Double the love, double the adorable babble, and double the middle-of-the-night crib craziness - you must have twins!
Raising two babies at once is every bit as challenging as it is rewarding, but there are a few tried-and-true strategies that can help you get your couple of cuties on a schedule and deep into their new favorite place: dreamland.
1. Establish a routine ASAP
Believe it or not, most babies thrive on a schedule.
Put your babies to bed at the same time every night
Help them wind down with a bottle, bath time and books before bed
While it may be tempting to switch off who goes down first, consistency is more important than being "fair" - and your babies know you love them equally anyway
2. Try separate cribs
Your twins may be teeny-tiny BFFs, but sharing a bed could mean one baby is constantly waking up the other, and some experts worry about an increase in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) when two babies co-sleep.
To avoid instances of overheating as well as miniature wrestling matches at 2 a.m., put each baby in their own crib, but feel free to put those cribs side by side if it seems to help your little ones feel more reassured.
3. Or, try co-bedding
Separate cribs a total disaster? Time for plan B: co-bedding. Some twins do better when they snooze as a duo, but if you plan to take this route, it's essential that you follow the American Association of Pediatrics' safe-sleep recommendations, including the following:
Placing babies on their backs
Using a firm mattress and tight-fitting sheet
Banning blankets, pillows, bumpers and soft toys
Also consider separating your twins when they're old enough to roll over. That's a good time to give them their own space, so they can make like starfish without disturbing their brother or sister.
4. Know when to relinquish control
Babies develop at different rates. While identical twins might sync their sleep stages (lucky you), fraternal twins may experience sleep regressions and new milestones at their own pace.
Just go with it.
With twins, especially preemies, age isn't the only factor, and understanding your limits can seriously lower your stress.
5. Use a white noise machine
Drown out snores, snorts and the sound of your neighbor's Friday-night luau with a white noise machine.
These handy gadgets play a calming stream of nature sounds or static that may help babies fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.
Before you crank your machine all the way to 11, know that experts recommend keeping white noise dialed down below 50 decibels and placing the machine across the room for safety.
6. Clone yourself
Okay, not really - after all, Mama, you're one of a kind! - but you can get a little help by suiting your kiddos up in Zen Sleepwear by Nested Bean.
These cuddly PJs are gently weighted to mimic your comforting touch, easing fussiness and improving sleep even when your arms are busy elsewhere.
7. Play tag
Limit exhaustion (and the urge to glare silently at your happily sleeping partner) by sharing the nighttime schedule. One of you takes the first shift and the other takes the second, so everyone has a chance to rest.
Above all, give yourself a break.
Taking care of one baby is hard; taking care of two is worthy of an Olympic medal or at least an extra-large brownie sundae. When in doubt, drown your sorrows in hot fudge sauce and remind yourself that tomorrow is another day.
