This blog post was written by Lindsay Loring, Sleep Consultant and Founder of Tweet Dreamzz.
Having twins is a double blessing, but it also comes with unique challenges, especially when it comes to sleep. As a parent of twins, you may be experiencing how crucial it is to have your twins on a routine and schedule for the wellbeing of the entire family. The good news is that with the right strategies and tips, you can help your twins develop consistent sleep routines that will allow them to take long naps and sleep through the night.
In this blog post, we will explore some top sleep tips for twins, providing you with practical advice to make bedtime smoother and more peaceful for the entire family.
Establish a Consistent Routine when Sleep Training Twins
Creating a daytime routine is essential for twins. Sticking to a predictable schedule that includes consistent wake-up times, naptimes and bedtimes will allow your days and nights to become manageable with two babies! In addition, following age-appropriate wake times and sleep times as your babies continue to develop will be the key to success. Find out exactly what that looks like here.
The regularity will help synchronize their internal clocks and promote sleep patterns that are aligned. A consistent bedtime routine for your twins can look like this:
Feed
Bath
Story or song
Into bed as the wake window closes
By following the same routine every night, your twins will learn to associate these cues with sleep, making the transition to bedtime easier.
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Encourage Separate Sleep Spaces when Sleep Training Twins
While it might be tempting to have your twins sleep in the same crib or bed, it’s important to provide each child with their own sleep space. Per the AAP, a separate sleep space for each baby is outlined in the most recent AAP Safe Sleep Guidelines published in June of 2021. In addition, this can help them develop their individual sleep associations and reduce the likelihood of them waking each other up. Whether you choose separate cribs or a shared room with separate beds, ensure that each sleep environment is safe. You may add things to make it conducive to sleep like blackout shades and a white noise machine. Using a white noise machine for sleep will be a cue for your babies that it’s sleep time and will help protect their sleep from each other’s noises or other noises in the home.
Practice Synchronized Sleep when Sleep Training Twins
For twins of any age, it can be beneficial to synchronize their sleep schedules. Encourage them to nap and sleep at the same time, as this can simplify your routine and provide you with much-needed breaks. If one twin wakes up early from their nap, give the baby a few minutes to try and resettle. If that is not successful after 20 minutes, you can get both babies up and continue on with their day. This way, the next nap time is synced. The recommendation here is to split the difference of the 20 minutes and place the twins down 10 minutes earlier than their typical wake window would be.
This technique can be used when babies are taking three or more naps per day. Over time, your twins will develop the ability to soothe themselves back to sleep when they experience premature waking during the sleep times at naps and during the night. To fully set them up for success in this regard, check out our Twin Sleep Guide!
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Teach Self-Soothing Techniques when Sleep Training Twins
Helping your twins learn to self-soothe is a valuable skill for restful nights. Gradually introduce self-soothing techniques, such as allowing them to fall asleep independently or using a comforting lovie, if age appropriate. These techniques will enable your twins to settle themselves back to sleep when they wake up during the night. Self-settling can look like sucking on hands/fingers, changing body position, rocking head back and forth, and even a little crying, to name a few. Be patient during this process, as it may take time for them to master these skills. Offering praise and reassurance when they successfully self-soothe will motivate them to continue practicing. Here are our best-suggested sleep training methods for twins!
Prioritize Daytime Sleep
Adequate daytime sleep is crucial for your twins’ overall sleep quality. Ensure they have a cool, dark environment for napping during the day. Avoid overstimulation before nap time by establishing a calm and soothing routine leading up to their nap. This routine should last about 7-10 minutes only and be a short version of your bedtime routine but with no feeding required. Additionally, align their naptimes with each other by following age-appropriate wake windows. This will allow you to have some uninterrupted time to recharge. Rested twins are more likely to sleep better at night, so prioritize and protect their daytime sleep as much as possible.
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Recapping our best sleep tips for twins
Remember, raising twins requires extra effort, patience, and organization…especially when it comes to sleep. Many of the common sleep advice you see isn’t so easily successful with twins. By practicing these top sleep tips for twins, you can establish healthy sleep habits and promote restful nights for your little ones and yourself. Keep in mind that consistency is key, so stick to a routine and adjust it as needed. Celebrate small victories along the way, as each milestone achieved will bring you closer to peaceful nights for your family. With time, patience, and love, you can create a sleep-friendly environment that helps your twins develop healthy sleep patterns, ensuring a well-rested and happy household.
Lindsay Loring is the author of this article. She is a twin mom and lead sleep consultant at Tweet Dreamzz Sleep Consulting. If you are ready to experience better sleep with your twins, reach out by booking your free sleep evaluation today!
You can also check out her active Instagram page for more twin tips and sleep advice.
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