The First Year with Twins Week 5

Last updated on November 2nd, 2023 at 10:11 am

Learn what to expect with your infant twins week 5, including tips, tricks, and advice from real twin parents who have been there.

Your Twins Week 5

All content on this website, including medical opinion and any other health-related information, is for informational purposes only and should not be considered to be a specific diagnosis or treatment plan for any individual situation. Use of this site and the information contained herein does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others.

Welcome back returning twin parents! Hello and welcome to the new twin parents who are just finding us today!

You made it through your first 4 weeks as a twin parent and you’re heading into your second month of twin parenthood. We know what a huge accomplishment that is. Little known secret: we knew you could do it!

Now what? Well, this is a good place to start. We have plenty of information and resources to help you navigate twin parenting with your twins week 5.

Our twin parenting tips come from our very own experienced twin parents from around the world! These parents have all been there, done that, and are ready to share their tips and tricks with you.

These first few weeks can be full of excitement, questions, and anxiety. This can all be very overwhelming, but don’t worry, we’ve got your back. We’ve laid out all our best tips, tricks, and advice for twins week 5.

The First Year with Twins Week 5 — 5 week old twins

What to Expect with Twins Week 5

You’ll still be going through 150 diapers (buy on Amazon) per week for twins (that’s 16-24 diaper changes per day)
Right about now, your doctor may be cool with switching to 6 feedings a day (every 4 hours). If not, continue with 8 feedings per day (every 3 hours). Make sure you’re feeding your babies at the same time and putting them down to sleep at the same time to keep them together on a schedule. Learn about bottle-feeding here
Babies are eating typically 2 – 3 oz at each feed in week 5, but if your babies are preemies they may be eating less. Ask your pediatrician what is the appropriate amount for your babies based on their weights.
Offer more milk than you think your baby will drink. There should be a little left in the bottle at the end of each feeding so you can be sure they are getting enough. Note that babies have tiny tummies and can’t manage more than 2 – 3 oz in one sitting at this time.
If your babies are generally alert, waking to be fed, have good skin color and tone, and are having at least 6-8 wet diapers per day, they should be doing fine.
Reasons to call the doctor ASAP: If either of them are lethargic, listless, pale, have bowel movements less than once a day, they pass small dark feces after 5 days old, or their skin becomes more yellow or remains wrinkled after the first week
You can continue your attempts at tandem breastfeeding (buy on Amazon) but keep in mind that newborn babies tend to do better at tandem feeding once they have mastered feeding on their own. Keep trying to tandem feed but don’t stress if it takes a few weeks for your babies to get the hang of it. Read about tandem breastfeeding here
If you’re breastfeeding, make sure you’re pumping (buy on Amazon) after each feeding for 15-20 minutes tops to empty your breasts. This will help to establish your milk supply. Once your supply is well established (typically by 4-6 weeks) you can stop pumping on a schedule. Read more about pumping here and take our Online On-Demand Breastfeeding Twins class to learn all the basics you need to know.
Your babies will start being more alert during the day and less sleepy, but they will still sleep a LOT. Babies this young sleep 16 – 18 hours a day.
Your babies should be placed to sleep on their backs on a firm, flat surface with only a tightly-fitted crib sheet. No blanket, no toys, no bumpers, no flat sheets. You baby should wear a swaddle blanket or wearable blanket for warmth and comfort. Do not sleep your babies on an inclined surface (learn why here). Following these recommendations will greatly reduce the risk of SIDS and accidental suffocation. Learn more about SIDS here.
Babies can’t regulate their own body temperature until they are much older, so it’s important to check that they are not too hot or cold. Your twins should wear roughly the same amount of clothing as you, plus one extra layer. Aim for a bedroom temperature of around 68 degrees F, which is just right for babies and reduces the risk of SIDS.
Diaper rash. It’s inevitable. Learn how to deal with diaper rash here
Dress your twins in a swaddle blanket for sleep, which will keep them warm and safe in the crib while providing the comfort and security of the swaddle. Learn more about swaddling here
Tummy time during the daylight hours. Aim for a few minutes a few times a day after feedings. Read more about tummy time here
Your babies will start to interact with you more. Find short times during the day (5-10 minutes) to start basic “play” with your twins. Gentle clapping games (patty-cake), tickling games, peek-a-boo, and showing your babies toys are great ways to start playing. Very young babies find boldly contrasting images and geometric shapes to be very stimulating so start shopping for toys like that. Buy on Amazon here
Pediatrician appointments continue. You’ll probably visit their office 1-2 times in the next month to make sure they are gaining weight and developing well. Reminder that twins = two co-pays for each doctor’s visit.
You’ll be getting tons of advice from everyone by now. You do not have to take all of it. Or any of it! Practice the “smile and nod” and then go do whatever you want (as long as it’s safe.) Everyone else already had their turn. Now it’s YOUR turn. These are YOUR babies — never forget that.
Expect each baby to cry for 1-3 hours a day. If they cry much more than that, they may have colic. Read about colic here
Have you started leaving the house at least once a day with your twins? If not, make it a goal for this week. You don’t have to go far — around the block is enough. This will do wonders for your mental state! Learn about getting out of the house with twins here
You may notice your babies becoming more irritable and harder to soothe. Investing in two good baby carriers, swaddle blankets, a sound machine, a baby swing, and lots of pacifiers will really help calm your babies down. Learn about how to soothe your twins here
At this point, if you’re feeling anxious or depressed on a daily basis, you may be suffering from postpartum depression or anxiety. These conditions are more common with moms of twins and you have nothing to be ashamed of. Take it from us — we have been there!! Call you doctor or therapist and make an appointment to be seen. There are psychologists that specialize in postpartum mood disorders — call your medical insurance and ask for a list of providers in your network.
You are likely feeling exhausted, downtrodden, and though your body has taken a beating. This is very common with new twin moms. Try to be realistic about getting back to your “pre-babies body”. We recommend taking things slow and giving your body a full year to find it’s new “normal”. That doesn’t mean you can’t eat healthy and exercise (once you have your doctor’s blessing). But if you’re having a hard time finding the motivation to do so, it’s because you JUST HAD TWINS. Give yourself an extra helping of grace and be patient. You will get there. Just not as quickly as your friends who had one baby at a time. BE KIND TO YOURSELF.
Soon you’ll be going to your 6 week checkup with your doctor. Start thinking about what form of birth control you want to use when you get the all clear to start having sex again. But just a heads up — you may not be interested in having sex for quite a while, and that is very normal. Read more about your sex drive here
If you feel like your pelvic floor is “falling out” give your doctor a call. This isn’t very common but you may be suffering from uterine prolapse. Read about uterine prolapse here
If you feel like you still look pregnant, it could be diastasis recti, which is common with twin pregnancies. Read about diastasis recti here
If you haven’t already, look into joining a local moms of multiples club (aka twin club). Read about local twin clubs here
If you still can’t tell your twins apart, check out these tricks

Want to be the first to know about giveaways, deals, and more just for twin parents? Sign up for the Twiniversity email list! Subscribe today to get emails about giveaways, events, weekly article roundups, and more! Pregnant with twins? We’ll be sending you a weekly twin pregnancy email to keep you on track with your pregnancy to-do list! Click here to learn more… and while you’re at it, check out our Complete Baby Safety Course and Twin Parent Memberships.

Common Concerns From the Moms Who Have Been There With Twins Week 5

Are my twins eating enough?
Are my twins gaining enough weight?
Are my twins being stimulated enough?
How much tummy time do my twins need?
How will I bring my twins out alone?
When will my babies sleep through the night?
How can I relieve my twins gas pains?
How will we manage the cost of raising twins?
How can I relieve my twins’ constipation?

The Twins Tale Podcast by Twiniversity is an intimate look into the lives of twin parents and their twins at all ages and stages, from birth through college. We interview twin parents in the trenches and ask all the burning questions you want to know about raising twins: schedules that work, feeding your twins, getting out of the house, finding sanity, and so much more. Subscribe for FREE today!

Milestones & Developmental Leaps Parents Have Noticed With Twins Week 5

What’s going on with development in twins week 5?

Your babies will be spending more time alert and awake
They may lift their heads during tummy time
You might see an increasing appetite
Your twins may be able to sleep for longer stretches at night. Check with your pediatrician if you need to stick to a strict feeding schedule overnight or if you can just wait until one baby wakes up to start the next feeding. It may be too soon to start doing this if your babies don’t yet weigh enough (but keep asking.)
Your twins may begin to follow sounds
Your babies might start to mimic your facial expressions
Your twins may begin grasping objects
Your babies might begin to notice toys near them (about 8 inches away)
Your babies could start to make little sounds like “ooh” and “ahh”. Talk to your babies as much as possible to help them start learning the basics of communication
Your babies will have more head control in this week
Your babies may start to notice each other soon. It’s a common misconception that newborn twins know they are a twin. They don’t! They are in their own little world and most babies don’t notice their twin is even there for a while. But once they do — look out! You’ll be snapping photos left and right of all the cute twinnies moments!

Challenges You Might Experience With Twins Week 5

There are some challenges to look out for with twins week 5

Feeding your newborn twins at the same time. Read about tandem bottle feedings here and tandem breastfeeding here
Getting them back to sleep after nighttime feeds. Learn how to survive nighttimes with twins here
One (or both) of your twins may be more clingy. Learn how to deal with clingy twins here
Your babies may be getting fussy throughout the day and night. Read about how to soothe your fussy babies here
Lack of sleep. Learn how to get more sleep with twins here
Babies are still learning to feed and often struggle with gas. Learn how to soothe gassy twins here
Managing bathing twins alone. See some twin bathing options for newborns here

Tips from Parents of Twins Week 5

Take some tips from experienced twin parents!

Sleep when you can, where you can
Always be ready to feed immediately when you wake a baby for a night feed (have bottle or breast ready)
Ask for help and accept it when it is offered. Click here for a printable baby help chore chart
Keep your mental health in check and reach out for help when needed
Be patient with yourself, your partner, and your twins Read a letter to new moms of twins here
Track feedings and diaper changes to help you stay on a schedule. Click here for a printable twins daily log
Try not to compare your babies (to other babies, or each other). Read about treating your twins as individuals here
Tandem feed if you can to save time

Personal Advice from Parents of Twins Week 5

“It’s all a phase. When times are rough and you’re facing another sleepless night, remember that it’s only temporary. You will be yourself again. Embrace what makes you feel hum-coffee, wine, a shower, a nap. Do whatever makes YOU happy.”
Amy P.

“Relax. You’re doing the best you can and that’s all your babies really need Keep at it and before you know it, they’ll be growing up.”
Stephanie M.

“Don’t worry what you think they should be doing by now. Only worry when your doctor tells you to worry. Otherwise, they are doing exactly what they should be and all will be fine. So many new moms get wrapped up in what their friends kids are doing. Having twins is enough to worry about.”
Tricia R.

“Hang in there. Everything gets easier and one day you will look up and those babies will be feeding themselves and sleeping through the night. That thought gets me through sleepless nights and endless diaper changes.”
Erin M.

“It’s amazing how good a hot shower and a cup of coffee can make you feel. Do whatever you can to take a 10 minute break for yourself at least once a day for these things that make you feel good. ”
Melanie B.

12 Ways to Capture Twin Milestones

Got twins? Us too! The Twiniversity Podcast with Natalie Diaz was created BY parents of twins FOR parents of twins, from your pregnancy days through your twin’s teenage years, this podcast covers it all. It’s all about parenting twins, offering plenty of strategies for making life better, parenting hacks, and, of course, humor. We are laughing WITH you every step of the way.

Questions You Might Have for Your Pediatrician About Your Twins Week 5

Click here for a printable list of doctor questions for twins week 5

How much and how often should my twins be eating?
What can I do for my babies dry skin?
What can I do for my babies congestion?
Are my twins gaining enough weight?
How much tummy time do my twins need?
How can I relieve gas pain for my twins?
When can we stretch out night feeds?
What can I do for cradle cap?
Is it okay if one twin is gaining more weight than the other?

You Might Want These Items for Your Twins Week 5

Baby monitors (buy on Amazon)
Aquaphor healing ointment (buy on Amazon)
Weego twin carrier
White noise machine (buy on Amazon)
Tummy time mat (buy on Amazon)
Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced (buy on Amazon)
Bottle drying rack (buy on Amazon)
For gas: gripe water (buy on Amazon) or gas drops (buy on Amazon)
Baby Trend Snap-N-Go Double (buy on Amazon)
Love to Dream SwaddleUP (buy on Amazon)
Table for Two
NoseFrida the “Snotsucker” (buy on Amazon)
Baby toys like the Whoozit (buy on Amazon), the Winkle (buy on Amazon), Take Along Tunes (buy on Amazon), and a floor mirror (buy on Amazon)
For more recommended baby products, click here

You Might Want These Items for Yourself

Haakaa manual breast pump (buy on Amazon)
Twin Z breastfeeding pillow (buy on Amazon)
My Brest Friend Twin pillow (buy on Amazon)
Belly oil for pregnancy and postpartum (buy on Amazon)
Shadow boxes for hospital keepsakes (buy on Amazon)
Twins monthly milestone baby blanket (buy on Amazon)
Milestone baby photo cards (buy on Amazon)
For recommended postpartum recovery products, click here

Have you taken your expecting twins class yet? We offer a great class on demand so you can take it on your own schedule! There are so many video modules covering everything from your twins’ baby registry to your first week at home with twins! Sign up today to get started before your twins arrive.

Daily Schedule Sample for Twins Week 5

A schedule with twins week 5 may seem pointless, but I can assure you, it is not. Following a consistent, but flexible schedule may save your sanity in these first weeks as a twin parent. When you’re outnumbered, organization is key!

Feed your twins roughly every 3 hours, or as instructed by your pediatrician. For example, start the feeding at these times:

12 am feed
3 am feed
6 am feed
9 am feed
12 pm feed
3 pm feed
6 pm feed
9 pm feed

If your doctor has approved for you to switch to an every 4 hour schedule (only 6 feedings per day), here is what that will look like:

12 am feed
4 am feed
8 am feed
12 pm feed
4 pm feed
8 pm feed

At some point you’ll be able to stop feeding on a schedule overnight and just feed your babies together when one of them wakes up. This will allow you to get MUCH more sleep. Ask your doctor when you can start doing this!

The key to twins is sticking to a schedule, while realizing that things will come up to change the schedule. Take it all one feeding at a time. If one twin wakes up early to eat, wake the other and feed them together.

Always keep the twins feeding together to make sure you get breaks. If they are on opposite feeding schedules, you will never get a break — and you deserve one!

Sleep Routines from Birth through Early Childhood

Sleep Advice From the Sleep Lady

Newborn sleep can be tricky to predict, especially with twins. There are some things you can do to help get some shut eye for you and your twins, and ensure some good sleep patterns.

The Sleep Lady, Kim West, LCSW-C says: “Gentle sleep coaching may very well be the answer to your (and your twins’) sleepless nights. Similar to sleep coaching a singleton, sleep coaching twins can help restore a sense of normalcy and sleep for all.”

See more of what The Sleep Lady Recommends about your newborn twins’ sleep here.

When to Call the Doctor

It’s better to overreact 100% of the time than to underreact once.
Natalie Diaz, Twiniversity Founder and Mom of Twins

Mostly, when it comes to calling your doctor or seeking medical advice, you have to learn to trust yourself. When in doubt, call. The thing is, a good pediatrician will NEVER make you feel stupid for being concerned about your twins well-being. Remember that and hire and fire accordingly.

I had to learn to trust my gut. I eventually figured it out, but I’m sure I made several calls when it wasn’t really necessary. So what? That’s what the pediatrician is there for!

That being said, there are a few guidelines to follow. There are a few circumstances under which you should call your doctor and get medical advice. When you call you should have a pen and paper handy and be prepared to give the following information over the phone:

Immunization records
Any medications, dosages, and times last taken (even over the counter drugs)
Medical history
Your baby’s temperature
Mention that the baby is a twin, in case of a contagious illness

Any time you see the following symptoms with your twins you should contact your pediatrician immediately.

Blood in vomit
Blood in stool
Seizure
Suspected poisoning
Bleeding you cannot stop
Unable to move
Limpness
A rectal temperature of 100.4 or above
Sleeps more than usual or will not wake up
Yellow skin or eyes

Call your doctor as soon as possible if one or both of your twins experiences any of the following.

Refusal to eat for multiple feedings in a row
Diarrhea or vomiting
A cold that will not resolve itself or gets worse
Unexplained rash
Signs of dehydration (no tears, no wet diapers, sunken eyes, sunken soft spot)
Ear drainage
Will not stop crying

When to Call 911

Please note that when you call 911, you and your baby will be taken to the nearest emergency room. This may or may not be located at your preferred hospital.

Your baby is turning blue or taking more than 60 breaths per minute
Your baby has a seizure which lasts more than 3 minutes or you cannot reach their doctor by phone immediately
Suffers from convulsions, unconsciousness, or irregular breathing following a fall or from bleeding
You think your baby may have a skull, neck, back, or pelvic fracture (DON’T move your baby)
Your baby suffers from a compound fracture where bone is sticking out from the skin (cover it with a clean cloth and do not touch it)
Your baby has bleeding you cannot stop after applying pressure for 10 minutes

Again, trust your gut. When in doubt, call and see what your doctor thinks. That’s what they’re there for.

What You Should Read for Twins Week 5

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Don’t Forget to Do These Things With Twins Week 5

This fifth week probably still feels like a bit of a blur, though you’re probably starting to get your bearings a bit. It gets a little better each week with regards to sleep and routine. We promise! You aren’t alone and we have all been there. This week there are a few things to remember that might help you out a bit.

Take pictures! You will want these memories years from now. Have your partner take pictures of you with your twins and don’t worry about your hair. You won’t care how you look in these pictures in 16 years. Promise!
Eat and drink! It’s going to be easy to forget to do this, so plan ahead to have friends/family drop off meals and opt for ready-made meals from the freezer section for quick dinners.
Keep in close communication with your pediatrician. Don’t be afraid to ask any and all questions. If the staff at the office makes you feel guilty about this, it’s time to find a new provider.
Make sure you make your postpartum appointment (typically for 6 weeks after birth.) Your mental and physical health is more important than ever right now, and your body is going through daily changes, even still at 1 month postpartum.
Put on your oxygen mask first! If you don’t take care of yourself first, you won’t be there to take care of your twins.

Are You a New Twin Parent?

Check out Natalie Diaz’s book:
“What To Do When You’re Having Two
The Twin Survival Guide From Pregnancy Through the First Year”

In What to Do When You’re Having Two: The Twins Survival Guide from Pregnancy Through the First Year, national twins guru and founder of Twiniversity (and twin mom herself!) Natalie Diaz provides a no-holds-barred resource about life with twins, from pregnancy and birth all the way through your duo’s first year of life.

Accessible and informative, What to Do When You’re Having Two
is the must-have manual for all parents of twins.

Buy Now

An excerpt from Twiniversity founder Natalie Diaz’s book, “What To Do When You’re Having Two“

Early Outings

As hard as it is to take care of twins at home, it only gets more complicated and difficult once you leave the house. That doesn’t mean that you should become a recluse during your babies’ first few months! Getting out with your twins is an important skill for you to master, and over time you WILL master it and look back on the days when you were afraid to take your new entourage out of the house. The trick is to stay calm and remain realistic about how long everything will take and how much you can really get done at a time. It may take all day just to get some groceries, but it will be worth it in order for you to feel like you can accomplish something like this by yourself.

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