I am losing my mind with the nighttime sleep stuff. Seriously.
I initiated a sleep routine based on a few books I've read (mainly the No Cry Sleep Solution, but going with her "desperation" section about letting them cry with company, not alone.). I start bedtime for the babies around 7ish, ideally having them down by 8 or so. Lots of nursing and feeding still, but once they start to drowse and fall asleep I take them off and don't let them suck to sleep. I am doing it in our bed, which is what they are familiar with, and I stay there and pat/comfort/sing. Last night Elsie cried for 2 HOURS, from 8:30-10:30ish. Delia went to sleep without a fuss and slept through her sisters cries for 2 hours, then woke. I fed them both (I had already fed Elsie but she ate again) and then they both cried for 2 MORE HOURS. Around 12:30, more than 5 hours since I started the bedtime routine, they fell asleep. The rest of the night they woke 2-4 times and I nursed/let them sleep on me as usual because I just HAD to get some sleep. I cannot function during the day on less than 4 hours sleep, and with non-coordinated nappers usually can't nap during the day. Emma was jumping on my head as usual at 5:30AM. Whee!
This was actually night 2, the first night was actually more reasonable -- both crying to sleep in about 20 min with me there patting and singing.
I am doing a little more stringent CIO for naps, because they tend to go down so much easier during the day (as noted in the good section, above!). Basically I put them in their own beds when sleepy and check and console every 3-5 min, sometimes longer. Takes anywhere from 5 min to 45 min of crying for them to be out. I HATE the crying but I really feel there is no other way right now.
I am going to reassess after a week or so and decide if I need to move them out of the bed at night completely. I LOVE cosleeping for so many reasons (ease of nightfeedings, and closeness/bonding being biggies), but only if they do actually sleep. Which I know is possible -- I know tons of successful cosleeping families. I hate the idea of getting up and fully awake for 1-3 feedings a night (and I do not feel like they are ready to cut those out yet, being so wee still). But. That would definitely be better than what we have currently....
Emma is crying too, because she is in time out for the SECOND time today for waking/attempting to wake the babies. I shut the doors to their room and she bangs of them! This morning she jumped onto the bed and started mauling them to try to wake them up. OMG. This is a total non-negotiable for me, up there with playing with the oven and biting. Seriously. I put up with your challenging sleep issues, kid, don't mess with my efforts with your sisters.
P.S. This was written yesterday, Friday, and indeed last night was much better. Still some crying, still some sleeping on me later in the wee hours, but lot less crying and more sleeping for us all. Whew.
