the routine

What's a typical day (at least the ones we've participated in) like?

So far, there have been at least 3 adults with 3 babies. That will change Wednesday when both parents go to work. Sarah will start back to work Tuesday, but Greg will take vacation that day.

When does the day start? Let's try midnight. The girls are generally on a 3 hour feeding schedule, but night feedings are stretched out a bit if all are willing. Having been fed at 9 pm, they sleep until 1 or 2 am currently. When they wake at that time, one adult goes downstairs to half-fill large glasses with hot tap water. Previously prepared bottles (labeled since there are slight differences in quantity) are plunked in the glasses to warm. They are pretty flexible (parents & kids) regarding bottle temperature.

The babies sleep in swaddlers (new items to us) that wrap them up like sushi (according to Greg). They get peeled out of the swaddlers one at a time starting with whoever is the most awake (or making the loudest protest). That one moves to the changing table for a diaper change, then is escorted off to a comfy chair for feeding. The next candidate gets peeled while the former is on the changing table, then heads to that station for dry/clean pants. Repeat.

We generally try to keep quiet during the night feedings to avoid getting them too wide awake. After a few burp sessions, they nod off, get re-wrapped, and put back in the crib. They are sharing 2 cribs currently. Someone takes the bottles to the kitchen, rinses them and heads back to bed. This takes about an hour.

Greg & Sarah have a baby monitor in their room, so they often hear the girls before we do. Our room is across a hall from the nursery, so we do hear them first sometimes. We often find one baby missing when we go in. In that case, someone was fussing, and was taken to the parents' room where there is a pack 'n play (playpen) set up for sleeping. This means the parents get less sleep than the help does.

About 2-3 hours after finishing that feeding, the natives get restless again. Same drill as above.

The next feeding occurs around 9 am. This can take some delaying tactics, e.g. comforting, popping in a pacifier, whatever to keep the peace until 9.

The 9 am feeding usually happens in the nursery (same drill as above), then they may be put back in the cribs, or if they're active rather than sleepy, they head down to the living room for the day.

The living room has a pack 'n play, a quilt-like mat, a bouncy chair. There are 3 swings, 2 boppy pillows, etc. to keep all occupied and supported through the day.

Noon feeding - as above. Three pm feeding adds vitamins. Six pm, nine pm, dine in the living room, then off to the nursery.

They're on a mix of breast milk and formula which leads to a lot of measuring and mixing.

We usually sneak a bowl of cereal about 10:30 for breakfast. A half sandwich around 2 when they're asleep. Our dinner time is after they are fed. With luck, all are content in some sort of swing or bouncy chair. If not, they're in someone's lap.

Ginnie & I have fed the girls by ourselves three times so far. It can get a bit noisy, but we've lucked out pretty well with someone sleeping through the start.

With 21 feedings a day, the dishwasher runs 2 shifts. Bottles and other feeding supplies add up quickly.

The girls are delightful, and we're enjoying them thoroughly. Sarah & Greg are very relaxed with the babies, like they've been doing this for years. The girls are lucky to have them.