The First Year with Twins Week 6

Last updated on November 2nd, 2023 at 10:21 am

Learn what to expect with your infant twins week 6, including tips, tricks, and advice from real twin parents who have been there.

Your Twins Week 6

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 5 weeks as a twin parent and you’re officially 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 6.

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 weeks can be full of excitement, questions, and anxiety. Not to worry, we’ve got your back. We’ve laid out all our best tips, tricks, and advice for twins week 6.

If you’ve felt like every day seems like the movie Groundhog Day and you’ve been worried that it will never get better — guess what! This week you may notice that it starts getting better! Longer stretches between feedings will be a game-changer and your babies will soon interact more with you. Savor every single milestone, no matter how small, and write them down or you will forget them. Sending yourself quick emails is an easy, low-stress way to record everything. Qeepsake and Tinybeans are great apps for recording and sharing milestones.

What to Expect with Twins Week 6

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 more about bottle-feeding here
Babies are eating typically 2-3 oz at each feed in week 6, 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
If you’re breastfeeding, now is a good time to introduce a bottle, especially if you’re planning to go back to work in a few months. Don’t wait too much longer to do this or it may be more difficult to get your babies to take a bottle. Read tips for introducing a bottle to a breast-fed baby
If you are still struggling with breastfeeding twins week 6, you are not alone. It’s really hard work to make milk for 2 babies and sometimes moms never make enough to sustain twins 100% of the time. Just remember that it’s not all or nothing — you don’t have to 100% breastfeed! You can practice “hybrid feeding” which is a fancy way for saying that you use a mix of different feeding techniques (at the breast, pumping, and formula). There are endless combinations you can choose to fit your family’s needs. There is no one right way to feed a baby. If your babies are growing and your mental health needs are met, you are on the right track. Read more about struggling when breastfeeding doesn’t work out here
If you’re really fed up with trying to make breastfeeding work but you still want to give your babies breastmilk, you may want to try exclusively pumping. MANY twin moms do this! Read more about exclusively pumping here
If you are 100% formula feeding, you are doing a great job! You’re giving your babies the nutrition they need and we support you 100%. Just remember, in just a few short years from now when they’re running around on the playground with all the other kids, will you be able to tell which ones breastfed and which ones formula fed? No. In the big picture it matters very little, so cut yourself some slack and leave your guilt behind you. Learn more about formula feeding here
Now is a good time to start a bedtime routine. A bath, a book, a feeding, a lullaby, and down to sleep is a great routine. This pattern will cue your babies to learn that “bedtime” is starting. Do the same thing every night and they’ll start to catch on to your cues. Learn more about bedtime routines here
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 30 minutes total per day and break this down into a few times a day after feedings. Read more about tummy time here
Keep your babies on a blanket or play mat on the floor as much as possible during the day. Bouncy chairs are great but if they are overused it can cause your baby to have flat spots on their head. Try to limit using baby containers (bouncy chairs, swings, etc.) for no more than 30 minutes at a time. Learn more about Container Baby Syndrome 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 this 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 more 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 more 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 more 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 6

When should I separate my twins for sleep?
Are my twins being stimulated enough?
How do I leave them and go back to work?
How will I find the right childcare for my twins?
When will my babies sleep through the night?
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 6

What’s going on with development in twins week 6?

Your babies will be spending more time alert and awake than in previous weeks
You twins may be showing signs of laughing and smiling at sounds
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 are not ready for sleep training. Please don’t try this before 12 weeks of age.
You may notice your twins mouthing as if they are speaking when you are speaking to them. They are trying to mimic your movements.
Your babies may start to mimic your facial expressions
Your twins may begin grasping objects and maybe even your hands and clothes
Your babies may being to notice toys near them (about 8 inches away)
Your babies may 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 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 6

There are some challenges to look out for with twins week 6

You twins colic may be ramping up if they have it. Learn how to deal with twins colic 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
Keeping your twins on the same schedule. See how other twin moms keep their infants on the same schedule 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

Tips from Parents of Twins Week 6

Take some tips from experienced twin parents!

Sing to them or talk to them often.
Burp them just a little more than you think you need to after each feeding.
Keep your mental health in check and reach out for help when needed
Try to get them to sleep in different places when they are young.
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. Read about treating your twins as individuals here

Personal Advice from Parents of Twins Week 6

“Don’t be too hard on yourself. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. It’s okay to put the babies down in a safe place and walk away for a minute if your frustrated. Enjoy the infant stage. It doesn’t last forever.”
Shantel F.

“This week has been hard for me emotionally. The lack of sleep hit me hard. What helped me was accepting help. My mom came and watched the girls so I could sleep for an hour or two. If possible, run an errand alone. Getting out alone made me feel energized, even if it was only 30 minutes.”
Sarah P.

“The leaps are adding to the challenges of caring for twins this week. You need to find time for yourself and time with your partner. 2 AM feedings are not the time for big discussions. Sleep deprivation will have you saying things you normally wouldn’t say to someone you love.”
Nicole M.

“Don’t be too hard on yourself. Things are starting to get better now and sleep is just around the corner. Also, use zipper pajamas at night! ”
Stacey R.

“Get rid of a bad pediatrician. Make sure you doctor is someone you can trust and the staff treats you and your babies with respect and kindness. Not everyone understands the challenges of parenting twins in these newborn months and if the staff or doctor make you feel bad about not being able to hold both babies all the time or feed them together, find a new one fast!”
Alyssa T.

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 6

Click here for a printable list of doctor questions for twins week 6

Are my babies eating enough and gaining enough weight?
What can I do for my babies’ dry skin?
When can I take my babies out to meet family and friends?
How can I relieve gas pain for my twins?
Is it okay if one twin is meeting milestones faster than the other twin?
When can we skip the 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 6

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

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)
Self-care items such as makeup, hair products, new clothes, or anything to make you feel human again
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 6

A schedule with twins week 6 may seem pointless, but I can assure you, it is not. Day in and day out, you are repeating the same steps. It’s enough to make a sane person a little crazy. 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!

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! Even if the answer is no for now, hang in there. It will happen and when it does it will be glorious!

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

Infants are notorious for interrupted sleep. Come to think of it, why do people say they slept like a baby? That sounds awful!

If you feel like your twins may never get the hang of sleeping though the night, you aren’t alone. 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: “Although this is not always the case, it is common for each of your babies to have their own quirks related to sleep and sleep coaching. Try to keep this in mind, so that you can respect each babies’ needs and individual timelines as they learn to fall asleep on their own.”

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, or even call 911. 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, learn to 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 6

Need some twin parent friends? Get the support you need with a Twiniversity Membership. Benefits include a monthly twin parent club meeting on Zoom, access to a private Facebook group just for twin parents, and a video library of twin parenting lessons. Visit Twiniversity.com/membership to join today!

Don’t Forget to Do These Things With Twins Week 6

This sixth week probably still feels like a bit of a blur, though you’re probably starting to get your bearings. 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 and keep a memory book/box! You will want these memories years from now. Most twin parents know that putting a baby book together, let alone 2, probably won’t happen right now. But save the stuff anyway. You can do it later and you’ll be glad you have something to put in it
Keep your own mental and physical health in check! New parents are known for forgetting to care for themselves. It’s so important to take care of yourself. Make sure you are eating and drinking plenty of water. It’s a good idea to make sure you have a few minutes to read, watch a favorite show, or chat with a friend. Don’t forget date night. Nothing fancy required. No shame in our Netflix game here!
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 keep your postpartum appointment (typically for 6 weeks after birth.) Your mental and physical health is more important than ever right now. Be open and honest with your doctor about how you are feeling.

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.

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

Coping With Crying and Colic

Because babies can’t tell us in words that they are having an attack of acute abdominal pain, they tell us by crying…and crying…and then crying some more. In fact, the only way to know that your baby has colic is by the amount of crying that he or she does. Some moms feel that reflux and colic go hand in hand, and some doctors say that colic is caused by gas or indigestion. Make sure to call your doctor if you suspect that your baby has colic. He or she might be in medical distress of another kind and it’s always best to let your doctor make the call to rule out any other issues.

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