Multiples

Twins sleeping together

Our twins have slept together since we got them both home.  They still want to sleep together.  The problem is both of them have figured out how to move around when on their bellies.  They generally always wind up having turned 90 degrees in some direction.  This morning I woke up to my daughter being pushed up against the side of the PnP because my son had not only moved 90 degrees, he centered himself in the PnP.  

We were trying to keep them together until we can transition them to their own cribs.  We  figured that process would take a few more weeks.

Is what they are doing normal?  Should I be moving them to separate sleeping arrangements sooner rather than later? 

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Re: Twins sleeping together

  • Do you put them to sleep on their stomachs?  I would personally not do that until they can get themselves into that position because of the SIDS risk.  But if that's what you want to do and they're moving around a lot then I would separate them, especially because of SIDS concerns (what if they get smushed up against each other?).  We put them into their own cribs at 6 weeks, but I know that's earlier then most people do it.
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  • Are they rolling over themselves from backs to bellies? Our twins shared a crib till 6m, but they were swaddled that whole time so they were not rolling into each other; we separated them as soon as we were done swaddling because I wasn't comfortable with them sharing a crib unswaddled.
    fraternal twin boys born january 2009
  • Actually they started sleeping on their stomachs because of my MIL.  She was taking care of them while I was in the hospital for gall bladder surgery.  Now they won't sleep any other way.

    We're actually very lucky with them.  When they change positions, they move their heads to either side.  We've never had an instance where they sleep on their faces.  The only time they try to smush their faces into the bed is when they believe they are dying from hunger and are trying to get the bed to feed them.  :-)   Of course they do this to my arm or anything else that gets near their faces so I'm not all that concerned.

     As far as smushing against each other...they like to sleep head to head.  When on their backs they wind up smacking each other in the face too much. lol  We stopped swaddling them around 3-4 weeks because they were sweating too bad.  They like to sleep with little to no covers.  We start them with blankets and they always wind up all kicked off of them by the time I get them for their first night time feeding.

    Part of my concern with separating them is if they will actually sleep apart.  Right now they aren't right next to each other but both are also right by me.  Usually when left completely alone they start to get super fussy.  I'm anticipating a few nights of super fussiness because they are apart. 

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  • There are a ton of suffocation risks that you're detailing. They're your babies but please please please consider seperating them for sleep, putting them on their backs to sleep, and definitely not using blankets. If they hate the swaddle sleep sacks are an excellent and SAFE alternative. A few restless nights is nothing compared to one of your babies suffocating!
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  • We were able to keep them together in a pnp until 4 months when they kept scooting into each other. We actually transitioned to cribs with no problems. We played in the nursery before nap time, then both went down for a nap at opposite sides, and they both fell asleep. Then the next night we did the same thing and no problems. I wound up separating them to separate cribs a few days later as they kept scooting into each other again and haven't looked back since!

    My boys have been tummy sleepers since 2 weeks old when they would fall asleep immediately during tummy time but fight sleep on their backs. They were able to turn their heads from side to side and I checked on them to make sure they were okay. As far as using a blanket, if they just kick it off I wouldn't use one. I wound up putting them in socks as their feet were always cold and they kick off the receiving blanket that I had from their butt down (and will stop using once they are more mobile).

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  • Mine sleep on their stomachs as well.  People lecture you about that, but until they've lived days and days of no sleep with babies that will NOT sleep on their backs they really can't judge.

     Anyway, mine shared a crib until they were 3 months old.  They scoot all around and sometimes would jam each other up against the side. We have breathable bumpers and it never once ever woke either of them up, so we just let it go. 

     They have mini cribs, so when they got long enough that we couldn't lay them side by side anymore we separated them.  It traumatized us a lot more than them.  They don't give a rip one way or another.

    ETA: mine were rolling over back to belly in their swaddle so we quit swaddling and use blankets.  Yes, they belly sleep and they have a blanket.  We're *those* parents.  Again, no one knows what's best for your family but you.  Of course try it on their backs and/or without a blanket, but if they're like mine they will not sleep that way. Period.

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  • Yeah, I'm not one to agree with all the back is best mania and I did put my girls on their backs.  But I would say it sounds like its time to separate them.  They will be fine.
    IVF#1 May 2011 15 Eggs Retrieved, 11 Fertilized using ICSI + HPT on 6/9/11 Beta #1 420 Beta #2 2167 US 7/1 TWINS!! Due 2/18/2012 Brooke and Nora born at 35.6 weeks Jan 20th 2012
  • Yeah, I would separate them and use sleep sacks instead of blankets if they hate the swaddle. I would also give back-sleeping another chance. Try toughing it out for a few nights and see if they adjust. Good luck! I know how much sleep deprivation sucks.
    fraternal twin boys born january 2009
  • Honestly, there are risks no matter how they sleep.  Mine tend to spit up a bit after being put down, even if it's been awhile since feeding.  There's the risk of him breathing that back into his lungs.  So now should I not sleep him on his back either?

    I'm honestly more worried about him breathing that back in than I am about the blankets.  We don't put them up to their faces so unless they figure out how to cover their heads (oh wait, my daughter figured that out already), they'll be fine.  The one day she kept putting the blanket over her head was just funny.  I must have fixed it 5 times before she stopped doing it.

    As for swaddling...it's not for my babies.  They both do not like it.  So, should they not have any cover at all?  That doesn't seem right either.  Socks are great.  They're feet were so small they actually just started fitting into preemie socks.  lol  I have a picture, not here, that shows how my mother in law swaddled my daughter.  She had her completely wrapped up to her forehead and then strapped her into a bouncy seat.  If that doesn't scream "not safe", I don't know what does.  Needless to say I took the pic but got her out of it right away.  It's my photo proof that she doesn't always know the best way to do things.  :-)

    Anywhos...I think I will have more anxiety over separating them than they will.  I will just have to get over myself when it comes to that. 

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  • But...why not just use a sleep sack?
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  • I agree about the sleep sacks.  You may want to give those a try.
    IVF#1 May 2011 15 Eggs Retrieved, 11 Fertilized using ICSI + HPT on 6/9/11 Beta #1 420 Beta #2 2167 US 7/1 TWINS!! Due 2/18/2012 Brooke and Nora born at 35.6 weeks Jan 20th 2012
  • Because neither of them want anything on their legs or feet.  They literally kick all of that off them.

     On top of that. they will annoy my husband and he'd sooner have them sleeping with no clothes on than deal with those. 

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  • I would at least give the sleep sacks a try. They just zipper straight up so it's not like you're struggling to get them in and out of them for diaper changes. I don't know why that would annoy your husband, but honestly there are a lot of things about being a parent that are annoying - waking up a bunch of times every night, paying for daycare... But sometimes we have to do things we're not crazy about. 

    If you're comfortable with them sleeping on their stomachs that's your decision but I would at least separate them and remove the blankets from where they sleep. 

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  • imageJen0204:

    I would at least give the sleep sacks a try. They just zipper straight up so it's not like you're struggling to get them in and out of them for diaper changes. I don't know why that would annoy your husband, but honestly there are a lot of things about being a parent that are annoying - waking up a bunch of times every night, paying for daycare... But sometimes we have to do things we're not crazy about. 

    If you're comfortable with them sleeping on their stomachs that's your decision but I would at least separate them and remove the blankets from where they sleep. 

     

     paying for formula....:)

    Totally agree with all of this.   

    IVF#1 May 2011 15 Eggs Retrieved, 11 Fertilized using ICSI + HPT on 6/9/11 Beta #1 420 Beta #2 2167 US 7/1 TWINS!! Due 2/18/2012 Brooke and Nora born at 35.6 weeks Jan 20th 2012
  • imagelmydogally:
    imageJen0204:

    I would at least give the sleep sacks a try. They just zipper straight up so it's not like you're struggling to get them in and out of them for diaper changes. I don't know why that would annoy your husband, but honestly there are a lot of things about being a parent that are annoying - waking up a bunch of times every night, paying for daycare... But sometimes we have to do things we're not crazy about. 

    If you're comfortable with them sleeping on their stomachs that's your decision but I would at least separate them and remove the blankets from where they sleep. 

     

     paying for formula....:)

    Totally agree with all of this.   

    Me, too. :)

    fraternal twin boys born january 2009
  • Oh man, formula... And diapers!  It will seem like we're rich when those expenses go away, and especially when they go to school and we don't have to pay for daycare anymore!
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