Anyone do babywise? Success questions...

Stacey222

Our girl/boy twins were born at 31w 3d on 6/10/10.  They spent 3w/7w in the NICU, respectively.  I breastfeed both (with 1 formula bottle supplement in the evening).  They are now 3 months actual, 4 weeks adjusted.  We just started Babywise and I have some questions:

1. Did you do it and how successful were you?
2. Did it help with the day/night confusion -- that's our problem.
3. Did it help you sleep through the night?  Again, our problem (up every 2-3 hours at night, normal at this age?)
4. How did you handle it with twins/multiples - I feel like one always wakes the other.
5. Do I guage using the book's techniques by their actual age or adjusted age?
6. If you breastfed your twins/multiples, did you supplement every feeding or any feedings?  I fear they are not getting enough to eat.

My problems:
-day/night confusion
-waking 2-3 hours at night
-only like to fall asleep if we are holding them
-twin A falls asleep feeding and thus takes a full hour to feed by trying to coax him into waking
-twin B likes to comfort nurse

If you have any stories to share on any of these topics, please share your story/tips!

Temp159135562506975

 

1. Did you do it and how successful were you?  We followed BW with our singelton and our twins. We started it basically from day 1 - so it's hard to compare when starting later with preemies.  All 3 of our boys started STTN at 8 weeks... all are still great sleepers - go down easily, nap and sleep at night great.

2. Did it help with the day/night confusion -- that's our problem. They never really had it - they were on a schedule every 3 hours day and night early on, and soon learned to sleep more at night (around 5w) and then at 8w were STTN from about 10:30pm-7am

3. Did it help you sleep through the night?  Again, our problem (up every 2-3 hours at night, normal at this age?) With them STTN, so were we.  Remember, yours are preemies so it will be a little harder for them to STTN.

4. How did you handle it with twins/multiples - I feel like one always wakes the other. DH and i had them in arms reach mini cosleepers - one on each side of the bed- when "my" baby woke, I'd feed him... when "his" baby woke, he'd feed him... they almost always woke at the same time though... Early on we did wake them to keep them on the same schedule - I suppose that is why they continued to wake at the same time even when their sleep was extended.  During the day I always fed them at the same time.

5. Do I guage using the book's techniques by their actual age or adjusted age? I would go by adjusted age... an 8w/o preemie is not the same sleep wise (and eating wise) as an 8w/o full term baby.

6. If you breastfed your twins/multiples, did you supplement every feeding or any feedings?  I fear they are not getting enough to eat. I only nursed in the hospital and did give them formula after each nursing session b/c they were jaundiced and we wanetd to make sure they were getting enough. At home I EP'd so tehy got my breast milk- and we knew how much b/c it was in a bottle.  We fed formula at night always - I never pumped at night.

-waking 2-3 hours at night this is normal --- 3 hours should be happening soon... with nursing if your supply isn't enough for them they might be waking at 2 hours because of it... but it's hard to know - could just be a preemie thing.

-only like to fall asleep if we are holding them this is normal- just keep working on it- leanring their sleepy signals - putting them down before they are TOO tired... Swaddling was big for my boys -we used miracle blankets until they were 6mo - they LOVED to be swaddled.

-twin A falls asleep feeding and thus takes a full hour to feed by trying to coax him into waking Just keep working with him- it takes time, esp with preemies, to get them to eat before falling asleep early on.

-twin B likes to comfort nurse have you tried pacis? we used pacis with our boys - all 3 of them loved to suck on one after eating... they were not still hungry- just still needed to suck.

it's a great method - follow it with flexibility- but not TOO much b/c then it won't work... don't get too bent out of shape over exact timings, etc.... We just tried to keep them to 3 hours as much as we could - sometimes it was 2.5 hours, sometimes 3.5 hours.... We found that if we let them go 4 hours it screwed them up the rest of the day... so we avoided doing that... except at night after about 5w old -but again, my twins were full term so it was a lot easier for them.

good luck! and congrats!

ashleywebber

Stacey222:

Our girl/boy twins were born at 31w 3d on 6/10/10.  They spent 3w/7w in the NICU, respectively.  I breastfeed both (with 1 formula bottle supplement in the evening).  They are now 3 months actual, 4 weeks adjusted.  We just started Babywise and I have some questions:

1. Did you do it and how successful were you? I did it with my singleton and plan to do it with my twins.  I don't have any advice for how to do it with twins yet, but I will answer as good as I can for a singleton.  We were very successful.  I breastfed and he was on a rotation of every 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 hours.  He would wake up, eat, play, have a diaper change, and I would lay him down to sleep (didn't let him fall asleep with people holding/rocking him.  He did great.  After a few weeks, he would sleep 5 hours at night.  By 8 weeks, it was 8 hours.  By 12 weeks, it was 12 hours.  He also napped for 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 hours between feeding/wake time and the next feeding.  It was really nice.

2. Did it help with the day/night confusion -- that's our problem.  It just kind of worked itself out.  At first he was awake all day and night every 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 hours, but eventually he could go longer at night.  We would wake him during the day if he was at the 3 1/2 hour mark so he wouldn't sleep 5 hours during the day (or more) and be up at night.  At night, we would bathe him (sometimes), swaddle him, and put him in his vibrating bassinet.  It was very distinct from naptime.  That helped a lot.

3. Did it help you sleep through the night?  Again, our problem (up every 2-3 hours at night, normal at this age?)  Oh yes.  See above.  Sometimes babies need longer and I imagine premies need to eat more often and it will take a little bit longer.  If you look at their adjusted age, it's probably more accurate.  At 4 weeks, our son was still getting up every few hours at night.  It will click eventually if you just focus on the routine.

4. How did you handle it with twins/multiples - I feel like one always wakes the other.  Unable to answer this.  In fact, I am wondering this myself.  I've heard if one wakes up and wants to eat, you should get the other one up and put them on the same routine again.  I imagine you have to be more flexible early on with twins. 

5. Do I guage using the book's techniques by their actual age or adjusted age? Again, I can't answer this, but I would imagine with premies you would do adjusted age.  I believe there is a section devoted to twins and/or premies in the back.

6. If you breastfed your twins/multiples, did you supplement every feeding or any feedings?  I fear they are not getting enough to eat.  Again, I haven't had twins, but my son didn't need any supplementation (at least not early on).  I am wondering how feeding twins will work myself.  I hope to exclusively breastfeed.  If that doesn't work, I hope to exclusively pump.  If that doesn't work, we will be using formula if needed. 

My problems:
-day/night confusion
-waking 2-3 hours at night
-only like to fall asleep if we are holding them
-twin A falls asleep feeding and thus takes a full hour to feed by trying to coax him into waking
-twin B likes to comfort nurse

If you have any stories to share on any of these topics, please share your story/tips!