Sleep?

Our twin girls were sleeping thru the night every now and then (around 3-4 months) and I just figured it would be a matter of time before they would do it every night, but that hasn't happened! They are 7months old and on average take (1) 2hr nap during the day and a 45 min late afternoon. (We have a sitter at home and this has been their pattern)

We usually feed them, bathe them, and have them down by 7-730. They usually wake up at 930, 1230am, 230am, and sometimes 430am. They usually will take a bottle at all times, don't drink it all, but still drink most. We have tried pacis and they are NOT having it. We have gotten books on sleeping and I followed "The NO-Cry sleep solution, but now I think that is why they are up so much...they need that bottle for comfort to sleep. I really wouldn't mind one feeding a night, but 3-4 times a night x2babies =8times! This is killing my husband and I. (Not to mention, my husband goes to work at 3am)

Any suggestions? I know that maybe we should let them CIO...but they seem to wake each other up every time they wake up...and they are in separate rooms.

Would LOVE to hear your suggestions, comments, hints, etc. Anyone else EVER go thru this?
:headbang: :itwins:

 

I don't know that I have a solution. My babies will go 8-9 hrs most nights and then get up 3-4 times other nights. But I do agree that by 7 mo I would expect them to do it every night. With my last set, it was 6 min and DS would still wake up and I had to do CIO.

Do you do all bottles ( no breast feeding?) Do you give them a bottle to put them to sleep? If that is what you do, I would stop that ASAP. That would be the first habit that I would break. I don't think they know how to put themselves to sleep. Here is what I do to teach my kids to put themselves to sleep. 1-Play music when they go to sleep (and even all night when I am trying to get them to sleep through the night) 2-Dress them warm so I know the cold doesn't wake them. Babies get cold while sleeping. 3-Make sure they are really full before bed so I know they won't wake up hungry for a while. 4-I give my kids snugglies(lovey) to sleep with every night. Something to hold, rub, etc to help put them back to sleep.

Don't know if any of these will help, but hopefully.

 

I would try a couple of things. First I would ask your babysitter to move up the afternoon nap a bit so it's not late afternoon, but more mid-afternoon. Then I would put the babes down at about 6:30 if possible. Then I would start weaning them off night feedings. It sounds like they still do need some of the night feedings, so pick a couple of set times for bottles, always wake both at the same time for feedings to minimize the number of times you have to get up, and every other time they wake you can go and check on them, replace pacis, rub their back, but let them fuss a bit and see if they'll go back to sleep.

I know that there are many mamas on here who worked through their sleep problems without having to do CIO, but for us CIO was the best option and it ultimately led to us being able to get a good night's sleep. So if you do it, don't feel bad, just know that you will be working toward a more rested and relaxed family.

 

I agree with both pp's. I would wake the other when one wakes just save you trips.

My pedi suggested giving water during night feedings, she said babies won't wake up for just water. We started by diluting the formula/BM until it became all water, one of my guys would drink some and still fuss, the other fussed instantly with the water... then we would put them back in their cribs and let them CIO. We had already estabilished CIO for naps & bedtime (around 5months), but for some reason they got up during the night out of habit, not hunger. They were sleeping 8-9hrs by 6 months. They were still getting up at 3-4am until 9 months! I thought the night feedings were never going to end. After about 3 days of just water and letting them fuss, we stopped going in there at all during the night (they would get more upset if we went in and didn't pick them up). We would hear them on the monitor, ignore it (unless it sounded like a night terror or scared cry), and they would fall back to sleep. They are now 11 months and sleeping 8pm-630am. We start bedtime at 7, but can hear them talking until nearly 8pm. They also take 2 naps, 1.5hrs each during the day.

CIO is tough, but I agree, it will make you a much happier mama in the end!!

 

I will chat with our sitter and see if she can work on the mid afternoon nap. I had to do the CIO method with my first son because he too never slept thru the night until he was 10months old. It worked for us with him, but it's much harder with two because they don't always wake up at the same times and/or wake each other up. I will definitely get started on a set time for feedings at night and letting them cry a little bit. Thanks a bunch for your advice.

 

Thanks! I am going to try that tonight! We are going to let them cry a little tonight and work our way up. I think the watered down bottles is a good idea...so about how long did it take? I know it won't happen over night, but when there is a light at the end of the tunnel, you have something to look forward too!

 

I was nursing at first so I started nursing for less and less time, and I would stick a bottle (formula/EBM) in their mouths and pass them to DH. Then we started just formula/EBM and then started diluting it. We started diluting and did that for about a week and a half...about a half ounce at a time, i.e. 4 oz bottle became 3.5oz formula + .5oz water...and slowly became .5oz formula + 3.5oz water, and eventually all water. They never drank all of it. We offered it, and if they fussed we just put them back in their cribs and let them put themselves back to sleep. It was tough, but they finally learned to keep sleeping. It is a beautiful thing!! I never thought I was going to get solid sleep again. It will happen for you!! Best of luck!!