[dalynnrmc]

So, I've asked here before, but seeing replies on several recent sleep threads prompts me to ask again. (Not to mention the two almost-sleepless nights we had this week, resulting in my being so-tired-I-was-sick yesterday. Ugh.)


I'm breastfeeding, and co-sleeping. And I've done this before! I have three older kids. The issue is that this time I have TWINS and CANNOT, for the life of me, figure out something practical to help these babies sleep through the night. I can GET them TO sleep just fine. They just don't STAY asleep. (Those three older kids include two who are just 14 months apart. By the time the littlest was ready to sleep through the night, the older was already doing it. This both at the same time thing is nuts!!!)


And I need them to start sleeping for longer. They're a year and a half old, and I need some sleep. It doesn't have to be 10 hours, but, really. Something has to give.


Does *anyone* have *any* practical suggestions? I feel like we've tried *everything* (except CIO which I won't do, and really only makes things worse with 2 of them anyway).

Hubby is sometimes home at night, sometimes not. We have a pack n play in the bedroom that we rotate both babies in and out of periodically, just for room's sake. We recently acquired a toddler bed mattress and hope to set it up between the bed and the wall to extend the size of our bed so we don't feel like we have to move a baby OUT of the bed as much -- because they really do both sleep better when we let them stay in the bed. (I get SO MUCH more sleep when hubby is working nights. LOL)


But, at a year and a half, I'm still having to get up every 2-4 hours, all night long. Please, please, please help me!!! I don't know who else to ask! I get told to "try the 2 pillow method and ignore it."

[mgm78]

how long do they sleep at a stretch? is one waking the other? what is waking them up? do they nurse? Do they nurse to sleep?

[Jule'sMomInOR]

I was wondering the same thing about if you're nursing them back to sleep every time they wake up. Maybe if what I'm doing works for me, it will work for you. It looks like our babies are about the same age. I would also be going crazy if I had twins. You are an amazing mama.

[miamor]

i have no words of help, but you are amazing for doing this for your babies.. i hope you find some relief (and sleep) soon.

[Anna2ds]

Can you nurse one baby to sleep then sneak away for the night, nurse the other baby to sleep and sneak away for the night again?
Sometimes if they are not in the same room as mom they wont wake up as much.

[.Katie.]

Are you comfortable keeping them awake in the evenings longer and maybe shortening their naptime a bit?

[Kathode]

Dalynn, you ROCK!

I know this is not the most AP suggestion, but my boy never did like co-sleeping. My ten-year-old girl was with us until she was past three and will still jump into bed with us at the least provocation but my boy, he needs his space. Despite all my best efforts to get him to settle in our bed, he really only sleeps well alone in his own bed. Have you tried putting one or both down somewhere other than your bed?

[Purrrrrrr]

Just a shot in the dark, but since they like sleeping in your bed and they like sleeping with other people, do they sleep in the pack n' play together? I read an article about twin babies in the NICU and when they were kept together, they were happier and healthier. Maybe let them sleep together for one night in there and see how it goes? I just have one and my son doesn't do sleep very well. You're a hero corralling two (plus more!).