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Multiple births

twin sleeping problem

16 replies

harrogatemum · 14/09/2005 12:13

I am having a nightmare with one of my DTs. They were both dream sleepers going to bed at 7 and sleeping until 6.45am. One of them has taken in the last fortnight to screaming the house down whilst going to sleep (finally after half an hour he falls asleep), then waking up in the middle of the night screaming - there is nothing wrong with him as i check the nappy, check his temperature etc. A few times I've taken him downstairs and he grins, laughs and starts playing. Putting him back to bed or trying to rock him just results in more screams. This lasts for a couple of hours, when i finally get him back off to sleep he then wakes for good at 5.30am. It would be great to try controlled crying but i dont see how I can with his brother in the same room as him!!! Does anyone have any advice for me!! The DTs are now 10 months old - someone please tell me its just a phase...going to work on 4 hours sleep is impossible!

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FrumpyGrumpy · 14/09/2005 19:24

I'm not a fan of books telling you how to be a smiley happy yummy mummy breezing through life with a smile for everyone in a haze of perfume BUT I did buy a book on sleep problems which I found to be really useful and still refer to. Its called Solve Your Childs Sleep Problem by Dr Richard Ferber. I used it when dd1 started having problems and when my dts started waking at 5am ish for the day. There's all sorts of reasons and things to try. My dts were napping too early in the morning and it was becoming a disjointed part of their nights sleep broken by breakfast. When I made the morning nap later it was cured within days. Also look at when and how long they are sleeping in the day, maybe their requirement has changed and its distrupting their night. Proceed with caution though, I know that any change to a sturdy routine can be good or bad. Sorry if you've already tried all this and good luck, lack of sleep turns me into Darth Vader. If you try it all and nothing helps don't feel bad about letting them cry it out. I let dt1 cry it out every night for weeks once I was sure there was no reason for her 2am wake. Some nights it woke the others and some nights it didn't. I felt churned up inside but there is a point when you can't go on trying. She still sleeps light but tends to only be up if there is a problem. Good luck and big sleep to you.

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harrogatemum · 14/09/2005 19:30

thanks FrumpyGrumpy! I think tonight is the night when we turn the monitor down and try to ignore it or pray it doesnt happen in the first place!!

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jamboure · 14/09/2005 20:31

hi
my twins are 20 months now and too were good sleepers. they did go thrugh a phase when i was up a lot then it settled.

We are going through the unsettling again with twins at the mo but I am sure it is another phase.

Chin up and keep smiling it WILL pass i promise

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jamboure · 14/09/2005 20:31

hi
my twins are 20 months now and too were good sleepers. they did go thrugh a phase when i was up a lot then it settled.

We are going through the unsettling again with twins at the mo but I am sure it is another phase.

Chin up and keep smiling it WILL pass i promise

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jamboure · 14/09/2005 20:31

oops soory double post

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MarsLady · 15/09/2005 00:01

ah women that talk my language lol.

DTs trying the same thing at the mo grrrrrrr

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jamboure · 15/09/2005 19:02

Must be something us mums are doing lol

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MarsLady · 15/09/2005 19:04

well fingers crossed cos they are doing the s... word now and I'm out tonight so a babysitter is in charge. Of course they'll continue the s... word for her no doubt and wait for me lol

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harrogatemum · 16/09/2005 14:45

you ladies must have sent psychic messages to the DT that does the waking - last two nights he has slept through like a dream!! However I have friends round tonight and plan on having a few drinks so inevitably tonight will be a three hour screamathon!!

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4kids · 16/09/2005 16:11

My dt's are now 3 & are still waking at night never had a full nights sleep since they were born.

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jamboure · 16/09/2005 19:10

mars hope you had a good night hun

harrogate mum let you r hair down and the vodka flow hun have mum time and enjoy it

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Twinney · 29/10/2005 13:54

Hi, I am hoping that someone can help me. I have nineteen month old twins and i am still having to rock them off to sleep. My daughter will sleep through but my son still gets up during the night. I hope someone as some advice because i am at my wits end and don't know what else to try.

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harrogatemum · 29/10/2005 14:37

Hi Twinney - my two are now sleeping through again with the occasional lapse, although they think 5.30/6am is time to get up...have your twins ever been able to go to sleep without being rocked? I mean - if they had/have a daytime sleep do you have to rock them then? I guess this is the habit that you have to try and break - how you do it is another matter - I know that when I am exhausted and faced with a screaming baby that I too rock them from time to time as I simply cant stand the noise. Mine seemed to wake more when they had awful colds and I found the Karvol plug - in a godsend, it sends vapours a bit like olbas oil into the bedroom and works a treat at keeping them unblocked overnight. Anyway, just some thoughts, sorry I cant be of any real help - I know how knackering it is!

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FrumpyGrumpy · 29/10/2005 21:16

Twinney, I'm sorry to say it sounds like a habit that needs broken if you have the energy and desire for it. Its so much easier and quieter to rock them when you are so shattered you can hardly see. I'm familiar with the feeling and totally empathise.

They have built an association of how to get to sleep i.e. I can only get to sleep if this happens and if I wake I need it again to fall asleep again. You need to build a new routine which they/he/she will hate and scream at in the beginning. Lots of ways of doing it but generally it means tucking them into the cot after lovely bath, lovely story, lovely cuddle, dim lights etc. They will resist and scream and cry and you have to leave the room and wait a bit. Then if they protest loads go in to stroke heads and kiss and say "you're fine, mummy loves you" etc etc in a soothing voice. Repeat the going out and waiting bit until they fall asleep. Don't go back in if the crying gets less and try to leave it longer and longer before going in. With my dd1 it worked instantly but I know for others it can take days or sometimes weeks. It is WELL worth persevering and is not cruel its just teaching a new routine.

When you get the breakthrough of them going to bed, awake, with their favourite toy or musical wind up on and staying asleep you will dance your pants off (sliently) and wonder why you didn't do it sooner.

Sorry to go on but I'm passionate about mums getting more sleep!!!!

Good luck x.

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Abena · 09/01/2007 20:43

Hello we are at our wits end adn would really appreciate any advice you guys have out there! We have twins aged 5 months and they are getting WORSE in terms of sleeping at night. For example last night I got up seven times to feed them. They were on breast milk for first six weeks now on formula. We bath them, massage, feed them in a dark room every night and they go to sleep fine from about 7.30 pm to about 11 pm then it is a nightmare from there on! My little boy wakes my little girl up about every hour and a half. It is impossible to go on like this. PLEASE HELP!!!!

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MarsLady · 09/01/2007 20:49

Abena... come join us on the multiples thread here

The Richard Ferber book is fab. Sorted out my DTs in a week.

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