When can life return to (almost) normal?

amother ↓

Thu, Nov 17 2011, 9:30 pm

Our twins are one a year old.
Of course it is expected and understood that things in the bedroom will be different and limited when you have two babies you are caring for.
However, I feel like it's too much already.
They are a year old! Why are we still so exhausted and can't move at night??
We want to be together but unfortunately it is not happening very often for we can barely move once they are finally asleep.
What is the answer? I am trying to arrange some more help for me during the day so I won't be so exhausted at night, but still they don't sleep through the night and wake up very early, causing us both to just be so knocked out all the time!!!
Advice? Ideas?
When can things get semi normal again?

sarahla ↓

Thu, Nov 17 2011, 9:36 pm

I think its time to sleep-train them Smile

from 7pm-7am or whatever works for you.
Are they breastfed or formula? if formula it will be much easier to sleep-train them if not it might take longer but as im sure they're eating solid its not cruel to sleep train at that age

if you want to sleep train and need help please let me know and I can help you

good luck Smile

↑ amother

Thu, Nov 17 2011, 10:56 pm

OP here.
I'm willing to commit, that's not my problem!! Trust me, I'm committed and give them every ounce of me...

I am breastfeeding and I don't want my supply to stop so I am still nursing at night...

Is there anything else I can do?

They BH go to sleep on their own, and just wake up like 2 times between 7pm and 545 am.

Anyway to help them sleep later?

I can't do this anymore!!

↑ sarahla

Thu, Nov 17 2011, 11:01 pm

I dont think that your milk supply will stop if you stop nursing at night...or al teast its not going to affect your day supply, you just wont be making milk at night
if you reall ydont want to give up night feeding then 1) either pump your milk or 2) forget about sleep training them at night

Can you give them toys/bottle in their crib... that might buy you a couple of min Smile

ellie23 ↓

Sun, Dec 11 2011, 9:15 pm

wow how are you still sane???I am amazed by this! I sleep trained my twins by 14 weeks old to sleep 10-12 hours straight..I couldnt handle the wake ups every 3 hours anymore and was given the okay from the doctor that they didnt need nighttime feedings anymore...I actually started teaching them what nighttime was all about from 6 weeks old and kept the same routine going so they cried very little by the time I stopped the feedings...nothing that a paci and a pat on the back didnt fix...

at 1 years old they should be sleeping about 12 hours straight at night...I agree with the above poster you wll only stop producing milk at night but will still have during the day for them....try giving them pacis (if they take them) and sippy cups or bottles with water and thats it....if they are being fed twice during the night try easing them into not being fed at night anymore by eliminating one feeding and then 2 weeks later eliminating the other...there may be some tears but if you are committed to teaching them how to sleep a long quality night sleep you can hang in there!

good luck!

shany

Mon, Feb 27 2012, 10:22 pm

ellie23 wrote:

how did you train them to sleep ten to twelve hours at night mine are fifteen weeks old and bottle feed one sleeps nne hour and one still wakes up every three to four hour...

↑ ellie23

Tue, Feb 28 2012, 8:47 am

well every baby is different but what worked for my babies was routine and consistency! they really responded well when they knew what to expect. every night about 1 hour before I wanted them to go to sleep I would begin the routine of bath and bottle for each baby (I encouraged them to eat as much as possible in this feeding and they took between 6 and 9 ounces before bed. I never put cereal in their bottles). I usually found myself running a bit short on time at that point so id actually read them a story while bottlefeeding them. then it was off to bed. after the bath, I would talk to them very quietly and very little. I just read the story and the rest of the feeding was basically in silence and dim lighting. then a whispery shema and a kiss and that was that. at 12 weeks they weighed enough and had the capacity to not need food until the next morning. my son really took to sleeping 12 hours easily. my daughter took an extra week because of her tendency to lose her paci. after I found myself returning her paci eveyr few hours ta night I decided to stop returning it and see what happens. this was the hardest part but after a few nights she began sucking her thumb when she couldnt find the paci and lulling herself to sleep. now, at 8 months old, they are both still terrific sleepers thank God and are really skilled at putting themselves to sleep without mommy.

busydev

Tue, Feb 28 2012, 12:16 pm

I dont have twins but you may want to try reading the babywhisperer. she has a method of sleep training that does not include CIO. you will not lose your supply by cutting night feedings. (and she specifically answers questions for twins) if they are eating solids and feeding during the day there is no reason that a 1 year old shouldnt be sleeping thru the night.
her method is similar to ellie23