sleep training?

Breezy8407

I have posted before about our troubles getting my twins to sleep and then stay asleep especially for naps.

We still hold them/bounce/pat them to sleep each time in their swaddles. As we approach 3 months of age, I am starting to wonder if it's time to stop doing that slowly. I enjoy the time and snuggles, but I want them to be able to put themselves to sleep especially if they wake up.

A coworker has twin boys and said by 3 months she started doing a gentle version of cry it out. Is it too soon? How do I know when they/we are ready for that?

(FWIW, they are sleeping now at night from about 9:30pm-3:30am on average, but my DS especially will wake up at least once and need to be held and put back to sleep...although last night they made it from 9:00pm to 5am without a peep. Not holding my breath.)

lmydogally

I would ride it out a little longer before you sleep train.  One of my girls did the same thing until right at 4 months, I bet yours are about to turn the corner.

mrsemily08

We didn't sleep train until 6 mo - we worked on good habits before that - and at 11 mo, they still eat once overnight most of the time. They're only 15 and 16 lbs though, so i think that plays a big role.

ColleenS629

I personally think 3 months is too early. I was planning on waiting until 6 months. We ended up doing it earlier because my boys were literally up 10-15 times a night, needing to be rocked back to sleep and waking up as soon as they were put down. No one was getting any sleep.. the babies were a mess, as were my husband and I so we started at just over 4.5 months. If it wasn't so extreme, I would have waited.

srbmvp

i'm starting to read healthy sleep habits, healthy twins. my boys only want to sleep being held and with a boob....

mars724

For what it's worth, I did my own version of sleep training starting at about 8 weeks, where I swaddle them, give pacifier, and lay down for sleep even if they're awake. I always do it when they are calm, full and changed. Then when one fusses or wakes up I comfort her with my hand on her chest, pacifier, ect, but I don't pick her up unless she's screaming. If its just whining, I try together her comfy and leave the room so she can fall back asleep. 

Pit took a lot of time and effort at first, I'd have to go in their room every 5 minutes sometimes, but it's paid off. Even now, when it's time to sleep, they are put down and go to sleep on their own.

 I love the cuddly time too, so I try to do that with each baby after their baths, before they eat their last bottle for the night. 

sarahvarno

I think 3 month is still early.  Iwould try to wait until 6 months.

lmydogally

mars724:

For what it's worth, I did my own version of sleep training starting at about 8 weeks, where I swaddle them, give pacifier, and lay down for sleep even if they're awake. I always do it when they are calm, full and changed. Then when one fusses or wakes up I comfort her with my hand on her chest, pacifier, ect, but I don't pick her up unless she's screaming. If its just whining, I try together her comfy and leave the room so she can fall back asleep. 

Pit took a lot of time and effort at first, I'd have to go in their room every 5 minutes sometimes, but it's paid off. Even now, when it's time to sleep, they are put down and go to sleep on their own.

 I love the cuddly time too, so I try to do that with each baby after their baths, before they eat their last bottle for the night. 

Alll of this.  There is sleep training you can do that doesn't involve CIO.  I never had to use CIO but my girls go to sleep great.  It just takes patience and using tools that fit each twins needs.   

dashtwins

lmydogally:

mars724:

For what it's worth, I did my own version of sleep training starting at about 8 weeks, where I swaddle them, give pacifier, and lay down for sleep even if they're awake. I always do it when they are calm, full and changed. Then when one fusses or wakes up I comfort her with my hand on her chest, pacifier, ect, but I don't pick her up unless she's screaming. If its just whining, I try together her comfy and leave the room so she can fall back asleep. 

Pit took a lot of time and effort at first, I'd have to go in their room every 5 minutes sometimes, but it's paid off. Even now, when it's time to sleep, they are put down and go to sleep on their own.

 I love the cuddly time too, so I try to do that with each baby after their baths, before they eat their last bottle for the night. 

Alll of this.  There is sleep training you can do that doesn't involve CIO.  I never had to use CIO but my girls go to sleep great.  It just takes patience and using tools that fit each twins needs.   

This exactly for us too. 3 months is NOT too early to stop holding/rocking them to sleep, FOR ME it would have been too late! And I say that it's for me because I wouldn't have had the patience for this; we were "down drowsy & hands off" from early on. I didn't want to get in the habit of having to hold them for them to sleep. I have one great sleeper and one crappy sleeper. So I was always working with DD to get her to sleep better while DD went with the flow. I had them in separate rooms for naps until 6 months or so because I didn't want them waking each other, but then finally said "screw it" they need to learn, and now they do great in the same room! When she was still small enough, after bad naps, I'd put her in the Moby wrap for a 3rd nap so that she'd at least get one in, that stopped when she was too big for it and only did it a few times.