Get Some Sleep with Newborn Twins

Nothing Can be Done to Adequately Prepare

Nighttime is the worst time for any new parent, especially for parents of twins. Nothing can be done to adequately prepare for the countless nights that you will awaken to the sound of a crying baby or in our case, babies.

You will be tired and feel foggy but believe me, you will survive and I am going to help you. As a Registered Nurse, I’ve found that the following tips will ensure that everyone in your home is sleeping soundly as quickly as possible.

Day for Night

When newborns first come home from the hospital, it is not uncommon for their days and nights to be mixed up. They may sleep soundly for 3-4 hours during the day and then may awaken every 1-2 hours during the night. Let’s look at what can be done about it.

If the twins’ days and nights are mixed up, reverse them by actively playing with them during the day- exercise their limbs, play music, read books and/or sing songs to those sweet angels. Be sure to keep the lights on and pull up the shades each day.

As the day winds down, calm your home by dimming the lights, pulling the shades down, turning the music off, talking with a whisper and giving the babies a warm bath. Repeat this process daily and within 1-2 weeks, their days and nights will be correctly reversed.

Co-bedding Multiples

To enhance the twins ability to sleep, swaddle (comfortably wrap) each baby in a receiving blanket and place side by side on their backs in the same crib. These close-fitting quarters are what they are used to from the womb.

In fact, the practice of co-bedding multiples, particularly preemies that need to stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at birth, is increasingly becoming a standard procedure in hospitals. Researchers have found that multiples that are co-bedded after birth appear to handle the stress of the NICU better than those who are separated do.

The Most Important Tactic

The next tactic that I am going to explain to ensure some sleep with twins is probably the most important yet the most challenging to accomplish. Awaken the second baby at the time the first baby wakes up so that they can both be fed and changed at the SAME time. Do this during the day and especially during the night.