[Celry]

I got completely fed up this past week with our bed time and sleeping routine...or lack there of. The girls decided they needed to wake every hour to 90 minutes to eat. They have been trying to go to bed super late and are extra cranky because of it.

I am now refusing to feed them at night unless it's been 2 hours since the start of their last feed. They would only take a quick snack instead of eating a lot if they were up every 60 minutes. Now when they wake, I re-swaddle if they need it, offer the pacifier and pat them on the back. If that doesn't work, I will eventually pick them up and rock them for a minute or two. I am stubborn and will do this over and over again until I'm sure they won't go back to sleep and have to eat. It's getting much better and usually they'll go back to sleep and are giving me 2 to 3 hours between feeds. I'm still up way too much, but I'm hoping this will make it better.

Today I decided they were old enough to go to sleep on their own. They've been doing it in their bouncy seats for a while. I know this won't work every night, but it went so well tonight. I fed them, swaddled them and then put them in their crib. I've been back up stairs a few times in the last hour to pat a back or offer a pacifier, but neither threw a total fit. It was amazing!

All things aren't great though. Eiley has decided she does not want to tandem nurse. She still will during the night, but is throwing a fit during the day if Arya nurses at the same time. What a brat It's funny, but frustrating at the same time. I'm finally spending less time nursing and now this.

[KCMomma]

Oh you poor poor girl! I seriously don't know how you haven't lost your mind with two girls!! You probably think all of us who complain with one are just wimps!!! JK

Anyway, I'm not sure how you feel about CIO...but we have tried that this week, and I'm now a HUGE believer in it! She cries for maybe 10 minutes and out for the night! Just a thought!

[Celry]

I'm not sure what I would have said before, but with twins, I'm sure I will let them CIO at some point. Of course they are young enough that I'm not going to let them scream for an hour without consoling them. I do think it'll be easier to get them into a routine if I start now than if I start a month or two from now.

[~Andrea~]

I ditto Gwen! You probably think we are all wimps complaining about one baby!

I think all new mamas, especially those with twins, should be a given a night nurse. When the baby wakes up, you can nurse her, and then hand her off to the nurse to be rocked to sleep! How nice would that be!

[KCMomma]

OHHH That would be wonderful!

Valerie, I totally understand not CIO now when they are this young, I just wasn't sure your view on it. Well, I hope they start sleeping better for ya! Dang those little snack nursers!!!

[Heatherjfitz]

You know Cel...right around 3 months things started to turn around for us. I think it's a great time for you to transition to the cribs. That's right around when we did it. I had to feed Bella during the night a lot longer then I did Alyssa. I think it was until like 4 months or so. I don't know why but she just always woke up at least once. Eventually she stopped. How much do you think they weigh now? At a certain weight they don't NEED to have any more night feedings. Of course...that doesn't change them WANTING a night feeding. I eventually just rocked, patted, or soothed in some way. It was exhausting at first because she would just cry, but eventually she was fine with it. Hang in there! I remember being SO frustrated, and being so TIRED!!! I still feel to this day that it helped to stick to our guns early. Even though it was harder. Now the girls sleep 12 hours a night! (Mostly...)

Also. We used CIO and it always and still works. Both girls got used to each others crying. Even now at nap times Bella usually cries a bit before napping and Alyssa will fall asleep listening to it. I just let them both CIO a while and they eventually stop and fall asleep on their own. It is a rare occasion when both girls wake at the same time....keep in mind it does happen from time to time. This could totally be a personality thing though. These being my first babies I don't really know. Maybe they are heavy sleepers? IDK. It works for us though!

As far as tandum feeding goes... I was an exclusive bottle feeder after the first month (not by choice). I had the same issue though. I could tandum feed for a few months but then after that it was all over. I had to stagger feedings until the girls were steady enough to sit up a bit. Now I feed them on my couch with a girl leaning up against either side. (Sort of like I'm hugging them both) Sometimes they even hold hands. Ahhh. LOL. This is the only tandum feeding I've been sucessful with because the girls are far enough apart to not fuss with each other. We started this around 6 months. It is nice to get both bottles down at the same time now. I just have to be careful that one baby doesn't try and crawl off the couch!!

Hang in there. It's still so vivid for me. If you have any questions you know you can always PM me!! GL!

[Celry]

Last night was better than the first. They ate every 3 hours for the very first time ever I was up at least twice between each feed, but i still feel a bit more rested than usual. I was awake earlier today than I have been in a long time without setting an alarm. The girls probably weigh just over and just under 10 lbs right now, so i don't expect them to go all night yet. They were funny last night because they were super angry by the time they ate. DH asked what was up with them. Usually they are super calm and not screaming when they start because they are hungry but not starving.

[Heatherjfitz]

I'm glad things went better. Isn't it crazy when a 3 hour stretch seems like a lot? LOL. Yeah 10 pounds is still too little. Just another of the hard parts about being a twin Momma. It takes so much longer to get to that point. I know it's hard to see them so hungry, but maybe they ate more which made them fuller longer? Sounds like things are starting to fall into place! Hang in there!