When You’re Outnumbered: Sleep Survival Hacks

What Actually Worked (and What Didn’t!)

Ah, twins. The joy of double the giggles, double the snuggles and, of course, double the sleep deprivation…

If you're a parent of twins (or about to be), you probably know that sleep can be a rare commodity. But fear not! There are a few little hacks that can help make the nightly (or hourly) battle a bit easier, starting with some clever ways to establish a better sleep routine for your two tiny humans.

Here's how I began to survive the sleepless nights with a little less chaos and got some extra zzz's. I put together a mix of real tips and humor—because if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry (and trust me, there’s enough of that, usually from both babies). As someone who's survived the twin chaos so far, I've earned a few extra wrinkles, greys, and a newfound love for afternoon naps.

1.Synchronise Schedules (Yes, Even the Midnight Feeds!)

I know, I know—you’re probably thinking, “How on earth am I going to get two babies to sleep at the same time?”

Here's the deal: when one twin wakes up for a feed, you wake the other one too.

It sounds crazy, but it works. Instead of one crying while you feed the other, you’re handling both at once. Double the mess, double the feedings, but double the sleep later. Trust me, it’s a game-changer!

2.Create a Routine (Even if it Feels Like Groundhog Day…)

Babies, especially twins, thrive on routine. I know it’s easier said than done—twins are more like two tornadoes than babies—but once your twins hit around two months old, it’s time to start creating a rhythm. This doesn’t mean you have to be rigid, and become a robot mum, (at times I felt I was just that) but establishing a loose pattern can save your sanity and easies for when someone come in to give you a break!!!.

Start with… a simple routine: BATH - FEED - CHANGE - BED

While it may have felt like a repeat of the same thing 50 times a day, I noticed that it helped both my twins know what was coming next. Having some structure to the chaos means that when one baby is fussy, the other isn’t typically wide awake and ready to party at midnight.

3.Embrace the Noise (Seriously, Stop Tiptoeing!)

If you’re trying to keep the house as quiet as a library whenever one twin is sleeping, you’re setting yourself up for failure. I tried the ninja approach—tiptoeing around like “a wanna be secret agent” whenever one of my twins woke up—but it quickly became clear that this was just going to drive me crazy. The thing is, babies don’t need complete silence to sleep. In fact, if you’re stressing over every little sound, you’ll end up with way more anxiety than you need.

I know another concern that might come up: What about when one twin is crying and the other is trying to sleep? Is it unfair to the other twin?

I get it. It’s tough. But trust me—don’t separate them!

They’ll get used to it. And if you continue to create a consistent, soothing environment, it helps both of them develop better sleep habits in the long run. Plus, the other twin is used to the sounds of their sibling by now. It’s actually comforting to them.

So… embrace the noise—it’s not the enemy, it’s the solution!!!!

4.What works? White noise.

Invest in a white noise machine (or, if you’re on a budget, just use an app on your phone—there are plenty out there, or youtube - a blank screen with a constant shhhhhh noise really helped me in those early weeks. I keep mine on low and place it across the room from their cots and it works wonders.

No more tiptoeing around like a mad twin mum. I’ve discovered that my twins love the constant "shhh" noise—it’s like magic! Now they’re totally used to it (and so is dad, works like a charm for him too).

5. Encourage Self-Soothing (You’ll Thank Me Later!)

Okay, I’ll admit it. My first instinct was to run to their crib the second I heard a peep. But—spoiler alert! it doesn’t always help. Sometimes, that cry is just a little bit of active sleep noise (I swear, babies make way more noise while sleeping than they do when they’re awake).

As much as it hurts to hear them fuss a little, giving them the space to self-soothe means they’ll learn how to settle themselves—and you’ll get a bit more sleep (which is really what we all need!!!)

6. Safety First (Because We’re Not Trying to Win Parent of the Year for Worst Sleep Habits)

I know it’s tempting to snuggle them together in one big crib, but twin safety is non-negotiable. You’ve heard it a million times, but it’s true: twins need separate sleep spaces. Cribs, bassinets, whatever works but they need their own space to sleep safely. And remember to always place them on their backs to sleep.

The rules aren’t fun, but they’re important.

• Firm mattresses

• NO loose bedding

• NO pillows

• NO bumper pads (as cute as those little quilted things look).

Keep their room at a comfy temperature, and if they start sweating, adjust the blankets. 

7.Block-Out Blinds: Your Secret Weapon Against Daylight Savings

When your twins come home from the NICU, their internal clocks are all over the place. Block-out blinds can help! Babies are just starting to develop their circadian rhythms (fancy talk for the body’s internal "clock").They need light and dark to help them figure out when it’s time to sleep.

Block-out blinds are your ticket to a room that’s completely dark when it’s time for nighttime sleep, even if the sun is shining brightly outside.

This helps your twins know: "Hey, it's sleep time now.” Use them at night and for naps, and open them wide in the morning to help reset their body clocks.

8.Visual Cues

Babies don’t just magically understand that ‘night’ means sleep and ‘day’ means awake. You’ve got to show them. Bright light during the day, and darkness at night, helps signal to their little bodies when it’s time to sleep and when it’s time to play. It’s the simplest (and probably most effective) way to help them regulate their sleep schedule.

During the Day: let the sun shine in. Keep things bright and lively so their little brains start linking light to being awake.

In the Evening: (or nap time) go ahead and close the blinds. Make it dark and calm. Trust me, those little signals will start to stick.

9. Red Light Therapy

Sleep Boosting Hack! Red light therapy helps boost melatonin production, which promotes better sleep. Use a red-toned nightlight or red light machine in the evening to help your twins wind down to help signal that bedtime is near, making it easier for your twins to fall asleep, stay asleep, and get that much-needed rest..

10.You’ve got this!

Hang in there, mama (or dad) - you’ve got this, even when it feels like you don’t.You’ll be able to look back one day and laugh at the sleep-deprived, caffeine-fuelled chaos.

In the meantime, celebrate every tiny victory - whether it’s 20 minutes of quiet time or getting them both down at the same time (the Holy Grail of twin parenting!).

Getting twins to sleep at the same time (or at all) is a challenge, and the first few months will probably feel like you’re in a never-ending episode of “Survivor: Twin Edition.” But, once you start syncing up their schedules, creating some routines, and adding a little noise, things will get easier.

Remember this stage is a blink in the grand scheme of things, the exhaustion will pass, and one day, you'll be able to look back and laugh about all the crazy stuff you did to survive. (And maybe, just maybe, get a full night’s sleep).

But for now, let’s just focus on surviving the night.

You’re doing amazing!

Alana x