Sleep Tips from a Mom of Multiples

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Sposie Booster Pads, the number one brand in diaper doublers. All opinions are entirely my own. 

My babies are no longer babies (insert crying face emoji here). They are now rambunctious preschoolers. But they are not the only ones who have learned a lot over the past few years. I’ve learned more than I ever would have imagined! Being a mom to triplets automatically enrolled me in a parenting crash course. Even though we have an older daughter, nothing prepared me to go from a mom of one child to a mom of four overnight.

My experiences have taught me a tremendous amount about parenting small children. In spite of my kiddos being older, I still receive questions weekly from other moms about a variety of baby or toddler questions. Do you dare to guess what the most frequently asked topic is?

It’s none other than…Sleep tips!

I totally get that sleep questions are important to new moms. I lived in a sleep deprived haze for months when the triplets were first born! However, even with three babies the same age, the boys were all sleeping through the night in their own cribs by five months. This didn’t happen naturally. It took deliberate work on my (and my husband’s) behalf. How did I do it? Here are my top sleep tips (from a mom of multiples).

Please note that these are generic sleep tips intended for healthy babies. As always, consult your pediatrician for sleep advice that is specific for your child. Babies with special needs or issues gaining weight should always follow directions from their pediatrician. 

–Give yourself a break for the first month or so. The first few months are all about getting to know your baby. Your baby may be trying to gain back to their birth weight (which is typical). You may be trying to figure out breastfeeding or bottle feeding or some combination of the two. Your new baby may be on a strict feeding schedule (that leaves little time for long periods of sleep). There are so many variables that come into play with a new baby. Setting high expectations that do not come to fruition will only lead to frustration, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself to get the sleep specifics precisely perfect….yet.

–Be on the same page as your partner. Once the initial settling in period of having a new baby has occurred, discuss your baby’s sleeping routine with your partner so that you both are on the same page. Are you co-sleeping? Does the baby return to the crib after night time feedings? Even the little things make a difference. I remember when my boys were waking at night to feed. I would only turn on one dim light and my husband would turn on practically every light in the house (which I felt woke the boys up more). We compromised on two dim lights and then stuck to it together. Once you’ve decided on a routine and process, it will help the sleep routine if both partners commit to it.

–Age adjust, if needed.  Did you have a preemie baby? Be sure to age adjust your expectations with everything from feeding to sleep. My boys were born two months early, therefore I didn’t expect them to sleep through the night as quickly as I did my older daughter.

–Do not compare your new baby to other kiddos. Your first born may have slept through the night at 10 weeks. Your BFF may boast of how their baby never cries at night. Remember that every baby is different, and don’t compare your new baby to other babies or even your own older kids. It will only lead to frustration.

Once you’ve decided on what sleep routine and schedule that works for you and your family (whether that is co-sleeping or sharing a room or placing baby in a crib in his/her own room), the goal is typically to stretch out baby’s night time sleeping. Regardless of what sleep method you’re choosing, here are things are great sleep aids for baby:

–Use white noise. I highly recommend this! My boys are five and still love their white noise. We have a white noise machine specifically designed for babies/kids.

–Swaddling. Invest in a few swaddle blankets. My boys loved being swaddled and would sleep longer when they were swaddled.

–A dry baby is a happy baby. Even with frequent diaper changes (and diaper changes when the boys’ would wake to eat), sometimes the boys would leak through their diapers and onto their pajamas and then onto their swaddle blankets. This happened even when they had on diapers their size. I tried a diaper a size up, but then the diaper would be a bit too loose around the legs. Sposie Diaper Booster Pads are a lifesaver for this!

They prevent diaper doubling or sizing up by stopping diaper leaks at the source. Sposie Diaper Booster Pads can be used with your favorite diaper brand. Place a pad in the diaper and adjust.

They work for boys and girls alike and are great for overnight protection. Sposie Diaper Booster Pads increase the absorbency of the diaper by a cup of fluid.

Even if your little ones are out of the diapering stage, Sposie Diaper Booster Pads are great additions to a baby shower gift. I grabbed some for a friend of mine who is due soon.

Psstt…if you are looking for Sposie Diaper Booster Pads, find them on the aisle with your favorite diaper.

–Start a nighttime routine. A bath, baby lotion, and a book are a great place to start. Give baby cues that bedtime is approaching by following the routine nightly.

–Earlier habits are easier. If you have a desired outcome- for instance, if you want baby to sleep in his or her own crib rather than a co-sleeper by your bed- the earlier that you start this, the easier it will be for baby to get used to it.

–Break any bad habits by weaning. If you’ve started any bad habits that you want to break, trying weaning. For instance, I had gotten into a bad habit of letting one of my triplets fall asleep in the swing. Getting him to sleep without the swing was practically impossible! I started weaning him a little at a time (by decreasing the speed of the swing and then the amount of time in the swing until he no longer needed to swing). Trying to break a baby cold turkey typically involves a lot of crying, so while weaning may take longer, it will be a more peaceful option.