AP MoMs Come in

Raggedy1 · September 2013

I know lots of AP sounds nutty to non-AP believers - and I'm not looking for any judgy comments - only genuine, caring helpful answers.
We room share with our 4 month olds and we wouldn't have it any other way. Night time seems to go great. We follow their cues and they're in bed by 7 - waking as needed for breastfeeding throughout the night then up for the day around 7:30/8:00 am -ish. The disconnect/new mom confusion I'm having is with daytime naps. They're tired and will fall asleep in the car, on a walk, in a wrap (but thats tough because being wrapped to one limits me with the other) or in our arms when we're rocking/singing, but just won't stay asleep when we try to transition them to their cribs or even our bed. Result is very short naps and tired babies. I want them to get all the sleep they need and right now they seem to need trusting arms to fall asleep in. I'm not worried about the drain on my time (although a consistent 2+ hour nap time at around the same time daily would be brilliant). Problem is that it's so inconsistent and I'm only one person (unless I recruit a Grandma for the day). I want to continue on this gentle sleep transitioning path but I want to know how other AP MoMs of twins do it with such young babies. My local MoMs look at me like i have three heads when I tell them we cosleep and follow cues instead of forcing a schedule, so they're not much help here, maybe you can be?

aliwisewoman · September 2013

I haven't done this with twins, but we also do AP-style parenting. When my little ones were struggling with naps, I would lay in our bed and breastfeed them or rock them while nursing, then transition them to my bed. I just made sure they were sleeping deeply by lifting their arm and seeing if their hand was floppy (the floppy wrist test). Good luck! I'm sure it'll be challenging for us once our twins come home.

babywillmake3 · September 2013

I did AP parenting of sorts with my singleton and what aliwisewoman mentioned is exactly what I did with him. I just had to transition him to where I needed when he was knocked out. Then as he got older I would do it when he was less and less asleep. Now, at night, he is in his own bed, but I fall asleep with him in there and when I wake up I go to my bed. Good Luck.

Raggedy1 · September 2013

I try to do the same with one child at a time but times two its different. I'm constantly trying to get one down. And they wake each other up at this phase so I'm doing it one at a time. Which equals non-stop/all day/everyday. Now I'm venting. Sorry! I really do need a new action plan for naps.

PumpkinAndThePeanut · September 2013

I'm in the same boat, although I have one baby that will fall asleep on her own in her RnP (haven't transitioned to a crib yet), so I get her down, then work on nursing/wearing etc her sister to sleep for a nap on me. The bad thing is, that twin's nap is at the mercy of her sister... If the first one wakes too soon, so does the one on me.

Maybe try working one at a time on getting them to fall (and stay) asleep on their own using some of the techniques in the "No Cry Nap Solution" book? Once you get one going down easily, then you can work on the other. It will probably take some time though.

I hear you on feeling isolated - I felt really down on myself for still finding all this so hard 4 months in when all the WSMoMs (are you a member? I recall you are in my area) have their babies on a strict schedule and find it so much easier after 3 months.

somewhereincali · September 2013

My babies didn't take longer naps until about a year. Before that we just did whatever worked and had them nap a few times a day for shorter times, in swings, in arms, cars, strollers whatever.
Unfortunately if you want to do more AP approach I don't think there is really a way to avoid the feeling you are always trying to get someone to sleep. It sucks. But it passes

yinyang124 · September 2013

I coslept with my twins until 6 months. I nursed and bounced them to sleep for every nap. My boys were belly sleepers, so I would gemtly slide one off the boppy to the bed and pat his butt to make sure he stayed asleep then do the other.

MrsCaseyK · September 2013

I don't have an answer but we're AP with twins 7.5 weeks and were loving it. Glad I'm not the only one! So far they fall asleep on their own just fine. Kudos to you for looking for answers. I will encourage you that the frustrating stages seem so long while we're in them, but so short looking back, hopefully you get your naps soon!!

MuseumMaven · September 2013

Swings! That was the only way I could get my boys to nap. I would nurse them to sleep then transfer them to swings. They would stir but the rocking would put them back to sleep. Total lifesaver for me.

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