Please HELP!...

[OJandMe]

I've moved the boys into beds... I need help. I have no idea what I'm doing. They won't stay in bed, and they get up and turn on the light and climb ontot heir bookshelf and pull all of the books off. They pull out all their toys, and then when I come in they quickly jump back onto their beds. But then I have to spend 20 minutes cleaning up the room.

Last night I tried putting masking tape over the light swtich so they couldn't turn the light on... thinking that they'd just think.. oh well.. it's dark, we'll go to sleep. But they didn't they just screamed and screamed and screamed until I came back in (which wasn't long because I was sitting outside the door) Then they wouldn't lie down unless I lay down with them... but I can't be in two places at once! I can't lie down with Jordan AND lie down with Oliver... So I ended up with Oliver on my lap while I sat with Jordan until he fell asleep... then brought Ollie back to his bed and sat with him until he went to sleep.

By this time is was 8:45... they were 'supposed' to be asleep at 6:30 and they hadn't slept that day so they'd been up since 5:30am!

Then at 3am, Oliver woke up.. so I had to lie down with him... but he wouldn't let me leave.. even if he was asleep as soon as I opened the door (quietly) he'd wake up and start crying again. The last thing I wanted was for him to wake up Jordan to. So I brought him in with Carlo and I... but he just wanted to play. By this time is was 5am. I'm dead tired... I can't do this every night. I don't know what I'm doing.

Has anyone already put their twins into big beds? What did you do that worked? WHat are some suggestions you have? The boys will be 2 in two weeks time... do you think it's too early to move them? We're having a baby in August... and I can't cope with it now.. I really don't want to be fighting this with a newborn... as I"ll be up all night feeding anyway.. I can't do both. I need them in beds.. and they can climb out of their cots anyway.

I feel so lost, I just cry all the time, I just want them to sleep.. because they get SO cranky when they don't... and I'm just not coping with no sleep at night and having them winging and throwing tantrums all day.

Does ANYONE have any suggestions? I can't leave their bedroom door open, because they both come out... and as soon as I put one back, the other ones out.. it's an endless cycle.

please help.... :banghead: :gloomy:

[DoubleDelight]

Hi

I can sympathise with your problem. I had this trouble with my 2nd son. When you first put them to bed you tell them it is bedtime and possibly go through a ritual like a bedtime story and leave the door open. When they get up the 1st time you put them straight back in and give them a warning if they get up again you will shut the door. When they get up again you put them back into bed and explain that they were warned and you are shutting the door. They will cry so you treat it like controlled crying and go back in after 10mins. Tell them you are leaving the door open but if they get up again the door will be shut again.

It will be pretty rough for a couple of days but this worked a treat for me. I got this from the Tresilian help line.

You may also want to invest in one of those plug in night lights.

Good luck and let us know how you go.

[OJandMe]

Well the boys are in bed. We'll see how it goes. We have the same ritual every night... bathtime, pj's, brush teeth, say goodnight to Colby and Cheddar (their mice) tuck in, say goodnight to Me and Daddy.. kisses for them both and their teddies. Then I say "good nigh boys, I'll see you in the morning. I love you." then I close the door. (they've always slept with the door closed as they wake up with any little bit of light.

Tonight I heard them starting to play... they can't turn the big light on, because it's still got masking tape on it... but they turned their lamp on. I decided to catch it quickly tonight.. so I waited outside until I heard the first book go 'thump' and I was in there. I told them it was time to sleep now, they can play in the morning. Put them back in bed.. more kisses for them, more kisses for teddies (I turned the lamp off at the light switch so they can't turn that on either now) said " goodnight I'll see you in the morning." and shut the door. I waited 5 mins, went in.. Oliver was trying to turn the lamp on.. Jordan was still in his bed. I put Oliver back into bed, tucked him in.. and said "goodnight' and left. I checked on them 5 mins later and they were both still in bed... so we'll see.. I haven't heard anything else from them.

[OJandMe]

YAY!! Success!! Still no noise.. they must be asleep! WOOHOO!! I so couldn't go through another night like last night... I'll try the same thing again tomorrow and hopefully it will work again.... Once I've got the night sleep working, then we'll tackle the day sleep.. (I'm using their porta-cots for that at the moment).

then we'll be on to getting rid of the bottle, starting childcare, TT and getting used to a new baby in August... So much change this year! No wonder they call it the terrible two's... the poor little things must feel so disrupted!

[SmileyBJ]

YAY!! Success!! Still no noise.. they must be asleep! WOOHOO!! I so couldn't go through another night like last night... I'll try the same thing again tomorrow and hopefully it will work again.... Once I've got the night sleep working, then we'll tackle the day sleep.. (I'm using their porta-cots for that at the moment).

then we'll be on to getting rid of the bottle, starting childcare, TT and getting used to a new baby in August... So much change this year! No wonder they call it the terrible two's... the poor little things must feel so disrupted!

Congrats on the sucess!! :thumbsup: You'll look back and enjoy all these precious memories in years to come! :)