Should I separate my twins at night?

Usually not. Most twins adapt to each other and sleep through brief noises within weeks. Separating is a last resort for severe, ongoing disruption, and even then it is often temporary. Follow safer sleep guidance for wherever they sleep.

Do twins really sleep through each other crying?

Often, yes. Babies habituate to familiar background noise, and a sibling's stirring becomes part of it. A steady low sound in the room helps that process along.

Why do they wake each other more some nights?

Teething, illness, a growth spurt or the 4 month sleep change can make both twins lighter sleepers at once. It usually passes, and going back to quick calm resettles gets you through it.

Will white noise help them not wake each other?

A continuous low background sound can mask short cries and stirring. Keep it quiet and at a safe distance and volume, and use it as one part of the picture alongside quick resettles.

Is it safe for twins to share a cot or room?

Room sharing is common and often recommended in the early months, while sharing a single sleep surface has specific safety considerations. Follow safer sleep advice from the Lullaby Trust and your health professional for your babies.

Twins waking each other at night

My twins keep waking each other at night

EmmaSep 20, 2026

Quick answer

Twins waking each other is common and usually improves without separating them, because most babies learn to sleep through a sibling's brief noise. Resettle the waking twin quickly and quietly, keep a steady low background sound to soften stirring, and give both a chance to resettle before you intervene. If the disruption is severe and ongoing, a temporary separate sleep space can help, following safer sleep guidance, but many families never need it.

One twin lets out a cry, and before you have even sat up the other is awake too. Now instead of settling one baby you are settling two, and the night that was going fine has come apart.

Twins waking each other is one of the most predictable frustrations of sharing a room, and the good news is that it usually fixes itself as the babies get used to one another.

Help them tune each other out

Babies habituate to familiar sound. A steady low background noise softens the sharp edges of a sibling's stirring, and quick, quiet resettles mean the disturbance stays small. Over a few weeks most twins learn to sleep straight through each other's brief wakings.

When separating helps

If the waking is severe and relentless and no one is sleeping, a temporary separate sleep space can break the cycle. Treat it as a short-term tool rather than the plan, and follow safer sleep guidance for wherever each twin sleeps. Most families find they never need to go this far.

Frequently asked questions

Should I separate my twins at night?: Usually not. Most twins adapt to each other and sleep through brief noises within weeks. Separating is a last resort for severe, ongoing disruption, and even then it is often temporary. Follow safer sleep guidance for wherever they sleep.
Do twins really sleep through each other crying?: Often, yes. Babies habituate to familiar background noise, and a sibling's stirring becomes part of it. A steady low sound in the room helps that process along.
Why do they wake each other more some nights?: Teething, illness, a growth spurt or the 4 month sleep change can make both twins lighter sleepers at once. It usually passes, and going back to quick calm resettles gets you through it.
Will white noise help them not wake each other?: A continuous low background sound can mask short cries and stirring. Keep it quiet and at a safe distance and volume, and use it as one part of the picture alongside quick resettles.
Is it safe for twins to share a cot or room?: Room sharing is common and often recommended in the early months, while sharing a single sleep surface has specific safety considerations. Follow safer sleep advice from the Lullaby Trust and your health professional for your babies.

My twins keep waking each other at night

Help them tune each other out

When separating helps

Frequently asked questions

Sources

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