Silence is golden...when am I going to get some?

[JeffBurns]

Alright...don't get me wrong...I love my kids, but the screaming from twins is getting pretty hard to take. When there is a problem that's no problem, I can fix it and we are back to awake and happy, but when there is no problem and the screaming continues...It gets hard to take. You don't want to leave them alone screaming, but there is also nothing obviosly wrong. So then you start to think about possibe medical issues etc etc etc. Then over the deep end I go...well o.k. not really...BUT I know that everyone says "enjoy every minute"...but I firmly believe that those people haven't been in a house with two screaming babies all day.

The kids are 9 weeks old and very cute...completely healthy (as far as I can tell) and I am looking forward to the day when we all can have some fun together...

[Remington]

Don't worry. Some kids just scream. It may be a genetic thing, I am not sure. All 3 of my kids screamed their brains out for the first 3 months. It was so bad nobody came to visit. Then they just kind of stopped and became at peace.

My kids are completely healthy. What I have learned is even if you think the baby is not hungry try MORE MILK. This may calm them down some. Bu expect more screaming for at least another couple months. Not to make you feel bad but some kids are screamers. Mine were!

Walk with them. Where you have 2 screamers, oh boy. You may need to take turns. If you can walk with them with them facing out so they can see everything that would be best. Hold them up and out. It gets tiring so find comfortable positions. Walk them buy everything and they will take it all in and it calms them down a bit.

Hope this helps.

[SAHF]

Yeah....the crying does get to you at times. But like Rem said, some are just like that. My little boy was like that, but his was usually at 2A until 6A. He did that for about the first few months.

Just sit down with your wife and discuss passing them off for an hour or so. Meaning: As soon as she walks in and gets changed, you are allowed to take off (anywhere) to relax for one hour. That way you wife gets to have quality time and you get a small piece of sanaty. Then come home eat dinner as a family and off to bed they go.

I know, easier said than done! Now that my two are 7 and 2, it is a little better...not much... :D Hang in there.

[tommyw/1]

When my daughter cried alot, I found that taking her outside would always calm her down right away. Having the animals(dag & cat) get her attention worked at times also. You've obviously got more of a challange with the twins.......... I learned not to hesitate to ask for help-family & friends! Stay strong brother

[JeffBurns]

I appreciate the quick responses. My wife and I have talked about it and have come to the conclusion that decompression is the best thing for me. The only problem is that she works 10 hour days in a high stress environment of her own so me dumping the kids on her when she gets home isn't really an option (I do appreciate the suggestion though). Especially on a day like today where it will be even longer (closer to 12).

I hear from my wife and others that 12 weeks is usually the magic number. Whatever the kids have issues with they lose them by that time. Let's see then...23 days 20 hours and 6 minutes from now, sanity should return to the Burns household...yeah...right. Here's hopin'.

Anybody know of any multiples groups? There are couple here where I live but they are feminazis. My wife was on bedrest and needed the assiastance of a wheelchair (which only I could push) but they wouldn't let me come to the meeting(I guess because I am a man).

[katlinsdaddy]

One thing you might want to try is a sling. My wife had heard about them before Katlin was born and bought one and I used it with Katlin and so did my wife it left your hands free she was snug and happy and usually sleep like a lamb in it. It may be a good option for you with 2 one in the sling one in the hands etc. The one we bought was called an over the shoulder baby holder, But I've heard my wife talk about another one called a maya wrap that she said looked easier to use. Just a thought.

[Remington]

Sometimes if you put them in those battery powered swings it lulls them. Be sure not to swing them very long though as some studies say it is not good for the baby. But if they have been awake for a while it is a good way to get them to sleep.

[Jackson's Dad]

Our little guy just turned 7 weeks. He's not a crier, per se, but a fusser. He can squirm and fret for hours... it's like a bomb ready to go off if we are not there trying to calm him. The stress can really wear on you. It's like how sometimes a low grade headache that never goes away can be more painful than a punch in the gut.

Yeah, 6-7 weeks is supposed to be the peak of the fussy time, slowly petering out by 3 months. On average, of course. We've read a whole bunch of books looking for strategies to deal with all this. Most are useless. The best advice we got is (a) all babies are like this to some degree, and (b) there's no magic cure. That was the big one for me. There is no one thing you can do to stop fussiness/crying at this stage. All you can do is manage it -- try to minimize their stress and yours. Once I heard this, it made sense, and made things bit easier for me. I realized that I was constantly looking/hoping for that magic off switch (maybe if I rock him plus swaddle, plus play music, and dance the macarena in the moonlight, he'll stop crying.) :) But embracing the fact that this is some developmental thing they have to go through, and I have to tough it out and endure it.... ok, i can handle that.

Twins.... oh man. My wife wanted twins originally. Oh man....!

Dan

[Remington]

(maybe if I rock him plus swaddle, plus play music, and dance the macarena in the moonlight, he'll stop crying.)
Oh man I would love to see that... lol

I could never get my kids to stop fussing or crying at the infant stage. Feeding the baby with formula seemed to help momentarily but as soon as the bottle was out of the mouth it all started up again. Sometimes they would push the bottle away.

It is just a thing babies need to go through.

I understand completely, life is frustrating! :wink: