My kids have always been such poor sleepers for their first year of life that it’s made me grateful they only came one at a time. I have a lot of empathy for you twin and multiple moms who are dealing with sleep training twins (and parenting!) while sleep deprived. You are all amazing. And, in order to help all y’all get better sleep, I’ve asked all of my twin mom friends for the best twins sleep, sleep regression, and sleep training advice they’ve got to offer.
Sleep Training Twins
Of all of the advice that my friends provided me, a clear theme emerged. It’s that no matter which sleep-training program they picked, consistency and time were both keys. In other words, it’s a lot like sleep training a single baby. It takes time and resources – and a lot of work. But, you’ve also got two babies to work with at once, so I wish you all of the luck!
Oh, and one other theme emerged – do what’s right for your twins! Some of my friends found that they had to separate their twins into different beds – or bedrooms! Others had to keep them together. Some have bedtimes later in the evening. Some have earlier bedtimes.
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And some listed specific bedtime sleep triggers that help their twins get better sleep. Some of those sleep aids include:
- Using a white noise machine (this one is my favorite!) to help their kids sleep.
- Having a constellation machine (like this cute turtle my kids LOVE that automatically turns off after a few minutes) to give their twins something to look at while drifting off to sleep.
- Keeping everything stimulating OUT of the bedroom.
- Installing these blackout curtains so that the bedroom is dark and sleep-ready!
- Using lavender essential oils in a nightly bath to help soothe them into sleep.
- Sticking to a bedtime routine that works for their twins
Remember that there’s no wrong answer – there’s just what works for your twins and what doesn’t. So if you find something that doesn’t work, you’re that much closer to finding what will work.
More Advice from Twin Moms for Surviving Sleep Training and Sleep Regressions
My amazing twin mom friends gave some other great advice I wanted to share with y’all. Some of it is specific to dealing with a sleep regression, while the rest of it is just solid parenting advice!
“I would say to make sure that you have a ritual for sleepy time so they know when it’s time to go to bed. One of my boys requires toys and blankets in his crib and he falls asleep literally underneath a pile of stuff while the other wants nothing inside his crib. So whatever they need to get themselves comfy…. They wear footy pajamas because if they don’t they take off their pants and diapers and we end up having pee and poop everywhere haha. Hope this helps!”
I mean, footy pajamas are just a lifesaver for all kids. Because who wants to wake up to a poopy Picasso on the wall?
“Oh, and the more physical they were during the day the better they slept. If they woke up I would address the concerns and minimizing any stimulation/uptime as much as possible. But nothing was ever the cure-all I really really wanted.”
In other words, there’s no “magic” fix. It’s hard work. But wearing your kids out each day with a lot of physical play does help a ton! And if your twins do wake up in the middle of the night, keep it boring and dark. They’ll soon learn that nighttime is for sleeping. My singleton kids had to learn that same lesson.
“It is about a schedule of feed, sleep and play time. I noticed they slept through the night by having only certain hours of nap time and play time.“
Routines are key, y’all. I know not everyone can stick to an exact schedule, but it helps so many kids. If you can try a routine, go for it! If not, keep doing the best you can in your circumstances. It’ll take longer, but a full night’s sleep will still happen one day.
You Can Do This! So Hang in There, Friends
Sleep training and surviving sleep regressions are hard work. But you can do it! My friends are rooting for you – and have some final words of encouragement.
“It’s a process for sure that takes a lot of time and effort in the beginning.”
Just like sleep training any child, it takes time and effort. And it will get better – eventually.
“Sorry we struggle a lot, I think my work schedule doesn’t help.”
Remember that everyone’s circumstances are different. This particular friend works nights in a hospital. She’s an amazing woman – and she’s doing the best she can to balance work and mom life.
“I have so many tips! But mostly, I have an eBook that changed my LIFE! It’s called Sleep Sense… I’ve sent it to other twin moms!”
I’ve read the Sleep Sense eBook – and it’s one of the two sleep books that I highly recommend. In fact, if you need more help than just an eBook, I highly recommend you check out the entire Sleep Sense Program because its video library is amazingly helpful!
In any case, I’m going to give you a complete list of all of the sleep books and programs that my twin mom friends have recommended. So, when you’re ready, scroll on down and check out the complete resource list.
Because y’all deserve a full night’s sleep. So let’s make it happen, shall we?
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More on Sleep Training Twins:
- 3 Tips for Sleep-Training 1-year-old Twins via Baby Wise
- Seeing Double: The Ultimate Guide To Sleep Training Your Twins – Mom Loves Best
- Sleep Training with Twins – Best of Twins
- Top 10 Twin Sleep Tips – Wee Bee Dreaming
Next, as promised, is the complete resource list – as recommended to me by all of my favorite twin moms!
My Must-Have Sleep Resources for Twins and Multiples:
To make things easier, I’ve created an Amazon resource list with all of these products and books in one place. Feel free to browse them there – or just check out items individually!
Books that twin moms have recommended:
- The top two recommended books were Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Twins (the twin version of Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby) and the Sleep Sense program book. I’ve read both – and both are AMAZING. We’ve got both! There’s a reason these were the top two – both are fantastic!
- Recently, a lot of fellow blog readers have been buying this Happy Sleeper book like it was fresh tacos! It’s got some great reviews, so it might be a great resource.
- Several friends highly recommended the Baby Whisperer books.
- My friends that read the Baby Wise sleep training book loved it – and recommended it wholeheartedly!
Sleep training programs that my twin mom friends rave about:
- Most twin moms agreed that the Sleep Sense Program was life changing! I’ve read it and I love it – and you can either get it via just the eBook (see above) OR you can upgrade and get the entire Sleep Sense program – customizable with videos, phone calls, coaching, and more!
- I haven’t used this course, but a couple of twin moms highly recommended following the Taking Cara Babies program.
Products that fellow twin-moms declare as must-haves!
- You’ve got to have a white noise machine – this one is my favorite for at home because it’s impossible to mess up! If you travel a lot, this is the white noise machine we use in our travel trailer (and on trips) and the kids love it. Or, if you need a bundle, I’ve heard good things about this white noise duo pack.
- Keep nights dark and boring. Keep naps the same way! The easiest way to do that is by combining the white noise machine with these amazing blackout curtains – and they come in a variety of colors!
- Help get your kids ready for bed with lavender essential oils – it naturally helps calms you so that you’re ready for sleep. You can put a drop or two on a cotton ball inside of a zipped pillow case or use it in a soothing bedtime bath.
- To help kids fall asleep unafraid of the dark, use a nightlight with an automatic off timer – my kids each have their own constellation-projecting stuffed turtle and they LOVE them.
You’ll Also Love:
- How to Manage a Sleep Regression at Any Age
- How to Survive the 11 Month Old Sleep Regression
- 3 Reasons Why Your Kids Love that Bedtime Routine
