Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It is best to keep your twins who are just born close to each other, but you should also adhere to the safety guidelines for sleeping. The proper crib arrangement will help your twins develop the same routine of sleeping.
A double bassinet that has an divider is a great option for twins. These portable beds allow parents to keep their babies near for feedings in the middle of the night and diaper changes. They are also great for infants that may outgrow their bassinets before 2.
Space-Saving
Twins can sleep together in a bedside cot so long as you follow the 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 their feet on opposite sides of the cot). When they're big enough, they can sleep together in a Moses Basket or a regular crib.
We really love this Delta double bassinet. It has a mesh divider to allow babies to remain separate but close to each the other. It also has a pocket for storage for snacks and wipes. It folds flat, making it easy to manoeuvre around the house or go on trips.
This EZ Fold Twin Bassinet, available at Walmart can swivel so that you can bring your twins closer to you to feed them and comfort them. The sides lower and raise to allow access, and they lock into place for safety. It's a bit bigger and heavier than other options but is great for the second-floor or grandparent's homes. It also comes with a bag for travel. It's also less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
It is not recommended that parents of twins place their babies in the same bassinet or crib. Rednose suggests that twins have their own safe sleeping space (crib, portable crib, or bassinet) in the room of the parents or caregivers until they reach 12 months to reduce the chance of SIDS. This arrangement is known as co-bedding. It has been demonstrated that twins who grew in this environment develop a more synchronized sleeping patterns.
A twin bedside cot, such as the Teknum FELLOW 2 is a fantastic method to accomplish this. It includes two sets of bedding so that each baby gets their own personal space. The bedside cot can be easily moved from one room to the next depending on the need. It provides an easy and convenient method to check on your children without disturbing their sleep patterns or waking them up.
Other options include double bassinets, which have been designed specifically to allow the infants to remain side-by-side and are perfect for mid-night feedings or diaper changes. 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 lower and raise for easy access. If you're looking for a more affordable alternative, the Walmart exclusive Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet is similar, featuring two separate sleeping zones, separated by a mesh panel that allows babies to see each other and the entire bed swivels 360 degrees for ease of access for each infant.
Many parents have discovered that co-bedding twins with moses baskets or a smaller bassinette, could be a good option for situations that are temporary, like hospital stays or a visit to the family. However it is recommended to do this only under the supervision of a medical professional to ensure that babies are properly positioned in a cot, with their feet at the bottom of the cot and all bedding properly tucked in to avoid them from becoming suffocating.
bedside crib or cot
When it comes to twins sleeping together, the most important security factor is that each baby has their own sleep space. This ensures that each baby is not smothered or otherwise choked by the other. It also helps to prevent the death of a cot, which is more common with single babies than multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that triplets, twins and higher-order multiples get their own sleeping space. The best method to achieve this is by having an additional bassinet or twin bedside cots that can be placed close to your bed when you feed or soothe one of your babies throughout the night.
While the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued recommendations to reduce the SIDS risk by encouraging room sharing and discouraging cobedding, a lot of families with multiples and twins find it difficult to adhere to these guidelines (1). In a prior study, it was found that the majority of twin families who co-bedded their children in the first three months of life at home engaged in unsafe sleep practices.
Parents of twins might not adhere to current SIDS guidelines due to the desire to sleep longer and the lack of space in their home to accommodate multiple cribs. Additionally, socioeconomic status can affect family decisions about sleep arrangements.
If twins are placed in a small Moses basket or crib, their bedding could easily entangle them and they may choke on each other. If you decide to put your twins in the same cot it is essential to place them in a head-to-foot position and have their bedding securely tucked into each cot to minimize the chance of them smothering each other.
One of the safer and more comfortable alternatives for twins to sleep independently is a bassinet that sits beside the bed like the Halo Bassinest Twin. This double bassinet features an insulated mesh wall that separates twins, giving them their own secure flat bed. It can be swiveled 360 degrees, so you can bring your baby closer to you without leaving your bed. The side walls automatically lower and return with each movement. It is also easy to clean, and fits into the standard twin-sized bed frame. For a less expensive alternative, check out the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet that is available at Walmart and has similar features to the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
It's a significant life change to welcome twins or multiples into the world. They also require a great deal of planning and consideration when it comes to their sleeping arrangements and how they'll have a restful night. Parents often wonder what they can do to help their children feel at ease in the early years of their lives.
When twins are young, it is possible to share one crib. This is called co-bedding and can provide excellent comfort for babies as it brings them back to the birthing process. The key is to ensure that the beds are large enough for the babies to feel comfortable without touching or rolling around. It is also important to keep in mind that the baby who awakes first must be fed. It can be beneficial to co-ordinate night feeds so that you can wake one of them up earlier than the other.
However, it is important to keep in mind that twins are distinct and may develop their own sleep patterns. You might find that one baby is waking more than the other or they prefer to be nearer to you. In this situation, it might be best for twins to have their own crib or bassinet in their room.
When looking for a twin bedside cot, look for models that feature breathable mesh dividers to create separate sleeping spaces. This is essential for babies who are susceptible to heat stroke or for families in which mothers have had a C-section. Other beneficial features include an adjustable base, built-in storage for blankets and toys, as well as easy-to-maneuver wheels. The Arm's Reach cot, specifically designed for mothers who have a c-section is a great option due to its large sleeping area and is easy to maneuver. The Graco Pack 'n Play or Fisher-Price's Easy Swaivel are both options, but offer smaller sleeping spaces 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 could increase the risk of SIDS and result in suffocation or strangulation. Instead it is recommended that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins have their own secure sleeping areas, such as cribs or bassinets, in their parents' room for the first six months.