Jana Pittman is exhausted: “I love my kids but simultaneous twin sleep issues is killing me!!”
The Olympian and mum-of-six is seriously sleep deprived.
Olympic champion, doctor and author, Jana Pittman welcomed twins into her brood last year, bringing the tally of kids in her family up to six.
Jana and her husband Paul Gatward are parents to twins Quinlan and Willow, Charlie (2), Emily (7), Jemima (6), and Cornelis (16), Jana’s eldest child from her first marriage.
While Jana has plenty of years of parenting experience under her belt, she has shared a post that resonates with sleep-deprived parents everywhere.
Alongside a snapshot of herself dressed in a robe and looking exhausted, Jana asked her Instagram followers for toddler sleep advice.
“I know I have an amazing life and should be a wealth of knowledge on kids since I have 6 of them but definitely keen for any tips and tricks!!
She continues: “I love my kids but simultaneous twin sleep issues is killing me!! Plus the new onset tantrums x 2 can drain the smiles away! They are 16mths old and the worst sleepers I have had.”
Jana’s twins have even earnt themselves cheeky new nicknames from their exhausted mama. “I used to call Willow ‘princess peach’ but her new name is ‘cranky crab’ 🦀and ‘Quinny Bear’ is now ‘midnight monster’ 😈.”
“I joke,” Jana says. “But sleep deprivation is real!! They will grow out of it in time and I know how privileged I am to have them when so many are struggling with infertility but gosh this is hard!!”
The former SAS Australia star admits she has even called in the experts to help get the twins on a sleep schedule.
“It just feels like we get the wonderful Anna from @sleepbaker.au to come on repeat.. she gets them sleeping and I stuff it up,” Jana shares.
Being a doctor, Jana does shift work, which she says “doesn’t help” with getting her twins into a regular sleep routine.
“I work a lot of nights so my little ones have different people caring for them (yes I am super lucky to have a great mum and awesome aupairs) but it means routine is hard.
“So while I am managing.. I am no longer thriving!”
Jana finished the post by asking her Instagram followers for any toddler sleep advice. “Anything that works please share as I am sure I am not the only one on this roller coaster 🎢”
The comments section was quickly flooded with helpful advice and words of support.
One follower wrote: “Thx for sharing so honestly, I do think it helps everyone (ourselves too) when we do. You’re doing an amazing job but far out, sleep deprivation is an awful experience (a reason it’s a literal form of torture) – I’m so sorry to hear.
There is plenty of sleep advice out there so I won’t add to that unless you specifically ask but I will say one thing… if you’re in the position to, could you outsource for a night a week? Even a one off. Whatever is in your financial and emotional means (either a professional or a friend/family member). It will make the world of difference if you can get some uninterrupted sleep. I understand this isn’t always possible but if it’s in any way going to work, I promise it’ll help. Sending ❤️”
Jana replied: “Yes agree so important to share all the ups and downs.. that’s the hard part as because they are tough at night and I am on intermittent night shifts currently, I have to use my ‘external support’ options for the nights I work. I do get day sleeps on those working nights but it’s not quite enough and I worry overnight that it’s too much for someone that isn’t me…”
Another mama wrote: “I have one-sixth of the number of kids you have but can absolutely relate to the feeling of managing (or just getting through the day) but not thriving. I’d also like tips on thriving or even just being able to pee without an audience…”
A fellow twin mum promised Jana it will easier, with time: “No recs because im sure you’ve tried everything but just support have boy girl twins and they’re now 4 and I think I’m finally catching up on sleep but even better they’re the best of friends and it was totally worth it and will get easier I promise (blah blah 😉). Sending twin mama strength! 🙏🏼”
