How to Co-Sleep With Twins

Having twins is a very exciting experience but it can also bring upon stress and sleep deprivation. Some parents decide to have their twins sleep together in their cribs or toddler beds, while other parents have separate beds or cribs set up for each child. Still, other parents choose to co-sleep with their twins to avoid nighttime waking and to create a stronger bond with the children.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Decide how you are going to co-sleep with the twins. For couples with king sized beds, there may be enough room to sleep all together. With infants you may consider purchasing co-sleepers. These are cribs that fit next to the adult bed. The infant can be easily accessed without the parent ever leaving his bed and the parents can sleep more peacefully knowing that they won't accidentally roll on top of the baby.

2. Create a safe bedding situation for the twins. If you are sleeping with infants use minimal bedding so that the infants will not suffocate in the bedding.

3. Place the twins on their backs in the center of the bed. Use a tightly fitted sheet beneath infant twins.

4. Dress the twins in comfortable pajamas for the temperature of your home. Dress them so that they won't need much more than a light blanket to keep them warm.

5. Keep all the supplies you may need throughout the night next to the bed. For infants keep burp pads and pacifiers. For older twins, a cup of water may be all you need for a good night's sleep.

Tips & Warnings

• Never sleep with infants or babies if you or your partner have been drinking alcohol or doing drugs. Even prescription drugs that cause drowsiness could be dangerous when sleeping with infants.

[mommykerrie]

on 3/29/2009 would you mind expanding this a bit? specifically, many who cosleep also breastfeed. that poses a different issue entirely (how to nurse them and sleep with them throughout the night ... put one on each side of you or what?)