Twin sleep routine tips: teamwork that helped new parents cope

Good teamwork was crucial when it came to tackling sleep routines for twin parents, Rayid and Rachel.

The couple became parents to boys Remy and Luca in June 2024 at 37 weeks plus one. Despite a few complications during Rachel’s pregnancy, they felt as ready as they could be for the newborn days. Working together as a team and good preparation and planning helped them navigate the start of parenthood, along with a strict routine.

Rachel said: “The early days are exhausting, a level of exhaustion that I never even knew existed, but everything is a phase and it doesn't last forever. It’s all a bit of a blur, trying to figure out what to do. Even the good sleep phases don't necessarily last forever. Things will get better and sleep will return eventually even though those early days of long nights sometimes feel like they will never end.”

“The first three months were difficult, but it got better as the months went by. The boys have a good routine now. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do but it’s super rewarding at the same time as you watch them develop,” Rayid added.

Build a routine that works for two

Rachel shared some of her top tips that helped her and Rayid, including using Next to Me cribs, plus sleeping bags which they found helped the boys sleep more soundly.

Rachel said: “The boys slept in separate Next to Me cribs, so they were easily accessible even to me soon after a C-section. There was no bending down that would be required with a cot. The Next to Me cribs also meant we could move the boys into our living room for their naps.”

The couple shared the night-time feeds by each having a cot either side of the bed, allowing them to each care for one baby. Rachel pumped breast-milk for the boys, meaning Rayid could do night-time bottle feeds. They would alternate the night-time feeds, meaning they would both get around three or four hours’ sleep.

Sleeping bags helped the boys sleep better, as when blankets were used, Remy and Luca would throw them off and get upset. Rayid and Rachel noticed that the boys’ sleep improved thanks to the sleeping bags.

Being prepared

Planning ahead was vital for the new parents, and they’d always make sure they had plenty of food in the cupboards that was quick to prepare, including frozen meals that they could quickly heat up.

“We were too tired to cook but obviously still needed good nutrition,” Rachel added.

Rachel said one key piece of helpful advice came from a former work colleague, who was also a dad to triplets. She said: “He told me when I was pregnant that if he was going to give one piece of advice it would be the important of keeping the babies in the same routine, and we echo this wholeheartedly. I cannot imagine how you would navigate the early days with the twins on different feeding and sleep schedules. It wasn't always easy but we persisted into guiding the boys into the same schedule and we still do today. It means that those little pockets of time where they are napping are truly yours.”

Watching for cues of when the boys were tired or hungry helped Rayid and Rachel develop a routine for their sons.

“We would follow their cues so we knew when they would want feeding, whether they would be sucking on their fingers or getting grouchy. There were times when one wasn't hungry or tired but we would still feed and put them down to sleep at the same time. We were determined to keep them in the same routine and they learnt that routine.

“As things evolved we monitored and shifted the routines accordingly for both of them. We still work around their nap times if we’re out and about and accommodate what they need.

“It's tough but it does get easier, hang on in there. The early days felt relentless but it does get better.”