Twin toddlers and bedtime

[scd1978]

Hi all--my partner and I have 2 1/2 year old girl/boy twins, who for the most part are very easy kids..as easy as twin toddlers are, anyway. But we're having some bedtime challenges that I'd love some help with/feedback on!

They (especially my son) have been terribly challenging at bedtime recently. We moved them from cribs to beds about a month or two ago, because they were able to regularly leap from their cribs. They share a small room, and their beds are about five feet apart. They take a nap at about 1pm, until about 2:30, then bedtime starts at 8pm--they're in bed by 830 or so, after toothbrushing/books. The problem is that they will NOT be quiet and go to sleep in less than 1 hour, which is just unbelievably challenging, and we've been staying in the room (to keep them in bed). Naptimes are fine and easy. Splitting them up is not an option nor something we'd like to do. We have tried taking away pacifiers if they get out of bed or are too loud, we've tried taking away bedtime music, we praise them for being quiet/in bed, etc. Our boy is especially challenging because he doesn't care if you take things away, get mad, etc..I think he finds it a bit amusing actually. I feel like we don't have any other great ideas. I know some people do the technique where you say nothing if they get out of bed, you just put them back..but this isn't necessarily a staying in bed issues (though it is sometimes), it's also a stop TALKING issue..any ideas? I know some people will suggest to cut out their nap, but I think our son still needs one for sure. Help!

[4Marmalade]

My b/g twins are also 2-1/2 years old.  Up until about 3 weeks ago we co-slept with them in our bed.  So, naptime and bedtime was pretty easy with myself or dh lying down between them, reading stories and then waiting for them to fall asleep.  About a month ago they were getting more difficult to put down at naptime so we started skipping naps.  At the same time we switched them to sleeping together in a double size bed and letting them fall asleep on their own.  I really doubt this would have happened easily if they were still napping.  Most nights they fall asleep within 5 minutes.  There have been some nights where they talk and play but they stay in bed.  Keeping the room very dark seems to help.  There have also been some nights where they hit each other or fight over something and that's when we separate them for 5-10 minutes.  I take one of them to another bedroom while I read to my older dc's.  They really don't like to be apart so they usually start asking to be back together.  To be honest, I'm not sure I would do something about the talking.  If they're staying in bed with lights out and eventually they fall asleep I would be OK with that.  I actually got my two down for a nap today so I imagine tonight will not be an easy bedtime but at least I get the break this afternoon.  Most days I just know I need to choose between no nap/easy bedtime and nap/later and difficult bedtime.  Most days I choose to get through the afternoon with no nap so bedtime is a breeze and I have quite a few hours in the evening.  If we're busy they don't seem to get too cranky, although you need to avoid driving anywhere after 3pm   .

Good luck!