Dear Kay:
I have 18 month old twins and am having trouble with getting one of them to sleep all night. They are both girls and she wakes up crying from 3-4 times a night. I’m still breast-feeding them 2-3 times a day. I teach school, so they are at day care during the school year. Last night they both woke up at 2:30 and never went back to sleep. My husband usually gets the other girl to sleep while I am getting the other one to sleep. They have never slept with us, so I don’t have that issue to deal with, but I would love to get some sleep!!
I would love some advice.
Thank you!
Susan
Dear Susan:
Well sometimes them sleeping with you can be a quick solution. However, if you are not inclined to co-sleep, there are numerous solutions posted here on my site. Many include the following: How to set up a consistent bedtime routine,Tips for relaxing your little ones to sleep and How to deal with them when they wake up. Quickly here are a few suggestions. I strongly encourage parents to include a bath routine (as it lowers body temp and allow them to sleep deeper) and a nightly massage. Parents often forget that what will put them to sleep will often work on their children. Sometimes too they wake because they are hungry. Their stomachs are as big as their fists. A piece of fruit or something will often get them back to sleep in a jiffy.
Best Wishes!
Kay