How in the world

when you're by yourself? I nurse them and have both of them sleeping pretty good, but then when I go to get up out of my chair and lay them in their bassinetts, they both wake up. I don't have a recliner and I use a boppy. Nursing them in bed is not an option as I have 2 big dogs (thanks to dh ) and dh in bed, so there's no room. The boppy doesn't work very well on the couch without pillows and all that mess. I'm so frustrated. I end up not being able to sleep any! Getting them to fall asleep isn't a problem, but then they won't let me put them down. What do I do? Anyone pros have some advice? I feel like I'm losing my mind carrying around two babies all day long while trying to take care of a three year old too. :help: Thanks ladies!

 

I dont have any advice (sorry!) just :hug99:!!!

 

They will learn, I had that problem too and it is slowly getting better (with the emphasis on slowly). I often end up standing up, then holding them and swaying for another minute or two to get them back down before I lay them down. Also, if I know that one is sleepier and more out than the other, I will put that one down first, then hold the other for another minute or two before putting him/her down.

 

I found it helpful to swaddle them. I nursed them both (most of the time seperately) and then would put them down after they had fallen asleep. It does get better!

 

I would swaddle too and then maybe try a paci to help soothe?? Maybe some white noise in the background. Or maybe they would like to sleep in a bouncy or in a swing?? Do anything that you need to, to get some sleep since you cant sleep during the day. My DH and I ended up just sleeping with a baby on our chest for weeks until we could get them into the crib. No bad habits.

 

I only tandem nursed them when I was in a pinch and they were both crying or something. Most of the time I would nurse, burp, change,swaddle, and give a paci get him settled and start on the other. Mine have never really stayed asleep after nursing they almost always wake up. This is probably the hardest time where they are just crying for no reason. Mine LOVED their swings at that age, not much before that though. I could pretty much count on them staying quiet if they had a paci in their swing. Mine really didn't sleep in their cribs until about 3 months. :hug99:

 

I am in your world just a few weeks farther along. If I am objective about it, the last 2 weeks have brought about huge changes in going down and staying down at night. Day is another story.

I am lucky and my DH is willing to help a lot but lately I have been on my own. I keep one in a bouncy chair (within reach of my foot!) while I nurse the other. I just kept trying things and each of ours needs different things - and the things change as they get older. Here is what we went through so far to get them to at least sleep in a crib. Fan on high, white noise machine (ours like the ocean), dark room, dark hallway so when I open the door it isn't bright, and rocking until just sleepy, hitting the right time for bedtime. Mine never stay asleep when they fall asleep nursing. For DS we swaddle, paci, reassure often and let him fuss. For DD we have to keep her upright for a bit, put her down very sleepy and/or use her carseat to get her sleepy enough and never let her fuss. It drives us crazy too. Everyone says it will get better.....doesn't really help right now does it? Post if you figure something new to try!

By the way I hate using a boppy. I bought an EZ 2 nurse for tandem but I really love the My Breastfriend for single nursing. It gives great support so if you need to move/bend you can.

 

I am not much help either ... just wanted to tell you that this will get easier. It just took time for us. I don't have any other kids ... just a dog ... I can't tell you how many times I went to tandem nurse and made sure I had the phone, water, a snack, and the TV remote in case they fell asleep. I have an EZ-2-Nurse Pillow (which is SO MUCH better than the Boppy for tandem ... I use my Boppy at night when I one-on-one) and if they fell asleep, the pillow would support them and I would just eat, watch TV, talk on the phone ... whatever ... until they woke up. I have sat in that chair for 2 and 1/2 hours before. That is how desperate I was to get them to actually nap. We had colic babies. I watched my dog pee on the floor before b/c I wasn't about to get up to let him out for fear of waking a baby. They don't fall asleep nursing anymore but it is still easier b/c things have begun to amuse them (the ceiling fan was the first thing ... now they are bored with that ... but when they were younger, I could lay them under it and turn it off and on for an hour and they would watch it.) Now I can leave them for a bit in their bouncers watching Baby Einestein or leave them on their playmat ... they still aren't amused for long ... but it gives you time to say, make lunch for you and your three year old ... for now, I would say ... enlist some "baby holders" ... friends/family/babysitters ... I have a babysitter who comes twice a week to just help me manage the two ... I can't imagine having a toddler too. I don't know how you do it!

 

swaddled them at night, swings during the day! They get the picture eventually...