Want to cut back from 3 to 2 night feedings

[sf]

Here's our routine the last few days for our twin boys who are 12.5 weeks (10.5 weeks adjusted age):  Feed every 2.5-3 hours through the day and were only feeding 2x a night but now they are feeding 3x a night which is messing up our 7am wake-up time.

they wake up at 5am
E:  5am
S right away after feed

They either wake close to 7 or I wake them to start the day
E:  7am
A:
S:  8-10  often have to wake them from this nap

E:  10am
A: 
s:  11:15-12:45 (usually 1.5 hours)

E:  1pm
A:
S:  2:15pm-3ish (usually 50 minutes)

E:  3:30pm (usually eat at 2.5 hours from last feed this late in the day
A:
S: 4:15-5:00pm

E:  6pm
A:  play until 7 and then start bedtime routine of bath and quick feed
S:  7:30-8:00

wakes up at 11:45 pm, and again at 2:45am and 5:00am.  The 5:00am feeding is the feeding that is causing the problems.  They eat very little but I feel that they are too young to let CIO or let them fuss to long so I feed them but then they are very sleepy when the day starts at 7 and eat very little.  They go 4, 3, and then 2 hours at night.  Ideally I want to only get up twice a night with pushing that 2:45 to 3:30ish so they will then make the last stretch until closer to 7 instead of the 5am feed.  Should I expect them to go closer to 4 hours all night or are they still too young. 

Ideally, I'd like to start the day at 7am....

Any suggestions are welcome!!! :-)

[estherofi20]

Have you tried doing a dreamfeed? or using a pacifier to settle them at 5am?

[momofclaire]

Maybe changing the timeing of the cluster feed in the evening would help.  You could feed them when they wake from that last nap around 5:15 and then again at 7:00.  I wonder if the feeds at 6 and then again at 7 are too close and thus causing them to not be able to eat enough. 

I also wonder if you could hold them off for the 2:45 feed and hopefully stretch that to about 3:30 or 4 which would probably make the morning feed a little more substantial.

[sf]

They won't take pacifiers.  I think I am going to push for a 3 hour schedule all day 7, 10, 1, 4, and 7 instead of 7, 10, 1, 3:30, 6, 7:15.  I was feeding 8 times a day the first 2 months but the last month have been having 9 feedings a day with the 3 cluster feeds at the end of the day (it simply fit our schedule better but we will adjust). Any thoughts on this???

Also, I don't have this program or book and just came across this forum.  Can you give me some advice on the dreamfeed?  Thanks in advance!

[momofclaire]

The df would be where you would go in about 3 hours after they went to sleep and feed them in their sleep.  Many babies will latch on and nurse or take a bottle in their sleep and go right back to bed. 

I would recommend that you pick up a copy of Tracy's book.  They are very helpful.  She would advice that at this age they should be eating every three hours with a cluster in the evening.  You might find it helpful to review some sample EASY routines.  I would work towards getting them both on EASY as it will really help with feeds and sleep.
I hope that helps.
Myia

[donna_issabella]

Just remember also, they are 3 months now, and might be going through a growth spurt. So being too rigid might actually encourage their NW's as they might be hungry. Sorry to upset the apple cart.

[momofclaire]

DI, you certainly aren't upsetting the cart, you make a good point.