how to get twins to sleep during the day?

Re: how to get twins to sleep during the day?

• Temp6313048411121614 member

  December 2009

  jlh123:

  Our babies are great night sleepers and I think it's because DH takes one, I take the other and it's cuddly time, music, book, etc bottle and sleep.  During the day alone with the babies it's bottle and pray that they sleep while I tend to the other's feeding and burping, etc.  It's worse when I'm feeding them at the same time in the bouncy.  EASY doesn't work for them, tried it.  These babies like Eat, Sleep, Me time, Activity.  Is it safe to say with twins I won't get good naps because I'm losing that individual time to put them down to sleep?

  Gosh I hope not.  I live for DS' naps, I couldn't imagine never getting a break during the day.
  

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• Wantastickybaby

  December 2009

  Have you tried putting one of them in the swing after they eat?  I also find it frustrating that I can't spend a lot of time holding each one after she eats (when I'm alone).  I usually end up putting the one who finishes first in the swing and cross my fingers that it lulls her to sleep!  That will usually buy me enough time to feed the second baby, cuddle her, get her to sleep in a bouncy seat, and maybe a few minutes for myself...

  I hope that helps!   

  

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• gumiberg member

  December 2009

  When they get tired (which is around the same time) I put them both down.  I lay them down and pat their butts. If one baby falls asleep easily and the second baby is being stubborn (which is often the case), I wear the stubborn baby until they fall asleep.

  If  they are both being stubborn, I will cuddle in bed with them until they fall asleep.  And most of all, I am persistent.
  

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• lgurian

  December 2009

  i feed both at the same time thanks to two boppies, one on each side. then burp one then the other, then change one, then the other. the whole thing takes and hour (including time for me to pump). they then sit in their bouncies, or in the swing or play mat time, or where ever and we talk and play for a bit and then i get up and do what i need to do. they either entertain themselves or fall asleep, either way i get stuff done then. i feel bad that they dont get the 'individual attention' that one baby would get. but i suppose that is the way it will be for the rest of their lives and there isnt much i can do about it. when they get older we will do single time where one comes with me and one stays with their dad. but none of us escapes childhood unscathed and being a twin will be theirs. i write all this because i obviously feel a lot of guilt about it but i know i am doing all i can do and that has to be good enough.

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• jlh123 member

  December 2009

  Thanks for the ideas.  Our babies last maybe 10 min in the swing before crying.  They like it only a short amount of time. 

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• lisa&andy

  December 2009

  Our thing was to get them on the same feeding and sleeping schedule. EASY did not work for us early on, DD wanted to stay up after her bottle while DS wanted to go right to sleep. It seemed that one was up when the other slept and then they switched and then it was time for the next bottle. We finally started keeping them up just a little longer after bottles and then putting them to sleep so they could go on the EASY routine. Do you have a baby that fusses sooner than the other? Could you cuddle and put that baby down to sleep and then cuddle with the other baby?

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• Temp159135562506975 member

  December 2009

  i would keep trying EASY - they will have more awake time and get used to it.  It really is a GREAT method.  We followed BAby Wise- which is essentially the same as EASY - and our boys were STTN by 8 weeks, and great nappers.  Early on it might seem like EASY doesn't work for you- because they have so little awake time... but eventually it works out and their wake time is after they eat.

  If you give bottles before sleeping they learn to need that and it can become a crutch that causes problems.... the same with rocking to sleep.  My guys eat- then play- and when they start to show tired signs- I take them both and put them down for a nap.  Usually that is in the swing and in the boppy- b/c that is where each of them likes to nap the most- but sometimes I take the cushion off the back of the couch and lay them together on the couch - with the cushion propped up on the front (table pushing it there) so they can't roll off (yet).  They like that, too.

  I feed them together almost all the time - and burp them together, too - i've figured a way to rest one on my shoulder and one on my legs (i bend my one let sideways and the other upright).. hard to explain- but it works and then nobody is left waiting and unhappy.

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