Nap Time

I've been doing my best to sleep train the babies using Baby Wise and the eat, play, nap schedule. So far it has gotten us between 4-5 hours in the first sleep of the night, then only about 2 hours thereafter. I figure the nights will get better as they get older, but the daily nap routine has a lot to do with it too.

During our 3 hour block of eat, play, sleep it takes them about 30 minutes to eat then I give them at least 30 minutes of play time. Throw in the time to make the bottles and change diapers (there's two of them, mind you) and we're looking at about an hour and a half. This is the time (or a little before) that I start to get them ready to nap. I want them to sleep in their pack and play, not in the swing or in my
lap. If I'm lucky one of them is drowsy so I swaddle and put him down then rock the other baby. If not, it gets really hard. I rock and sing to them and put them down "drowsy but awake". It's really been hit or miss for them to nap well.

I'm feeling discouraged because they won't sleep for very long and don't fall asleep quickly either. I know that it takes 3-5 days to establish a sleep routine and I've been strict with myself for three days now and I don't feel like its getting better.

They'll sleep for a bit then one fusses so I let him cry for a minute or two, if he doesn't settle I rock him until he's drowsy again. Lather, rinse, repeat. I wind up staying in the room waiting to soothe a baby and spend the whole hour and a half doing this. So basically I have no time for chores, a shower or a nap for myself! I blog and facebook on my phone between soothing sessions :/

I read and re read Baby Wise, Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Twins and What to Expect the First Year and end up feeling like a failure. Sometimes I use "props", I don't always recognize sleep
cues and wind up with an overtired baby, my "routine" isn't enough for them...the list goes on.

I feel so guilty because sometime Ben won't sleep at all. I fight with myself about whether I should just hold him and let him sleep or give it some time and he'll learn. At this point they don't often wake each other up with their crying but sometimes I resort to the pacifier with Ben because it can help him fall asleep or at least stops him from crying. Until it falls out. Over and over again.

I also read blogs of other twin moms who are total rockstars. They wear makeup, blog often and appear to sleep. I wish I knew their secrets!

I just feel like I should have it together by this point, for everyone's sake. The babies deserve a predictable schedule and to be able to get good rest (even though they don't appear to want it!) and I need some time to keep up with life! I really hope we start to see some results soon.