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*Lindsey*
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| Posted: Dec 11 2009 at 1:43pm | IP Logged
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For the last 3 weeks or so, my 2 year old twin girls have been absolutely awful to get down for a nap in the afternoon and for bed at night.
They wake up around 6:30 every morning and I put them down for a nap between 12-1:30 depending on when lunch is finished, etc. They go to bed around 8:00 every night. If they skip naps, it's usually 7:00 bedtime.
It's 2:40 now and I've been fighting them for the last hour. They keep getting out of bed (they sleep together in a twin) and sitting in the hallway. Sometimes they run around and tear up the bedroom. Sometimes they want me to sing to them over and over or pray over and over again. I'm starting to feel  because going through this twice a day, everyday, is getting really, really old.
Usually when they get up, I tell them: "No, it's time for night-night, back in bed." Sometimes I quit talking and just keep putting them in bed, covering them up, and walking away. But I can't keep on like this. I keep telling myself that it's just a phase, but it's been almost a month and we haven't given in to them. I am not ready for them to be done napping. I can't see how I'd survive without that break!
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Lindsey
Mama to DS (11), DD(9), twin dds(7), DD (5), DS (4), DS (3), and 5 angels in heaven.
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stellamaris
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| Posted: Dec 11 2009 at 5:02pm | IP Logged
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 My twins were my 6th and 7th children, and I do really empathize with you! They did stop napping between 2 and 3 (I forget exactly when, because I also had a younger one, like you,...it's just a blur). I have no great solutions, I can only send my prayers for strength for you and patience and trust; everything will be OK, even if they are not napping as much as in the past.
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In Christ,
Caroline
Wife to  dh 30+ yrs,ds's 83,85,89,dd's 91,95,ds's 01,01,02,grammy to 4
Flowing Streams
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Angel
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| Posted: Dec 11 2009 at 5:12pm | IP Logged
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I used to have to physically hold one of my twins onto the bed when he was about two so he would take a nap. I was usually nursing a newborn when I did this, and it was NOT fun. I absolutely dreaded naptime every day. But my boys's behavior would get SO bad if they had no nap -- I mean, even beyond the normal level of destruction which they wreaked on a daily basis -- that there was no question of them skipping naps. They wouldn't go to bed earlier -- it was still about 9 PM -- and they still got up at 6:30, plus assorted times at night. I did not think that time would EVER end.
In fact, it lasted several months, but gradually it got better, and the boys would go to sleep while I sat in a rocking chair and nursed the baby. We initially had them sleeping in two twin mattresses pushed together on the floor, but then we decided to split them up because if one of them was acting up, he'd keep the other one awake, too. So we moved the beds apart.
Is there any way you could have your twins sleep in separate beds and maybe work in a place where you could sit with the baby and ensure that they actually lay down in their beds? It's not guaranteed to work, but it might help. My twins are 4 now and I am STILL not in a hurry for them to give up their naps!!!
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Angela
Mom to 9, 7 boys and 2 girls
Three Plus Two
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Bookswithtea
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| Posted: Dec 11 2009 at 5:35pm | IP Logged
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Not a twin, but my 2 yr old has become a nightmare to put to sleep in the last month or so. I dread naptimes and bedtime. You have my utmost empathy.
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Blessings,
~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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Mimip
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| Posted: Dec 11 2009 at 8:08pm | IP Logged
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Oh Lindsey,
this is such a difficult thing. I don't have twins but each of my children went through this and my almost 2 year old is right on the fringe. The only thing that we did, that might be a possibility if it gets really bad, was a car ride. My children fall asleep in the car and sometimes I try to transfer, sometimes we just sit in the car watching a video or listen to a book on tape. ( I know this is not the best for gas but then I could get some rest 
Maybe you could put them in different rooms? Maybe put each in a sibling's bed and make it a special time with that sibling. That brother or sister could read a book and then say a prayer and leave the sibling in the bed??? Just a brain storming thought.
Good luck!!! I'll say a prayer that you get some rest before the nap goes away completely. For us, we willingly give up the nap when we know that the child can get to 7 pm and then go to sleep.
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In Christ,
Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
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*Lindsey*
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| Posted: Dec 11 2009 at 8:28pm | IP Logged
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Thank you all!
We don't have any extra beds or bedrooms at the moment, so it's stuck that way. Also, they've always slept together and get upset if they aren't in bed together.
On a more positive note, they did fall asleep at 2:40 and slept until 4:30. I thought bedtime would be even worse tonight b/c of the late nap. Surprisingly, I put them to bed at 9 and they each only got out of bed once. It's very quiet in there now! Maybe a later nap is what they need?
It's funny how as soon as I think I've figured it out, they prove me wrong. 
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Lindsey
Mama to DS (11), DD(9), twin dds(7), DD (5), DS (4), DS (3), and 5 angels in heaven.
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guitarnan
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| Posted: Dec 11 2009 at 8:37pm | IP Logged
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I hate to tell you this, but my dd gave up naps at 18 months...some children actually do this...and she didn't fall asleep at 7:00 p.m., either. Sigh.
Of course, now we all stay up very late and the kids sleep in...I tell myself it's good for me (I work from home) and gives my teen and pre-teen sleep that matches their body clocks... 
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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DominaCaeli
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| Posted: Dec 11 2009 at 8:59pm | IP Logged
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No help here--just prayers and a hearty "I know what you mean"! My two 3yos are in this same struggle and have been for months. I actually don't mind if they give up their nap (my son still needs it, but my daughter doesn't) if I could just substitute it a little bit of quiet/rest time. But it is absolutely impossible to keep them quiet. They just talk and talk and TALK the whole time, and they manage to cause trouble even from their beds! Thankfully, they don't pull the same stunts at bedtime. We too don't have the extra room to separate them, and like you said, Lindsey, they have always been together and are genuinely upset when separated.
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Celeste
Joyous Lessons
Mommy to six: three boys (8, 4, newborn) and four girls (7, 5, 2, and 1)
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Maddie
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| Posted: Dec 11 2009 at 11:18pm | IP Logged
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I'm trying to be more diligent about getting my 2 yo to take naps. One thing that really seems to work for her is I decide when she gets up and when she goes down. By that I mean, I don't let her sleep until she wakes up, I wake her up after an hour or whatever time I have determined she sleeps till. She seems to go to sleep better for the next bedtime, nap or otherwise, because she didn't get all her "winks" in.
Hope that makes sense. 
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~Maddie~
Wife to my dh and Momma of 9 dear ones
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4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: Two year olds fighting nap/bedtime
