Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins

Twins who are just born sleep best close to one another It's vital to adhere to safe sleeping guidelines. Choosing the right crib arrangement will help your twins develop an established routine for sleep.

A double bassinet that comes with a divider can be a great choice for twins. These portable beds allow parents to keep their infants close for diaper changes and mid-night feedings. These beds are also great for babies who are likely to outgrow their baby bedside cot bassinets before they reach the age of toddlerhood.

Space-Saving

Twins can sleep together in a bedside co sleeper cot, provided you adhere to safe sleeping guidelines (that's to say they should lie on their backs, with the tops of their heads facing each other, and their feet on opposite sides of the cot). When they're old enough, they can share a bed in a Moses Basket or a regular crib.

We really love this Delta double bassinet. It has a mesh divider so that babies can stay separate but close to each and each other. It also comes with a storage compartment for snacks and wipes. It is also foldable which makes it easy to move around the house or take on excursions.

This EZ Fold Twin Bassinet, available at Walmart can swivel so that you can bring your twins who are fussy closer to you to feed them and soothe them. The sides can be raised and lowered to make it easier for you to get in, and they secure themselves to ensure your child's security. It's a bit bigger and heavier than other options but is great for the second floor or grandparents' homes. It also comes with a bag for travel. It's also much cheaper than the Halo Bassinest Twin.

Convenience

While many parents of twins might be enticed to put the twins together in a single crib or bassinet, this is generally not recommended. Rednose suggests that twins have their own safe sleeping space (crib or portable crib or bassinet) in the room of the caregivers/parents until they reach 12 months to lower the risk of SIDS. This arrangement is also referred to as co-bedding, and it has been observed that twins who are accustomed to this type of sleeping environment typically have a more synchronized sleep pattern than those who sleep on their own.

A twin bedside crib and cot cot, such as the Teknum FELLOW 2 is an excellent option to achieve this. It includes two sets of bedding so that each baby gets their own personal space. This bedside cosleeper cot can also easily be moved from room to room when needed, and it provides a convenient way to check on the babies without needing to wake them by re-entering their sleeping space or disrupting their rhythms.

Other options include double bassinets, which have been designed specifically to allow infants to stay side-by-side and are perfect for mid-night feedings or diaper changes. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for instance, features a breathable mesh divider and a height that can be adjusted so that each child can be seen and reached at all times, while the sides of the sleeper can be raised and lowered to make it easy to 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 mesh panels that allow babies to view each other, and the entire sleeper can rotate 360 degrees to give easy access to each infant.

Many parents have discovered that bedding twins in moses baskets or a small bassinette could be a good option for situations that are temporary, such as hospitalization or a family visit. However it is recommended to do this only under the supervision of a healthcare provider to ensure that the babies are placed properly, with their feet to the foot of the cot and their bedding is securely tucked in to prevent them from suffocating.

Safety

The most important safety feature for twins is that each baby have their own sleeping space. This will prevent each baby from being smothered, choked, or otherwise being choked by the other. It also helps prevent the death of a cot, which is more common with single babies than multiples.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that tritons, twins, and higher-ordered triplets have their own sleeping space. The best way to do this is to have an additional bassinet or twin bedside baby bed cots that can be placed close to your bed when you're feeding or soothing one of the babies during the night.

While the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued guidelines to lower the risk of SIDS by encouraging room sharing and discouraging cobedding, many families of twins and multiples find it difficult to adhere to these guidelines (1). A previous study revealed that the majority of families with twins that were cobedded during the first three months at home opted for unsafe sleeping practices (room sharing without cobedding).

Parents of twins may not adhere to the current SIDS risk reduction guidelines due to a desire increase their own sleep duration and the inability to accommodate multiple cribs at home. Additionally, socioeconomic status can affect family decisions about sleeping arrangements.

If twins are placed side-by-side in a tiny crib or Moses basket, they could easily become entangled by their bedding and could choke on one another. If you choose to sleep your twins in the same cot, it's important to place them in the feet-to-head position and their bedding tucked securely into each cot to limit the chance of them smothering each other.

A bassinet for bed, such as the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the most secure and most convenient options for twins who want to be able to sleep independently. This double bassinet has an enclosed mesh wall that can divide twins and give them their own flat, safe mattress to sleep on. It can be swiveled 360 degrees, meaning you can bring your child closer to you without leaving your bed. The walls on the sides automatically lower and then return with each movement. It's also easy to clean and fits into a standard twin bed frame. Check out the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet at Walmart. It comes with the same features to the Halo Bassinest.

Comfort

Welcoming twins or multiples to the world is a huge life change. They require lots of planning and consideration not to mention when it comes to where they will sleep and how they'll get a good night's rest. While the decisions regarding their future room can be made when they are older parents often ask what they can do to help them get comfortable in the early stages.

When twins are young, it is possible to share a crib. This is called co-bedding and can provide wonderful comfort for newborns since it reminds them of the womb. The key is to ensure that the beds are large enough for babies to be comfortable, without touching or rolling around. Also, remember that the baby that is the first to wake up must be fed. It can be helpful to coordinate feeding times at night to ensure that you wake one of them up earlier than the other.

It is crucial to keep in mind that twins can be quite different and could develop their own sleep routines. You may find that one of them wakes more frequently than the other or prefers to be close to you. In this instance it might be best to provide each twin with their own bassinet or crib.

Look for twin bedside cots with mesh dividers that are breathable to create separate sleeping areas. This is crucial for infants who are susceptible to heat stroke or for families where mothers have had a c-section. A reversible base as well as wheels that are easy to move are also useful features. The Arm's Reach cot, specifically designed for mothers who have a c-section, is a great choice because it has a large sleeping area and is easy to maneuver. Other options include the Graco Pack 'n Play and the Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel, but they have smaller sleeping areas than the Arm's Reach cot.

Even if they're very close, it is not recommended for twins to share the bed with an adult. There is a higher risk of SIDS and may result in suffocation strangulation, or entrapment. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins should sleep in their own bassinets or cribs in their parents' rooms for the first six months.