How to Get Twins to Sleep: Sanity Saving Tips for Exhausted Parents

Twins. Double the love, double the snuggles… and double the sleep challenges. If you’re reading this with bleary eyes, one baby sleeping peacefully while the other is wide awake (again), you’re not alone. Helping twins get the rest they need (and you too!) is a special kind of parenting puzzle. But don’t worry, I’ve got you, I’ve been there. Here are my top twin sleep tips to help everyone catch some much-needed kipp! 

1. Sync Those Schedules

If there’s one golden rule for twin sleep, it’s this: keep their naps and bedtimes as close as possible. When one wakes up to eat, wake the other too. Yes, even if it feels cruel to disturb a peacefully snoozing baby. Trust me, in the long run, a synchronised schedule will save your sanity. Otherwise, you’ll be bouncing between babies 24/7 like a very tired ping-pong ball.

2. Separate or Together? It Depends

Some twins sleep better in the same cot in those early weeks, we chose to do this and we loved it, we wanted them to be together for as long as they could before they got too big to share a cot. I thought it would be super comforting for them after all that time squished together in the womb. 

Others wake each other up constantly. If you have a little nighttime party duo, try separating them into their own sleep spaces but keeping them in the same room. The key? Experiment and find what works for your babies.

3. Swaddling & White Noise: Your New Best Friends

Babies startle easily, and with twins, one baby’s movements (or cries) can wake the other. A snug swaddle (or a baby-safe swaddle sleep sack) can help keep those flailing arms in check. Add some white noise to mimic the whooshing womb sounds, it helps block out sudden noises and creates a calming sleep environment.

4. Master the Bedtime Routine

A consistent bedtime routine is magic, even with twins. Keep it short and simple:

• Nice warm bath 

• Pj’s and sleep sack

• Feed & cuddle

• Book time 

• Into bed awake 

Repeating the same steps each night helps babies understand it’s time to sleep. And when you’ve got twins, any hint of predictability is a win!

5. Tag Team the Night Feeds

If both babies wake at night, try feeding them together to keep them in sync. If you have a partner, divide and conquer, one baby each. We did this and had a conveyor belt system, I would feed them, my partner would change the nappy, back in the sleeping bag and into bed, then we do the same thing again to be sure to keep them in sync as best as we could so we could get a good stretch of sleep before it was feeding time again. If you’re flying solo, a twin feeding pillow can be a lifesaver for tandem feeding. It’s all about efficiency (and getting back to bed ASAP).

6. Be Flexible 

Some days, everything will go to plan. Other days, one baby will nap while the other protests, bedtime will take forever, and you’ll wonder if you’ll ever sleep again. Go easy on yourself. Some level of unpredictability is normal, especially in those early months. Your twins will get there, one night at a time.

7. Ask for Help (Seriously, Do It)

Caring for one baby is exhausting. Two? Next-level. Accept as much help from family and friends as you can, they will love helping you too and if sleep feels impossible, a twin-friendly sleep consultant (hi!) can help you put a plan in place.

Final Thoughts

Helping twins sleep well takes time, patience, and a lot of coffee. But with a solid routine, synchronised schedules, and a bit of trial and error, you will get there. And when you do, you’ll feel like an absolute rockstar, because you are.

Hang in there. You’ve got this.