Sleep advice for newborns?

[CurlyQ284]

My good friend had twins in July, they were born at 34 weeks I think and they've been home from the NICU for about a week. She's asking me for sleep advice. I bought her a sound machine because it worked for my son but she hasn't used it yet. I don't feel like I have any other advice. My son slept on me for the first three months and that's not really advisable.

She is having trouble tandem feeding and says they are on different schedules so she doesn't get naps.

They are sleeping in rock and plays, one has reflux and she got an inclined napper for him but hasn't used that yet either. They are breastfed, she just hired a nanny for 2 days a week and family comes to help with night feedings occasionally.

Any advice I can give her?

[UnderProtest]

The best thing is to get them on the same schedule. I don't know how someone can do it otherwise. Also, my kids slept together and I think it helped their sleep. The comforted each other. So maybe that?

[marissa]

I used a chart to log in all the info. Naps, feedings, diaper changes,,etc. I got one kid up to eat when the other woke up. Both boys ate at the same time. I stopped waking when one was able to sleep for longer periods of time. My twins were 2 months early and came home 3 weeks after they were born. One boy started Sttn at 4 weeks. The other about 9 months.

[CurlyQ284]

I emailed her your suggestions. I feel so awful I wish I was there, I would offer to help

[Narwhal]

Get them on the same schedule. If one wakes up to eat, wake up the other. If one takes a nap, try to get the other to nap (easier said than done sometimes).

My boys started sleeping pretty well when we began swaddling and white noise. They were also in a RnP next to me at night until they were about 4 months adjusted (born at 29 weeks). Ours had to be given a bottle at night with breast milk supplemented for extra calories, so I don't have advice on night breasted feeding, but honestly, I could not have survived without my husband. He was right there with me on wake ups, feeding, comforting, ect. He was amazing.

Hopefully a nanny helps your friend. I wish I would have had a nanny even once a week so I could have just slept. It's rough for a while, but it does get easier- and mine are only 8 months!