I am in desperate need of some suggestions...
About a number of issues...
And I know that in the past, I may not have been open to suggestions, but at this point, I am ready and willing to make any changes necessary so that I (and my husband and children) can get more sleep.
The boys are not sleeping through the night, and they are not sleeping in long enough in the mornings. They are also still *super attached* to their binkies & bubbas.
I will tell you our situation, then you can consult your own wisdom, as well as friends, coworkers and random moms you see at the store with two-year-olds or twins, and report back to me.
Right now this is what our days look like:
5:30am- The boys are up for the day.
7:00am- Breakfast
Play, usually at home
10:00am- Snack
12:00pm- Lunch
After lunch we lay them down for sleep in their bedrooms, with their fan on, their sleepy time CD on, with their bubs, binkies & blankets. They are sleeping in "big boy beds", so Josh and I take turns sitting on the floor in there until they fall asleep, which is about five or ten minutes. They generally sleep 1hr45m to 2hrs.
2:00pm- Wake up, change diapers, snack
Go for a walk and play at the park
5:30pm- Dinner, although lately we've been waiting until 6pm to feed them
6:30pm- Bath time
6:45pm- Pj's, Story Time, and lights out.
Again, the fan is on, the CD is on (just one time through, not on repeat), and we used to have the nightlight on but about two weeks ago I stopped turning it on, because when they woke up at night they would start playing. The nightlight being off has stopped the playful behavior, but now they can't find their binkies in the dark.
7:30pm- Most night it takes the boys about 20 to 35 minutes to fall asleep, and we walk out of their room at this time. Again, we just sit on the floor, not interacting (very Nanny 911ish) and wait for them to fall asleep.
1:00am- If the boys have not woken up at 11:00pm (which they occasionally do) this will be the first wake up. It's typically Logan, who just cries until I wake up. When I go in, he says he needs his binky and bubba, and is ready to get back to bed.
4:00am- This wake up is usually Jack, who stands at their child proof door and knocks. "Mommy, where are you?" he calls. When I get in there, he is generally really awake, and has sometimes woke Logan up, but generally not. I give him his bubba and binky and lay him down. He always seems tired once he's laying down, but if I try to leave and go back to bed, I hear the knocking yet again. This morning, we did this three times before I called for back up and sent Josh in so I could sleep.
5:30am- They're up for the day again.
I guess I am just wondering if this is normal two year old behavior... Is it just a phase? Do you think it's the two year molars? Are they hungry? Are they scared? Will it get better when they break their binky habit and they no longer need to look around for their bink during the night?
I know I am wearing them out everyday. I am worn out everyday. But could I be doing more? Should they watch less TV? Is this just their personalities? I never slept through the night. Ever. Is it payback?
Someone, anyone, help me!
Please!
8 comments:
I would try a snack before bed and possibly going to bed later. Ridding of the binkies most likely will NOT help at first... but I think eventually it will.
You could limit the tv to only in the morning, and then maybe 1 show after dinner. But I know you're usually gone in the afternoons playing anyway!
I've heard of some parents teaching their kids they can't get out of bed until the sun is up, but I think they're too young for that. Hmm, I'm eager to read more suggestions from other parents!!
This age was hard for me (and E)- does he nap or not? When he napped, he never went to sleep at a decent time and then never slept well at night so we cut the nap off completely. I know every child is different so while he may do well with no naps the boys might not y'know? So here are my suggestions that I have tried -
-Pushing the bedtime back or having them get up earlier (but I know that's NO fun, especially when they already wake up a bit early).
-Limiting the nap time. Maybe just an hour tops? I hated naps, Ethan was always cranky after them so this may be hard at first.
-Third, Calm's Forte for children (by Hyland's, same company that makes those little teething tablets) or teething tablets. I didn't do this every night when we were having the same battle... just the nights that I felt that I needed to catch up. Maybe every 3 nights or once a week? A happy mommy means a happy house. :D
-Has your routine changed since they started waking up? It would be normal for them to want the extra security if you have had some changes? Children are very in tune....
If they aren't asking for food or a drink than I wouldn't think they were hungry because they would certainly ask for it. Like I said, one and a half to two and a half was pretty rough around these parts too... it was a fine balance of sleep and awake...
Hey girl ok so we haven't changed Dominic to a big boy bed yet but here is what I might do... Only let them take a nap during the day for an Hour.. I know if we go over an hour we have many issues.. I don't have to deal with the Binkie thing cause my two hate them... Dom had them for a little then hated it... All he needs is a Blanky and ya a bottle I had him broke at 11months of that then Abigail came and ya things went to the waiste side... Your day looks busy so nothing to really add there I don't think... and you have the white noise and the music at night we had a binkie holder when he did have it and that really helped at night... do they have the child saftey bar on the bed sometimes they need that security.. well I'm no help I'm sorry.... like I said mine is Bottle and then potty training.. we have to start soon....
I feel that I am not the right person who should give you any advice especially I don't have twin boys. My son Gustav's schedule is almost similar to your boys' schedule. I have a feeling that it's the phrase thing. Sorry I can't help you with that. :0/ Hope things will improve soon!
Sooo Sorry! I would also suggest cutting the nap back to 1 hour and maybe pushing bedtime a little later. Maybe try to remove any sugar in the evening? The bedrail/safety bar might slow them down and still allow them feel like they are in a big kid bed. Good luck, you know we had a sleep battle for several months too, it's really awful!
Oh girl, I feel your pain! A couple months after Gracie turned 2she started puttin a hurtin on me! LOL and our situations sound quite similar. One night I counted and she had woken up 6 times! I, like you, wondered "what the heck is going on?" I tried bed time snacks, night lights, tylenol (for molars), staying in the room until she fell asleep (which never worked) and pretty much any suggestion anyone could give me, I tried! So here is the bad news, none of it worked lol! The good news is, it's just a phase! :) They will grow out of it, maybe not completely, but it will get better. So this is what I started doing and what I may suggest. Straight up, I just started putting her little booty in her bed, had a little bedtime chat with her, said I love you, goodnight, tucked her in and that's it. No laying down, staying in the room or any of that (that stuff is for the birds). And when she got up, I just took her right back to her bed. I can't tell you how many times I walked my big ol' pregnant self up my stairs, but eventually she would go to sleep. Now, for the most part, she goes to bed with out any issues. She still sleeps with her lovey, which is totally fine, I think it's good for them to feel secure at night and if a blanket does the trick, big deal, let them have it. As far as there bed times I noticed when Gracie was 2 she didn't need as much sleep. I wouldn't cut down naps, but I would push bed time back to about 7:30-8:00, I think that will give you some more sleep in the morning. Recently Gracie has completely stopped taking naps!!! Brutal! Cherish them while they still take them! lol. As far as the binkis go, I say you're already not sleeping, take that junk, don't look back, and let the crap hit the fan. I know that sounds mean, but they'll be over it in a week. Like my mom says, if they're crying, they're breathing :) So take what you will from this, I know it's not the sweetest, most nurturing advice, but it's just a suggestion from someone who has been there. Just remember, it won't be like this forever. I hope things get better, I know how frustrating it can be with just one very stubborn toddler, I can't imagine 2! Keep your head up girl! PS. Have you considered pre-school?
Claire's 23 months and is going through the same things! I think it has to do with molars and possibly needing less sleep as she gets older. I did push bedtime back from 7:00 to between 7:30-8:00 and that's helped keep her asleep until at least 6am most days. People keep telling me that it will get better but that really doesn't make it easier to make it through this phase!! Hang in there and take naps when you can!
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