night time routine

I guess I would have some of the youngest in the "summer" group if late Sept counts as summer. Although I must say it will be great to read and learn from all of you that are only a little ahead of us!!!

when did you start a nighttime routine and how did you transition? Right now we let them do what they want to do inbetween on demand feedings. If one wakes to feed we try our hardest to wake the other. They are sleeping really long periods in the day at least ( a little concerning seeing as they are getting only BM and I think they should want to feed more often).

I didn't plan on worrying about nighttime routines until they are about 2 months old....does that sound right?

Am I crazy or does is seem like there isn't time to do all of the things you are supposed to "do" with infants when there are two of them?

 

I never really decided to do a schedule...I just go with the flow and let it fall in place; being a stay at home mom allows me that freedom though...Even when I worked after my first son, I hated scheduling b/c as soon as I got him in one, it would change (or so it seemed)!!!
Eventually a pattern sort of emerged for the twins; but as far as the nights go...it's anyone's guess! Sometimes they'll eat every 3 hours, sometimes they'll sleep up to 7 hours (not usually)...during the day it's eating every 3 hours most of the time...so that's as close to a schedule as I have so far!
As far as getting done what you're "supposed to do" ...no, you're definitely not crazy, it seems that way because it IS that way...it's nearly impossible to function a normal household especially if you also have other kids besides the twins! It's no wonder moms end their days feeling guilty, something always needs more attention than you have to give...if you do the housework you feel you neglected the babies...if you play with the babies all day, your older children feel left out...if you get the kids down for a nap all together and cuddle up in the bath with a good book, your husband wonders why you're not in bed with him...UGH! I'm just glad I have too much to do instead of not enough, know what I mean?

 

I fit into that late September "summer babies" category as well. We have some sembelance of a routine, but not really. During the day they eat every 2-3 hours, usually they both will wake up around the same time so it works. At night, when one wakes I'll wake the other and feed them both at the same time, it's about every 2.5-4 hours. Our bedtime routine looks like this, bath around 7:30-8 (if it's bath night) bottle around 8:30-9, then they get swaddled and put to bed. DH stays up and feeds them around 10:30-11:30 (whenever they wake up), and then I do the night feedings. I don't think the babies get that it's a routine, but I figure if we start now and keep it consistent it will help them transition when they are older.

 

My Sept. boys have only been home for a week since they were in NICU for 4 weeks, but we've got feedings on a schedule right now. They eat every three hours and thanks to the NICU time, they are well established in that. At the beginning of Nov. we'll be going to a higher calorie formula (I supplement since BM isn't as much as they need). When that happens, we'll have to change the schedule since they will be able to go 4 hours between feedings. I do wake them up to feed, but they are usually starting to stir then anyway.

I was thinking of starting the night routine around 2 months as well. One of my friends with a singleton said she would not stimulate her son during the night feedings so he would know that daytime is playtime and night is for sleeping. She would keep the lights low and speak calmly only when needed. I'm going to start doing that Nov. 1. Hope this helps!

 

I always wake mine up at 3 hours during the day.I want their long sleep at night when I am sleeping too. At night I would feed both when one woudl wake up. It was never more than 3 1/2 hours. At about 2 months I started letting them sleep as long as possible and not waking the other one up. This was harder for about a week. MY DD started going 4-5 hoours but is no up to 7-8 hours and my DS will usually go only 4-5 for the first feeding then 3 after that. He is getting better and even went 7 hours last night. I decided to do this so she would learn to sleep longer even if he wasn't. I am so glad I have done this.

Also I have always put them to bed at 10:00 with me. I know a lot of people put them to bed at 7 or 8 but I would rather them sleep when I am sleeping then I will get more rest. Even now with them going to bed at 10 my DD will sleep until 5 or 6 and I don't feel like I am getting up all night. As they are sleeping longer I will move bedtime back. This works well for me and for friends of mine with only singles.