How do you get your twins in crib by yourself?

This seems like such a silly question but this seems to be my biggest obstacle in getting my LO's off of me and into their cribs for naps and nighttime (other than them staying asleep when I lay them down <_< ). My current situation is they have been sleeping on the EZ 2 Nurse Twin pillow on me on the couch since they were about a week old (started when DD went on bili light belt and it was just easier and we all get such great sleep (except that I sleep sitting up ) that it has been tough to change. I can get them in their swings for a good majority of their naps but what I do is sit on a full size couch so I can lay one baby down carefully (we've been nursing to sleep) while I get the other one in and then come back for the other one. That could work for naps and bed but the bedrooms are upstairs and the couch is downstairs and we have 3 big dogs so I don't leave the babies unattended. All we have in the nursery is a rocking chair which the nursing pillow doesn't fit. I'm going to start using bottles for bedtime so DH can help me get them to bed but naps and in the middle of the night I'm pretty much on my own. Yes DH could get up with me but sometimes it's more trouble than it's worth and I end up getting frustrated and mad. It's easier if I have a plan to do it myself. We thought about getting a futon for the nursery but that's a lot of money. SO I'm looking for ideas from you all....how do you do it? If you have any ideas for me I'd love that too. Thanks in advance!!!

 

Its not silly, its logistics
Well, when both babes were on the EZ2nurse pillow in a double clutch position and I wanted to get them into the crib, this is what I did: I would scoop up both babies and hold them against my body, like a football, and slide them up to my chest where I could put both arms around both babies. Then I would just stand up and shake the pillow off ( I never clipped the belt) and stepped over it and carried them to the crib. Then with the front of the crib down and the mattress in the highest position, I would bend over at the waist and set both of them down then move them away from each other. It got better when we switched to a double cradle feeding position, and when we seperated them into theri own cribs I still did the same thing, but after setting both of them down at once then pick up one and move her into the other crib.

 

i have no answer but your dd and i have the same name lol. except my mom spelled it josalyn good luck with everything!!

 

QUOTE(LMW1015 @ Jan 25 2009, 02:19 PM) [snapback]1161226[/snapback]
This seems like such a silly question but this seems to be my biggest obstacle in getting my LO's off of me and into their cribs for naps and nighttime (other than them staying asleep when I lay them down <_< ). My current situation is they have been sleeping on the EZ 2 Nurse Twin pillow on me on the couch since they were about a week old (started when DD went on bili light belt and it was just easier and we all get such great sleep (except that I sleep sitting up ) that it has been tough to change. I can get them in their swings for a good majority of their naps but what I do is sit on a full size couch so I can lay one baby down carefully (we've been nursing to sleep) while I get the other one in and then come back for the other one. That could work for naps and bed but the bedrooms are upstairs and the couch is downstairs and we have 3 big dogs so I don't leave the babies unattended. All we have in the nursery is a rocking chair which the nursing pillow doesn't fit. I'm going to start using bottles for bedtime so DH can help me get them to bed but naps and in the middle of the night I'm pretty much on my own. Yes DH could get up with me but sometimes it's more trouble than it's worth and I end up getting frustrated and mad. It's easier if I have a plan to do it myself. We thought about getting a futon for the nursery but that's a lot of money. SO I'm looking for ideas from you all....how do you do it? If you have any ideas for me I'd love that too. Thanks in advance!!!


More so than the dogs (who I assume could be put in another room) I'd be worried that the baby on the couch would choose that moment to learn to roll over, and would eventually roll off the couch.
Now, I don't BF, so this may be of no help whatsoever, but we do do alot of tandem holding and cuddling to sleep. What I do this:
When I'm getting ready to offload them into their cribs (they sleep seperately due to the type of baby monitors we have) I scooch them slowly to the position of having them each clutched to my chest, one on one shoulder the other on my other shoulder. After getting to a standing position, I'm able to cross my arms, so I have a really, really good hold on both babies with both arms (My arms are crossed in such a way that each baby has one of my hands on her head and my forearm across her back with her butt sort of seated in my elbow). It's a good secure hold for going up or down the stairs. This arm position enables me to then sort of "shrug" each baby down into their crib, keeping them very close to me as I lower them in. Lather, rinse, repeat with the next baby!
God, I hope that made any kind of sense. Lol...(*I* know what I mean, do *you* know what I mean?)

 

Thanks for the responses so far. It helps to hear what everyone else does. Oh and I wouldn't leave one on the couch to take the other one up. I just do that with the swing because it's right next to the couch. I'll have to try the scooping up and laying down. They'll eventually figure out they have to stay asleep in there right?? I've tried before getting them off me and they always wake up within 5 minutes and I have to start over and before I know it 3 hours have gone by, I haven't slept, and I get frustrated and give up and go back to the couch. My body is really starting to hurt and my quality of sleep is getting pretty bad so I need to get them in their cribs. Thanks again for your replies!!

 

QUOTE(LMW1015 @ Jan 26 2009, 01:35 PM) [snapback]1162169[/snapback]
They'll eventually figure out they have to stay asleep in there right??


Yes, they will get used to being put down however you do it. If I had them both in my arms, I would just lean over the crib and slide one down my body the best way I could and then swaddle them up and then do the same with the other. Or I would swaddle them ahead of time to and that sometimes made it easier.

 

I don't know if you swaddle them or not, but I've found that I can carry them both to the crib in the criss cross way as above, and lay them down. But, then I need to pick one up again to settle them back down. I guess it all becomes part of the routine

 

Can you feed them upstairs in your bed? (At least at night) and then lay one on your bed or in a bassinet next to the bed and take the first and then the 2nd?

I used to pick them both up and carry them, but that was easier after they weren't so floppy...(better neck control!) You'll work it out!! :hug:

 

QUOTE(bekkiz @ Jan 26 2009, 11:46 AM) [snapback]1162325[/snapback]
I don't know if you swaddle them or not, but I've found that I can carry them both to the crib in the criss cross way as above, and lay them down. But, then I need to pick one up again to settle them back down. I guess it all becomes part of the routine

I don't normally swaddle because they hate it. The only time I can do it with the right effect is when they are in freak out mode during the witching hour/evening fussiness then The Happiest Baby on the Block routine works like a charm. If they're not in freak out mode it makes them scream. Maybe we'll try it with laying them down. This morning DD was awake and DS was asleep and I needed to put away clothes in their room so I put them in their respective cribs (carrying both and I put DD down first since she was awake). DS stayed asleep about 10 minutes but I think he did wake himself by startling. We'll give the swaddling a try for a few nights and see if that helps.

 

QUOTE(~* dfaut *~ @ Jan 26 2009, 11:51 AM) [snapback]1162331[/snapback]
Can you feed them upstairs in your bed? (At least at night) and then lay one on your bed or in a bassinet next to the bed and take the first and then the 2nd?

I used to pick them both up and carry them, but that was easier after they weren't so floppy...(better neck control!) You'll work it out!! :hug:

I'm thinking in bed will be easiest and the plan is to have DH take the first one to get done and get them back to bed and then I'll handle the other one. We'll see how it goes. In all seriousness I asked him to please help me get back into bed and get them into their crib(s). I am just really suffering from the quality of sleep I'm getting. I have quantity but the quality is really starting to matter

In any case I can probably manage to do what you're saying. They are getting pretty good neck control but are still pretty floppy when asleep or sleepy. Thanks!

 

My couch is downstairs, too, so I feel your pain! When they were tiny, I sat on the floor in the nursery with the EZ2N pillow and two small pillows under the back for support. When one fell asleep, I had a fuzzy blanket on the floor in front of me and I would set that baby down on it. I found that they liked the fuzzy softness so it wouldn't wake them up. Then when the second baby fell asleep, I would get up, carefully walk around the baby on the floor, put one in, scoop up the other from the floor and put in the crib, and go to bed myself.

Those of you who could balance them both while leaning over, :bow2: !! I'm impressed. When mine got a little bigger and better at latching, I started sitting in bed with the EZ2N pillow with the back support piece under the middle front to keep them up high enough. Then when they fell asleep, I just set one on the bed surrounded by pillows and QUICKLY took them one at a time to their room (next door). Now they don't fall asleep nursing any more so when they are done, I just bring them in awake...a whole new battle! GL!

 

QUOTE(mamabee718 @ Jan 26 2009, 03:13 PM) [snapback]1162693[/snapback]
My couch is downstairs, too, so I feel your pain! When they were tiny, I sat on the floor in the nursery with the EZ2N pillow and two small pillows under the back for support. When one fell asleep, I had a fuzzy blanket on the floor in front of me and I would set that baby down on it. I found that they liked the fuzzy softness so it wouldn't wake them up. Then when the second baby fell asleep, I would get up, carefully walk around the baby on the floor, put one in, scoop up the other from the floor and put in the crib, and go to bed myself.

Those of you who could balance them both while leaning over, :bow2: !! I'm impressed. When mine got a little bigger and better at latching, I started sitting in bed with the EZ2N pillow with the back support piece under the middle front to keep them up high enough. Then when they fell asleep, I just set one on the bed surrounded by pillows and QUICKLY took them one at a time to their room (next door). Now they don't fall asleep nursing any more so when they are done, I just bring them in awake...a whole new battle! GL!

That is a big help! I think I'll try the bed first because honestly I think I'm going to move 1 crib into our room until they get a little older. Call it mommy separation anxiety They choke once in awhile ...I don't know if it's on spit up or what but it freaks me out and they've done it twice in their sleep and I'm afraid I won't hear them if they're in another room - even with the monitor. I'm going to get some hopeful reassurance from the Pedi tomorrow at their 2 month appt.