People often ask me how I manage my day with twins. When do they eat? What do I do if they are both crying and I am alone? Do they sleep at the same time? Do they sleep together? Do they wake each other up by crying? Etc. Etc. I will be answering some of these questions in later posts but today, I wanted to write out our current (flexible) schedule. I know when I was pregnant, I just wondered how in the world we were actually going to do it, what days looked like for other people with twins. I hope that this will help someone who is in the same boat as I was.
We have had and lived by a schedule from day 1. I love having my babies on a schedule. Our schedule always remains flexible but not by much, just by a half-hour here or there or a few ounces of formula here or there, or a missed nap (or one taken in the stroller or car), etc. Our schedule is constantly being modified based on the stage we are in (newborn, trying to drop feedings, sleeping through the night, beginning solid foods, etc) but we generally stick to a 3-4 hour feeding schedule with playing and napping in between and a good bedtime routine. When I was pregnant, I learned a lot about scheduling from some more experienced moms as well as by reading the book, "On Becoming Baby Wise" that had been suggested by moms who had had great success getting their babies to sleep through the night. Having a schedule allows me and my husband (who has a very flexible work schedule (such a blessing) and is able to help me with many feedings and can stay home at times so I can get out do ministry, exercise, shop or visit with friends) has made our lives so much more simpler and has taken so much of the guess-work out of parenting. By living by a schedule, not only do I have time built into my day to do tasks that I need (and want) to do, but I am able to know (ALMOST all of the time) what my babies need and why they are crying, etc. I am able to better care for their needs and in turn, they are content. Last week, my babies (Gracie and Keane) turned 6 months old. About a week before that, I began very slowly introducing them to rice cereal by spoon along with all of their other formula feedings throughout the day. I am LEARNING something new everyday, I think it will be this way for the rest of my life. For now their daily schedule looks like this:
6:30-7 am: They both begin making sounds from their cribs. We let them lay there for a few more minutes but try to get them before their sounds turn to cries.
7 am (or whenever they get up): My husband and I each feed one of the babies. They both get an 8 oz bottle and they usually chug this one down.
7:30 am (or whenever they finish their bottle after a little cuddle time): Back to bed for a nap. (I tried last week to see what would happen if I just let them stay up and then take a nap around 8:30 am or so, NOT GOOD!)
9 am: Both are up from their naps. Usually one will wake up before the other and will play on the floor with toys or with us before the other one wakes up.
10 am: 4 oz bottle and 1 oz green beans mixed with 1 scoop rice cereal. This is only our second week with the green beans and cereal. They are getting better and better at eating from the spoon and really love the food. Keane usually eats more food than Gracie. I always give them the majority of their bottles first because I don't want them to get full on food and not eat their milk (which most doctors say is more important than the food at this point). (For the day time feedings, it is usually just me or sometimes just my husband that gives them to them now when the other is out). So, we feed one and then when they finish, feed the other. Each feeding usually takes around 15 minutes. We feed the one who seems hungrier first. If we know we are going to be alone during the day then we plan ahead and feed them before they begin to fuss or a few minutes before the scheduled time. This way, I don't have two screaming babies that are both hungry at the same time!
11 am: Nap time again. Gracie is usually VERY ready for her nap at this point. Sometimes Keane is or isn't. If he isn't he plays for a while longer (usually 11:30) and then goes down for a nap too.
12-12:30: Both are up from their naps. Play time on the floor with their toys or in their bouncers or swing or with one of us.
1 pm: 6 oz bottle
1 - 2 pm: play. I also read them books. And lately they are loving chewing on frozen washcloths.
2 pm: They both go down for a nap. Sometimes one of them is crying but by this time in the day they are usually ready for their longer nap and they don't cry for long. They sleep for at least 1 1/2 hours. Usually one is up before the other one (do you see a pattern???:)!)
4 pm: They are both up and ready to eat again. 4 oz bottle and some fruit (1 oz apples or bananas) mixed with 1/2 scoop rice cereal.
4 - 6:15 pm: Play. Last month they usually took a short nap during this time. I am trying to break them of this which helps them sleep longer and better at night. Sometimes if they just can't make it, I let them sleep for about 30 minutes but usually they make it but are just REALLY ready for bed by 6:00. Everyday is getting better and they are able to go longer without getting fussy.
6:15 pm: I give them baths one at a time (because they can't sit up yet), play with them in the bath for a bit and then get them dressed in their pj's (which usually are just a comfy onesie (we don't have AC and it is the summer here in Nepal)). Sometimes Ryan will give one a bath right after I give one a bath if they are both really fussy and we want to get it done quickly so we can feed them or if he just wants to bathe one.
6:45 pm: We each give one of them a 4-6 oz bottle. Sometimes Gracie wants nothing to do with this bottle but usually she will drink at least some of it. Keane usually drinks most of it.
7 pm: We sing 'Jesus loves you' to them and rock them for a few minutes, pray over them and then put them down. Most of the time they go down without problems. For the first few months they NEVER cried when we put them to sleep. Now, they are becoming more and more aware of the things around them and when mommy and daddy leave the room and they cry sometimes and need to be soothed. When this happens, we usually soothe them for a few minutes by rubbing their backs or rocking them while they are laying down and then leave the room and wait for about 5 minutes. If the crying hasn't stopped, we go in again, tap them a bit and then leave again. If they were crying at all, they are usually asleep within a total of 10 minutes or so.
Then they sleep through the night. My problem is that I wake up multiple times throughout the night worried about them so I get up to check on them and I have broken sleep all night. Some nights are better than others for this. Also occasionally, Keane will wake up once in the middle of the night wanting his pacifier. I know, I know, by giving it back to him I am creating a bad habit but sometimes, if patting him won't soothe him back to sleep, I give it to him. He is happy and so am I.
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