Many parents find themselves in a dilemma once they bring their twins home. Some parents of twins swear by sharing a room, while others promise that separating your twins is the best option.
In the end, you are left confused about what direction to take. Sure, this worked for the friendly twin mom in your local group, but will it work for your twins?
In today’s article, we’ll look at the pros and cons of each sleeping arrangement so you can choose the best one for your family.
Using separate bedrooms for your twins
One twin might be the best sleeper this world has seen, while the other still needs a little bit more work. While you love them both, you do want to sleep longer and not have two babies crying at the same time.
Before making the decision to separate, you might need to account for a couple of other factors that will come into play, like age.
Separating newborns or 4-month-old babies is harder. First, newborn sleeping patterns are not consistent. Then you have to change diapers often and nurse them twice or thrice in the night.
Having them in the same bedroom, therefore, will make the most sense for tired parents.
From one year to three years, your twins will have healthier sleeping patterns. However, a new problem has cropped up. They will talk and play during bedtimes and skew the schedules.
Do your twins want to stay together or to separate?
If you are having a hard time making a decision, ask them. (Assuming they are old enough to speak). Some twins may want to have space to themselves, while others may have a hard time falling asleep without one another.
The good sleeper and the one that needs a little work
Other times, the decision to separate is straightforward. If one twin is always waking up the other with crying, separating them feels right for everyone’s sleep. It will be easier to handle one crying baby than two in a single night.
Some tips for moving your twins into separate bedrooms
Move the bad sleeper
Unless you want to start sleep training all over again, it’s best to let the good sleeper stay in. The bad sleeper will adjust better to a new room without as much fuss as compared to the twin that sleeps through the night.
Start with naps
Start small by letting your twins take naps in their separate bedrooms. It will be gradual rather than an unwelcome change that they were both not prepared for.
Keep it familiar
From the white noise, colors, and toys, sprinkle a dose of familiarity in the new room for your twin. It will help them adjust better without ending in sleep regression or burned-out parents.
When your twins share the same bedroom
Either out of choice or out of necessity to share, you need to ensure that everyone, including yourself, gets enough rest. Here are a few tips to make sharing a room less frustrating.
Put their cribs/beds on opposite ends
Remember when you thought your twins were fast asleep only to find them in one bed playing?
When the cribs are too close, your twins will turn bedtime hours into a play party.
Putting their cribs on opposite ends will reduce interaction, so everyone sticks to the bedtime hours.
Compromise on space
Not every twin wants to share a room. When they are older, 2 years old and upwards, they may want privacy and space. The problem is that you may not have an extra room. How then, do you make things work out?
- Put a drawer or shelf between the beds for an illusion of space. It might be small, but having something between their sleeping areas will offer the comfort of having their space back. Spruce it up by having each side of the room display their personality.
Will separating my twins break their twin bond?
Not at all. They’ll still have plenty of time to bond when playing, bathing, and feeding. However, if your twins insist on sharing a room, let them do it on their own terms until they are ready for a change.
Takeaway
Here is where the phrase “whatever works” fits the bill. What works best for you, is convenient, and isn’t a sleep depriver? Choose that.
