2 Month Old Twins and Nap Schedule

I have 2 1/2 year old twins and worked on getting them on the same schedule for everything right away. It might take a while but if you don't then you spend the entire day and night awake with one of them. Just keep at it, it will all come together!

Good luck!

I don't have twins, but I know that almost always the morning nap is established first, at sometime between 9 and 10am, so I'd start with that... the afternoon nap will naturally follow once you have the morning nap set. And I'd keep using the swaddle if it works and they like it.

First off, I wanna congratulate u on the birth of your twins, I too am a twin. And also being able to still swaddle ur babies is WONDERFUL. Go ahead and put them on a regular nap schedule and be consistent to the point where when they are older, they will climb in the bed themselves. It works, trust me.

I'm a mom of 1 year old twins and we found the book "On Becoming Babywise" when they were 2 months old. I wish I'd found it when they were born! They've been on an amazing sleep schedule since then, including sleeping through the night at 7 weeks and 2 1/2 months.

It's a short book-I read while nursing and once we got into a 3-nap feed, awake, sleep schedule (3 hour rotation from start to finish), it was amazing. Get going now!!

We swaddled until 4-5 months when they started breaking out, I'd keep it for a while, their natural "startle" reflex will go away in time.

Good luck!

not too early at all!!
try using the Baby Whisperer's EASY method for a schedule, and the Happiest Baby on the Block 5 s's method. Those two combined will make cio not be a needed thing (at that age)
EASY - when the baby wakes up it Eats. After you feed it, then it has Activity - bouncy seat, tummy time, sitting up and playing with toys, swing, exersaucer, etc. When the baby gets fussy check the B's - boredom, butt or burp. If it's none of those then off to Sleep. Don't wait for the baby to do more than get the tiniest bit fussy, then see what is causing the fusses - if it's just that they needed their diaper change do that, but if it's not the activity is boring, the butt is dirty or they have to burp, then put them down. This may happen after as short as 45 minutes, don't freak, it really means they are tired.
Now, to get them to sleep use the 5 s's. Swaddle the baby, hold the baby on their side and sway as they suck on something (paci, your knuckle or their finger/thumb) and make a shush noise. This will calm your baby. When the baby is calm, but not asleep yet, keeping them swaddled lay them in the bed. I like to pat them instead of sway after a minute or two cause you can still pat after they are put down but you can't sway, so pat the baby and continue patting gradually decreasing it as you put them in the bed. Also continue the shushing as you put them down, again gradually getting quieter.
If you do these two you will find a well rested, easily managed baby in no time. ((well babies in your case!!))

R.,

I'd definitely start trying to get them on a schedule. I have 10 month old twin boys, and remember naps still being a challenge at this age. We used the Weissbluth method (babies need to be asleep no more than 3 hours after waking, put them down before they are over tired), and with some patience & persistence, got our boys sleeping like champs. I think this is about the age we stopped swaddling as well, because 1 of our boys was strong enough to break the swaddle. Once we stopped swaddling, we had to move them to separate cribs, as they would scootch around wake each other up -- but I know lots of people are able to keep their twins together way longer than we were.

Good luck!

Hi R.
I'm a mom of 2 year old twins and I wish I started their sleep schedule earlier, so I would suggest starting now! The sooner they're sleeping at the same time (more or less) the more sanity you'll have. Also, it really is good for children to have scheduled sleep time, it seems in my non-scientific data, that they sleep better. Lastly, it will help them to get used to tuning out each others' cries. My kids can sleep through the other's crying beginning to mid nap - amazes me!

My little girl really seemed to need swaddling or she would thrash her arms and legs about and not sleep. So we swaddled her in some way until she was 3 months old. My son could pass out any time, so he was in sleep sacks earlier.

Hope this helps, if you have any other twin questions, feel free to throw them past me. I'm not an expert per se, but have had lots of questions, frustrations, solutions and experience!

Best, H.
p.s. by the way, it really does get easier the older they get!

My advice is it is neer to early to try, but dont get your hopes up. :) It could take a week or a few months. I have 3 kids. (two under the age of two) and each has been different , my 8 month old it seems every time i think i hae a schedule something changes. But my 2 year old has been on a schedule since she was 4 months.
Napping at the same time is great. So if you could get that settled soon itll be easier for you! :)

HI R.,

My twins are older now--(tells you that you get through it!)
I found that it helped a lot putting them on a schedule. if not, it makes it almost impossibe to get anything accomplished and you don't need more sleep deprivation on top of it. I got the advise from the nurses in the neo-natal area. We actually started putting them on a schedule from the time we took them home -(at 2 weeks). Part of their schedule had to do with feedings too. they were preemies --so we had to consider that as well--at least for the 1st. 4 months. All kids are different, so you can gradually make the changes that work best for you guys. it took a couple of weeks to get into a decent routine--trial and error, but then it really helped
hang in there.

Hey,

I have 12 month old triplets and I feel your pain. Mine were always on the same feeding schedule, but during the daytime, I couldn't get them on the same nap schedule. Believe me I tried. It finally came together at 4 months for us and they are still on the same feeding/nap schedule which is WONDERFUL! They will get used to the crying and snooze right through each other's noises. Were they premature? Mine were 7 1/2 weeks early.

Hi,
We have 8 1/2 month twin girls. YES! Get them on a sleep schedule ASAP. Control their am wake-up time - don't let them sleep past 7am. Nap them after 2 hours or less of being awake. At this age they might need 3 naps with the 3rd nap only being about 30-45 minutes. Have you read Weissbluth's book, Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child? It's a sleep training book that is very helpful.
Are they breaking out of the swaddle??? It's not too early to use sleepsacks. Our girls began breaking free around 6 weeks so they've been in a sleepsack since then.

If you have any questions please email me.
D.

Hi R.,
I'm a proud mommy of twin boys too! I agree with the other responses when it comes to keeping the boys on the same schedule for eating/sleeping. I read the book Babywise to help me with scheduling. Basically, when one baby woke up I also woke the other one. They ate, had wake time, back to sleep again. I did have to separate them for their naps. One sleeps in my room (playpen) and the other sleeps in his crib during naps. At night, they both share a room in their own cribs. You can train them. It just takes time, but it will be worth it if you can get the boys on the same schedule. Best of luck!
Ev

Hi!

I have one year old twin boys. If you're ready to try to get them on a similar schedule, go for it. I think mine were on a consistent nap schedule around five months, but every baby (or babies!) is different. Routines are key, and if they're ready to be put on a nap schedule, great! Just don't worry too much if it doesn't seem to be working just yet.

We had a tough transition from the swaddling to sleep sacks, but after a few nights without them, they were sleeping fine.

Good luck!