Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It is recommended to keep the twins who are just born close to each other, but you should also follow safety sleeping guidelines. Selecting the best crib arrangement will aid your twins in developing a consistent sleep routine.
A double bassinet that comes with a divider can be the ideal choice for twins. These portable beds let parents keep their infants close for mid-night feedings and diaper changes. These beds are also ideal for babies who are likely to outgrow their baby bassinets by the time they reach the age of toddlerhood.
Space-Saving
Twins can sleep together in a bedside crib, as long as you follow safe guidelines for sleeping (that's to say they should be laid on their backs, with the tops of their heads overlapping each other and feet at opposite sides of the cot). When they're old enough, they may also sleep together in a Moses Basket or a regular crib.
This Delta double bassinet has a mesh partition that allows babies to be separated but still close. It comes with a handy storage pocket to keep snacks and wipes close by, too. Plus, it folds flat making it easy to move around the house or on trips.
Another option is this EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart It can swivel to bring the twins who are fussy closer to you for feedings and calming. The sides can be raised and lowered for easy access, and are secured for safety. It's a little larger and heavier than other alternatives, but it's a great choice for second floors or grandparents houses, and it comes with a travel bag. It's also much cheaper than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
It is not recommended that parents of twins sleep their babies in the same crib or bassinet. Discover More recommends that twins have their own safe sleeping space (crib, portable crib, or bassinet) in the room of the parents or caregivers until they reach the age of 12 months to lower the risk for SIDS. This arrangement is known as co-bedding. It has been shown that twins who have grown in this type of environment develop a more synchronized sleeping pattern.
A twin bedside cot, such as the Teknum FELLOW 2 is a great way to achieve this. It comes with two separate sets of bedding, so that each baby gets their own personal space. This bedside cot can also easily be moved from room to another as needed, and it makes it easy to check on babies without having to wake them by re-entering their sleeping space or disrupting their sleep patterns.
Double bassinets are an alternative. They allow infants to be side-by-side, and are ideal for feedings and diaper changes during the middle of the night. The Halo Bassinest Twin has a mesh panel that is breathable and adjustable in height to allow each infant to be seen and reachable at all times. The sides of the sleeper also adjust to lower and raise for quick access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet which is a less expensive alternative, comes with two sleep zones that are separated by a mesh, permitting babies to view each one another. The sleeper also rotates around 360 degrees to give an easy access for infants.
Many parents have realized that bedding twins together with moses baskets or a small bassinette, could be a good option for situations that are temporary, such as hospitalization or a visit to the family. This should only be done with the supervision of by a medical professional. They will ensure that the babies are appropriately placed on their feet placed at the foot of the crib, and all bedding is tucked into.
Safety
The most important safety aspect for twins is that both babies have their own bed. This helps prevent each baby from being smothered, choked, or otherwise being choked by the other. This also helps to avoid deaths in cots, which are more common with single babies than multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that tritons, twins and higher-ordered multis have their own sleeping space. The best method to achieve this is by having a separate bassinet or twin bedside cots that could be brought up close to your bed while you're feeding or soothing one of the babies throughout the night.
While the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued recommendations to reduce the SIDS risk by encouraging room sharing and disabling cobedding, many families of twins and multiples find it difficult to adhere to these guidelines (1). A previous study found that a majority of families of twins that were cobedded during the first 3 months at home opted for unsafe sleeping practices (room sharing without cobedding).
Parents of twins may not follow the current SIDS guidelines due to the desire to sleep longer and absence of space in the home to accommodate multiple cribs. Additionally, socioeconomic status can influence family decisions regarding sleeping arrangements.
If twins are put in a small Moses basket or crib, their bedding can easily be pulled together and they may choke on eachother. If you choose to put your twins in the same cot together, make sure they are placed in a position in which their feet are close to their heads, and that their bedding is placed in each cot securely. This will lessen the possibility of them colliding on each other.
One of the safer and more comfortable options for twins to sleep independently is a bassinet that sits beside the bed like the Halo Bassinest Twin. The double bassinet has a mesh wall that separates twins to give them each their own secure, flat sleep surface. It rotates 360 degrees, allowing you to bring your baby closer to you for feedings or to soothe while still in the comfort of your bed. Its side walls lower and auto-return every time you move. It is also easy to clean, and can be tucked away into the standard twin-sized bed frame. Take a look at the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet at Walmart. It comes with the same features as the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
It's a significant life change to welcome twins or multiples into the world. They also require a lot of planning and thinking when it comes to their sleeping arrangements and how they can get a good night's sleep. While decisions regarding their bedroom space are made when they are older parents are often unsure of how they can help them to settle in the early stages.
When twins are still young, they are able to share one cot. Co-bedding is a method of comforting newborns by bringing them back to their womb. It is crucial to make sure that the beds are large enough to allow newborns to feel at ease without having to touch each other or roll around. It is also important to keep in mind that the baby who awakes first must be fed. It is helpful to coordinate nighttime feeds in order to get one baby up before the other.
It is crucial to keep in mind that twins are distinct and may develop their own sleeping routines. You might find that one baby sleeps more than the other or prefers to be near you. In this instance it is possible to give each twin a separate crib or bassinet.
Choose a cot with twin beds that have breathable mesh dividers for sleeping areas that are separate. This is essential for babies that are prone to heat stroke or for families where moms have had a c-section. Other useful features include an adjustable base, built-in storage space for blankets and toys, and easy-to-use wheels. The Arm's Reach cot is a good choice for these purposes because it has an ample sleeping space and is designed with c-section moms in mind. Other options are the Graco Pack 'n Play and the Fisher-Price Easy Swivel but they offer a smaller sleeping area than the Arm's Reach cot.
It is not recommended that twins sleep in the same bed as an adult, even if they are close. This can increase the risk of SIDS and result in strangulation or suffocation. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins should sleep in their own cribs or bassinets in their parents' bedrooms for the first six months.