How to wean from holding for naps

Raggedy1

I absolutely adore attachment parenting, and feel free to answer the following question with "suck it up buttercup!"...
A little info and my Q: at night my 7 months adjusted twins and I co-sleep in our family bed. After nursing to sleep I typically wait 20-40 min. then slip out. I have to return for nursing/comforting several times (1-3x per kiddo) before my bedtime. Out of necessity for my sanity several months ago I started doing naps tandem nursing in a rocking chair. They wake if I try to move so I've always looked at it as quiet time for me to sit and relax. They nap together 2-3x/day (early am, 11, 3:30/4ish). It's always been my style to simply go with the flow and follow their cues. However, they're 8 months old now and I wonder if this "Slave to Sleep" thing is going to last forever or if there are any tips to naturally make our lives simpler while still adhering to gentle parenting/night time parenting/ AP principles. ( Please keep the logistics of juggling twins in mind. ) Thank you SO much for reading this far and offering any support or advice!

Raggedy1

I should mention I tried wearing for the occasional nap but my back just can't take the tandem that long.

=Lee=B

Have you tried to do the family bed thing for naps like you do in the evenings?  If it's working for you in the evenings it shouldn't take too much to get them to do that during the day.  You may have to go in a few times during the nap time to nurse/cuddle them back to sleep...but that would be a good improvement over being stuck in the chair :-)

As with anything change will likely be met with protest initially so it may take a few tries to get it to work...but it seems like the best next step to me.

Emerald27

I second the suggestion of trying the family bed for naps too! You can stay with them whenever you want or get up and get things done.

If they're used to the routine of rocking at naptime, you could rock them until nearly asleep or actually asleep and then transfer them and you to the family bed (maybe put the rocking chair next to the bed?) and nurse them until deeply asleep there.

Super kudos for breastfeeding and bedsharing with your twins!!!

MamaMuslima01

No luck so far for me DS is 9 months and wont let me leave his sight except for at night..

elorahdannon

I'm with you mama! My EBF twins are almost 6 months and I'm currently tandem nursing them through a nap right now! It is super hard, I can't even transfer them off at night anymore, twins are a special situation when ap'ing... I'm following this for suggestions as well
Good luck and super kudos for the bf!!!

Momarazzi007

My 27 month old still naps in my arms. I cannot imagine doing that with twins! I think I'd need at least one arm free! Totally for attachment parenting and breastfeeding, and you are rocking it, but you need your sanity too! I agree w bed option. Do they comfort each other when sleeping or irritate and awake?

jesuisfatiguee

Another vote for the family bed option. This is actually how I get my 10 month old down for naps when he's home with me.

Mama2be12345

No advice just wanted to say you rock! I always wonder how BFing and AP style would with with twins!