Bedtime problems

Okay, my boys just turned 3 mths old on Saturday and are driving me CRAZY at bedtime. They are screaming bloody murder whenever we put them to bed (only at night, every other time, they can soothe themselves to sleep with the aid of a pacifier). Part of my problem is that one will want to take an earlier nap and the other a later nap. Then in order to try and hit them at the same time, we split the difference. This is the only way I can think of to keep them on the same schedule. They will be fast asleep when I put them in their crib, then they wake up and scream (and sometimes wake the other up, just in case he wasn't sleeping). The past two nights I've had to put the vacuum on in order to calm them down. I don't want to let them CIO (though I've tried for 5 min or so), but I can tell they are just scamming me because they break into grins when I go in there. I've tried various bedtimes, but if I wait till later then they take too late of a nap. If I go earlier then they act like I'm poking hot needles in their arms. What do I do?

If this doesn't make sense, please let me know as I am frazzled and frustruated, so sorry.

 

For us, it helped to get them on the same nap schedule and keep our daily schedule consistent. At 3 months mine were too young for CIO. Would it help to put them to bed awake but sleepy? I am not sure if you have white noise machine, lullabies going, or a fan going but since the sound of the vacuum calms them down, maybe having something permanent in there might help them soothe to sleep. Good luck!

 

QUOTE(itsnancycozzi @ Jun 28 2009, 08:29 PM) [snapback]1372808[/snapback]
For us, it helped to get them on the same nap schedule and keep our daily schedule consistent. At 3 months mine were too young for CIO. Would it help to put them to bed awake but sleepy? I am not sure if you have white noise machine, lullabies going, or a fan going but since the sound of the vacuum calms them down, maybe having something permanent in there might help them soothe to sleep. Good luck!



I'm not sure how to do that since they usually just take naps in their bouncers whenever they want too. If I have them on the same eating schedule and at night they wake within 15 minutes of one another.

 

I would start trying to get them on a nap schedule during the day. They are probably old enough for that at 3 months (if I'm remembering right). I just watched to see when they were napping most often, usually after a bottle, say 10:00 am & 2:00 pm or whatever, then I tried to make sure to keep them awake until that particular time so that they would be napping at the same time everyday & built a schedule around that. A nap schedule will probably help them to sleep better at night and will help you too because they will probably nap for fewer, longer periods of time during the day. I also second the white noise machine, it worked wonders for my 2.

 

do they have gas? that's what was bothering my little guy.

 

They're probably just very tired and that's why they have a harder time settling themselves. I am big fan of consistent (to keep control of your life and your day) naps at this age, in their crib (not just everywhere especially when they're getting older) and early bed times. I put mine to bed at 6.00 pm from 2-2 1/2 months onwards because I couldn't deal with the drama anymore in the evening (besides the fact that I had to put a 2 yo to bed at 7.00 pm as well). It saved my life ... and I kept my sanity.

At 3 mo mine did 3 naps, at around 9 am, around noon and around 3 pm (I changed all this into 2 naps at 9 am and 1 pm at 4 months because my oldest was sleeping 1 to 3 when the twins were up?!), combined with a 6 pm bed time. Highly recommend it.

 

At 3 months old, mine slept anywhere and anytime they wanted. It was too hard for me to keep them awake and try and get them on a schedule. We had some rough nights too. I would give them a bottle and they would be passed out and then getting them into the crib they would wake. I would just try and let them suck on a paci if they would take it and rub their backs and turn on their soothers to try and help them get to sleep. If all of the above didnt work, I would rock them to sleep. Not much help, but I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone in the frustration department. :hug: