Triplet Nanny Help

[Anonymous]

I'm about to embark on my first position caring for infant triplets.
I've successfully cared for several sets of twins, but never twins.
Parents would like me to reorganize their schedule so things are closer together.
Example, right now each baby is fed and napped in 15 to 20 minute increments, which means feeding and putting is easily an hour and half process.
They'd like to streamline things so they can be managed within an hour.
I've managed two under an hour so it's learning to fit in the third.
I've observed with them a few days and it seems I could do two at a time followed by the one 15 minutes later.
Any tips from those who have btdt.

[Anonymous]

I hope you are well compensated
It sounds like Hell.

[Anonymous]

Are they willing to prop feed or do they require individual holding? I don't see a way to significantly reduce the time involved unless babies are fed simultaneously.

With my twins I propped or creatively held all the time. One in an arm, one on my lap. One in my arms and one in a chair while I held the bottle, etc... So you could rotate holding and put the other two in chairs or boppy pillows or something. This gets easier as they become able to hold their heads up of course- how old are they?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are they willing to prop feed or do they require individual holding? I don't see a way to significantly reduce the time involved unless babies are fed simultaneously.

With my twins I propped or creatively held all the time. One in an arm, one on my lap. One in my arms and one in a chair while I held the bottle, etc... So you could rotate holding and put the other two in chairs or boppy pillows or something. This gets easier as they become able to hold their heads up of course- how old are they?

They are okay with prop feeding ( bobby pillow or chair) or one being held. All things I've done with twins.
They will be just over 3 months old when I start.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are they willing to prop feed or do they require individual holding? I don't see a way to significantly reduce the time involved unless babies are fed simultaneously.

With my twins I propped or creatively held all the time. One in an arm, one on my lap. One in my arms and one in a chair while I held the bottle, etc... So you could rotate holding and put the other two in chairs or boppy pillows or something. This gets easier as they become able to hold their heads up of course- how old are they?

They are okay with prop feeding ( bobby pillow or chair) or one being held. All things I've done with twins.
They will be just over 3 months old when I start.

Great! Then you can figure out a set up to feed all three simultaneously (or close to), holding the one w/ bigger reflux issues (if an issue), rotate them so someone is always held, etc... Then you can feed all three at once and get them put down quickly. I've never had experience with triplets but I would think most of your twin experience would translate well. Get them on a very set schedule, establish patterns for sleeping cues, etc...

I think you'll do great!

[Anonymous]

A swing will be a big help to you!

[Anonymous]

There is a nannies of multiples facebook group that might help.

Other than that, the biggest thing with any multiples is preparation. When there is down time, use it to prep for the next feed. I would feed the toughest baby first (IME, there is usually at least one sensitive eater), then put him/her into a chair or swing to stay semi-upright while you tandem feed the other two. Get used to using a ring sling, then you can wear two (in two ring slings) and carry the third if everyone if melting down simultaneously. A lot of it is just staying one step ahead of the schedule. As for getting them on a set nap schedule, that really depends on where they are at now.

[Anonymous]

Join us in the Nannies of Multiples Facebook group. The Admin is a nanny to triplets and we have several other triplet nannies.

How old are they? How many weeks were they born at?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Join us in the Nannies of Multiples Facebook group. The Admin is a nanny to triplets and we have several other triplet nannies.

How old are they? How many weeks were they born at?

They were born at 32 weeks and will be just over 3 months when I start . They are healthy.

[Anonymous]

Awesome! Just remember that by adjusted age they will only be around 4 weeks. I'm assuming they spent several weeks in the NICU. Did the parents not keep them on the same 3 hour schedule?

My last triplets were born at 35 weeks and came home at 11 and 12 days old, which is when I started with them. We basically just continued on with the 3 hour NICU schedule. Those parents didn't like bottle propping (either do I really), so I fed 2 and then 1. I like to sit them in boppies and then sit in the middle of them and hold their bottles. Then you can alternate burping, etc.. At first it seems crazy, but you quickly get the hang of it. It did take a good hour or more to get them all fed, changed and back down at the beginning though. You can't really make them eat faster since it will just cause more gas and spit ups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope you are well compensated
It sounds like Hell.

I hate to say this OP, but I concur.

Caring for not one, not two, but THREE babies is going to a true laborious job.

Nothing will be easy about this.

You couldn't pay me a million....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Awesome! Just remember that by adjusted age they will only be around 4 weeks. I'm assuming they spent several weeks in the NICU. Did the parents not keep them on the same 3 hour schedule?

My last triplets were born at 35 weeks and came home at 11 and 12 days old, which is when I started with them. We basically just continued on with the 3 hour NICU schedule. Those parents didn't like bottle propping (either do I really), so I fed 2 and then 1. I like to sit them in boppies and then sit in the middle of them and hold their bottles. Then you can alternate burping, etc.. At first it seems crazy, but you quickly get the hang of it. It did take a good hour or more to get them all fed, changed and back down at the beginning though. You can't really make them eat faster since it will just cause more gas and spit ups.

Thank you. I prefer to use bobby pilows or bouncers with the twins, but these parents don't mind propping. I think their main goal is to have feeding time become more efficient.
They are having trouble keeping up even at the interval established by NICU.
Any other triplet tips you cn share will be appreciated and I will look up the facebook group when I get the chance.