Feeding twins: starting solids with two babies

Each baby has their own start date

Twins share a birthday, but not always a timetable. The NHS says babies can have their first solid foods at around 6 months, and that it’s not unusual for one twin to be ready before the other. The AAP says each child’s readiness depends on their own rate of development.

So look for the readiness signs in each baby separately: sitting up with support, holding their head steady, bringing things to their mouth, and swallowing food instead of pushing it back out. See is my baby ready for solids?

If one twin is ready and the other isn’t, it’s fine to start one first. The other can sit with you at meals, watch, and join in when they’re ready.

Twins born early: use corrected age

The NHS notes that twins and other multiples are more likely to be born prematurely. If yours were, go by their corrected age (counted from their due date), not their birth date. The AAP recommends using corrected age to judge development for the first 2 years.

For example, twins born at 34 weeks were 6 weeks early. At 6 months old, their corrected age is about 4½ months. The NHS says your health visitor can advise on the best time to start solids for twins born early. See starting solids with a premature baby for corrected-age timing and seating tips.

Setting up for two

• A safe seat for each baby. The CDC says children should sit up to eat, in a high chair or another safe place, never lying down, crawling or walking. Strap each baby in. See high chairs and seating.
• Both within arm’s reach. The CDC tells child care providers to sit within arm’s reach of babies under 12 months during meals. Place the seats side by side and sit facing both.
• Get everything ready first. Bibs, bowls, spoons, cups and wipes all within reach, so you never need to step away mid-meal.
• Stay for the whole meal. The CDC says to watch children at all times while they eat, and to pay close attention to what they put in their mouths.
• Their own bowl and spoon. This lets you see how much each baby eats, and keeps a new food with the baby it’s meant for.

Feeding both at once is often easiest. You might alternate spoonfuls, or spoon-feed one while the other explores soft finger foods. Do whatever lets you watch both babies’ faces.

Never prop a bottle

Milk is still each baby’s main food in the first year, and with two hungry babies it can be tempting to prop a bottle. Don’t. The AAP says not to use a pillow or anything else to hold the bottle: a baby can’t push it away when they’re done, which can make them choke or cause an ear infection, and they may keep drinking after they’re full. The CDC adds a risk of tooth decay.

A twin feeding pillow is a different thing: it supports the babies while you hold the bottles or nurse. The AAP suggests one when you feed both babies at the same time. The NHS suggests asking your partner or someone else to help with bottles. See how much breast milk or formula.

Allergens: one baby at a time (our suggestion)

The NHS says to introduce foods that can cause allergic reactions one at a time, so you can spot any reaction. The AAP suggests offering one new single-ingredient food every 3 to 5 days.

With twins, watching two babies closely for a couple of hours after a first taste is hard on your own. Neither the NHS nor the AAP says how to do this with two babies. Our suggestion: give a new allergen, such as egg or peanut, to one twin on one day and to the other twin on another day, so you only have one baby to watch. If another adult is home to watch, you can do both together. Either way, pick a day when the baby is well and you’re at home.

Twins share a family history. The NHS says that if your baby has eczema or a food allergy, or there’s a family history of food allergies, eczema, asthma or hay fever, talk to your GP or health visitor first. Once a food is going well, keep it in that baby’s diet regularly. See how to introduce allergens, keeping allergens in the diet and signs of anaphylaxis.

Two different eaters

Twins often eat different amounts and like different foods. That’s normal. The NHS says to trust each baby to eat as much or as little as they want and never to force them. Watch each baby’s own signs of hunger and fullness rather than comparing them: see hunger and fullness cues.

The NHS also says to talk to your health visitor if one baby seems to be feeding more or less than the other, or if anything else worries you.

Making it manageable

• Cook once. Make a batch of soft, unsalted food and freeze small portions: see batch cooking and freezing.
• Share the family meal. Take the babies’ portions out before you add salt: see family meals with your baby.
• Keep a similar rhythm. The AAP suggests keeping twins on the same schedule for milk feeds, and similar mealtimes help with solids too.
• Accept help. If someone offers to help, a second pair of hands at mealtimes makes watching both babies easier.

If a baby chokes

Some gagging is normal as babies learn: see gagging vs. choking. Choking is quiet. If one baby can’t breathe, cough or cry, start choking first aid straight away, and make sure the other baby is safe in their seat. Shout for help and have someone call 911 straight away. If you’re alone and your phone is with you, put it on speaker, call, and start back blows at once. Don’t leave your child to find a phone.Shout for help and start back blows and thrusts straight away. If someone is with you, ask them to call 999 now. If you’re alone, call 999 (on speaker) if the blockage hasn’t cleared after one round of back blows and thrusts, and keep going until help arrives.Shout for help and have someone call your local emergency number (such as 112 in Europe or 000 in Australia) straight away. If you’re alone and your phone is with you, put it on speaker, call, and start back blows at once.

Where US and UK advice differs

• Who to ask. The NHS points parents of twins to their health visitor for timing and any feeding worries. In the US, ask your pediatrician.
• Time between new foods. The AAP suggests 3 to 5 days between new foods. The NHS says one at a time, without setting a number of days.
• Corrected-age timing. NHS trust guidance gives corrected-age markers for starting solids. The AAP recommends corrected age for judging development but doesn’t give a starting number. See starting solids with a premature baby.