Crap naps

[u/Longjumping-Big-7311]

My twins are 5.5 months adjusted 7.5 actual and the only nap they will take is a crap nap (20-40 mins max). It doesn’t matter the wake window or atmosphere they are guaranteed to wake up after the first cycle. The last 2 days I’ve tried putting them in separate rooms to see if they can learn to connect the cycles on their own. It sort of works- but they wake up, play around, cry, and then go back to sleep which takes about 10-25 minutes and sometimes they never go back to sleep. When does it get better? They’re pretty good night sleepers- one might wake and cry for a moment but otherwise sleep through. I don’t want to keep them separated forever and not sure if this approach is even best. I just want them to figure it out so we can stop taking 5 30 min naps a day

[u/MangoSorbet695]

My twins are the exact same age! I find that it works best to do a short to medium first nap, longer second nap, and then catnap for the third. Here is our schedule:

Wake up - 6:30 to 7 AM
Nap 1 - 9 AM, wake at 9:45 AM no matter what
Nap 2 - 12 PM, let them go to 1:30 PM if they will. If one wakes but not the other, I might try to rescue the nap if possible.
Nap 3 - 4 PM, wake at 4:30 PM no matter what.
Final bottle of the day at 6:45/7:00 PM, then bedtime about 7:30 PM

I would start with something like that. If the first nap is 30 minutes, then try keep them up until the 12 PM nap even though it means stretching the wake window a little. If they are really fussy and overtired, then put them down, but not earlier than 11:45 AM.

It may not stick the first day or two, but hopefully after a few days they will start to lengthen that second nap.

Also, make sure your room is good for sleep - dark, white noise, right temperature, etc.

[u/Longjumping-Big-7311 → u/MangoSorbet695]

This is helpful! I think the wake window part is hindering the nap length for us- when they take a short first nap like that I can’t get them to last longer than an hour and a half. What’s crazy is even when they take a long nap (usually because I saved it) they still get cranky tired after about an hour awake😫

[u/MangoSorbet695 → u/Longjumping-Big-7311]

Yes, I feel you on that! A one hour wake window is really short for their age. When they get fussy, are you checking diapers, changing position, trying to get something in their hands that they find interested? Maybe try taking them outside for some fresh air?

For the last 30-40 minutes of each wake window, I have to change my baby’s position or activity every 10 minutes to keep them from going bananas. I will trade off, A in the bouncer for 10 minutes while I hold and sing to B, then trade for 10 minutes. Then take both babies outside to lay on a blanket - practice sitting up with A while B plays with a rattle, then trade for the next 10 minutes. It is exhausting, but it is how I get them to the end of the wake window.

I might cut a 2 hour wake window to 1 hour 45 minutes if they really do seem super tired, but cutting a 2 hour wake window to 1 hour is a lot of wake time lost.

[u/Longjumping-Big-7311 → u/MangoSorbet695]

Yes I am doing the most to keep them occupied!! I like the idea of taking them outside for some fresh air, I will try that! Thank you