Twin sleep can feel like a puzzle – getting two babies on one schedule may seem even more daunting!
Once you’re out of the 4th trimester and your twins are starting to get on a more consistent sleep schedule, you may be surprised to hear that twin sleep training becomes a possibility – even with two babies you can create safe, consistent routines that help your entire home sleep well. Twin parents included.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything parents of twins need to know about sleep training twins: from bedtime routines for twins to how to sleep train twins in the same room. Getting twins to sleep at the same time is possible – and we're here to help.
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Understanding Twin Sleep Challenges
All babies have sleep challenges – so twin parents may experience these struggles times two. Getting twins to sleep is different because you’re balancing unique feeding needs and sleep cues, and constant distractions – there’s always someone who can potentially wake a baby!
- Asynchronous Schedules: All babies are unique, so twins rarely fall asleep or wake up at the same time. While wake windows tend to be similar for babies depending on age, even the slightest change in one’s schedule can make keeping the other on schedule more difficult.
- Noise Disruption: One baby’s cry, grunts, or movements may wake the other. So even if one is sleeping soundly, if another is in a sleep regression, moves a lot in their sleep, has a nighttime blowout, or is waking frequently, the other’s sleep patterns may be thrown off, too.
- Parent Fatigue: Twice the soothing, feeding, and rocking can make consistency harder.
- Unique Needs and Habits: From bedtime routines to sleep training methods, a baby’s unique personality can often dictate how they wind down for bed. Some infants may be ready for a crib before the other, and one may still prefer the bassinet. It’s also difficult to complete two different bedtime routines or sleep training methods at the same time every night!
- Room Sharing: It’s often recommended twins sleep in the same room as each other and their parents for the first few months of life. This makes certain sleep training methods more difficult to stick with. The American Academy of Pediatrics and other health authorities advise against sleeping in the crib or cot with either a parent or sibling, as it can increase the risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Given all these challenges, sleep training twins can tricky, but, with coordination, patience, and the right approach and tools, totally possible.
Why is Sleep Training Twins Different?
In addition to all the unique sleep-related challenges we shared, there are additional reasons why sleep training twins specifically is different than sleep training one baby.
While all babies in the early months rely on external support of their parents to fall asleep independently, twins also find comfort in being near each other. This makes the skill of falling asleep independently even more difficult to master, given the dependence on their sibling.
On the flip side, twins often learn to sleep through background noise, since with another baby in the house, noise is common! This skill can help them long-term, especially when beginning twin sleep training.
Another reason sleep training twins is different is that it is hard to switch up sleep training methods or use two different once if one works for one baby and not the other.
When Can I Sleep Train Twins?
Like with all babies, it’s not recommended you begin sleep training twins until at least 3 or 4 months of age! It takes a few months for their circadian rhythm to develop. Until then they cannot biologically put themselves to sleep. They also need to be a certain weight, and your healthcare provider needs to give you the go ahead.
However, once you get the ago ahead, you can choose to sleep train twins at any age – and there are many different methods that you can try based on what’s best for you. For example, you may take a different approach to sleep training toddler twins then younger infants.
Can I sleep train newborn twins?
It’s important to know that sleep training newborn twins is not possible. They simply are too young.
The answer to how to get newborn twins to sleep at night revolves around understanding they may sleep in short spurts, typically no longer than 2-3 hours between feeds. But, by ensuring their room is set up optimally, you’re following age-appropriate wake windows, and their bellies are full.
What are Twin Sleep Training Tips?
Sleep training in generally takes time, patience, and consistency. Sleep training infant twins can be even trickier – but it’s not impossible!
Keep schedules synced
Here's how to keep twin schedules aligned:
- Take a free sleep assessment for both your babies to get a personalized schedule for each – the Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers app will notify you exactly when it's time for each baby to get ready for bed, based on their circadian rhythm and when they’d have the easiest time falling asleep
- Wake your babies at the same time each day according to Smart Sleep Coach's recommendations to get their schedules synced
- Feed both babies around the same time, or as close to it as possible
- Feed before the start of the bedtime routine so they don’t start to associate feeding with sleep – this is helpful for any nighttime wakeups
- If one wakes to feed in the middle of the night, gently wake the other to dream feed, too
Create an optimal bedtime routine for twins
Here are tips for a twin bedtime routine:
- Keep the time of the twin bedtime routine as aligned as possible – enlist another caregiver, if possible, to help
- If one baby is fussy, put them down for sleep first – if you’re doing a bedtime routine alone, put the less fussy twin in a bouncer or safe sleep space while you soothe their sibling
- Prep ahead by laying out pajamas and overnight diapers to keep things efficient
- Choose books or lullabies that they both enjoy
- Consider baby massage, which is known to help babies relax for bed (here are 7 tips to massaging a baby to sleep)
- Make sure you lay your babies in their crib or cot while sleepy but still awake
- Establish a comfortable sleep environment, which will include black out shades, sound machine, and the ideal room temperature
Move cribs closer together
How to sleep train twins in the same room is a tough question – but sometimes, it’s also the answer!
Many healthcare providers recommend twins sleep in the same room, especially in the early months and years. While sharing a room can make getting twins to sleep harder, many twins find comfort in each other. This means keeping their cribs close can calm them enough to fall asleep. After months together in the womb, a little moral support in the room may be all they need to fall asleep.
Since it’s unsafe for any baby to sleep in the same bed as another person, and because sometimes twins may have other risk factors, twins should not sleep in the same crib. If your twins wake each other up during sleep training, and you logistically can separate them, we share tips next.
Consider separating them
Sleep training twins at night and during naps can be difficult if they tend to disturb each other or are on completely different schedules. Plus if one of the twins is protesting, it could cause the other to struggle to sleep, too.
If they share a room, you can consider separating them just during sleep training until they get the hang of falling asleep independently. Since not all babies even need to be sleep trained, there may be cause to move one baby into another room until the other is sleeping well.
Wondering what age should twins stop sleeping together? Cosleeping should stop as soon as they are out of the womb, but sleeping together in a bedroom can be up to your discretion. Some twins sleep better when sharing a room, while others tend to wake each other up. If the latter, that would be a reason to separate them earlier, if logistically possible.
If you want to explore what twin sleep training method is best for you, take this free sleep assessment to get your personalized sleep plan for each of your babies.
Follow other safe sleep guidelines
Just like with one baby, following safe sleep practices is key to getting twins to sleep. This includes always putting your baby to sleep on their back and keeping soft objects and blankets out of their crib for the first year. Pacifiers work wonders for many babies, too!
How Do I Sleep Train Twins for Naps?
Many experts recommend you sleep training at night before switching to naps. To successfully nap sleep train:
- Try to keep naps aligned so both babies rest at once
- If one wakes early, give the other time to finish the nap
- Use a sound machine to reduce disturbances
Consistency with naps supports nighttime training, too.
The Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers app offers step-by-step guidance for twin sleep training, which includes naps – you can follow each of your baby’s method in parallel to ensure you give each what they need to develop the skill of independent sleep.
Final Thoughts
Sleep training twins can be draining – it’s important to take care of yourself, too. With tools like Smart Sleep Coach that support sleep training twins at the same time, it is possible to line up your babies’ sleep. While it may take some trial and error to sync their schedules and find a sleep training method that works for them both, and some possible bedroom reconfiguration, you can do it!
It’s important to remember that your twins are two unique people and what works for one may not work for the other. But, like with everything baby sleep, any challenges you'll face will often be temporary. If your babies are put to sleep in their own bed in a dark, cozy room, according to unique sleep schedule, you’re on the right track.
As many twin parents say, they (and you) will sleep eventually!
