Feel like I'm drowning in babies...

seaotter6

I have my beautiful 2 month old boy and girl twins and we do pretty good during the day. There are some moments where I find myself yelling at my 2 year old because he's a screamer (and just loud period) to be quiet so the babies can sleep. It's so hard to get them to sleep when he's up and playing. But, we still do pretty good during the day besides that. I'm just constantly at their side and trying to spend time with my toddler and do chores all at the same time.... *exhausting!*

My issue at the moment is that they seem to get REALLY cranky around dinner time. They get super fussy and cry cry cry. I'm by myself and can only do so much. (Daddy works two full time jobs to take care of us.) I was never good with routine with my other 4 babies, but I've been doing my best to at least feed them at the same time (at least within 15 mins or so) and play a bit and put them down for a nap when they seem to get sleepy, usually about 30mins to and hour after eating. But since they have been getting fussier I also started to give them nightly baths to give them a routine (it used to be about every other day and not at night, but during the day). But now that's stressing me out because they scream afterwards and don't want to calm down. They scream and cry for about an hour to two hours after.

I'm curious if anyone has any tips on how I can help them to feel calmer, especially in the evenings. I'm also curious if it sounds normal for them to be eating 1-2oz every 1-2 hours still. I know their tummies are still small, but I feel like they're hungry, but can only eat up to 2oz within an hour then want more. From what I can remember with my other 4 kids is that they were eating a bit more and sleeping better at night by this time.

Oh and my twins were born at 38w1d and came right home with me and had/still have no problems.

Thank you!

katiejo86

I'll be watching this too.  I don't have much advice as I am kind of dealing with the same thing.  My boys are 4 1/2 months old, 2 1/2 months adjusted.  They usually get very cranky starting about 6 pm until they fall asleep around 8:30.  They don't sleep through the night, never have.  They are terrible sleepers.  They have a pretty constant schedule during the day.  I have tried lots of things, almost everything and anything anyone has suggested.  I have just convinced myself it's a "stage" they are going through and we just have to cope!! Good luck mama!

ceechie

Bath time sometimes help. But, honestly, I think it's an age thing. It's called the witching hour and it's miserable. I know when I get frustrated that I can't get anyone to fall asleep, I just stop what I'm doing and start all over again with play time (or bath or just get them down to only their diapers and laying on a play mat). I find if I change my energy, they will relax too. Then feed, then try to get them asleep. I call it refocusing. Its hard with toddlers, also. I try to get my big kids in on the action too. Singing songs and such. Good luck! And remember it only gets better!

bumpuser924057

The evenings at two months were HORRIBLE.  So much crying.  SO MUCH.  I had started in the beginning with a "bedtime" at midnight so that we could all sleep for that one stretch, and at around two months I started scooting it up (it's 9:30 now).  Honestly, they just kind of got over it and *for the most part* are OK during dinner now.  I set up their high chairs in the most reclined position (we have the FP space savers) and they sit at the table with us for dinner, which seems to keep them at least slightly entertained.  

Mine also nursed constantly at that age, especially in the evenings, but they have calmed down a lot on that too.  Seriously, give it a month or two, things will probably start to feel better.

jcath

That sounds really rough.  I used a front carrier and held the other one to calm them.  It's possible t hey are overstimulated from your two year old and maybe a good tight swaddle and put them in their cribs to have some quiet time.  I wouldn't let them cry too long but they may just need to let off some steam and get away from all the stimulation.

I like having babies on a schedule, I don't think it's a necessity but when you have three little ones it might be a necessity.  It sure would be good if you could stretch them to 3 hour feedings.  Are you bottle feeding?  If so and you aren't propping bottles during the feedings - figure out how to. They will be fine - I promise.  Maybe you could try to stretch their feeding out a little longer during a calmer, quieter time of the day and see if you could get them to eat more that way.

Wishing35

My girls are 2 months old and eat 4-5 ounces every 3 hours, they get fussy too every evening between 5-7pm. One of my girls is easier to calm so I will put her in her bouncy seat and rock it with my foot while I hold the other and stand/rock. Sometimes if it gets really bad I bring them up to their room really early, blast the white noises machine turn off the lights & rock them in the rock and plays. It is so hard when they are both screaming and you are by yourself, I don't know what I would do if I had a toddler in the mix also. I would ask your ped about how much they are eating, I don't know what can be done about it but after 2 months old 1-2 ounces doesn't seem like enough. I hope it gets easier for you, for myself I find it comforting to know that supposedly by 4 months the fussing will taper off , I hope it's true!

BabyCarryingVessel

Sorry lady, that sounds rough!

PPs sound like they have good advice. I just wanted to add that lots of daytime stimulation at this age makes them more crabby at night. Something about, they are just trying to communicate everything they've seen and heard earlier in the day and it's hard for them, so they cry. Now with a toddler, keeping stimulation down would be impossible! But just thought I'd throw that in the mix!

amy1007

Witching hour? My 1st had it. It was awful.

seaotter6

Thank you so much everyone!! All the advice is really helpful. I'll keep working on things with my twins.

nuttycoconut

When this happened to me around 2-3 months I kept moving their bedtime up a little each night. They ended up wanting to go to sleep by 6:30 pm. It wasn't the most ideal for me because their long stretch ended up being from 6:30-12:30 but my hubby did that feeding and I made sure to go to bed early so I could do the 3/4am feeding. My babies ended up being so much happier going to bed early so it was worth it. I also fed both at the same time since they were born (using Boppies) and fed every 3 hours (I pumped the first 3 months and now they are on formula).