These kids are about to wear me out!!! How in the world can I get them to sleep during the day? Neither one of them sleeps like our older son did. He settled into his own routine by a couple of months old and it consisted of a couple of 2+ hour naps during the day and down for the night at 8-9pm and awake at 7-9am. These 2 are already 4 1/2 months and have no real schedule yet. It seriously takes us a total of at least 3 hours to get them down for the night and where Leynie sleeps from about 10:30pm to about 8am, Eli only sleeps from about 10:30 until between 4 and 6am and then nurses for awhile (sometimes a long while) and back to sleep until 7:30 or so. Where most babies are up for 2-3 hours tops at this age, these 2 are awake for 4-6 hours before I can get them to take a nap, unless you count the power nap that lasts all of 15-30 minutes. After they wake up in the morning it is usually between 1 and 3 in the afternoon before I can get them to go to sleep again, and by that time they are so exhausted with red eyes and still just fighting it. If they go down around 1 I'll let them sleep up to 3 hours, but if they go down later I'll only let them sleep until about 4:30 so that we can start their bedtime routine again at about 7:30 so that they'll be asleep by 10:30 - 11:30pm. The biggest problem is that my husband has to be up at 5am every morning and I have to be up that early for school 2 days a week. I know the routine has to start somewhere, but where?
FYI: They get about 1/2 formula and 1/2 breast . They each get 1-2 6oz bottles during the day and she gets 7oz with a little cereal at night and he get about 8oz with cereal, the rest of the day they are breastfed as well as when they wake up in the middle of the night. The routine is bath (or wipedown), bottle and then cuddling; then after an hour or so of cuddling with no sleeping babies we will resort to the swings so that we can get our showers and be ready for bed when they finally crash. Then after about 2-3 hours I will give them a momma "topper" at the breast and shortly after that they will go to sleep (we've tried doing this earlier and it had no effect). And it's kinda the same fight for naps to get them to actually go to sleep, only during the day I'm by myself. I'm at a loss, please help me!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hello T.!
I recommend "Healthy Sleep Habit Happy Child" by Dr. Marc Weissbluth. The book offers several option for working with infants to get them to sleep and even talks about twins. It was a life saver for us.
Good luck!
I have boy/boy twins (7 months) and they started to get a routine about 5 months. I had a friend with boy/boy twins who said at 4 months they should sleep through the night so I was expecting it to come sooner than it did. All babies are different. The older/larger baby can nap like a champ at times and only power naps occasionally. My younger baby only power naps and occasionally goes for longer than an hour during the day. Some babies only power nap several times a day, this is ok. Mine are also half breastmilk and half formula. Mine are eating solids so they get that during the day too, twice a day with a bottle chaser. At night we do a bottle mixed with cereal and they go down pretty easily by 9. They usually sleep until 2 or 3. My oldest has gone some nights all the way through the morning with some stirrings. My youngest wakes and he is fussing for more so I nurse him. I think the time will come for each baby but in their own time. That might not sound great now but it goes by very quickly and before you know it, they will be sleeping through the night.
I did try all sorts of things I researched and some things worked. You might want to look into some methods to see what works for you and your babies. Good luck.
Keep in mind that all babies are different. Your expectation is that they should sleep like your first, but that's not realistic unfortunately. I have 2 girls that never napped during the day for very long. 15 -45 minutes a few times a day and that was it and by 23 months no more naps at all. Barely had time to take a shower and cook dinner each day. I agree with the other posters that they need some outside time. Especially with the weather getting nicer. Also, have them on their tummies and sit up more often to use their muscles more. 0nce they can sit up on their own they will be able to play for longer periods. However, I disagree regarding feeding them baby food. They shouldn't be given food until 6 mos. For now stick with formula and breast milk.
I don't have much advice. But, it sounds like 5 a.m. is a good place to start. Make sure they are both awake at that time? And then pace yourself from there.
Hi T.
You most definitly need some sleep- I am not really sure but it could be something in the formula or in your milk that is "exciting" then- check with your dr. and see if there is something you can change either in your diet or the formula they are on.
good luck and blessings
Are they "sleeping" (or really NOT sleeping!!!) in the same room? Perhaps they are socializing with each other. You know they are their own best friends after spending 9 mos. together in the uterus.
This is just a thought--I don't have any experience with twins. I do know that each baby will have a different personality/sleep/feeding schedule.
Another thought: Have you considered getting help (maybe from a relative) a couple of nights a week so that you can sleep straight through without having to be awakened? She could give them bottles (expressed breast milk) that you have prepared in advance.
Bless your heart! This has to be so overwhelming for you. One thing you probably already know--this too shall pass. Before you know it, your little ones will be grown (and ready to give you a whole different set of challenges!!!)
Well it sounds like the babies do not need 2- 2hour naps during the day any more. They are awake and need tummy time. They need to be walked outside and need to be kept active. This will help them be tired at night. Try cutting back the nap time to 1 or 1 1/2 hours. And try to make sure they are awake at 3:00 in the afternoon. Feed them really well, make sure they are kept active. That way they will be exhausted by 7:00. Make bath time very calm. No TV or loud running around going on in the house. Give them quiet bottles,or breast with no talking and a lack of eye contact. They will become bored and then tired.
I know you are all exhausted. Just hang in there.
well i would try cutting the naps in the day take them for walks they are old enough to start on some jars of baby food get them good and fool give them a nice little warm bath before bed once you have them good and fead and there baths then around eight lay them down in there cribs let them play there self to sleep put a little nite light turn out the big light make it nice and dark in there room trust me my daughter was the same way as ur twin and i did everything im tellin you and it was like havin a new baby lol.i wish the best for you and ur family:)
Hi T.
Just a guess
Think back what has changed in your diet?You are breast feeding
I think the answer may be within you.Write everything down if you have to once on paper it may pop out at you.Some foods have hidden stimulants like chocolate.Everyone is different,that being said it really could be anything in your diet meaning maybe even a certain food that wouldnt usually be considered a stimulant.
Good Luck and a God nights sleep to you
I hope it is that simple
Regards
S.
Hi! I'm sorry that you are going through this. One baby is hard enough, I can't imagine two! I baby wised my two sons and they slept through the night starting at 7 weeks. They were good nappers. My first was on a more rigid schedule, that's his personality while my second is more flexible but he still takes a 2 to 3 hour nap in the afternoon. I was very strict with their schedules but it really paid off. Hang in there. You are in my prayers. God bless.
