Help needed with twins - things getting worse pg 22

[babybarr]

Well j wouldn't settle in the travel cot when he woke around 11 so ended up back in his cot but I've been up nearly every hr. J really seems incapable of sleeping v well at all.

[ZacsMumme]

Could J be teething? - how's his tummy ATM?

[babybarr]

Sara I just don't know anything anymore. O got teeth around this age and they're both drooling loads but have been for ages. I don't think he's quite right but he did have paracetamol last night too.

[*Ali*]

Can you time the outings with their A times at least half the days of the week?  Or go out in the morning so if they do a short nap you can get them down earlier in the pm and let them catch up?  Some babies just don't sleep well out and about so if you want a good nap then it has to be at home as annoying as that is.

[ZacsMumme]

Sorry for so many Qs Hun....I know sometimes it's impossible to know what's going on, t woke a lot at this age and when this frequent it was always pain has he been worse since solids were estd?

How's the milk increase during the day going? How's Js reflux/meds etc?

I guess if you think it's pain there isn't a lot you can do but try to eliminate it. If no pain then do you think he needs some more st?

And, like Ali mentioned, you may have to either expect rubbish naps on the go or stay in. I always stayed in as I hated T not napping and he never napped in the car or buggy

[babybarr]

They will sleep in the car or buggy but usually 40mins tops.

They mental health people keep tellin me how important it is for me to get out of the house. Tbh they're  quite good out and about but I can never guarantee a catch up nap or even a good nap at home yk?

[Shiv52]

Completely contrary to what others are suggesting I am wondering are you better doing a short am-long PM. So a quick 20/30 minutes at 9.30 then a longer nap at 12.15 ish for a good  2+ hours hopefully. But even 1.5/2 hours would be good.  My concern with your current EASY is that there is just not enough a time between the long AM nap and when you are trying to get them to nap. I wouldn't expect them to be ready for another nap until at least 2pm and in a week or two that will likely jump to 2.15/2.30. Which I know interferes with the school run. Which means they are managing that long  A time to bed on a short nap.  I just wonder are they better handling that off the back of a longer PM nap YK?  Which means they will be less tired at BT and able to take a proper feed and will be going to bed less OT which should ultimately help the nights. I also think this will give you the freedom to get out once O is home without disrupting naps. I think it's incredibly important to get out but I do think on balance if the lack of PM sleep is affecting the nights then something needs to give.

My other thought is I do think I'd not do bed earlier than 7pm. At this age on two naps we never got more than an 11 hour night, 11.5 once we moved to one nap at 12 months. I know some people do get a bit less in night sleep. So I don't think a 5am start is totally ridiculous from a 6.30 BT. I know it does vary between 6.30/7 but I wonder will the push help especially if you don't think a feed will resettle them. I just think by 5am they're probably just not tired enough to go back to sleep. 

Just a different thought from sticking to the long am/short PM. My only other suggestion is to push the AM nap to 10 and giving the short nap after the school run to balance out the day but then that really does leave you tied to the house in the PM.  So 6am (ideally!), nap at 10-11.30/12, nap 3.15 ish-4, bed 7 or let them nap longer in the afternoon and do 7.30 bedtime.

[babybarr]

Well they had short am nap this morning and short napped this afternoon. I feel like I can't win. Shiv I get what you're saying about the 5am wake up and 2b honest I would (almost) be fine if they were settled the rest of the night yk?

[4isstillnighttime]

Oh Laura, massive hugs. It sounds bleak.

Xxx

[babybarr]

So yesterday afternoon dh took them out in the car and they fell asleep so went to bed a lot less ot and about 6.45. J woke and fed just after 2 then woke at 5.30 but I managed to get him back off till 6.15. H didn't wake till 4.30 then I woke him at 6.45

So I do think their later nap needs to be longer. So if they sleep for 40mins this morning till 10.30am what time would be a good time to put them down again? I will try and follow them but an approx a time would be helpful right now.

[4isstillnighttime]

Sounds a bit better Laura! Maybe their little tummies are getting better?

[ZacsMumme]

I'd go for 12.30 or 1 (1 may be too long at such a young age but it also may not be YK )

[babybarr]

Sara I could split the difference?!  I hope their tummies are getting better. I'm also watering their night feed. Have done 2 days now.

[Shiv52]

I'd aim more for 1pm. If they sleep to 11.10 that's not even two hours A time. And even though it's after a short nap I'd say they'd need a decent enough A time to not short nap on you x

[KookyK]

I'm finding v similar to what shiv has described in my 8 month old, and hes v like your twins i think. We are now doing short then long. I got into a v EW spiral which went from 5 (and I felt same as u on that - ok if the nights ok) to 4.45 or 4.30 if he went to bed OT at 6-6.16. I almost always have to resettle him in the long nap hopefully one day he will get it. Yday as he was awake on/off from 3.30am he had 3 short naps not ideal but at least he woke at 6 today not 4 something (after a mixed night but he's teething). Good luck xx