AboutSusan M. Heim Expertise As the author of two books on raising twins and multiples, as well as a mother of four -- including two teenagers and preschool-aged twins -- I am qualified to answer any questions relating to the raising of twins and multiples, from birth through the teen years.
Experience I am the author of "It's Twins! Parent-to-Parent Advice from Infancy Through Adolescence" and "Twice the Love: Stories of Inspiration for Families with Twins, Multiples and Singletons." I write a regular column for Mommies Magazine called "Loving and Living with Twins and Multiples." I also write a blog called "Susan Heim on Parenting." I've published articles in TWINS Magazine, as well as many other publications. I'm also the mother of twins and two other children.
Organizations National Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs; Florida Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs; National Association of Women Writers; Southeastern Writers Association; Small Publishers Association of North America (SPAN)
Education/Credentials I have a bachelor's degree in Business Administration.
Awards and Honors My book, "Oh, Baby! 7 Ways a Baby Will Change Your Life the First Year" is a winner of the 2006 Parent to Parent Adding Wisdom Award, the only award program to ever be honored by Disney.com, as well as the winner of a 2007 iParenting Media Award.
Question I have 15 month old twin boys who need to be rocked to sleep.All this time we have rocked to put them to sleep together and get our work done as me and my husband has no other help.
We don't have a separate bedroom or separate cots where we can put them on their own.They sleep on the bed with us.
Even if one is sleepy the other sibling will call him up and they both play.
We cant leave them on the bed because they play on the bed and its not safe.
This is wearing us out because my husband works long hours and he hardly gets enough sleep.
How can we put our toddlers to sleep on their own..?
Answer Dear Asha,
Wow, this is really tough if they don't have their own beds. Is there a charitable organization through which you could have some cribs donated? Or find some families who no longer need their cribs? If you couldn't fit both cribs in the bedroom, perhaps you could put one in the living room. Obviously, you can't force the boys to fall asleep on their own. Normally, I would recommend the "cry it out" method where you put your twins in their cribs and let them learn to soothe themselves to sleep, but this won't work if they both are sleeping in your bed. The only other solution I can think of is just to wait to put them to bed when you and your husband are ready to go to bed, but that makes it difficult for you to have some "alone time" to get things done. It sounds like your best solution is to try to find some cribs, if possible.
I wish you all the best,
Susan
