Bedtime with 4 Year Old Twins

I would definitely notsit in their room with them. Tell them it is bedtime, that they have to get up in the morning, and leave. Wake them up in the morning at a certain time. That will make them tired and they will more than likely go to sleep that night. Keep putting them to bed at the same time and get them up in the morning.

why are you sitting in their room? take out any furniture or items they could hurt themselves on if climbing on them. when it is time for bed, it is time for bed, NOT videos and music or you staying in their room, that is ridiculous. put them to bed, tell them to go to sleep or they will be in trouble, and be consistent, make a punishment for playing and goofing around. i say if the stay in bed and are just talking and giggling leave it be. my 2 year old will sometimes talk to himself or sing for close to an hour before he falls asleep, as long as he stays in bed we dont say anything only if he gets up. if you have to take everything out of their room except for their beds, make their bedroom for sleeping only if you have to, no toys no tv no cd player, nothing. stop letting them be the boss and rule the house. get a grip on your kids.

I became exahausted just reading the title of your post - LOL! While I don't have twins, I do have two boys who share a room and we "stagger" bedtime. One goes down 35 minutes before the other.
While it is easier for me because one is older, etc. you could alternate nights for who gets "early" and who gets "later"
Just an idea to help them seperate, calm down and maybe even give you some one-on-one time with them :)
No one likes to do two bedtimes - but just a suggestion.

I have twin girls and understand what you are going through. When my twins were about 3 I guess they started this deal of giggling, laughing, talking and carrrying on when it was bedtime. I drove myself crazy because I was working full-time at the time and it didn't matter if they got up early the next day or not-every night it was the same deal. Then a cousin of mine suggested melatonin. It is an all-natural herb that aids with sleeping. I asked my Pediatrician about it and told her the issues I was having and she said by all means give it to them. When they were younger I would crush about a half into their glass of milk now that they are older (8) they just swallow it. It has been a lifesaver because they would literally go to bed at 7:30-8:00 and sit up there to play until about midnight-if they had daycare the next day they would be in just a horrible mood and it didn't matter that I would tell them "If you hadn't sit up here last night playing, laughing, and giggling and gone to sleep you wouldn't be so tired. I tried everything-seperating them and Oh my gosh that was more drama than the actual laughing and playing going on. I tried laying one down 30 minutes before the other rotating turns and that just never worked out either because one got upset that the other one got to stay up no matter if they were taking turns. Melatonin was my savior but I would have never used it had my ped not told me it was okay to use. I'm not one of those parents to drug up my kids-I actually had one of the ENT suggest benadryl at night for allergies which would help with the sleep problems. I told him he was crazy but I tried it and benadryl had no effect on them whatsoever so I stopped. I feel like if you use something for another issue when they really need it their bodies become immune to it. Would if they got stung by a bee and had an allergic reaction-I wouldn't want them to be immune to the stuff-that doctor was crazy-lol! ASk your ped about the melatonin though-I will warn you though that for "some" people it causes nightmares. It happens with my mom but she takes pain meds for her back so perhaps its a counterreaction for her but I have taken it and had no problems and very rarely do my kids complain about nightmares. They have them as every kid does but I can't say it was because of the melatonin. I only give them the melatonin when I need them to go to bed to get rest such as school nights. They don't get it during the summer or on the weekends during the school year. I give it to them 30 minutes before bedtime and they are asking me to go to bed!!! lol! Just ask your ped.........

My twins are 2.5. The only thing in their bedroom is their bed for the reason you mentioned. Nap time is crazy, but at night we have a pretty good routine down and they go to sleep without issue. Honestly, try removing the dresser (we put theirs in the closet). Whatever they might play with, get rid of it for now. It's worth it to get that hour back every night!

I don't have twins but my boys share a room. When they had trouble keeping each other awake I temporarily moved one into my bed. I know it's not a good habit, but it did allow them to get into the routine of calmly falling asleep without me (and they could cry or talk to themselves without disturbing the other). Now they're back to going to bed together. Just a thought.
I saw an interesting idea the other day that could work at that age: let the child go to bed with a little bag (like paper lunch bag)- and having it is a reminder that they need to stay quiet and in bed. If they do you sneak in and leave a present in the bag that they'll have as a reward when they wake up. I'm all for rewards.
Good luck.

I have been going through the same thing, but my twins are 6. I won't stay in their room, no way no how, I did it with my older son (special needs) and it was the biggest mistake I ever did, he dependent on me being in the room with him to go to sleep. Yes they do the talking and laughing at each other before they fall asleep, right now with it being summer it is harder to get them to settle down when it is still sunny out when they go to bed (they go to bed 8:30/9:00). We live in a split level, the kids are upstairs and our bedroom is downstairs. When the twins go to bed most times we go downstairs and watch TV and such downstairs until we go to bed.

Right now I stay at home and summer time the twins don't have school (their brother does summer school) so I don't worry too much about bedtime. During the school year it seems to be easier to get them to go to bed and asleep right away. Good luck!! Twins are a blessing but yet they are a lot of work!!

Hi P.,
I used to stay in my daughters room when she was little. (she is now 4). That was a big mistake, and took some time to reverse. This is what I did.........
I realized that i needed a strict routine. (I'll try to make this as short as possible, but it's going to be hard) I stopped sitting in her room cold turkey, I picked 3 short books and stuck with them.(further down the line, I switched up the first two books but stayed with the same 3rd book) I also used the same key words to her as I left her room, and when she would scream for me to come back. I would walk in her room and say, "It's bedtime, sweet dreams, I love you." and walk out.......every time. (she never really got out of bed)
I think I read those same 3 books for a few weeks, until she understood that when that 3rd book was read, it was time to go to sleep. Of course, the whole process took about 3 weeks, but it worked. I was really hard listening to my daughter scream for me, but everyday got easier and easier and her crying spells got shorter and shorter, until one night I was putting her to bed, after her books, she simply said good night back to me and fell asleep......victory.
I know this is very different from your situation, and I do suggest consequences for their actions. But some type of consistency, and repetition just might work for them. I'm not sure that taking everything out of their room would work because they will just keep each other entertained.
You have to make this an easier process for your sanity.
If you have to keep putting them into bed (without talking to them) they will eventually get it. They are old enough to understand. Use a little tough love.
I really believe that because I was consistent, repetitious, and followed through, my daughter was able to know what to expect and do what she was supposed to do.
You might want to skip a video. My daughter is now 4 and her bedtime is at 7:30. (she usually falls asleep within 30 minutes)
Just stop sitting in their room. Tell them the rules are changing and they will follow the new rules or be punished. This is they way it is going to be or else. Plain and simple. I know, easier said then done, but it will be worth all hassle, I promise. The day my daughter went to bed with no problems, was a great night! We celebrated with a glass of wine and a little alone time.
Good luck to you and stay consistent!

We had (have) twins now grown...but at their ages they should be sleeping and going to bed without all the drama and issues you are explaining. I am wondering if you are not telling them there is going to be consequences if they don't lay there quietly without talking until they fall asleep. Sounds like you are allowing them to giggle and play and that you are becoming exhausted!!! Not really the way it should be, you're making bedtime difficult! Your children are old enough to be going to bed and sleeping through the night without any problems whatsoever. I have four children and mine were having no issues from the time they were only months old! But then again, we weren't afraid to correct, and follow through and not let our children rule us! Sounds like you need to let your twins know that you are the authority figure and that they can't manipulate you to get their own way as they have been already. Its all done in love but with authority.