Sleep Training Twins: Get Twins to Sleep Through the Night

Let’s be real; you are exhausted. When you have two babies crying at once, a full night’s sleep feels like a distant memory. But believe it or not, you will sleep again.

Sleep training twins is a challenge, but it is entirely possible. In this article, we’ll break down the best methods for multiples, the right time to start, and how to handle two babies in one room without losing your mind.

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Identical Faces, Different Sleepers

Before diving into methods, we need to address the elephant in the room. Even if your twins look exactly alike, they are two completely different people.

Their sleep needs, temperaments, and ability to self-soothe will vary. One twin might master sleeping through the night in three days, while the other takes three weeks. This is normal.

It doesn’t mean sleep training is impossible; it just means you need to manage your expectations. If your twins were born prematurely, remember to calculate their milestones based on their adjusted age, not their birth date. You can get them on the same schedule, but it requires patience.

When Is the Right Time?

Deciding when to start is tough. You are desperate for sleep, but you want to make sure your babies are developmentally ready. Sleep training helps babies learn to connect their sleep cycles, which eventually restores your sanity.

Here are the general guidelines for timing, keeping adjusted age in mind for preemies.

Newborns

For the first two months, you are in survival mode. Newborns need to eat frequently, and they rely entirely on you for comfort. Forget about formal training right now. Focus on bonding, feeding, and surviving the “fourth trimester.”

At 2 to 4 Months

You can start laying the groundwork here. This is a great time to establish a bedtime routine and experiment with putting them down drowsy but awake. However, most babies this age still need night feeds, so true sleep training might be a struggle.

At 4 to 6 Months

This is the golden window. Most experts recommend starting sleep training between 4 and 6 months ⁽¹⁾. At this stage, most babies can physically go longer stretches without eating, and they haven’t yet learned how to pull up or stand in their cribs.

Note that the 4-month sleep regression might hit you here. It’s annoying, but consistency will help you push through it.

At 7 Months or Older

If you missed the 6-month mark, don’t panic. You haven’t missed the boat. It might just be a bit more physically demanding now.

Your babies might be crawling, standing, or protesting more loudly. They might also be experiencing separation anxiety. You can absolutely still sleep train; just be prepared to walk your twins back to their cribs or lay them back down more often.

Sleep Training Methods for Twins

“Sleep training” is often used interchangeably with “Cry-It-Out,” but they aren’t the same thing. Cry-It-Out (Extinction) is just one method. There are plenty of gentle alternatives if listening to crying isn’t for you.

Here are the four most common methods tailored for twins:

1. The No Tears Method

If you want a gentle approach, this is it. The goal is to minimize crying by offering immediate comfort.

You move at the babies’ pace. This might involve rocking them to sleep, using a pacifier, or co-sleeping safely. Another variation is the “fading” technique, where you soothe them until they are very drowsy, put them down, and immediately pick them up if they cry. You repeat this until they fall asleep. It takes longer, but it’s less stressful for some parents.

2. The Chair Method (Camping Out)

This is a middle-ground option. You sit in a chair next to the crib while they fall asleep. You offer verbal comfort or a pat on the back, but you don’t pick them up.

Every few nights, you move the chair further away from the crib toward the door. Eventually, you are out of the room completely. This works well for twins because your presence calms both babies simultaneously.

3. Pick Up, Put Down (PUPD)

This method requires a strong back but is very effective. You put the baby down awake. If they fuss, you pause. If they cry, you pick them up and soothe them just until they stop crying.

As soon as they are calm, you put them back down. You repeat this cycle as many times as necessary.

4. The Ferber Method

Popularized by Dr. Richard Ferber, this is also known as “Graduated Extinction.” You put your babies down awake and leave the room.

If they cry, you wait for a specific interval (e.g., 3 minutes) before going in to check on them. You offer a brief pat or reassurance (no picking up), then leave again. You gradually increase the waiting time (5 minutes, then 10 minutes) between checks. This teaches them to self-soothe while reassuring them that you haven’t abandoned them.

Crucial Tips for Success with Multiples

Can They Share a Crib?

Yes, initially. Many parents let twins share a crib (co-bedding) when they are newborns for comfort and space-saving. However, once they start rolling or sleep training begins, most experts recommend separate sleep surfaces ⁽²⁾.

Ideally, place them in separate cribs within the same room. This helps them get used to each other’s noises without physically disturbing one another.

Use White Noise

White noise is non-negotiable for twins. It creates a sound buffer between the two babies. If Twin A starts screaming, the white noise machine helps Twin B sleep through it.

We recommend a loud, continuous fan sound rather than birds or lullabies.

White noise helps because:

• It reduces stimulation: It blocks out household noises (like the dishwasher or older siblings) that trigger stress responses ⁽³⁾.
• It connects sleep cycles: Babies have partial arousals between sleep cycles. White noise covers sudden sounds that might fully wake a baby during these light sleep phases.

Strict Bedtime Routines

A predictable routine signals to the brain that sleep is coming. Studies consistently show that children with a set routine fall asleep faster ⁽⁴⁾.

Keep it simple: Bath, pajamas, song, bed. Do the exact same steps in the exact same order every night. With twins, you can do the bath and story together, then separate for the final goodnight if you have two adults available.

Handling Night Feeds

There is a debate here: “Wake one, wake both” vs. “Let them sleep.”

For general scheduling: During the day and for the “dream feed” (late night), the rule is usually to wake the second twin to eat if the first one wakes up. This keeps their metabolisms synchronized.

For sleep training: Once you are actively training (usually after 4-6 months), many experts suggest not waking the sleeping twin. You want them to learn to connect sleep cycles. If Twin A wakes up crying but it isn’t time for a feed, apply your sleep training method. If Twin B sleeps through it, great! If Twin B wakes up, apply the method to them too.

FAQs

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