The First Year with Twins Week 8

Last updated on July 20th, 2024 at 04:00 pm

Learn what to expect with your infant twins week 8, including tips, tricks, and advice from real twin parents who have been there.

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.

Your Twins Week 8

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 7 weeks as a twin parent and you’re officially heading into your third month and 8th week of twin parenthood. This is a huge accomplishment. 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 8.

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 8.

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 8

If you haven’t already started, now is the time to start baby proofing! Once your twins start crawling you will thank us! You’ll want to baby proof every room in your house but each room will need a different variety of babyproofing tools. If you’re not a handy person you may want to hire a professional babyproofer to come in and set you up. Read more about making your home safer here
At the 2 month checkup your twins will be getting several immunizations. Your twins’ vaccination schedule, as set by their pediatrician in accordance with the CDC, is important to follow to make sure they are getting protection from serious illness at the right time. If possible, have two adults at this appointment so you can each hold a baby and ask for 2 nurses give the vaccines at the same time. Make sure to do the shots at the very end of the visit and have all your stuff packed up beforehand to make a quick getaway as the babies start to wail! Click here to learn more about vaccination schedules from the CDC
You’ll start noticing your babies going through fewer diapers. But you’ll still be buying a LOT of diapers. Expect to go through 100-125 diapers per week for twins through Week 16. Here’s where you can stock up: buy on Amazon
You’ll be doing 6 – 8 feedings a day (every 3 – 4 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 tips about bottle-feeding here
Babies are eating typically 4-6 oz at each feed in week 8, 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.
If one or both twins are suffering from diarrhea or being fussy at feedings, it’s possible they have an allergy to their formula or to something you’re eating (if you’re breastfeeding). Talk to your doctor about this. They may be able to prescribe a special formula (which may be covered by insurance)
You can expect a rapid and intense period of growth any time now — sometimes it can seem as if your twins have become bigger overnight!
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 more tips for introducing a bottle to a breast-fed baby
If you are still struggling with breastfeeding twins week 8, 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 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. Click here to learn more about bedtime routines
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
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. Once they start rolling you’ll transition to sleep sacks. Learn more about swaddling here
Practice 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
Expect each baby to cry for 1-3 hours a day. If they cry much more than that, they may have colic. Read more tips about how to get through colic here
If you haven’t already tried pacifiers and your twins are screaming their heads off, now is a great time to start! Pacifiers are a lifesaver for parents of twins because we can’t keep everyone happy all the time. Someone will always have to wait and a pacifier can help keep your waiting baby calm. Read tips about pacifiers 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
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.
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.
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 more about uterine prolapse here
If you feel like you still look pregnant, it could be diastasis recti, which is common with twin pregnancies. Read more 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 8

When should I separate my twins for sleep?
How do I split my time fairly between the twins?
How will I leave them and go back to work?
How will I find the right childcare for my twins?
Are both of my babies meeting milestones at the rate they should?
How will we manage the cost of raising twins?
How can I increase my breastmilk supply?

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 8

What’s going on with development in twins week 8?

Your twins may begin to roll from front to back this week, but many babies don’t start this until around 4 months old. When you notice they are starting to roll you need to transition them out of a swaddle and into a sleep sack (this one is great for transitioning)
This is the age when many infants may begin to recognize repetition. Change it up to keep them entertained.
Your twins may be able to sleep for longer stretches at night. Check with your pediatrician to see if you need to stick to a strict feeding schedule overnight or if you can 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.)
You may see your twins bringing their hands and feet to their mouth often. They are just realizing they can do this.
You babies may begin to interact with their toys more this week. They are finally noticing them and their curiosity is running wild.
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 to practice.
Your babies may start to mimic your facial expressions.
Your twins may begin grasping objects and maybe even your hands and clothes.
Your twins may now able to focus at distances up to 23 1/2 inches away
Your twins might be reaching for or swiping at objects in their sight line.
Your babies will be spending even more time alert and awake than in previous weeks.
Your twins curiosity has them wanting to sit up and look around more often this week.
If your twins seem to be crying nonstop, take heart: studies show that crying is at its most fervent around this time.
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. 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 twinnie moments!

Challenges You Might Experience With Twins Week 8

There are some challenges to look out for with twins week 8

Your babies may seem to be crying all day and night. Read more about how to soothe your fussy babies here
Your twins may have decided they do not want to nap anymore. Learn more about getting you twins to nap here
Babies are needing more attention as they are alert more often now. Read more about how other twin moms divide their time here

Extra Tips for Parents at Twins Week 8

Take some tips from experienced twin parents!

Put hanging toys, like a mobile, over the crib to keep the babies occupied briefly.
Meal prep helps you remember to eat. Remember to keep it simple!
Teamwork makes the dream work.
Take walks to get out of the house.
Track feedings and diaper changes to help you stay on a schedule. Click here for a printable twins daily log

Personal Advice From Parents of Twins Week 8

“Follow Instagram and Pinterest accounts to get ideas to occupy older kids. Follow twin mom accounts on social media and find your local mom groups to get support. Having a mom you can message for advice or to vent to is irreplaceable.”
Ellen T.

“Realize that you aren’t failing if you can only feed/ burp/ comfort/ hold one baby at a time. Take turns with who has to wait. A little crying is inevitable with twins.”
Shannon P.

“The baby fog is starting to lift for us. They are sleeping more at night and wanting to interact more during the day. Hang in there. It’s getting a little better every week!”
Melanie T.

“It’s so important to have a life outside being a twin mom. Make sure you are spending a little time connecting with friends, other moms, your partner. Don’t get lost in being a mom so much that it’s all you are or you will burn out.”
Sami B.

“Find you local twin mom group and get involved. They understand what you are going through better than anyone right now and can offer support and advice that most other people can’t. Make friends with these women and let them support you.”
Kristen D.

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 8

Click here for a printable list of doctor questions for twins week 8

How do I know if my twins have reflux?
What can I do for my twins’ reflux?
Is it okay if one twin is meeting milestones faster than the other twin?
When can we skip or stretch out the night feeds?

You Might Want These Items for Your Twins Week 8

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

Daily Schedule Sample for Twins Week 8

A schedule with twins week 8 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 few months 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 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 dreadful to me!

If you feel like your twins may never get the hang of sleeping through the night and napping, 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 for you all to enjoy for years to come.

The Sleep Lady, Kim West, LCSW-C says: “During sleep regressions you will likely see some changes in your baby’s behavior and habits. These can include:

Increased appetite and frequent feeding
New frequent waking in the night
Taking short naps or refusing to sleep during the day altogether
Increased fussiness and tears
Clinginess to mom or dad and reluctance to be with different or new people

All of this can add up to a difficult period of parenting. Less sleep for your baby obviously means less sleep for you, too. And at a time when her demands on you for comfort, nursing or eating, and attention during the day are HIGH.”

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

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.

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 8

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Don’t Forget to Do These Things With Twins Week 8

You might feel like you’re starting to get your bearings with twins week 8. It’s getting a little better each week with regards to sleep and routine, and will continue to. We promise! 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 until the first week of preschool. Save the stuff anyway. It will be a good distraction when they start school and you’re missing them, and you’ll be glad you have the items.
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, paint your nails, 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. Keep a running list of questions or concerns so you don’t forget to bring it up at the next appointment. If the staff at the office makes you feel guilty about this, it’s time to find a new provider.
Show some partner appreciation. Teamwork is so helpful during these first few months. Make sure your partner knows you appreciate them so they don’t burn out! This will help you as much as it helps them.

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“

It’s estimated that twenty percent of babies will suffer from colic during their first few months. The good news is that it usually goes away by the third month and experts say that colic has no long-term effects on your baby. The bad news is that if you have one (or two!) babies with colic, you will have to learn to deal with a lot of crying for those first three months. I was “lucky” enough to have one twin that had colic and one that had reflux, so we had a lot of crying in our house. If you are reading this after your twins are born during a colicky episode, know that I feel your pain and that thousands of families all over the world do, too. Here are some of my best tips for easing your baby’s pain and yours, too!

Swing

Our son was super colicky and the only thing that soothed him during a colicky episode was putting him in the baby swing with the motion on high. Blowing a cool hairdryer near him seemed to help, too. Experts believe this is because the white noise reminds babies of being in the womb, where they were really much more comfortable!

Use Gripe Water

Gripe water was first formulated in Europe in 1851 by English nannies. It is made up of natural herbs and spices and brewed into a liquid to help soothe a baby’s fragile digestive system. There are many recipes found online for gripe water, or you can easily pick up a bottle at your local drug store.

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