OK Moms - After reading some posts for helping your babies to sleep at night, I decided to get my twin boys to sleep the entire night. They are 18 months and two nights ago I told them that I wasn't going to pick them up out of the crib in the middle of the night and rock them back to sleep anymore. That they were big enough to sleep through the night and that mommy needs to sleep through the night too. My youngest twin slept the entire night from the get-go. The oldest one is now starting to get it. The first night he was up for 1 1/2 hours crying and I would come in and just pat and rub his chest and say go back to sleep, good night, I love you, etc. But I didn't pick him up even when I thought he was never going to go to sleep. At the same time, a mom had mentioned using a sound machine or music to help them sleep throughout the night, which we have a sound machine so I was putting that on too. Well, last night the oldest woke up at 4am but went back to sleep after only 15 minutes of crying and getting the patting and rubbing from me. So, I think he will start sleeping throughout the night real soon. However, now it is taking them 1-2 hours to fall asleep in the beginning whereas before it was only about 10-15 minutes. I'm wondering if it's this sound machine that is making them stay awake longer. Do any of you have any advice? I started giving them baths every night instead of every other night hoping to make them calm and sleepier, but it really gets them excited and wide awake. I'm not sure what to do other than keep the sound machine off and see if that's it. What do any of you think?
**I've tried not doing the bath last night, but it still took 1 1/2 hours for them to go to sleep. They only take a nap in the afternoon and it's for 2 hours at the most. I try to make sure they wake up by 4pm (4:30 at the latest). I think I'm going to try to turn the sound machine off to see if it's that. I'll let you know!
Well, I didn't turn on the sound machine and it only took them 20 minutes to fall asleep instead of 1-2 hours. So, I guess it was making it hard for them to go to sleep after all. The oldest still woke up in the middle of the night but it was only for a few minutes. I had to find his pacifier and give it to him, but once he got it, I placed a blanket over him and he went right back to sleep. I know I've got to work on not giving him his pacifier, but I figure I'll do this a step at a time. I used to rock them back to sleep for up to an hour in the middle of the night (sometimes twice because both would wake up at different times and wanted to be rocked) so now I'm only up once for about 5 minutes - I'm grateful for that!! Thanks for all your advice!
Baths really excite my 17 mo old so we do them during the day now. Depending on what time your putting them to bed maybe you should consider letting them stay up a little longer. They are getting more sleep now that theyre not getting up through out the night as much. Good luck!!!
It may not really be the sound machine, but thier nap times during the day. Are they still napping twice a day? Are their naps longer than 2/2 1/2 hours in the afternoon. You may need to shorten their nap time to get them to fall a sleep when they are supposed to. My girls didn't take morning naps but took an afternoon nap right after lunch for about 2 hours and then went down for bed at 8 am and wouldn't wake up until around 7 am. Try to change their nap time and see if that helps them get down to sleep easier.
Good luk and God Bless.
maybe tonight dont do a bath. If the same thing happens then tomorrow night turn off the sound machine.
Maybe try some quiet sleepy time music instead of the sound machine. My grandsons go to sleep with that easily. It's worth a try but don't leave it on all night so they can sleep without it.
Also they may just need time to learn to go to sleep quicker again as this is all new to them. Don't give up you're doing a great job.
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Maybe try some quiet sleepy time music instead of the sound machine. My grandsons go to sleep with that easily. It's worth a try but don't leave it on all night so they can sleep without it.
Also they may just need time to learn to go to sleep quicker again as this is all new to them. Don't give up you're doing a great job.
