Cosleeping with twins

1blueridgemama

Anyone? Coslept when older kids were babies and we feel strongly about it but two tiny newborns seems daunting...  We have a cosleeper just in case and are also thinking about getting one of those nest things that go in the bed.  

Suggestions?  Not as worried as they get past newborn stage but just those first few weeks...

twinlove314

I have the full size arm's reach co sleeper. My boys have both slept in it (swaddled) together since coming home from the hospital at 5 days old. They're 4.5 months now. We'll be transitioning soon though since their combined weight is nearing the weight limit

CNYBride05

Are you talking about co sleeping as in room sharing or bed sharing? We co slept for 7 months using Rock n Plays on either side of our bed. We attempted to transition to cribs around 7 mos and now our girls start out in cribs, but end up in our bed by 11pm or so and we bed share in our queen sized bed. It's....cozy . We are getting a king soon. I miss cuddling with my hubby and getting to sleep on my belly, but it's easier for nursing and I'm getting more sleep before.

basil2

Never intended to cosleep with DS but it happened (in the beginning I'd fall asleep nursing on my side). I swore I wouldn't with twins, but I do occ give in to temptation and nurse one on my side (which for me invariably leads to cosleeping). I won't do it with both though, it just seems too risky. (We are room sharing they're in one crib in our bedroom.)

pillowass

I would never "plan" to cosleep with twins in the bed, but all 3 of my kids slept on our chests for the first 6 weeks or so. In retrospect, it was not the safest set-up considering how sleep deprived we were, but it was pure desperation because they didn't sleep in the co-sleeper or in their cribs. Our pediatrician said that as long as we are not obese or drunk/high, it was OK. Around 6 weeks, we started putting them in their Rock n plays next to our bed, and they slept here for 5 months before we transitioned them to cribs. 

I think room-sharing is great, but a lot of research has come out recently saying that bed-sharing is just not safe. With twins, I would think it's even higher risk. I would do it only if other options failed. And I totally give a pass to any parent who is desperate like we were - you just have to sleep somehow. The sleep deprivation is no joke with twins. 

auntjessy

In the beginning, I slept most of the time on the couch or recliner with one or the other on my chest, the other in a swing. Pretty much however I could get sleep. My twins are now almost 4 mo and I've been cosleeping with them for a couple of months in the guest room. They just won't sleep without me very near. I have a queen size bed pushed up against the wall, pool noodles under the fitted sheet edges to seal gaps. The babies are swaddled and still can't turn over, so they seem safe. They take half the bed with their feet facing me. I don't move in my sleep, never have. A couple of weeks ago I brought one of their cribs in, put it right up next to the bed, put the same sheet on it, and I can occasionally get them to sleep there. Working on transitioning. Part of me wishes I'd never started it, but I HAD to get sleep somehow, so no apologies, no regrets. I do miss sleeping with DH, and sometimes I'm able to sleep with him for the 1st shift. SOMETIMES.

1blueridgemama

Thanks, mamas!  I actually taught the SIDS class for years so I'm knowledgeable about the risks.  If they come out too early or too small, we certainly won't, as those are known risk factors.  No obesity or drinking here.  We have a full size co-sleeper in the box ready to put together so that may end up being the best choice but there is research that states that co-sleeping, when safe, decreases SIDS risk because it helps regulate the babies' heart rates to the mothers', especially when added with the extra benefit of breastfeeding. 

With all that blahblahblah, I love all the been there-done that with twins feedback.  It sounds like folks have overall been successful with room sharing.  Thanks so much, mamas!

TobieRose

We didn't do much bed-sharing the first week or so. But eventually, I ended up sleeping with one in bed, while DH slept with the other on a mattress on the floor. I wouldn't have been comfortable sleeping with both of them when they were super tiny. 

As they got bigger, I would sleep with whichever one nursed last, and switch them out. And then the four month sleep regression hit ... bed-sharing was a lifesaver!!

jeephappygirl

One problem I had when I tried to do it myself was I would end up waking one while trying to take care of the other. One at a time was great. I would switch out between night feedings. I liked the extra cuddle time & they slept better.

1blueridgemama

I can imagine that working well, cosleeping with one while other is in cosleeper beside bed.  Hadn't thought of that.  I will be nursing them at the same time though but we will find a system that works.  Love all the feedback!