Bedtime Blues - Oklahoma City,OK

I know it is probably a hectic bedtime routine since by that time we are all tired ... but it also sounds like you have tons of love between them and they are enjoying the time of playing together. Maybe give them a bedtime toy, stuffed animal, baby-doll, etc., and tell them it's time for THEM (the animal/baby doll) to go to sleep. Good luck and happy new year! Too soon, they'll probably not want to be in the same room together so let them and you enjoy while the fun continues.

It will take some time. There is a new baby. My son did the same thing. The baby was born 5 days before his 3rd birthday so they were the same age as yours. We have now moved to a new place. The baby is 3 months and he is still 3 (obviously). He has started again with getting out of his bed. He needs to potty and has every excuse you can think of. Just try to be patient. I know it's not easy when you're dealing with a newborn and *yikes* twins!!! Just remember to be consistent with whichever rules you make. And, I quickly learned, pick your battles. If it's Friday night and we don't have to wake up early Saturday, I let him stay up later. Less of a battle when he finally DOes go to bed.

Good luck!

I have three and half year old twin boys and some nights a month, the scene is same as in your house. Other nights, I get them to tire out in the evening by riding bikes in the garage. I also give them warm milk just before bed time. They also take 30 minutes warm bath before bed time. I also tell them that when they eat or sleep, they grow, so they can get bigger clothes and big boy car seats and go to big boy school one day. I have encouraged healthy competition: verbal recognition to the boy with good behavior, and completely ignoring the boy with unwanted behaviour.

What I haven't tried, but may, esp if I were in your situation with a new baby .... I would tell them a fairy will put a sticker/coins under their pillow, for every night they went to bed with less than 3 or 4 minutes of talking in the bed (but no jumping). At the end of the week, count the stickers/coins and paste them in the kitchen, on their individual poster charts, for visible repetitive recognition for good behavior.

At three my twins were more difficult to handle before bed time, than they are at three and a half. I think it will get easier every few weeks.

Enjoy your new baby ..... first few years are an age of pure innocence ... its a blessing to get an opportunity to enjoy this age of your children!

WOW! T., sounds like you have your hands full. I had 2 nearly the same age who slept in the same bed, one male and one female. I did the reading stories once in awhile so as not to make it "must have" in case of a time when we had company over and I couldn't sit and read. We had prayers before sleep and occasionally a song from mommy. Then I'd turn on the cassette player with some very low volume sleep music for little ones. The favorite of both happened to be a tape of the rain with sounds of crickets, frogs, and flowing water behind the rain storm sounds with a hint of music. As I said, I put it on low volume so as not to keep them awake but instead lull them into sleep. They loved it so much, in fact, that it became presidence over me reading atory. They chose to look at their books before the actual bedtime and were eager to have the "sleep music" turned on when the lights went out!

Now as adults of ages 25, 28 this month, and the oldest 34 they all enjoy sleeping during a rainstorm. Not one is edgy, uncomfortable, or stressed during storms. They sleep like babies!

Good luck! I'd suggest separating them to sleep if possible. But that's only if you try the music or other methods offered by the other moms and nothing works for your little ones.

I saw the separate them suggestion, and I agree that's probably the best thing. I know if you're like me that might be an issue space-wise. So, you might consider handing a curtain between them. That might help with the idea of it being time to be done with interaction for the day.

my twins are only 6 months so i can't say to much on that end, except that i wouldn't seperate them! my 3 year old plays everynight in his bed after i put him to sleep. i just ignore it until he falls asleep. i owrk full-time & don't have the energy to fight it. he's happy, in his bed, and pretty quiet.

I'm not sure this will work but, give them their baths and put them to bed. Tell them there will be no bed time stories or singing or any other rewards until all the playing at bedtime has stopped. This includes any rewards during the day. And when they ask remind them of the night before and reward them if they get it right. Take away again if it starts up again. Or take a seat in the room and when they even try, tell them NO! And keep sitting there until they fall asleep, might be a good time to feed the bady and rock the baby asleep to. Or move the little girl into the baby's room for awhile, if you think only the little boy is the one not wanting to go by the rules.

Now is the time for Mom to mean what you say and stick to it. Do the tough Love now as it gets harder and harder. P.

T.: I'm not sure if you will get this but I am curious to know what you ended up doing in this matter and what worked after all. I am working with a family to resolve the same issue although they are not having to deal with a newborn. Any feedback would be helpful. Thanks, Peg

Hi T.

I have a daughter who is also three and has started skipping naps. The days she doesn't nap she will go to bed on her own about 7:30 or 8...she is a little fussy in the late afternoon hours but we don't have any problems getting her to bed. When she has a nap she is an angel all day but it takes longer to get her to sleep. If they are still taking naps you might consider letting them miss one day.

Good luck
D.

here is my advice and I think it may work =) Seperate them! I know they are twins and they will miss each other however if you seperate them maybe they will get the picture you mean buisness and will calm down. My two have been together as well their entire life and there was a breif moment where we had to seperate them at bedtime for them to see mommy and daddy are the head of the house. Hope that helped

My daughter did the same thing. The supernanny approach worked. It is exhausting but it does work in the long run. Just stay consistent. They are just trying to get your attention. Stay firm and it will work!!

maybe this is one of those times when you do nothing. just ignore it, and let them romp and tumble themselves to sleep. i say, as long as they are in their rooms, let it be. annoying, yes, but wouldn't it be nice to just get rid of a battle by not making it one? just put them to bed, and hold your sweet baby, because too soon, he will be a crazy toddler too!

i dont know how big your home is. but my suggest is to put them in differant rooms. if that isnt possible then try to put him asleep first then her. put one in your room and him in his room til they go to sleep and then put her back in her room. my daughter has the same issues with her four year old son romping around like that with his two year old sister. also maybe talk to a parenting counceling and get some ideals through them. good luck. sometimes warm milk before bed may work too. C.