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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask you for help getting my babies to sleep.

22 replies

candypanda283 · 27/08/2017 13:28

I am posting here for traffic as i am so so desperate. Also posted in Sleep but I need as many opinions as i can get.

My 5 month old twins keep waking at 3am/4am happy but shouty wanting to play and take 2 to 3 hours to get back to sleep. It's killing me. They wake at 5am. Nap at 7am for 30 mins. Nap at 9.30 for 30 mins. Nap at 1 for 30 mins. Nap at 4.30 for 30 mins. They go to sleep at night by 7pm and I dream feed at 10pm. They wake for a feed at 1am. Then they wake at 3am. They're bottle fed and feed 4oz 3 hourly and I have just started weaning them onto puree.
I have pnd and can't take anymore. I am so tired. What can I do?

OP posts:

splendidglenda · 27/08/2017 14:16

I would try to get their naps down to twice daily instead. Maybe 30 mins in the morning and 1 hour just after lunch? This might tire them enough to allow a longer stretch at night?

splendidglenda · 27/08/2017 14:17

And keep up with the dream feed. Sorry you're suffering with pnd

Mulch · 27/08/2017 14:19

I'd cut the naps down, my lo would wake at 5:30 then similar to yours would nap around 7 then 10. He was grumpy but cutting out one morning nap and eventually getting him down to just two a day did the job

MrsOverTheRoad · 27/08/2017 14:27

If they're happy but shouty, could you try just ignoring them?

I would...till abou 6.30 or so. Which is early but acceptable for you to get up.

MrsOverTheRoad · 27/08/2017 14:28

Or are they in your room? If so, get them out and into their own and ignore them for an hour or so.

TittyGolightly · 27/08/2017 15:11

I'm not sure you can expect them to sleep at 7pm and late in the morning. Maybe move bedtime to 8pm.

Food contains less calories than milk, so if you're weaning early in the hope they'll be less hungry that's unlikely to work.

Pickleypickles · 27/08/2017 15:26

Milk may contain more calories but food stays in the stomach therefore making them fuller for longer. Not saying i agree pr disagree with food making them sleep longer o just dislike people who scew facts.
In regards to sleeping i agree o think they are having too many naps in the day and i found no sleep after 5pm and a 7pm ish bed time helped my 5 month old sleep through the night. It will get better OP just keep going

TittyGolightly · 27/08/2017 16:10

Depends what the food is.

Moanyoldcow · 27/08/2017 16:22

Is there a reason they have so little do frequently? My son was drinking 7oz per feed at that age. He wasn't a fantastic sleeper but we did have 2 reliable day time naps and maybe 2 nighttime feeds but could get him back most of the time.

Sounds like their not having enough in one go to me...

Moanyoldcow · 27/08/2017 16:22

*so frequently

Moanyoldcow · 27/08/2017 16:23

*they're - sorry for typos

Original poster

candypanda283 · 27/08/2017 16:24

Theyre in their own room. I weaned early as they were 4 weeks early and their paediatrician wanted me to wean due to reflux and their anemia. It's not really affected the amount of milk they take. Thanks everyone I will work on their naps!

OP posts:

Moanyoldcow · 27/08/2017 16:26

But will they not take more than 4oz in one go?

doubleshotespresso · 27/08/2017 16:28

OP I really feel for you, the times you describe almost reflect the first few months with my LO.

I jiggled with feeding and all sorts, but when I bought a light projector that makes gentle nature sounds which attached to the side of the cot, my world suddenly got better.....

Also white noise (loads on youtube you can save onto your phone) really helped.

Hope you find something that works for you soon-hang in there

ellesbellesxxx · 27/08/2017 16:30

My 13 week old twins (born at 36weeks) take 6oz at a time and go for 4+ hours. Starting to go 6/7 hours at night. You must be exhausted.. I would seriously try to get them drinking more at a time to lengthen time between feeds.

mummy2oneandtwo · 27/08/2017 17:00

I remember that phase with my twins and it felt relentless.

I would try and get a couple of 1.5 hour naps in the day instead and work on leaving them till, say 6am, if they are happy and not crying. Eventually things will level out a bit and they will sleep later.

I know it feels like it will never change right now, but it will, the first year of twins is just surviving!

Original poster

candypanda283 · 27/08/2017 18:58

When I make them bottles i do 6oz bottles and they pull away after 3 or 4oz. To be honest every bottle is a battle but they cry for them as soon as it's been 3 hours. Is there anything I can do to make them take more? They only take 6oz when I dreamfeed them

OP posts:

TittyGolightly · 27/08/2017 19:32

Are you winding them?

Original poster

candypanda283 · 27/08/2017 19:53

Yeah they wind quite easily. I am wondering if its to do with their reflux why they can't take a large amount.

OP posts:

Moanyoldcow · 27/08/2017 21:44

Oh I'm sorry Candy - that's so shitty. My son was greedy as hell from day one so it was never a prob. You can't force them to have more. Could you try feeding more frequently in the day to try to fill them up?

Lucyccfc · 27/08/2017 22:22

Too many naps during the day.

At the same age my DS would have a 45 minute nap in the morning and just over an hour or so after lunch. He'd then have bath, bottle and bed at about 7pm, with a brief wake up for milk at 10.30pm and would then sleep through until I woke him at about 7.15am.

I know all babies are different, but too much sleep in the day can have a big impact at night.

dollydayscream · 27/08/2017 22:23

That sounds really tough.

I remember the 30 minute naps! You just start to relax and they are awake again!

For my horrendous sleeper. She started taking two 1 hour naps and then one big two hour nap. She still wakes a couple of times in the night. I think that she worries that I might be getting enough sleep.

Can someone take them for a couple of hours so that you can go to bed and sleep? I know that sleep banks don't exist, but a big nap is a good short term tonic.

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