"Hello.. I have had the pleasure to see you at Marcie Sauders home for your in service presentation. Since then I have been very motivated as a Post Partum Doula to share your information and use the program. I have been with a long term family of twin boys and we have been in a sleep dilemma frenzy. This Mom is breastfeeding tandem. The babies were sleeping from 7 pm to the first night feed at 1-2 am. If they woke before their first feed, I often could rock them back to sleep. However recently they began waking again, sometimes every 2 hours inconsolable. We are all tired and confused, especially mom. Everyone has different opinions on how to handle this. Most say to allow the babies cry it out. Mom and I do not feel comfortable with this. We are also being told to unswaddle and their clearly teething. They are 4 months and weigh 16 plus lbs. I trust and value your opinion and suggestions. Anything suggestions/direction would be greatly appreciated."
Warm Regards,

- Joey

Hi, Joey!

Thanks for your email. You mention that everyone has a different opinion on how to handle this situation, and I'm afraid I'm going to add another one to the list!

First off, I don't think 'crying it out' is necessarily the best route here. My hunch is the twins' are just a little too young for that. Maybe in a month or two this can be revisited, but I'd like mom to investigate something else first.

You mention the twins' bedtime is 7pm, but it's not clear from your email how much sleep they are getting during the day. You are probably not with the twins during the day, but ask if the twins' mom about this. If daytime naps are irregular or short, we may have our best clue: frequent nighttime wakings and the sudden increased need for external soothing during the night are often a consequence of not getting enough daytime naps, especially in babies that have moved beyond the newborn stage.

If you find out that the twins are not sleeping well or regularly during the day, and the mom needs help with that, please refer her to the N.A.P.S. plan. If insufficient daytime sleep is the culprit, and she's able to get the twins to sleep more during the day, you and she should see results within a week or less.

And please let me know how it goes.

Polly.