15Month Old Twins Not Sleeping Thru the Night/not off the Bottle

The best sleep book ever is Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, by Dr. Marc Weissbluth. He emphasizes the need for a schedule and routines, and actually gives you so many concrete ideas and suggestions. There is crying involved, but not for long.

Hi, J.. I have twins, too, and I feel your pain. Ours are younger than yours, but they are sleeping through the night and I give a lot of credit to the Ferber book that Mary mentions. Just plain "crying it out" doesn't work with twins, as you've noticed, but Dr. Ferber's sleep training asks for smaller increments of time. It's more realistic and more manageable. We had a few tough nights, but once we started the program, they never cried for more than twenty minutes total at bedtime--and usually much less. Just make sure you get the newest edition (2006 or 2007), not the older one. The new one has some important updates. Good luck!

I've read that you should substitute that midnight milk feed with water. If you were fed a satisfying meal in the middle of the night, you would continue to wake up for it. But, if you give them a bottle with water in the night they won't think it's worth it and they'll stop waking up for it. Looks good on paper, but I've not had opportunity to try it. Good luck!

I don't have kids, and therefore can't speak from experience. However, you may want to try a few things that may not find themselves on this board otherwise:

Massage- all human beings respond well to touch, and our bodies hold tension which prevents our energy from integrating into the nervous system for rest (relaxation). Daily massage for young people may help teach the body how to restore to this natural state (being born has GOT to be stressful! The world ain't easy), and to also BE in the body more fully and thus get the most out of sleeping.

Attention- Different tears indicate different states. Dispair, fear, discomfort.. Sometimes tears are just an expression crying for attention. Is it possible to SEND attention non-physically? If the needs of your children can be met through attention (which you may have learned to discern by feeling the quality of their cries), you may be able to respond non-physically (by SENDing attention to them), and help them to feel your loving presence, and learn that it is always there.

hey J. I bet this is very hard, my sister n law has a one year old she took the bottle away as soon as she turned one she gives her a sippy cup and took it right away they sell them a dollar or less at walmart they tip is soft and she doesnt wake up at night cause she gives her somethin to eat you should try cereal or oatmeal and maybe they wont wake up cause their little tummies will be full i hope it works

Hi J.,
My twins are 18 months old and sometimes they sleep through the night, and at others they don't. It depends usually on their teething cycles, with each new teeth giving them problems and waking them up at night. They do not eat at night, they stopped at 12 months, naturally. And they like to fall asleep with their security toys. Maybe your boys have some toy which will comfort them?

You've got a lot of advice to "let them cry it out." I have to say that from my own intuition and psychology training I know that cry-it-out is not good for babies. It is very exhausting and tiring for a parent (and I know what it's like first hand), and I'm sure there are some methods to help babies fall asleep better, but letting them cry-it-out, is harmful, no matter what the "common wisdom" is saying. There is NO rule as to when kids have to start sleeping through the night. They need their comforts, whether that's a hug, a security toy, or a bottle as long as they need it. Maybe you can experiment with different ways of comforting them. What if you have them in arms, and then lay down next to them and gently stroke their backs? Also, having a bottle before falling asleep is absolutely normal for this age and up until much later. My boys do not drink at night, but they always fall asleep with a bottle. I do not think you formed any "bad habits" in your children by nourishing and comforting them, it only benefits them now and in the long run. Of course, it is tough on you, but hang on there, it will pass, and meanwhile you may find other methods in making them feel comforted and secure.

hi J., i smiled when i read this because i have twins who will be 2 in a few weeks. my girls didn't start sleeping through the night until they were 14 months. first i want to say that the key is getting them off the bottle and middle of the night feedings first. i have a long method that worked for me if you want to hear it? one thing at a time. you will sleep soon!

Hi J., My twins are now 4 years old, Ahh, it gets so much easier as they get older! I remember too well the position youre in though! I also had the problem of an older sibling too! What I found that worked, is to let them cry it out. THe truth is, it may wake the other one or not. It may take a few days but eventually they will get used to either putting themselves back to sleep and also not waking when one does cry. It will be hard for a few days but if you try it, i know it will work! As for the bottle, and putting them to sleep at night. You need to stop cold turkey for that to work. Do it at the same time that you will be letting them cry. Again it will be hard for a few days but eventually they will learn to fall asleep on their own. Both falling asleep on their own and putting themselves back to sleep are skills they will need as they grow. When you put them to bed, do'nt give them a bottle, instead, put them in their cribs and read them a story, give hugs and kisses and walk out. Let them cry for a while (10 minutes or so) then if it continues walk in a reassure them, but don't pick them up. Evenetually they will fall asleep from exhaustion if nothing else. NOne of this will hurt them at all! Good luck, know that you love your kids and you are giving them a life skill that they will need!!! T. mom to 4 year old twins and a 7 year old!

Get a book called Solve your child's sleep problems, by Richard Ferber, it was referred by my kids doctor. It works, it is hard but it works, I used it for my first 2 kids who slept in the same room. It is ok to wake up the other twin, it lasted only 3-4 days of crying out to work. Because if your little one is waking up now it is possible he/she is waking up the other one anyway sometimes.