Monday, July 18, 2011

Sleeping

The most common piece of advice that I received while I was pregnant was some variation of a) get some sleep while you still can! or b) sleep when the baby sleeps. Unfortunately the way the human body is designed stockpiling sleep "while I still could" is not really a helpful option. I had gotten plenty of sleep for the past 30 years, so I was all good on that front. As far as those jokers that recommended sleeping while the baby sleeps - clearly none of them have twins. Nick and I have decided that we concur with the sentiment we heard on the Father's Day episode of This American Life. The word "twins" should be abolished from the dictionary and replaced with "two f-ing babies at the same time" because "twins" doesn't really adequately convey what is going on. "Twins" is adorable. "Two f-ing babies at the same time" is adorable yet terrifying. Anyway, in those early weeks when it is important/possible to catch up on sleep during the day while the baby naps our boys were on totally different schedules, rendering that advice useless. I think I remember one day time nap in the first six weeks, and that is just because Judah was still in the hospital. After 6 weeks I returned to work making weekday napping something that I look forward to doing on vacation. In like 10 years. Maybe.

We read a book on sleep training, gleaned tips from other parents and blogs and such, and just used a series of real life experiments to find the sleeping routine that works for us. Over the past month Asher has slept through the night maybe 5 to 10 times. Judah slept through the night once, but it was sadly not on an Asher-sleep-through-the-night-night. Nick and I have worked out a shift system for night feedings, and I almost never end up stumbling around at 2am swearing and crying and looking for a bottle. We have "double trouble" about once a week when both babies wake up to eat simultaneously. Other than that, our sleep life is pretty descent. What I once considered to be a modern day miracle (both babies sleeping AT THE SAME TIME!) happens pretty regularly now for daytime napping and night sleeping. Just ask Nick - as a summertime stay-at-home dad he has taken full advantage of this routine.

5 comments:

Stephanie said...

Love the thoughts on sleeping...for me the twins somehow got on the same schedule early on and I was always feeding them simultaneously. Anyway, I wanted to say how cute the boys are!! They look about the same age as Sadie (who is now 1 month and about 13 pounds. ) What are there stats in that picture? I love pictures of sleeping babies! :-)

Piper said...

I am so glad you guys were able to figure out a system that works for you!! That must be incredibly difficult.

Also, I concur. Those angels are adorable!

Betsy Hite Reddoch said...

Stephanie - the boys were about 3 months in that picture, and like 10 lbs maybe? They are currently 6 months and 14 lbs (Judah) & 15 lbs (Asher). They seem really big to me, but they are still just little guys 25% (Asher) and 5% (Judah). Unlike their mom they are getting long and lean. I would follow their example, but their food does not entice me. Especially when it makes a reappearance on my pants, and arm, and hair like it did today. The joy of parenthood :)

Mandy said...

Omgosh, I love that picture of the boys and Nick!!

Allie Hite said...

I-AM-IN-LOVE! These little guys are just so perfect! Nick too of course. I love this picture of him with them. I miss you guys, will Thanksgiving ever arrive?