What helped our family when our twins’ sleep routine changed

David and Weronika’s family life became challenging when their 14-month-old twin girls, Bonnie and April, suddenly decided that sleep was no longer a priority. The couple had settled into a predictable routine of feeding, cuddling, and then putting their girls to bed once they had fallen asleep in their arms. However, things changed quickly. The twins began refusing bedtime, and their cries intensified when Weronika left for her night shifts working at a hospital. The situation became exhausting for both parents, and what had once been a comforting routine became an uphill battle.

In the midst of the chaos, David and Weronika found themselves at a loss. Their usual strategies no longer worked, and with limited contact from their health visitor due to the lockdown, David reached out for specialist support. This is where Twins Trust stepped in to offer much-needed guidance and reassurance.

Seeking help from experts

David and Weronika decided to attend two sleep webinars hosted by Twins Trust, where they learned valuable strategies for helping their twins establish better sleep habits. The couple was introduced to Marianne, a qualified childcare support practitioner trained by the Norland Agency, who provided personalised advice based on their family’s unique needs.

David recalled how comforting it was to receive guidance from someone who understood the challenges of parenting multiples. “Neither Marianne nor the staff from Twins Trust made us feel like we were doing anything wrong,” David said. “They reassured us as parents, which was important to hear and immediately put us at ease.”

The support from Twins Trust helped David and Weronika understand that they weren’t alone and that their struggles were common among parents of multiples. With the guidance of Marianne, the family was able to take practical steps toward a better sleep routine, which would soon make a noticeable difference.

Small changes, big results

Marianne’s first step was to assess the family’s daily schedule and suggest a few simple adjustments. These changes included shifting milk, nap-time, lunch, and tea-time earlier, as well as reducing the girls’ morning nap from an hour to just 30 minutes. By tweaking the timing of their day, the evening routine could begin earlier, which set the stage for a smoother bedtime process.

David explained how they implemented the new evening routine: “Our night-time routine moved forward to bath at 5.45 pm, then into our bedroom—not theirs—for milk and a story before bed.” Marianne advised that the twins’ bedroom should be reserved solely for sleep, avoiding the distractions of play or feeding. The couple was amazed at how quickly the small changes made a huge difference.

“The difference was soon noticeable,” David said. “When we put them to bed, we say, ‘it’s time for sleep,’ and lay them down in their cots while they are still awake. They chuckle together—and then they go to sleep.”

Trusting reliable advice

David is realistic about the ongoing challenges of parenting, especially when it comes to sleep. He acknowledged that sleep issues might not always be resolved instantly, but the changes they made with the help of Twins Trust allowed the family to regain some normalcy. “These tiny changes made the world of difference,” David said.

In addition to one-on-one support from Marianne, the family took advantage of the Twins Trust sleep webinars, which provided further insights and strategies. David praised the webinars, saying, “Health visitors and the NHS are of course great for general advice, but when you have twins, it is different. Advice from Twins Trust—from people who know—has been invaluable.”

David appreciated the consistency and reliability of the advice Twins Trust provided, which gave him the confidence to try new approaches without the fear of falling back into old habits that might not work. The expert advice helped avoid the frustration of trial-and-error, leading to lasting improvements in the twins’ sleep patterns.

The power of reaching out

David’s experience highlights an important lesson: don’t struggle alone. “This is why I would urge anyone with twins, triplets, or more who needs it to reach out for a bit of extra help from experts,” he shared. “Sometimes it can be hard for people to do, but it could help your family life so much. I’m so glad I did.”

His message is a reminder that seeking support, whether from experts or through specialized resources like Twins Trust, can make a world of difference in a family’s well-being. By trusting the advice of experienced professionals, David and Weronika were able to find a solution that worked for their family, proving that with the right help, even the most challenging parenting moments can be overcome.