When we were in Vermont over the weekend, Maddie and Riley slept in a room in my friends' basement. It was very, very dark down there. My monitor has a little night-light, but it was but a faint glow in the black vastness of the room. What was I to do but put the kids to bed down there and hope for the best?
And the best I got: They slept like angels. They didn't wake up until 6:30 (Riley) and 7:15 (Maddie). They took long naps. They were also playing hard in a new environment, so I wasn't sure that the great sleeping was all a result of the dark, but I figured the dark wasn't hurting, especially since once we got home, they started waking up between 5:30 and 6:00 again.
Yesterday afternoon, I had a friend help me cover the twins' bedroom windows with tinfoil. It looks like we're trying to communicate with the great beyond, but it's an extremely effective and cheap way to darken a room. The twins slept like champs last night--nary a peep from them until 6:45, and when they woke up they were happy and chatting. It was great. Hooray! I did have to laugh when I opened their door at 7:00, though, and Riley was sitting up in his crib playing with one of the cloth books I keep in their beds. He couldn't even see what he was doing! Silly little man.
Here are the twins having fun in the sandbox in Vermont:
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21 comments:
I love the huge differences in their hair growth!
They are so cherubic and adorable! Oh my. :)
I remember doing that same exact thing for Buddy because for a time he was waking up at 5, then 4:30... ugh. It seemed to work for us too. Glad you are getting a little bit more sleep in the morning!
It is great thst they sre sleeping better in the dark room. AND those kiddies are adorable!!!!
Thanks for the post. Having a difficult day and those faces just made it a whole lot better. Hooray for more sleep!!
I'm glad it worked for you. This is a reminder for me to get my son's drapes up this weekend (he already has blinds, but they are not enough).
Soooo cute!!!!
Looking at your kids I know you get the same response over and over just like I do. I have twin boys and one has lots of hair and the other hardley any hair. I imagine people say "what happen to your hair?" or "your sister got all the hair"
I too just put up blackout curtains and they seem to be working.
TIN FOIL???????? You should write in to some talk show with that tip of the day. Mothers everywhere will be flying to HellMart for some Reynolds Wrap!
I love a dark room...as does Buddha. I don't have black-out curtains, but his room's windows face the west so I don't have to worry about the sun shining on his face.
As for Mads and Riley...HOLY CROW! Such beautiful babies! And like others, I can't seem to get past the difference in their hair. Gorgeous, edible babies!
Having met many brothers and sisters where the boy got the long eyelashes and the great hair, it's nice to see things worked out 'right' for Maddie and Riley!
I love how Asian he looks and how Caucasian Maddie looks. I'm always fascinated by how genes combine in siblings, somehow twins just enhances the comparison. They're adorable.
Gorgeous babies! They look like they're having a great time in the sandbox.
This whole summer/ daylight savings time is confusing for kids, I think. Glad the darkened room worked. We put beach towels over Bella's shades.
Sniff, they are SO adorable!
If you put tinfoil on your windows where I live the police would be at your door within no time looking for a pot grow op! heh.
Glad you are getting some sleep in time. SO important.
Tinfoil! This is a good idea! I have the blackout shades, but yes they let a lot of light in.
Cute, cute kids.
Sleep is so key.
As I started to read your post I was thinking - tinfoil, good woman, but you beat me to it, Nothing works like tinfoil for an extra 45 min of sleep in the am.
Glad you found something that works for all of you.
What BEAUTIFUL babies!!
My three year old is the early riser in our family. We are woken every morning with a very loud, very cheery good morning. Little boy twin wakes up next and little girl can sleep til eight if I don't wake her. I like her.
Are they beautiful. Look at all that hair!
Sometimes, when you break the routine, you discover something new. Good for you for trying "the dark." Sounds like it might make your life easier in the long term.
ok, my 8 month old is waking at 5am, i just put blankets on her window tonight and i am hoping to see even a 30 minute difference !!! if so, I might have to send you some sort of prize !!
I couldn't comment til now for some reason. They are ADORABLE. Each one is a lovely mix of you and John. (I think I see some of you in Riley, maybe...)
What adorable kids! Great Blog! Very moving and insightful thoughts as you navigate your experience. As my husband read, hewas very moved by your thoughts on the things not discussed. I would like to add your to my links?
I am at www.belknapkids.blogspot.com
Tin-foil-what a great idea!
your kiddos are too stinking cute! and congrats on the tin-foil find -- we've been using it for about a year, and it's added about an hour to our daughter's wake up time. we tried taking it off this year at daylight savings time, hoping we could "wean" her off, but alas, it went back up in a few weeks' time. it's a wonderful thing!
They are just so gorgeous! Love the photos. That's great that the tinfoil worked, happy sleeping!
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