Note - we were using a variable flow orthodontic nipple, but he wears half the bottle when he uses this - spits it out all over himself and me. So we use slow flow now.

Have you tried a cold flannel,I find that helps my daughter wake up it sounds a bit mean but it works.

Quoting Jamie&Hazel:“ Have you tried a cold flannel,I find that helps my daughter wake up it sounds a bit mean but it works.”

No, I havent...I have tried blowing lightly on his face and tickling his nose...he just flinches and doesnt open his eyes - he is a deep sleeper, I can lift his arm and it drops down immediately!!

Quoting Julz_B:“ No, I havent...I have tried blowing lightly on his face and tickling his nose...he just flinches and doesnt open his eyes - he is a deep sleeper, I can lift his arm and it drops down immediately!!”

If he doesnt change his habit of sleeping when you feed him , take him to the pedi .... my daughter would sleep like that through feeding , she would nurse for 5 min and then be out like a light.... well it turned out it was an underlying infection from birth that no one picked upuntilshe was a month and a half old , and b/c of the infection it landed us in the hospital for three days on a failure to thrive ticket   not fun in the least ...... Not saying that is your case , but just keep an eye out on it , and if he doenst change , take him to the drs.....

Have you asked your pedi about demand feeding only?? Maybe he is going through a growth spurt and wants to sleep more. My twins were 33 weekers and by the time they came home 38 weeks they were demand feeding only. IDK just a thought.

My lil guy is like this too. While he is just a day old, he does everything you described...I find it odd even though I know babies sleep a lot the first couple of days as an adjustment to life outside the womb.

The only thing that perks his eyes open is a diaper change -- perhaps the cold breeze? And then he's out like a light again...**sigh**

Quoting missa116:“ If he doesnt change his habit of sleeping when you feed him , take him to the pedi .... my daughter ... [snip!] ... least ...... Not saying that is your case , but just keep an eye out on it , and if he doenst change , take him to the drs.....”

Do you mind me asking what type of infection it was?

Quoting Julz_B:“ Hi there, I have 37 week old twin boys that just came home from the hospital a week ago (were born at ... [snip!] ... nipple, but he wears half the bottle when he uses this - spits it out all over himself and me. So we use slow flow now.”

My son who was born at 36 weeks did this as well. I would want to feed him and he would just want to sleep especially if I breastfeed him. Then I just started doing what they would do in the ICN get him up every 3 hours change his diaper, check his temp, measure his belly and by the time I was done he'd be awake and crying for his food. Now that he' been home for about 3 weeks now I let him eat and sleep as he pleases but he still pretty much keeps his 3 hour schedule sometimes he wakes up a little beforehand sometimes he sleeps longer. Goodluck!