Changing sleeping habits

I need help!!

We have all triplets home from the hospital as of October 10. While they
were in the hospital they were on a very strict routine of being fed every 4
hours. (at 2, 6 and 10). Now that they are home, we have tried to keep them
pretty much to the same schedule. However, here is my dilemma.

The babies sleep all day, and then are up crying and wanting to be held all
night. I can't hold three at once comfortably. My DH helps as much as he
can, but sleep deprivation at work can be dangerous. My mom is staying with
us to help also, but I don't like handing her a screaming kid every night.

We have tried keeping the babies awake in the evening until around an hour
before bed time, but that doesn't seem to be working. I know the babies are
only 3 1/2 weeks old, but does anyone have any suggestion to get them to
change their wake/sleeping pattern???

(oh by the way, they sleep great on the couch or in bed with me, they cry
when they go in their bed) I don't like to have them sleep with me. Our bed
isn't big enough, and my husband would end up killing one by rolling over on
him/her. As a result, I have them sleep along the other side of me, which
scares me about them rolling off of the bed (one did just the other night.
Thank God, he fell on soft cushy pillows.)

--
Thanks,
Rob & Gayle Huwe

"The Huwe Family" writes:
The babies sleep all day, and then are up crying and wanting to be
held all night. I can't hold three at once comfortably. My DH helps
as much as he can, but sleep deprivation at work can be dangerous. My
mom is staying with us to help also, but I don't like handing her a
screaming kid every night.

Why don't you want to give your mom the crying babies? Isn't that
exactly what she's there for? I really suggest that you take advantage
of all of the help you can get.

We have tried keeping the babies awake in the evening until around an
hour before bed time, but that doesn't seem to be working. I know the
babies are only 3 1/2 weeks old, but does anyone have any suggestion
to get them to change their wake/sleeping pattern???

Not really. We never tried to do that. We just slept when they slept.
It seems to me that it would actually be easier to have them mostly
awake during the night than during the day, because you do have your
husband there (even if he's only limited help), and you can sleep during
the day when they sleep. I know some people have a lot of trouble
sleeping other than regular night shifts, though.

(oh by the way, they sleep great on the couch or in bed with me, they
cry when they go in their bed) I don't like to have them sleep with
me. Our bed isn't big enough, and my husband would end up killing one
by rolling over on him/her. As a result, I have them sleep along the
other side of me, which scares me about them rolling off of the bed
(one did just the other night. Thank God, he fell on soft cushy
pillows.)

For what it's worth, there was a recent study with data that indicates
that infants who are cosleeping are much more likely to be killed by
"entrapment" (e.g., falling off the edge of the bed and getting wedged
between the bed and a piece of furniture, or getting wedged between the
pillows of a couch) than by "overlaying" (i.e., having someone roll on
top of them).

You can get a "co-sleeper", which is like a crib with an open side,
which you put up alongside your bed (and I think they attach to the bed
in some way, to extend it). If you really don't feel there's enough
room in your bed, I really do think you should be very careful with
small infants there. I know one family who just slept on a big mattress
on the floor.

David desJardins

"The Huwe Family" writes:
The babies sleep all day, and then are up crying and wanting to be
held all night. I can't hold three at once comfortably. My DH helps
as much as he can, but sleep deprivation at work can be dangerous. My
mom is staying with us to help also, but I don't like handing her a
screaming kid every night.

Why don't you want to give your mom the crying babies? Isn't that
exactly what she's there for? I really suggest that you take advantage
of all of the help you can get.

We have tried keeping the babies awake in the evening until around an
hour before bed time, but that doesn't seem to be working. I know the
babies are only 3 1/2 weeks old, but does anyone have any suggestion
to get them to change their wake/sleeping pattern???

Not really. We never tried to do that. We just slept when they slept.
It seems to me that it would actually be easier to have them mostly
awake during the night than during the day, because you do have your
husband there (even if he's only limited help), and you can sleep during
the day when they sleep. I know some people have a lot of trouble
sleeping other than regular night shifts, though.

(oh by the way, they sleep great on the couch or in bed with me, they
cry when they go in their bed) I don't like to have them sleep with
me. Our bed isn't big enough, and my husband would end up killing one
by rolling over on him/her. As a result, I have them sleep along the
other side of me, which scares me about them rolling off of the bed
(one did just the other night. Thank God, he fell on soft cushy
pillows.)

For what it's worth, there was a recent study with data that indicates
that infants who are cosleeping are much more likely to be killed by
"entrapment" (e.g., falling off the edge of the bed and getting wedged
between the bed and a piece of furniture, or getting wedged between the
pillows of a couch) than by "overlaying" (i.e., having someone roll on
top of them).

You can get a "co-sleeper", which is like a crib with an open side,
which you put up alongside your bed (and I think they attach to the bed
in some way, to extend it). If you really don't feel there's enough
room in your bed, I really do think you should be very careful with
small infants there. I know one family who just slept on a big mattress
on the floor.

David desJardins

Wow! You certainly do seem to be having a rough time.

I had some of the same problems you have described. First being my DH had to
be able to to go to work and function every day. Sleeping when the babies were
sleeping was not really happening for me either. I found it impossible to turn
myself on and off like that in terms of sleep. Believe me I did try! I guess
others are able to do it. Good for them.

When both of my babies came home from the hospital they were feeding every 3-4
hours. Two things that seemed to help me were, making sure they got their
daytime feedings in. Even if it meant waking them up to feed. The other thing
that really helped was giving them a nice warm bath late in the evening. DH
and I would bath them between 11-12 at night feed them and put them down. I
found after a few days of doing this as a routine, they would sleep for 4 hour
stretches at night.

It worked out really well until my daughters colic set in, but that is an
entirely different issue.

I can't hold three at once comfortably. BRBR

I can understand why! Have you tried propping the babies around you in say a
boppy pillow while you are feeding them? Keeping them close to you, but not
exactly in your arms. You could sing or talk softly to them while stroking
them, this way they could still feel connected to you.

I do agree that cosleeping with them is not a good idea at this stage. It is
just too risky. The side co-sleeper might be just thing while they are still
very small. I hope you will look into it.

Good luck!

Michelle
Mommy to Riley Claire & James Michael

Wow! You certainly do seem to be having a rough time.

I had some of the same problems you have described. First being my DH had to
be able to to go to work and function every day. Sleeping when the babies were
sleeping was not really happening for me either. I found it impossible to turn
myself on and off like that in terms of sleep. Believe me I did try! I guess
others are able to do it. Good for them.

When both of my babies came home from the hospital they were feeding every 3-4
hours. Two things that seemed to help me were, making sure they got their
daytime feedings in. Even if it meant waking them up to feed. The other thing
that really helped was giving them a nice warm bath late in the evening. DH
and I would bath them between 11-12 at night feed them and put them down. I
found after a few days of doing this as a routine, they would sleep for 4 hour
stretches at night.

It worked out really well until my daughters colic set in, but that is an
entirely different issue.

I can't hold three at once comfortably. BRBR

I can understand why! Have you tried propping the babies around you in say a
boppy pillow while you are feeding them? Keeping them close to you, but not
exactly in your arms. You could sing or talk softly to them while stroking
them, this way they could still feel connected to you.

I do agree that cosleeping with them is not a good idea at this stage. It is
just too risky. The side co-sleeper might be just thing while they are still
very small. I hope you will look into it.

Good luck!

Michelle
Mommy to Riley Claire & James Michael

The Huwe Family wrote:
|| I need help!!
||
|| We have all triplets home from the hospital as of October 10. While
|| they were in the hospital they were on a very strict routine of
|| being fed every 4 hours. (at 2, 6 and 10). Now that they are home,
|| we have tried to keep them pretty much to the same schedule.
|| However, here is my dilemma.
||
|| The babies sleep all day, and then are up crying and wanting to be
|| held all night. I can't hold three at once comfortably. My DH
|| helps as much as he can, but sleep deprivation at work can be
|| dangerous. My mom is staying with us to help also, but I don't like
|| handing her a screaming kid every night.
||
|| We have tried keeping the babies awake in the evening until around
|| an hour before bed time, but that doesn't seem to be working. I
|| know the babies are only 3 1/2 weeks old, but does anyone have any
|| suggestion to get them to change their wake/sleeping pattern???
||
|| (oh by the way, they sleep great on the couch or in bed with me,
|| they cry when they go in their bed) I don't like to have them sleep
|| with me. Our bed isn't big enough, and my husband would end up
|| killing one by rolling over on him/her. As a result, I have them
|| sleep along the other side of me, which scares me about them rolling
|| off of the bed (one did just the other night. Thank God, he fell on
|| soft cushy pillows.)
||
|| --
|| Thanks,
|| Rob & Gayle Huwe
||

Hi Gayle!

Although i have absolutely no experience with multiples I just wanted to say
HI! I was thinking about you all today and checked your site for an update
(like you have time for that! LOL). I lurk here because I'd love to have
twins :-)
Anyways ....I hope all goes well for you!
~~~Cheers!~~~
Jenn-WAHM-DS11-DD6-TTC#3

The Huwe Family wrote:
|| I need help!!
||
|| We have all triplets home from the hospital as of October 10. While
|| they were in the hospital they were on a very strict routine of
|| being fed every 4 hours. (at 2, 6 and 10). Now that they are home,
|| we have tried to keep them pretty much to the same schedule.
|| However, here is my dilemma.
||
|| The babies sleep all day, and then are up crying and wanting to be
|| held all night. I can't hold three at once comfortably. My DH
|| helps as much as he can, but sleep deprivation at work can be
|| dangerous. My mom is staying with us to help also, but I don't like
|| handing her a screaming kid every night.
||
|| We have tried keeping the babies awake in the evening until around
|| an hour before bed time, but that doesn't seem to be working. I
|| know the babies are only 3 1/2 weeks old, but does anyone have any
|| suggestion to get them to change their wake/sleeping pattern???
||
|| (oh by the way, they sleep great on the couch or in bed with me,
|| they cry when they go in their bed) I don't like to have them sleep
|| with me. Our bed isn't big enough, and my husband would end up
|| killing one by rolling over on him/her. As a result, I have them
|| sleep along the other side of me, which scares me about them rolling
|| off of the bed (one did just the other night. Thank God, he fell on
|| soft cushy pillows.)
||
|| --
|| Thanks,
|| Rob & Gayle Huwe
||

Hi Gayle!

Although i have absolutely no experience with multiples I just wanted to say
HI! I was thinking about you all today and checked your site for an update
(like you have time for that! LOL). I lurk here because I'd love to have
twins :-)
Anyways ....I hope all goes well for you!
~~~Cheers!~~~
Jenn-WAHM-DS11-DD6-TTC#3

The one thing that helped me a lot was the double (and I bet they make
triple) bouncers. It was like little sleeping hammocks side by side
together with PVC. I don't think I could have lived without it. You could
bounce both of them at the same time. This is also where they slept
sometimes. The bouncy seats were comfortable. Also, are you still
swaddling them? I ended up getting two Moses baskets to put the twins in
and then put them in the bed (in the basket). They slept very well snuggled
tightly and surrounded by sides. I put a pillow on the bottom (hard not
soft), and a sheet over that tucked under the basket. It worked fine. The
sleep times will change soon. I found the night day thing switched
somewhere about a month. Also, do follow the suggestion about your mom and
the crying babies. She wants to help, she must be able to hush a crying
baby at sometime, she's a mom. She's there for your support so don't usurp
her help.

Good luck, congrats and just when you think it's under control, - it will
change!

Shirley
Chris and Kathleen 1/95

"The Huwe Family" wrote in message
.com...
I need help!!

We have all triplets home from the hospital as of October 10. While they
were in the hospital they were on a very strict routine of being fed every
4
hours. (at 2, 6 and 10). Now that they are home, we have tried to keep
them
pretty much to the same schedule. However, here is my dilemma.

The babies sleep all day, and then are up crying and wanting to be held
all
night. I can't hold three at once comfortably. My DH helps as much as he
can, but sleep deprivation at work can be dangerous. My mom is staying
with
us to help also, but I don't like handing her a screaming kid every night.

We have tried keeping the babies awake in the evening until around an hour
before bed time, but that doesn't seem to be working. I know the babies
are
only 3 1/2 weeks old, but does anyone have any suggestion to get them to
change their wake/sleeping pattern???

(oh by the way, they sleep great on the couch or in bed with me, they cry
when they go in their bed) I don't like to have them sleep with me. Our
bed
isn't big enough, and my husband would end up killing one by rolling over
on
him/her. As a result, I have them sleep along the other side of me, which
scares me about them rolling off of the bed (one did just the other night.
Thank God, he fell on soft cushy pillows.)

--
Thanks,
Rob & Gayle Huwe

The one thing that helped me a lot was the double (and I bet they make
triple) bouncers. It was like little sleeping hammocks side by side
together with PVC. I don't think I could have lived without it. You could
bounce both of them at the same time. This is also where they slept
sometimes. The bouncy seats were comfortable. Also, are you still
swaddling them? I ended up getting two Moses baskets to put the twins in
and then put them in the bed (in the basket). They slept very well snuggled
tightly and surrounded by sides. I put a pillow on the bottom (hard not
soft), and a sheet over that tucked under the basket. It worked fine. The
sleep times will change soon. I found the night day thing switched
somewhere about a month. Also, do follow the suggestion about your mom and
the crying babies. She wants to help, she must be able to hush a crying
baby at sometime, she's a mom. She's there for your support so don't usurp
her help.

Good luck, congrats and just when you think it's under control, - it will
change!

Shirley
Chris and Kathleen 1/95

"The Huwe Family" wrote in message
.com...
I need help!!

We have all triplets home from the hospital as of October 10. While they
were in the hospital they were on a very strict routine of being fed every
4
hours. (at 2, 6 and 10). Now that they are home, we have tried to keep
them
pretty much to the same schedule. However, here is my dilemma.

The babies sleep all day, and then are up crying and wanting to be held
all
night. I can't hold three at once comfortably. My DH helps as much as he
can, but sleep deprivation at work can be dangerous. My mom is staying
with
us to help also, but I don't like handing her a screaming kid every night.

We have tried keeping the babies awake in the evening until around an hour
before bed time, but that doesn't seem to be working. I know the babies
are
only 3 1/2 weeks old, but does anyone have any suggestion to get them to
change their wake/sleeping pattern???

(oh by the way, they sleep great on the couch or in bed with me, they cry
when they go in their bed) I don't like to have them sleep with me. Our
bed
isn't big enough, and my husband would end up killing one by rolling over
on
him/her. As a result, I have them sleep along the other side of me, which
scares me about them rolling off of the bed (one did just the other night.
Thank God, he fell on soft cushy pillows.)

--
Thanks,
Rob & Gayle Huwe

One thing you didn't mention (or I missed it) is Where the babes are
sleeping. Do they have their own beds, or are they sharing one crib. If they
are NOT sharing, I'd recommend it immediately! Think about it, they've had
close physical contact for 9 months or so - I think they still crave it. My
twin sons screamed bloody murder the first night we got home from the
hospital and put them into their separate cribs. I still remember my MIL (a
Saint!) and I sitting half-up in our bed, each holding a baby on our chests
to get them to sleep that first night. Neither one of us got more than a few
minutes at a time. The next night, they were swaddled (also a must-see
below) and placed next to each other in one crib and they literally slept
like babies. They also taught us how to properly swaddle at the hospital.
You start with a triangular sort of folded blanket with the head at the
longest flat side, fold the bottom point from the feet up to the upper
chest, below the chin, then tuck each side in, under and around the babies -
sort of like a baby burrito. The only thing you see sticking out is their
head and neck - they arms, legs and torso is all inside the blanket.
Something about this swaddling makes newborns feel very secure. At least
that's what worked for our babies. My boys shared a crib until they were
about 5-6 months old and could move enough to bump into each other.

Good Luck!!