Getting Twins to stay in bed after bedtime.

Sheryl - posted on 10/09/2009

It was time consuming, but we would sit outside their rooms and "babysit" until they fell asleep. Sometimes it would only take 15 minutes and other times over an hour. But we would do the routine thing, tuck in, and then leave a light on and sit on the top step. (our bedrooms are on the second floor.) We could see their shadows from there and know if they were in bed or messing around. If they were naughty, we would count to 3. If we got to three, then they were in trouble. Trouble meant the radio off or they had to give up one of their stuffed animals they slept with or some kind of consequence related to bedtime. If they were really naughty, then they had tv taken away the next day. I think this worked because they had warning that they were being naughty and then had a chance to settle down on their own. After about 6 - 8 weeks, no problems. to this day - and they are 17. It was time consuming, but in the long run, worth it. And, during the time I sat on the steps, I worked on their calendars, read, balanced the checkbook or whatever (sometimes just relaxed! And the counting to three worked at other times too for discipline. It was called Magic 1-2-3 and worked great for us. I think I watched a video about it.

Cinda - posted on 10/09/2009

My b/g 2.5yr old twins are in the same room & sleep together most of the time.We do a bedtime routine: brush teeth, books, saying good night at their gate(several hugs & kisses!) & then we double gate the door so they can't get out. Sometimes they are awake for an hour but like gma said as long as they are safe then everything is ok.We have no toys either just stuffed animals & books.

Now naptime is a different story. They resist that & have taken their mattresses off their beds & cleaned out dresser drawers! Generally just bounce off the walls no matter how tired they are. They nap good at daycare during the week though.

Malin - posted on 10/05/2009

Hello!! We have our twins together in the same room. They dont have any toys in there at all except from some nightbooks - we have all their toys in another room. In the beginning they went up to play as well, but now they know that when we are in there at this time its simple to sleep and nothing else.
Have you tried to give them a book or a toy to play with in bed?

Greetings Malin

Beth - posted on 10/03/2009

my very active twin boys had this same issue - at a twin club mtg I asked about it and was told that the baby gate solution with no toys in the room other than stuffed animals worked for most, I stated that my boys would climb right over the gate and many suggested double gating - one gate above the other - my boys would never fall asleep very easily without the other in the same room either - they talk falling asleep and have never seemed to experience any fears of going to bed - they are 9 now and still insist on sharing the same room even though they fight non stop sometimes during the day - I never had to fear about them roaming the house after we all went to bed but I had this issue when they were about 18mos. - also, one mom told me she just put their mattresses on the floor so her twins wouldn't hurt themselves climbing out of bed

Nancy - posted on 10/03/2009

Hi, my twincesses just turned 3 also. We have never kept any toys in their bedroom. Currently, they share the same room, sleeping in opposite corners. Usually they talk/play with each other for a short while, and then go on to sleep. We found out that they sleep better when sister is in the room, but not right next to each other. In our house, they had separate bedrooms, with a bathroom between them. They would call out to each other through the walls and closed doors, and it took longer for them to go to sleep that way. They shared the same bassinette (sp ?) until they were 6 months old with only their swaddling to separate them.

Danielle - posted on 10/02/2009

My boys just turned three. We close the door. We did it since day one so they are accustomed to it. Once we changed from crib to toddler bed we put things on the door nobs so they can not open the door. They very recently became potty trained, if they need to go to the bathroom they will bang on the door really hard so we can let them out. Grandma is right--they can stay up all night long if they like as long as they stay in their rooms and they are safe.

Kristy - posted on 10/01/2009

my twin girls are 3 tomorrow. they sleep in the same room, in toddler beds. they have no toys (except their ONE teddy they sleep with) in their room. i put a baby gate across the doorway (bolted in with the fixtures that come with them so they don't move, and it is about 4 inches off the floor) so they cant get out. when they are really tired they go right to sleep, but if they nap, there is usually a good hour of play btwn the two of them. (my grandma told me that when she had her kids (6 boys) they were put to bed at a certain time and if they stayed awake all nite they at least had to stay in their rooms.) so...my twins are not allowed out of their room. they go to bed at 7 pm and they dont nap. as for sleeping tips, just the usual standard ones...bath, read a book, but you know sometimes that just doesnt work! lolol i hope this helps! good luck!