Routine - help

[Shajbm]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has any advice about how to keep twins to the same routine. I'm pulling my hair out and I just don't know what to do.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[OJandMe]

I just did everything for them at teh same time.... if one woke, I woke the other one. sounds mean... but has been excellent for us for the last two years... even now they go to bed at the same time and wake up about the same time.

(naps are becoming a problem though)

[noah&layla'smum]

Hey Shajake!

It was about your boys age that I started pulling my hair out with mine too!

I agree with Gretel, we used to wake the other one to feed when one was ready. Also, whoever was sleepy first, the other one had to be put in their cot and made to sleep as well. Poor little buggers. But if you're consistent, it really pays off.

A great book to buy is Secrets of the Baby Whisperer. I bought it when the twins were 8mths old, but wish I had have bought it sooner.

Good Luck, the first year is hard, but it's all just wonderful having twins.

Michelle.

[A Party of Five]

Hi Shajake, Gretel and Michelle are right :thumbsup:
We do the same thing too. I think it the best way to go, but it is hard at first.
I feel a bit mean waking them up :sleeping: Most of the other twin mummy's I have chatted with do this as well.

[Jules Mumtobe]

Hi,
I keep mine on the same schedule, but for their daytime nap(s) I stagger them when I put them down. Even if both are tired, I put the easier-to-sleep one down first, and then when he's snoring away (usually in 20mins) I take my second one in. By this time she's very tired and falls asleep easily. The first is well and truly asleep (this is important!) so doesn't hear her mumblings. The key is to make sure the first is absolutely asleep, or the second wakes up the first! That's for mine anyway!

Staggering also gives me one-on-one time with the second twin.

As for waking, I always wake the second (if necessary) to keep them on the same routine. In the evenings they go to bed at the same time.

Hope that helps, good luck!

[Duchessa]

I still keep the same schedule and the girls are two. You will be glad you did if you choose to do it that way. You get so much more time. The only drawback is that you never get big stretches of one on one time with them (unless you have an hb who is around a lot).

The only thing I did to ensure that they stayed on the same schedule was/is to just plow on whatever - put them both down even if one isn't showing a lot of tired signs, feed them at the same time, etc etc. I did let one sleep longer if they needed it, but it only happened on odd occasions.

The whole thing works particularly well for identicals with the same stats cos they have such similar requirements.

[Shajbm]

Thanks for all the posts. I've been keeping them to the same schedule and when 1 wakes I wake the other. I have a twin feeding pillow so that's making tandem feeding much more enjoyable.

Thanks again.

[Shajbm]

Hi Cheeki, wow well done. I breastfed for 5 weeks but just couldn't establish a good enough supply. Our kids are only days apart. Where did you have them? How do you manage to do kinder/school drop off with such new ones? I'm really struggling some days.

Hello to all the other mummies.

[Shajbm]

Cheeki, I tried the meds too and that didn't work for me. But I'm happy with my decision and you should do what suits you not what you think others would want you to do.

I take the boys in their capsules when I go and pick up DS from kinder. They tend to want to eat right around kinder pick up. My SIL picks up on Monday, my MIL picks up Friday and I do Tuesday and Thursday. My DH drops off each morning, so I guess it's okay from that perspective.

I'm trying to top them up just before we go and do a pick up and I think that seems to be workiing well.

I had mine at Frances Perry house and they spend 5 weeks there. We brought them home on Australia day.

My boys are in separate cots and have been since day 1. They love it and don't know any other way.