Dad says he “shouldn't have to get up at night” with newborn twins

What do you think?

Content Editor / April 08 2019

A new Dad recently divided the internet when he explained he didn’t feel he should have to get up during the night with his newborn twins.

“Wife and I just had twins 3 weeks ago, “ he wrote in a post on Reddit. “I work while she does not.

“I help whenever I’m not working but have told my wife she has to cover the overnights as I need sleep for work.

“She thinks it’s unfair however she can take two-hour naps while they sleep while i can’t do that at my job. We even have a nanny that was here 4 out of 5 work days this week. I’m up early on the weekends and take care of them while she sleeps in,” he wrote.

He also added that he worked long hours as a shiftworker and that their nanny also does the housework in addition to caring for the babies.

So far, the post has received more than 700 comments, with people very divided on whether or not they think he should help out at night.

“Getting up at night is an inevitable part of parenting. You signed up for this when you had kiddos,” wrote one poster.

“I'd agree if the twins were older than 3 weeks old. Physically just getting up is agony after major surgery or pushing 2 babies out less than a month prior. I mean literally getting up not just tiredness,” added another.

Some, however, sided with the man saying he was pulling his weight and deserved to rest.

“The mom gets a nanny to take care of the kids during the day and help with house chores, he helps with the kids as soon as he gets home, and she gets to sleep in on the weekends,” wrote one. “Given the circumstances, I'd say it's fair to have her to most of the night wakeups.”

“I get raising twins and bearing them is hard. But so is the stress of providing for a family of 4 all alone. So is risking your life and health to work 12 hour shifts to pay the bills,” added another. “From the info hes given hes already doing more than his fair share.”

What do you think?

Nicola Conville has worked as a journalist and editor for more than 20 years across a wide range of print and online publications. Her areas of expertise are parenting, health and travel. She has two children; Lucy, age eight, and Nathan, age five.

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