During the night, babies will often want to feed more regularly than during the day. Often, newborns are feeding every couple of hours. If you're breastfeeding, this can mean that the mother is awake throughout the night feeding both babies, whilst the partner can help with other tasks such as changing nappies, helping to settle the babies back to sleep and ensuring that the feeding mother has enough water and food to keep her going through the night.

Other families have each parent feed a baby at each feed to make the time spent awake shorter, or work in shifts and bottle feed so that each parent gets a block of sleep. Some families bring in extra help for those first few weeks as it can become extremely exhausting - it's important to manage your expectations at this stage. We have lots more advice on feeding available.

Whatever works for you and your family, make sure that you are open and honest about how you are feeling and get as much rest as you can.

We hope it helps your peace of mind to know that this phase will not last forever. Throughout the first year, your twins, triplets and more will develop and change quickly and often their sleep needs will reflect this.

 

Two newborn twins lie sleeping next to each other with their hands touching

 

What to expect from multiples' sleep over the first year

Every baby is different - even identical twins will have different sleep patterns and habits - however we've created a general overview of the development phases of sleep in order to help give you an idea of what the first year could look like.

Newborn to two months

Age - one week. Eight hours during the day. Eight and a half hours at night. Age - four weeks. Six and three quarter hours during the day. Eight and three quarter hours during the night.

Three to four months

​​Age - three months. Five hours during the day. Ten hours at night.

Four to five months

Age - five months. Four hours during the day. Ten hours at night.

Six to eight months

Age - six months. Four hours during the day. Ten hours at night.

Nine to twelve months

Age - nine months. Two and three quarter hours during the day. Eleven and a quarter hours at night. Age - twelve months. Two and a half hours during the day. Eleven and a half hours at night.

If your babies are over one-year-old, we have a Sleep Online Course that can help if you're still struggling to get your twins, triplets or more to sleep through the night, or settle down at bedtime.

 

Using slings for safe sleep

It's always important that you use slings safely to avoid SIDS. The Lullaby Trust has specific guidance around safety with slings that we recommend following.

 

Explore more advice about sleep

 

 

Access further resources as a registered user
Register as a free user, or if you are already registered sign-in, to access further information, including our Sleep Top Tips Guide. Our Twins Trust members also get access to a Sleep Expectations webinar, to help guide you through the milestones of sleep and what to expect.

 

 

Personal stories from parents of multiples

Hear personal stories about how people have experienced sleep with their multiples and how Twins Trust services like our Twinline helpline supported them.

Diana's story
Twin mum Diana Daborn called Twinline in despair over sleep and routines issues in 2016 – now she volunteers as a Twinline listener herself.
Personal experiences, Sleep, Twinline, One parent family
David's story
“It was a difficult time for all four of us,” said David. "The routine that we had suddenly was not working for us.
Personal experiences, Sleep, Family Support Service

 

Further help and resources from Twins Trust

Sleep for twins, triplets and more is one of our most asked about topics and we understand that there are lots of questions you may have about how your babies are sleeping. We're here to support you during this stage of your children's development and the below resources have lots more useful information about sleep.

Helpline

Our helpline, Twinline, is here to support you, answering questions about feeding, sleeping, starting school, friendships, getting to grips with the teenage years, or anything else multiples related.

Sleep online course

Our two-part course is designed for parents who have twins, triplets or more aged from 12 months old up until the age of five who are experiencing challenges around sleeping.

Sleep online clinic

Our regular sleep clinic gives you the opportunity to drop in and chat with experts and other parents of multiples about your babies' sleep.