Mom Says 'Go To Bed' But Twins’ Adorable Response Catches Her Off Guard

Jan 13, 2021 by apost team

Twins can be double the fun but also double the trouble. If they don't want to cooperate, well, you'll have your hands full trying to corral two at the same time. This story from 2011 demonstrates that.

This mom of 18-month-old twin boys Chris and Zac has nap time down pat and has recorded their nap time routine for all the world to see. Some parents may be taking notes. Others may be scratching their heads and wondering how on earth she pulled this off.

The video starts in the hallway, not far from their bedroom door. The twins are dressed in matching brightly-colored outfits and sitting on a small rug on the floor when mom tells them "Go to bed."

She has to repeat it, but they soon pick up what looks like a cross between a bottle and a sippy cup and race off down the hall, with her hurrying to keep up and keep them in view so she can keep recording. Then she and the boys enter their delightful bedroom.

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Each boy has his own crib. They are placed end-to-end and outfitted with a zip-up mesh tent, probably to keep bugs out so the kids aren't bitten by mosquitoes while they sleep. They both toss their drinks over the railing, freeing their hands up. Then they begin to climb.

One of the boys is much more talented at climbing into his crib. He gymnastically flips himself over the railing in record time. Meanwhile, his brother struggles.

The first boy, possibly bored and waiting on his brother to get with the program, tosses his blanket out of the crib. Mom retrieves it for him and gives it back. Finally, they are each in their own crib. Mom helps them zip their mesh tent closed while cooing "Night night" at them. They coo back.

We don't really know if the two boys will actually lay down and promptly go to sleep, but it's wonderful to see them race off to their crib without making a fuss. Letting them handle parts of it themselves seems to have helped get mom the buy-in she needs to make the start of nap time a low drama affair instead of a reason to tear her hair out.

As part of the video's YouTube description, Chris and Zac's mom fills viewers in on the details. 

"And so here's our story," the description begins. "[T]his is our VERY first YouTube video. I took this video for family who lives far away, so they could see how the family was growing and becoming pretty athletic at a young age. We never taught them to do this. One day I told the Zac & Chris, identical twin brothers, to go to bed and they did it! They just ran to bed and hopped in! I was shocked, and now they do it on a regular basis. This is their favorite part of the day, when they get to parkour themselves into their beds together and see who makes it in first. They are 1.5 yrs in this video. The crib tents are to keep them safe if they wake up while we are sleeping, because they tend to silently climb out and try to go in places that could be dangerous for them, and they help to keep bugs out of the cribs, just in case. [A]nd yes...we brush their teeth after they fall asleep—a fabulous recommendation by our dentist!"

While the video is definitely cute and funny, it also points to something quite consequential: the importance of having a bedtime routine for your young children. For example, according to a 2018 study published in Sleep Medicine Reviews, the benefits of a bedtime routine extend beyond a good night's sleep. Other benefits include "language development, literacy, child emotional and behavioral regulation, parent–child attachment, and family functioning, among other outcomes."

Following their research, the authors of this study recommend a few key steps to ensure a healthy bedtime routine. The first step which the authors note is to be consistent. They write, "Include the same steps each night, as many nights of the week as possible." While we can't know for sure, it certainly seems like Chris and Zac's mother has established a consistent bedtime routine. Otherwise, how would Chris and Zac know to run to bed when their mother says "Go to bed"?

The second important step that the authors mention is that parents or caregivers should include two to four "adaptive activities." Examples include having your kids brush their teeth, pray, read/listen to a bedtime story, or take a bath.

The third step, which is rather broad, is to include "positive parent–child interactions." In other words, you want to make your kids feel safe and loved before they hit the hay. Maybe your kids like to cuddle or be rocked before bed, for instance. However, according to the fourth guideline, none of these activities should go on for too long. In total, the entire bedtime routine should not last longer than 30-40 minutes. Chris and Zac's mom definitely followed this rule! She has her kids in bed in just a bit over a minute!

Finally, the researchers emphasize that parents should avoid "maladaptive activities" before bedtime. Maladaptive activities essentially include anything that might interfere with your children's sleep. That means no television or video games before bed!

But as WebMD's parenting reference Grow notes, "There are no hard-and-fast rules for bedtime. Each individual has their own sleep needs. Your child is unique. If your routine is working, then it is probably best for you."

And that certainly seems to be the case for Zac and Chris. While their bedtime routine is a bit short — and is quite unorthodox by most standards — their mom should stick to it as long as it works for them as a family. Plus, it's too cute watching these two munchkins race to get into bed! And if you loved this video, which you can watch below, it turns out that there's a part two in which Zac and Chris get into bed even faster than the first time.

Are these the cutest toddlers you've seen here lately? Do you know someone who would get a giggle out of seeing this nap-time routine? Go ahead and forward this clip to them now! And let us know what your bedtime routine was like as a kid.