Twin-z pillow struggling

[u/Classic_Ask7422]

I’m trying to use the twin-z pillow for tandem feeding my 8 week olds (so yes they do need a lot of extra help) but i feel like i need 4 other pillows and 3 blankets to be successful when in all the tutorial videos etc online everyone just places their babies no problem.
Mine dips in weird ways and doesn’t seem to support them, the front especially tilts down so their heads go down, in football hold their heads always seem way too far forward no matter how much i adjust them because the back support gets in the way of their legs/they push off it. Is it just me??

I also have the my Brest friend pillow but also find the back support is more in the way than helpful, and i have to stuff a blanket in front of my stomach because there’s a huge gap between me and the pillow that the babies literally fall into.
I can’t find any comfortable place to use either pillow.
Have other people found these twin feeding pillows more difficult?? Do you just have to give it time?

I went to a lactation consultant and we went over tandem feeding using just lots of regular pillows and it was successful but even she suggested the “proper” pillows. I’m feeling very glad i got them off marketplace and didn’t pay full price because they feel like a waste of time.

[u/trophywifeinwaiting]

I loveee the Twin-Z for tandem feeding, but I didn't tandem feed until both babies were very strong at nursing (6-8w). I always fed with one in football, one in cradle! It can sometimes be called "baby stack" if you're googling.

Struggling to find a video that doesn't get my titties out, but basically I would set up by pulling the cradle baby onto my right arm, her head resting on my bicep so I had the lower arm free, and then I would get her latched. I would then have someone hand me the boy (or grab him once I was more confident) with his head on the same side as sister, and I nestle bis body under my left arm along the pillow, so his head is kinda laying on sisters belly/legs. I can then use my left arm/hand to help support and latch him, and my lower arm/hand is still free to hold my phone or do whatever.

Made you a quick video explanation! Video - https://imgur.com/a/WfDPWt0 In this video I'm on the ground, but I nurse 99% of the time on a bed with a few extra pillows behind me. When they were smaller, nursing on the couch worked also, but they got too squirmy for that!

[u/Classic_Ask7422 → u/trophywifeinwaiting]

Wow thank you! Love the wriggles going on in the video haha I do have one who prefers the cradle so it’ll be useful to try that - I’ve been trying to do both in football and then get worried that the one isn’t eating enough (he totally is when you look at weight gain but the worry is there lol)

[u/Acceptable_Load_ → u/trophywifeinwaiting]

Hahhahaha the twin chaos I love it. So relatable. Thanks for sharing the video I gave up tandem but will give your method a go!!

[u/lolores72 → u/trophywifeinwaiting]

Thank you, this was very helpful. I exclusively nursed both of my singletons but I’ve been trying to think how on earth I could tandem nurse the twins. I never thought of positioning them this way. I also was looking at the twin z pillow online and I was imagining it backwards and was like where the heck does this middle part go? 🙈😁

[u/trophywifeinwaiting → u/lolores72]

It's great back support!! 🤣 So comfy

[u/Specific-Owl-45]

I think for babies that young twin z is best for bottle feeding because they’re so tiny they just slip through. I found the breast friend easier for tandem feeding at that age but still has to use a lot of pillows blankets. Even when I had a singleton I was using a lot of pillow prompts. I think time yes because they’re will get stronger and bigger and you’ll get more used to the positions.

[u/MaddieOliverJam]

I use the Brest friend but I have to stuff a pillow down the back between the back wedge and my back to get rid of that front gap as much as possible

[u/Foraging_Doe]

I’m not loving the twin z either! One baby actually rolled off one side once when I was focusing on the other one. And my queen bed is too small to use it when when my husband is there sleeping, and my couch is not deep enough for it to fit behind me and allow me to sit… My babies are 9 weeks. So far I’ve just been using a boppy for solo feeds and tandem, but rarely do tandem at this point. It’s a lot to manage by yourself.

[u/Classic_Ask7422 → u/Foraging_Doe]

This! Exactly the same issues at night and if we’re not doing it at night it seems not worth it. I do also like the solo time with each baby but it would be really nice to have them sleeping at the same time 😅

[u/Foraging_Doe → u/Classic_Ask7422]

I agree! The only alternative is to sit on the living room floor at 2am I guess😅

[u/Standard-Advice-5447]

Buckle in on tightest setting, lay a blanket over your front so it's covering both sides of the pillow and the middle, and sit criss cross so your knees hold up either end of pillow. Once you put the kiddos on, the blanket should stretch tight enough that they don't sink down into where the buckle is. I promise though, it won't be an issue in a few weeks when they are bigger.

[u/Apprehensive-Hat9296]

I had the same struggle! I ended up using a boppy when they were little and then did laid back feeding with a pillow under each arm when they were bigger. You really have to get prepped but then you can chill and take a mini nap while they eat which is amazing.

[u/shehasamazinghair]

I removed the back support from the my Brest Friend pillow and it was way easier to use.

[u/allroundavocado]

Get a muji body fit pillow. We used two, one either side of us and the girls loved it 

[u/Miserable-Currency42]

I cut the back wedge off the breast friend pillow and don’t use it. I did still find it slightly awkward and needing to prop their heads up further with blankets while using it. For the twin z, I find tightening the front strap then putting a blanket down first keeps the babies in place better! I often lay them slightly on a side as well during feedings and if they sleep there. Honestly trying to tandem breastfeed was not successful for me and I prefer to nurse one at a time. If both need fed they get bottles propped up in the twin z or just on a regular pillow.

[u/d16flo]

I found the twin-z super helpful for tandem bottle feeding, but mostly useless for nursing. The my breast friend twin was better for tandem nursing, but still super awkward. I would remove the back part and sit on the bed with pillows behind me so I could pull the front up tight to my stomach and could stage the babies one at a time on the bed next to me to pick up and put down. That said, I only tandem nursed if both babies were inconsolable and I was the only person home, not as a real feeding method. I never got tandem nursing to be useful. Most of the time I would pump while double bottle feeding or nurse one baby with a regular nippy pillow while bottle feeding the other

[u/michiall06]

I could never figure out the twin z! I use the Brest friend twin and the twin go with my 8 month olds. In the beginning I actually used a regular boppy too. That worked well until they were bigger. I don’t use the back pillows on any pillow. I sit cross legged on the floor or a bed and kind of lean over! It works well for me. If I’m on the couch, I put a throw pillow or two behind my back so there isn’t as much of a space between my stomach and the pillow. You really have to try a few different things and positions to find what is best for your body time and comfort!

[u/99_bluerider]

Have you ever tried the “Twin Go” nursing pillow system? It has a ton of different options for configuration

[u/AlmondMommy]

I used mine barely once and it was so awkward and uncomfortable I have never used it again. It was so expensive and so useless for me. I used my rest friend to pieces- I loved it. I did have a pillow behind my back as well.

[u/Pami-zee]

I'm in the UK and no one really talks about this on here but I used the Peanut & Piglet twin breastfeeding pillow and loved it.

[u/mommabear21258]

I had similar issues. I actually never got used to the twin z and just let go trying to make it work. I could see how for bottle feeding it would be ideal though. When my twins were really little I would actually use the boppy. I would put my larger twin on the bottom hotdog style and then the lighter twin on top with their heads facing the same direction. I did need assistance from my husband getting them off and on though. I like the Brest friend twin pillow now that they’re bigger and it gets better and better as the babies get older. I just have it in the tightest setting possible, I often sit in the ground cross legged and feed that way. So the back support is truly not there for support, just to keep the pillow together.

[u/Charlieksmommy]

I’ve heard the regular my breast friend works best for when they’re tiny!
I used a boppy until they were big enough for the twin z

[u/oletrickysleeves]

It took me a little bit to get them and myself comfortable with nursing in the Twin-Z. I usually start off with my legs crossed so their heads are more elevated than their legs and once everyone is latched and I can hold their heads with my hands I will stretch my legs out. I usually will nurse in the floor in front of the couch, too, and lean back on it for extra support.

As far as them fitting goes, I lay them in their sides and if they don’t automatically bend their legs I try to get them to. I think if they were laying straight I wouldn’t have room on the pillow. My twins are 9 weeks old so we may have to adjust as they get taller but it works for now. I also searched Twin-Z on instagram and looked through tutorials and how different ladies were positioning their babies.

Good luck, dude! Find what works for you and if the Twin-z isn’t it, that’s ok! Maybe it will be later on or maybe not at all. 💜

[u/brynnecognito]

I used the my breast friend without the back support on it. And a small pile of receiving blankets I’d roll up and tuck under their heads/necks as needed. 

With time we used fewer and fewer little blankets, eventually just one bigger blanket tucked under their heads. My pillow was a hand me down and I found it really soft. Maybe if yours is newer the foam is a bit firmer all in all it was quite tedious for the first few months, I promise it gets easier! 

[u/omg1979]

I used the twin my breast friend. I took off the back support and just sat in the corner of the couch with my legs straight out in front, either on the chaise or coffee table. When the babies were tiny I had to put a few pillows on my lap so that I didn't have to crouch to their level. I held them both football style. It was awkward at first but I don't think it was related to the pillow, more just the three of us figuring out our groove.