Getting Newborn Twins to Sleep

April 4, 2012

With a little guidance, your babies will be on track to developing healthy sleep habits that will set everyone up for sleep success. As a professional nanny with over 15 years of experience working exclusively with families of multiples, I’ve helped dozens of newborn babies (and their parents) get the sleep they need.

Here’s my five best tips.

1. Know how much sleep your babies need

Newborns can sleep 15-18 hours per day or longer. Premature babies may sleep much more and fussy babies, much less. Many parents don’t expect their babies to sleep and sadly, they live up to those expectations. Expect your babies to sleep and you’ll be surprised with how much they do.

2. Establish a routine

While the debate between feeding on demand or on a schedule may never be resolved, for moms of twins, getting on a schedule and establishing a routine is essential. With two babies, if you opt to feed on demand, chances are you’ll be feeding babies all day. Strive to be on an eat, wake, sleep cycle feeding every 3 hours or so (perhaps every 2 if breastfeeding).

3. Swaddle

Many new moms have told me their twins do not like to be swaddled. This is usually because they aren’t being swaddled properly. If you are unfamiliar with swaddling techniques, consider using a HALO Baby SleepSack or a Miracle Blanket (never put loose bedding in the cribs).

4. Use background noise

Newborn twins are used to being surrounded by noise. From the womb to the delivery room, they’re accustomed to non-stop sound. Use a fan or white noise machine to recreate a constant flow of background noise. When you do, you’ll find sleep times dramatically increase.

5. Put your babies down to sleep, when they are still awake

Avoid the temptation to rock your babies to sleep. Instead, when they appear drowsy, put them in their cribs so they can drift off to sleep on their own. Learning to self-soothe and fall asleep on their own is one of the best gifts you can give your babies and yourself.

If you’re feeling like a good night’s sleep is a lifetime away, take heart. By 12 pounds, most healthy, full-term babies can sleep 6 or more hours in the night.

With her background as an International Nanny Association Credentialed Nanny specializing in caring for multiples, Michelle has been partnering with parents in raising their children since 1994.

With her extensive experience in newborn, infant and child care, and with her passion for setting herself apart from her peers by providing top-notch service, Michelle is regularly called on by the most popular parenting magazines and websites to share her knowledge and expertise. She has been featured on Parents.com, Parenting.com, and BabyTalk.com and regularly contributes to ModernMom.com, Momtastic.com, and other popular parenting websites.

Michelle has contributed to TWINS Magazine and wrote a chapter for the best-selling Experts' Guide to the Baby Years. Michelle has also authored four books of her own entitled, Nanny to the Rescue!, Nanny to the Rescue Again!, Working Mom's 411 and A Mom's Ultimate Book of Lists. She also co-authored Beyond Parenting Basics: The International Nanny Association’s Official Guide to In-Home Child Care.

Michelle is an active member of the nanny and baby planner communities. In 2004, Michelle was honored as the International Nanny Association Nanny of the Year> and received accolades from President George Bush for her dedication to improving quality in-home child care. Michelle serves on the advisory board of the International Academy of Baby Planner Professionals and has served on the board of directors and as vice president of the International Nanny Association. She has also served as the executive director of the International Nanny Association and as a trainer for The Academy of Coaching Parents International.

Michelle currently serves as the editor in chief of Longhorn Leads, managing the content across their portfolio of care related sites including www.eNannySource.com, www.GoNannies.com, www.NannyPro.com, and www.4Nannies.com, in addition to serving as the executive director of Morningside Nannies, the company’s award-winning placement agency.

Michelle is a national speaker, bringing a message of hope and empowerment to moms groups across the nation. She and her husband Jeff, reside on Cape Cod with their daughter, Abigail, and their son, Luke.