Sleeping at Night

Discussion in 'The First Year' started by idtwinstx, Dec 6, 2007.

  1. idtwinstx

    idtwinstx Well-Known Member

    When we went for our two month checkup the other day, the ped asked how the boys were sleeping at night. I told her that they were still waking up every three hours to eat. She said that with their current weights (12 pounds each) and the amount of formula they are eating they should be able to stretch that to four or five hours at night. She told me that when they wake up to eat after three hours, I should try to hold them off by putting the paci in their mouths. Now last night we tried this and needless to say that it didn't work very well. They screamed and screamed till I fed them. So here are my questions to experienced twin moms:

    1. Did you have to "train" your twins to sleep four or five hours at night, or did they just do it when they were ready?

    2. Did you wake up twin B when twin A awake to eat? When one twin wakes up I always wake the other to eat, just so I can get some sleep.

    3. How many ounces of formula were your babies taking before they were able to sleep this much?

    Thanks for any input.
     
  2. CROSSTWINS

    CROSSTWINS Well-Known Member

    QUOTE(idtwinstx @ Dec 6 2007, 02:53 PM) [snapback]523045[/snapback]
    When we went for our two month checkup the other day, the ped asked how the boys were sleeping at night. I told her that they were still waking up every three hours to eat. She said that with their current weights (12 pounds each) and the amount of formula they are eating they should be able to stretch that to four or five hours at night. She told me that when they wake up to eat after three hours, I should try to hold them off by putting the paci in their mouths. Now last night we tried this and needless to say that it didn't work very well. They screamed and screamed till I fed them. So here are my questions to experienced twin moms:

    1. Did you have to "train" your twins to sleep four or five hours at night, or did they just do it when they were ready?
    ANSWER: Mine did it on their on
    2. Did you wake up twin B when twin A awake to eat? When one twin wakes up I always wake the other to eat, just so I can get some sleep.

    Answer: yes I always wake the other baby up
    3. How many ounces of formula were your babies taking before they were able to sleep this much?
    Answer: Probably 4 to 6oz
    Thanks for any input.




    Hope this helps some. Are they taking full feedings when they wake up? You said they are 2 months right? I am pretty sure they longest mine would go was 3 hours at that time. At around 3 months I started a bedtime routine of 7pm and it took a while but they finally got it. Good luck

    Missy
     
  3. ahmerl

    ahmerl Well-Known Member

    Mine eventually did it on their own.

    I never wake either of them up. My Dh is very helpful so it is not so bad for us to just rotate turns. I feel terrible waking a sleeping baby and I was always sort of afraid my good sleeper would get in the habit of waking if I woke him when his siter woke.


    I don't remember about the formula but I do remember hearing that they don't wake because they are hungry, they wake and then realize they are hungry.

    Amy
     
  4. ssbard

    ssbard Well-Known Member

    I found that we had to really establish 4 hour feedings during the day before they could make it that long at night. Mine were about 3 months old when we got up to 4 hour intervals and mine were still lucky to make it 4 1/2 hours during the night before waking. (The paci didn't work for mine either.) At that point Parker was taking around 4 1/2 or 5 ounces and Riley took 5 1/2 or 6. We started solids at 4 1/2 months and within a few days, they were sleeping 5 or 6 hours. Then after adding a second meal of solids each day, they are sleeping from 10 pm to 7 am! I'd say work on establishing your routine during the day and "holding them off" an extra 10 minutes at a time until you are up to 4 hours or more. They will also naturally increase formula intake also with the transition.
     
  5. ssbard

    ssbard Well-Known Member

    I also always feed them at the same time so they are both on the same schedule.
     
  6. vikkimathews

    vikkimathews Well-Known Member

    Mine did it on their own around the 8/9 weeks mark -- however, my boys are HUGE (scary huge) eaters - and had put themselves on a 4 hour daytime feeding schedual at about the same time. Soon after they were streching that 5/6 hours to 7 -- now they consisently get an 8 hour strech - often 9 - and occasionally (like once a week) 10-11.
     
  7. rssumme

    rssumme Active Member

    QUOTE(idtwinstx @ Dec 6 2007, 08:53 AM) [snapback]523045[/snapback]
    When we went for our two month checkup the other day, the ped asked how the boys were sleeping at night. I told her that they were still waking up every three hours to eat. She said that with their current weights (12 pounds each) and the amount of formula they are eating they should be able to stretch that to four or five hours at night. She told me that when they wake up to eat after three hours, I should try to hold them off by putting the paci in their mouths. Now last night we tried this and needless to say that it didn't work very well. They screamed and screamed till I fed them. So here are my questions to experienced twin moms:

    1. Did you have to "train" your twins to sleep four or five hours at night, or did they just do it when they were ready?

    2. Did you wake up twin B when twin A awake to eat? When one twin wakes up I always wake the other to eat, just so I can get some sleep.

    3. How many ounces of formula were your babies taking before they were able to sleep this much?

    Thanks for any input.


    This is what worked for us...

    Take the amount you feed them when they wake up to eat at night and note it somewhere. Every three nights, drop the amount of the night feeding by 1/2 oz. Be sure to add this 1/2 oz to a daytime feeding. If you have 2 different night feeding wake ups, start with the first one. Drop 1/2 oz every three nights until it is not needed anymore. Then start on the second night feeding using the same method.

    Be sure to add the amount you take away from night feedings to the next daytime feedings. It will be much easier if they can go 4 hours between feedings durring the day.

    Ours eat 6-8 oz every four hours and only feed 4 times per day usually unless they go through a growth spurt for a few days.

    This is from a book called 12 hours of sleep by 12 weeks old. We used the method and ours were sleeping through by 11 weeks old.

    Good luck and let us know if it works.

    Edit...I just noticed yours are only 2 months old. It may be a while longer before the ol' nervous system allows them to sleep longer at night. It is perhaps a little early to start this type of training, but you are really close...
     
  8. Soon2Bmotherof3

    Soon2Bmotherof3 Well-Known Member

    QUOTE(idtwinstx @ Dec 6 2007, 09:53 AM) [snapback]523045[/snapback]
    1. Did you have to "train" your twins to sleep four or five hours at night, or did they just do it when they were ready?
    Mine just did it. Started sleeping 5 hour stretches around 2 months and sleeping straight through the night (8 hours) around 3 months although a month later I still can't count on that every night

    2. Did you wake up twin B when twin A awake to eat? When one twin wakes up I always wake the other to eat, just so I can get some sleep.
    I almost always woke the other one up since I knew that she would probably get up within the next hour or two anyway and I didn't want to have to wake up again to feed her. One or the other may have slept through the night sooner if I didn't do that, but I was trying to keep them somewhat on the same schedule so it was just easier for me to get them both up.

    3. How many ounces of formula were your babies taking before they were able to sleep this much?
    I am breastfeeding but guess based on how much I pump that they are getting about 4 ounces. I try to feed them around 10 so I have a better shot at getting them to sleep until 6. It's hit or miss. They are almost 4 months and close to 10 pounds.

    Thanks for any input.


    Sometimes when the first one wakes up in the middle of the night I do try to buy a little extra time by putting in the pacifier but it only gets me 30 minutes usually. I am guessing that they will sleep longer stretches when they are ready - hopefully soon! Good luck
     
  9. fuchsiagroan

    fuchsiagroan Well-Known Member

    I disagree with your pedi, actually. It seems too early to try to push them to go longer at night - they'll do it when they're ready, and given their age, they'll probably be ready pretty soon. That includes daytime - IMO, pushing a 2 month old to go 4 hrs between feedings is asking way, way, way too much of them. There are plenty of books out there telling you to restrict babies' feedings in order to get them to sleep - and all that proves is that the word "sleep" can sell just about any rubbish to exhausted parents. Babies have tiny stomachs, and grow insanely fast. Frequent feedings (and preferably on demand, not by the clock) are far and away the healthiest thing for them.

    Since you're bottle feeding, could your DH take over at least one feeding so you can get some sleep?

    Totally agree with you about feeding both babies at the same time, though. I always did that when mine were that little.
     
  10. Leighann

    Leighann Well-Known Member

    1. Did you have to "train" your twins to sleep four or five hours at night, or did they just do it when they were ready?
    They did it when they were ready. Around 3 months they stretched all feedings to 4 hours and did that around the clock until a little after 4 months when they dropped one of the night bottles and therefore slept from 1am until 6 or 7am.

    2. Did you wake up twin B when twin A awake to eat? When one twin wakes up I always wake the other to eat, just so I can get some sleep.
    Always! Inevitably the second girl would start to wake up while I was feeding the first anyway, but I never let one just sleep because I didn't want her to wake up a half hour after I went back to sleep. Plus my girls were/are roughly the same size so I figure they have the same nutritional needs.

    3. How many ounces of formula were your babies taking before they were able to sleep this much?
    Sorry I don't remember...
     
  11. TFine

    TFine Well-Known Member

    Mine were great sleepers from the start so I might not be of help.

    They day they came home from the hospital they did 1 5 hour stretch at night. At 5 weeks they were always doing 8 hours and since 2 months we have only had 1 night time feeding. And by 1 I mean 1. It was while we were on vacation and it was just DD.

    When one woke, I ALWAYS woke the other.

    During the day I fed them every 3 hours like clockwork. At night they were ready to sleep.
     
  12. xavier2001

    xavier2001 Well-Known Member

    Our babies just started stretching out in the last week or two, so don't worry, there is hope. They weighed 11.5 and 13 pounds at their 2 month pedi appt (10 weeks)

    1. Did you have to "train" your twins to sleep four or five hours at night, or did they just do it when they were ready?
    They just up and did it one night, first they dropped their midnight bottle, and then pushed their 2:30 bottle to 3:30 or 4, now they typically eat at 9:30, asleep by 10:15 and don't eat until 3:30/4.

    2. Did you wake up twin B when twin A awake to eat? When one twin wakes up I always wake the other to eat, just so I can get some sleep.
    DH and I each take a baby at night so that we don't have to wake one when the other eats, we were finding the one we woke up didn't eat much and then got up in a hour or two to eat again. It's funny though b/c they both started stretching their feedings at the same time and tend to wake up within 30 minutes of each other most nights.

    3. How many ounces of formula were your babies taking before they were able to sleep this much?
    DS drinks 4-5 ounces at each feeding, DD drinks 3-4. I've been keeping track and they do 7 bottles a day, I have to be sure to get 6 in before the middle of the night or they will get up twice to eat instead of once. In the afternoon they eat at 2, 4:30, 6:30, and 9:30 to make sure they get all the calories in.

    Hang in there, like I said, mine just started doing this and they went from 3 hours to 6-7 hours all of the sudden.
     
  13. rssumme

    rssumme Active Member

    QUOTE(fuchsiagroan @ Dec 6 2007, 10:19 AM) [snapback]523183[/snapback]
    I disagree with your pedi, actually. It seems too early to try to push them to go longer at night - they'll do it when they're ready, and given their age, they'll probably be ready pretty soon. That includes daytime - IMO, pushing a 2 month old to go 4 hrs between feedings is asking way, way, way too much of them. There are plenty of books out there telling you to restrict babies' feedings in order to get them to sleep - and all that proves is that the word "sleep" can sell just about any rubbish to exhausted parents. Babies have tiny stomachs, and grow insanely fast. Frequent feedings (and preferably on demand, not by the clock) are far and away the healthiest thing for them.

    Since you're bottle feeding, could your DH take over at least one feeding so you can get some sleep?

    Totally agree with you about feeding both babies at the same time, though. I always did that when mine were that little.


    I agree that it is too early to begin sleep training at 2 months.

    I also agree that 4 hours between daytime feeding is too long at 2 months.

    However, claiming that sleep training is just rubbish that only exhausted parents pay for is quite the condescending opinion. I am sure there are many here that would not only disagree with you on this one but would also be slightly offended by the connotation.

    Other than that, good post!
     
  14. TFine

    TFine Well-Known Member

    I am proud to say I sleep trained from day 1. My PED loved the idea and it worked very well for us. I truly think everyone does things differently and no one is wrong. For our family sleep training at 4 days old worked.

    Also at 2 months my kids decided every 4 hours was what they wanted. They dropped to 4 bottles a day at this time with a quick snack or a couple oz. right before bed. 2 weeks later they did not want the snack!
     
  15. fuchsiagroan

    fuchsiagroan Well-Known Member

    Nervousnewdad - I have absolutely nothing against sleep training. I think it's a great idea, in fact (when the babies are ready, of course).

    I just have a big beef with all the books that draw a connection between strict daytime feeding schedules and nighttime sleep. The good science says that there really is no connection - HSHHC, the gold standard of sleep books, explains that sleep comes from the brain, not from the stomach. Since "the authorities" (AAP, etc) unanimously agree that on-demand feeding is healthiest for babies, I think it's really disturbing that there are so many books out there that promise good night sleep through scheduled daytime feedings, especially feedings scheduled to be so extremely infrequent.

    Also, HSHHC says that it is normal for babies to need nighttime feedings up until 9 months old. Making such strenuous efforts to eliminate them by the very young age of 12 weeks also strikes me as a bad idea. Some babies can adapt to it, but that doesn't make it the best thing for them.

    Of course, if your babies truly want to eat only 4 hrs without any pushing from the parents, and sleep through the night at a young age without any pushing from the parents, more power to them! But that simply isn't a normal or healthy pattern for most babies.

    I'd highly recommend HSHHC. It's by far the best sleep book out there, and is written by a pediatrician who's actually done lots of research on infant/child sleep.
     
  16. rssumme

    rssumme Active Member

    QUOTE(fuchsiagroan @ Dec 6 2007, 10:40 AM) [snapback]523212[/snapback]
    Nervousnewdad - I have absolutely nothing against sleep training. I think it's a great idea, in fact (when the babies are ready, of course).

    I just have a big beef with all the books that draw a connection between strict daytime feeding schedules and nighttime sleep. The good science says that there really is no connection - HSHHC, the gold standard of sleep books, explains that sleep comes from the brain, not from the stomach. Since "the authorities" (AAP, etc) unanimously agree that on-demand feeding is healthiest for babies, I think it's really disturbing that there are so many books out there that promise good night sleep through scheduled daytime feedings, especially feedings scheduled to be so extremely infrequent.


    I understand. I do agree with the idea of the central nervous system having a huge impact on the ability to sleep through the night. The timing of this varies greatly among infants which is why some sleep through at 8 weeks and others don't do it until 6 months or longer. I also believe that getting a full day's amount of calories in before bed plays a part as well.

    Im 30 years old with a fully developed nervous system and if I dont eat enough during the day, I will wake up hungry in the middle of the night still.

    So, therefore, you need to have both to make it through. CNS development + calorie requirement needs met = snoring

    I think the every 4 hour daytime schedule is not required for a night's sleep. As long as the baby eats enough k-cals to meet his needs, its totally fine to feed every 3 hours or every hour if you so desired. However, it is much easier for parents of twins especially to only have to do 8 feeding per day though and I am super duper excited that mine accept that schedule. My wife's sanity is quite important to me...

    Sorry for getting testy...

    I am new here and am very happy to be accepted as a member of the twin coalition...
     
  17. fuchsiagroan

    fuchsiagroan Well-Known Member

    QUOTE
    I also believe that getting a full day's amount of calories in before bed plays a part as well.


    Definitely! I think it's hard for many babies to do that, though, especially at a young age. Their stomachs are just so small that they can't necessarily take it all in during the day. Add in super-high metabolisms, because of their incredible rate of growth, and that's why I'm so leery of trying to cut all the night feedings so early. Babies are natural "grazers," and (unfortunately for tired parents!) that includes some nighttime eating as well. I think for many babies, asking them to go 12 hrs without eating or drinking even if they have met their caloric needs during the day is like asking an adult to eat two 1000 calorie meals 12 hrs apart. It may meet their caloric needs, but is it at all pleasant?

    I know first hand, like all the parents out here, how hard it is with young twins... I just think that some ways of meeting the challenges are healthier for the babies than others.

    I'm not bashing you, don't worry! :) I did not intend a personal attack on you, no matter how, um, strong my opinions of some of the baby books out there may be.
     
  18. rssumme

    rssumme Active Member

    QUOTE(fuchsiagroan @ Dec 6 2007, 10:40 AM) [snapback]523212[/snapback]
    Also, HSHHC says that it is normal for babies to need nighttime feedings up until 9 months old. Making such strenuous efforts to eliminate them by the very young age of 12 weeks also strikes me as a bad idea. Some babies can adapt to it, but that doesn't make it the best thing for them.

    Of course, if your babies truly want to eat only 4 hrs without any pushing from the parents, and sleep through the night at a young age without any pushing from the parents, more power to them! But that simply isn't a normal or healthy pattern for most babies.

    I'd highly recommend HSHHC. It's by far the best sleep book out there, and is written by a pediatrician who's actually done lots of research on infant/child sleep.


    You went and edited in some more condescending commentary after I replied to the original post.

    Tisk tisk...

    QUOTE
    Some babies can adapt to it, but that doesn't make it the best thing for them.


    This is opinion and no sources were cited. Who is to say what is best for a baby. I know lots of thriving babies who eat every 4 hours.

    QUOTE
    But that simply isn't a normal or healthy pattern for most babies.


    Again, opinion and no sources cited. I think it is perfectly normal of a pattern for my family and to say otherwise is unnecessary. My babies love eating every 4 hours and they are healthy as horses.

    QUOTE
    I'd highly recommend HSHHC. It's by far the best sleep book out there, and is written by a pediatrician who's actually done lots of research on infant/child sleep.


    Perfectly fine book written by a perfectly fine author who happens to be a doctor. It does not mean its the only good book out there on the subject by any stretch. There are lots of Doctors who write books. There are lots of books written by non-doctors as well. Personally, I like books written by mothers better than doctors. I trust Mommies quite a bit.
     
  19. traci.finley

    traci.finley Well-Known Member

    Whoa baby! Too many sleep deprived stressed out parents =)

    To each his/her own ...

    I wish the babies could post and tell us what they think and like! Wouldn't life be a lot easier for us all! HA HA! LOL!
     
  20. fuchsiagroan

    fuchsiagroan Well-Known Member

    Hey, Newdad, don't get your undies in a bunch! I am NOT criticizing you - my intent was mainly to offer an alternate argument to the OP. There are lots of ways of doing this twin thing. Your babies have adapted fine to your way, and I'm not trying to change your mind, just to make a suggestion to the OP. Sorry if my tone came off wrong - perils of writing instead of talking...

    If you want citations, here's a quickie:

    QUOTE
    It can be argued that bottle-fed babies should be exempt from the need for demand feeding, but even though the composition and availability of their milk is relatively stable and without the immunity factors of human milk, they, too, may benefit from being allowed to eat when hungry, rather than being forced to take in possibly larger amounts on less frequent intervals in order to meet their daily caloric needs, stretching their stomachs unnecessarily in the process.

    Empirical and theoretical evidence combined continue to support current recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics that babies, most especially breastfed babies, need to be fed on cue and should be allowed to set their own routine, rather than placed into a predetermined schedule. It is our further conclusion that practices which interfere with respecting babies' cuings have been responsible for low weight gains, failure to thrive, milk supply failure, involuntary early weaning, and possibly even some cases of colic, not to mention infant regression and depression due to lack of parental responsiveness to baby's frantic cues.


    (From this page.)

    Also, the AAP's Caring for your baby and young child explicitly states that "The best feeding schedule is the one your baby designs himself."

    I don't think that being written by a doctor is the end-all and be-all for a book, but I do think that someone with medical training is more knowledgeable about infants' physiological needs (food/sleep) than the average layperson. (Parenting in general is a totally different story, though! I'm with you there - I'd much rather listen to moms & dads than doctors.)

    Anyway, I am really not out to get you. I promise. :)

    Gotta go play with my babies!
     
  21. rssumme

    rssumme Active Member

    QUOTE(fuchsiagroan @ Dec 6 2007, 12:40 PM) [snapback]523408[/snapback]
    Hey, Newdad, don't get your undies in a bunch! I am NOT criticizing you - my intent was mainly to offer an alternate argument to the OP. There are lots of ways of doing this twin thing. Your babies have adapted fine to your way, and I'm not trying to change your mind, just to make a suggestion to the OP. Sorry if my tone came off wrong - perils of writing instead of talking...

    If you want citations, here's a quickie:
    (From this page.)

    Also, the AAP's Caring for your baby and young child explicitly states that "The best feeding schedule is the one your baby designs himself."

    I don't think that being written by a doctor is the end-all and be-all for a book, but I do think that someone with medical training is more knowledgeable about infants' physiological needs (food/sleep) than the average layperson. (Parenting in general is a totally different story, though! I'm with you there - I'd much rather listen to moms & dads than doctors.)

    Anyway, I am really not out to get you. I promise. :)

    Gotta go play with my babies!


    Fair enough!

    QUOTE
    Gotta go play with my babies!


    You are so lucky! I am stuck in a dungeon at work all day.
     
  22. fuchsiagroan

    fuchsiagroan Well-Known Member

    QUOTE
    You are so lucky! I am stuck in a dungeon at work all day.


    One of these days I'm going to write to my congresspeople and ask them to legislate at least 12 months paid paternity leave for all dads of twins... When I get around to it, that is! :lol:
     
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