The Best Night Time Routine for Newborn Twins
Getting newborn twins to fall asleep at the same time at night can be a struggle until you get into a good night time routine that helps set your family up for success.
However, with a thoughtful approach, you can reclaim some precious rest at night. You don’t have to be awake all night long with twins (or triplets!)
After caring for many families with twins and triplets as a Postpartum Doula I am excited to share some tips with you to help night time with your newborns go smoothly!
Why a Bedtime Routine is so Important for Newborn Twins
A bedtime routine is helpful for babies to start to learn when it’s time to wind down for the day. Newborns thrive on a consistent routine because this can help decrease the evening fussy period that starts to peak around 6-8 weeks old and instead give you an enjoyable, predictable evening as a family.
For a newborn this routine can be as simple as changing their diaper, offering a feeding and then swaddling and humming a sweet song. When you lay your newborn down keep your hand on their tummy for awhile to help your twins feel your presence and warmth. If needed you can pat their tummy to help your twins fall asleep if they tend to wake up after being transferred to the crib.
From the newborn age to around 3 months I have noticed that twins sleep better next to each other at night. They seem to settle and fall asleep easier! Then if they wake up upon transferring to the crib you can stay near and soothe as needed and be close to both of them.
1. Stick to a Nighttime Feeding Schedule
A consistent feeding schedule is the backbone of restful nights for twin families. Aim for feedings every 2–3 hours during the day to encourage getting in more calories during the day than at night. Try to feed your twins at the same time by doing a tandem feeding (or as close as possible) for the last feeding of the night. This will allow them to sleep a good 3-4 hour stretch of sleep at the same time, which means YOU can also get a few hours of rest as well before the next feeding.
When one of the twins wakes up next to eat, make sure you wake the other twin as well. Try to feed them together and keep it dark and boring as you change their diapers.
It’s also a great idea to use a sound machine at night to block out noises from each of the babies. They will get used to each other but a sound machine sure helps block out outside noises such as kitchen dishes being put away or a dog barking.
Why it matters: Without a schedule, your twins might wake up at completely different times, leaving you feeding, soothing, and settling one baby after another all night long. That cycle will leave you and your partner completely drained. Creating healthy sleep habits now for your twins will help you have great sleepers later!
2. Should I wake one twin when I feed the other one?
To make the schedule work, let the first twin that wakes up to eat be the leader at night. When one baby wakes up for a feeding, wake the other baby right after, even if they’re still snoozing. Feed, change and settle both twins back to sleep before heading to bed yourself.
Pro tip: While waking a sleeping baby feels counterintuitive, syncing their feedings will save your sanity. This method helps consolidate the time you’re awake, giving you longer windows for uninterrupted sleep.
Sleep deprivation hits the hardest between 6-8 weeks. If you can get started on a night time routine and maximize your sleep now it will help you feel better later.
3. How Do You Split Night Shifts with Newborn Twins?
Splitting nighttime duties with your partner is key to ensuring that neither of you ends up running on fumes. Alternate feedings so each parent gets longer stretches of rest. This works well if both parents have maternity leave or time off together after the babies are born. For example:
- Mom feeds at 10 PM.
- Dad handles the 1 AM feeding or whenever they wake up next. Dad can handle the diaper changes and soothing back to sleep even if Mom is breastfeeding. This still will give her a little more sleep between feedings.
- Mom feeds when they wake around 3 AM.
- Dad steps in and feeds around 5 AM.
- Then both parents can be up around 8 am to start the day with a feeding at the same time or as close as possible.
Why this works: Instead of both parents waking up for every single feeding, each parent is only up twice per night. This allows for larger blocks of sleep, which is crucial for Mom’s postpartum recovery.
How long should newborn twins sleep at night?
This really depends upon how big they are and if they have gained back their birth weight. If your pediatrician has given you the green light to let them sleep and not wake them up at night then I would let them sleep as long as they can.
Most of the time you will get one longer stretch of sleep (4 hours) followed by several shorter stretches of sleep. This is normal! Keep trying to stretch that first stretch of sleep over the next few months as it is the most restorative part of your night sleep for your twins and for you!
4. Set Up for Success Before Bed
Preparation is everything. Have bottles prepped and ready (if formula or pumped milk is part of your plan), keep burp cloths nearby, and set up a cozy feeding station with everything you’ll need. This minimizes fumbling around in the middle of the night and gets everyone back to sleep faster. Try to keep nights dark and boring to avoid having them fall into the day/night confusion. The last thing you want is a baby that’s awake a lot at night and super sleepy during the day.
Tip: Make sure you have clean pajamas and swaddles ready to go in case one of the babies wets through their clothes.
5. Give Yourself Grace
Caring for twins is a marathon, not a sprint. Some nights will go smoothly; others will feel like chaos. Be patient with yourself, your partner, and your babies. Celebrate small victories, like shaving 10 minutes off your middle-of-the-night routine or getting a solid three-hour stretch of sleep.
By creating a gentle sleep routine for your newborn twins, you’ll create a system that prioritizes both your babies’ needs and your own well-being. Remember: the goal isn’t perfection it’s progress. Every little adjustment you make brings your family one step closer to smoother nights. Eventually you will start to see one longer stretch of sleep at the beginning of the night followed by several shorter stretches. Celebrate these small wins!
Tip: Plan to go to bed at night when your babies do to be able to maximize on that first longer stretch of sleep! I know it can be tempting to want to stay up and do your own thing but you won’t regret getting more sleep so you can enjoy your little ones more when they wake up.
Here are some FAQ’s with newborn twins…
Should twins sleep together as newborns?
Yes, they were living together in your womb for 9 months, being close now is comforting to them. You can start to separate them into different cribs when you see signs of rolling. Most twins I have supported do well sleeping together until around 3-5 months old.
Why do my newborn twins only sleep while being held?
Newborns like closeness and warmth, it’s relaxing to them. It is normal for the first few weeks. Eventually you need to lay them down so try swaddling, using white noise (it’s similar to the noise of the womb) and keep practicing laying them down in a safe place to sleep during the day for a nap or two.
I help overwhelmed parents (especially twin parents) build peaceful nights and healthy sleep habits from the start.
Schedule a FREE 15 Minute Chat with me, an expert twin Doula and Sleep Consultant! Let’s tackle those twin sleep challenges together and help your family thrive.