Toddler time means sleep deprivation. Why is it when one twin wakes up at 5am, his brother waits until the next day to wake up at 5am. If only they could synchronise (like I’m sure twins are supposed to) and both wake up at 5am on the same day, then give me a chance to sleep in the next day. But that’s twins for you. They like to stagger things to keep you on your toes.
Unless they’re ill that is. Last week I had two vomiting toddlers. Admittedly they were kind enough to vomit at different times during the day (not sure how you cope with double sick episodes) but that in itself presents its own problems. How do you stop T1 from playing in T2’s sick while you try to find new clothes, towels etc? I ended up locking T2 into the kitchen behind the stairgate (sick and all), leaving him to play with cooker knobs and crockery while I frantically figured out how to clean up the mess. Slightly risky maybe, but a bit less gross than letting him spread it around the whole house with his brother.
Today they’ve been little sweeties though. T1 comes over to give me a big sloppy kiss and then he toddles over to his brother, wraps his arms around his neck, floors him and then – laying on top of him – continues to cover his head in little kisses. Cute. Makes a nice change from the biting.
I think it’s going to be therapeutic keeping this blog. Maybe when the boys are older I’ll show it to their girlfriends and they can laugh at the things they used to get up to. Cruel I know, but it’ll be an opportunity to repay them for the vomit and sleep torture. Serious question now, when do the terrible sleep phases really end? Honest answers please. And don’t say age 15 or I might cry.
Yet what do I say when people in the street stop me (as they inevitably do all the time) and ask whether they’re good sleepers (second to the age old question “are they twins?” to which I’m always tempted to reply “no, I just stole the second baby because he looked remarkably like my first”)? “Yes, they sleep through fine,” I say with a smile before rushing off to reapply my Touche Éclat.
Hi I have just found your blog & have been reading all the old posts to catch up. Congratulations on your 2 boys they sound so much fun. I have a boy & girl who are now 2yrs 3months – where on earth did the time go? I know all children are different but it seems they do sleep better around 2 years old but my two can still have the occasional early morning & as you say they seem to take it in turns to wake early. I’m looking forward to reading more of your blogs.
Ah thanks, it’s lovely to hear from other twin mums. We’re going through a good sleep phase at the moment – usually 7pm – 7/7.30am but as soon as we bring the toddler beds out later this year I’m sure it’ll be a nightmare all over again! They are great fun but hard work, although people do keep saying it gets easier. I’m hoping that 2 is the turning point when they start to understand a bit more and don’t run off so much. But I’m probably deluded. xx