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. The proper crib arrangement will aid your twins in establishing the same routine of sleeping.
A double bassinet that has the option of dividing can be an ideal option for twins. These portable beds let parents keep their children close during diaper changes and mid-night feedings. These beds are also great for babies who might outgrow their bassinets before they reach the age of toddlerhood.
Space-Saving
If you follow the safe sleeping guidelines, twins are able to sleep in a bedside crib side-by-side. They should sleep on their backs with their heads in a straight line and their feet at the opposite ends. They can also co-sleep in a Moses basket or a regular crib when they're old enough.
This Delta double bassinet has a mesh divider that allows babies to be separated but still close. It also comes with a storage compartment for snacks and wipes. It folds flat and makes it easy to manoeuvre around the house or on trips.
Another option is the EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart, which swivels to bring fussy twins closer to you for feeding and calming. The sides can be raised or lowered for easy access, and are locked in place for safety. It's a bit heavier and longer than other alternatives, but it's a great choice for second floors or grandparent' houses and comes with a travel bag. It's also much less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
It is not recommended that parents of twins place their babies in the same crib or bassinet. Rednose recommends that twins have their own safe sleeping area (crib or portable crib or bassinet) in the room of the parents or caregivers until they reach 12 months to lower the chance of SIDS. This is referred to as co-bedding. It has been proven that twins who have grown in this environment develop a more synchronized sleeping pattern.
A twin bedside cot like the Teknum FELLOW 2 is a great method to achieve this. It comes with two separate sets of bedding, so that each baby has their own space. This bedside crib to cot cot is also easily moved from one room to another when needed. It is a convenient and easy way to check on your babies without disturbing their sleep patterns or awakening them.
Double bassinets are a different option. They allow babies to sleep side-byside, and they're perfect for diaper changes or feedings during the middle of the night. The Halo Bassinest Twin has a breathable mesh panel and adjustable height to allow each baby to be seen and reachable at all times. The sides of the sleeper can lower and raise to allow for easy access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet, which is a cheaper option, has two sleep zones separated by a mesh panel which allows babies to see each the other. The sleeper also rotates around 360 degrees to allow easy access to the infants.
For temporary situations like a family visit or hospitalization Parents have reported the benefits of co-bedding twins using large moses baskets or a small bassinette that has dividers. However, this should be done only under the supervision of a healthcare provider to ensure that the babies are properly placed and with their feet towards the bottom of the cot and all bedding properly tucked in to avoid them from becoming suffocating.
Safety
When twins are sleeping together, the most crucial security factor is that each infant has his or her own sleep space. This will prevent each baby from being smothered, choked or otherwise being choked by the other. It also helps to prevent cot death, which is more frequent in infants who are single than in multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that tritons, twins and higher-ordered multis have their own sleeping space. This can be achieved by using an individual bassinet or twin bedside crib that you can bring up to your bed to feed or comfort one of the babies during the night.
While recent SIDS risk reduction recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage room sharing with a parent and avoid cobedding however, the reality is that many families of twins and other higher-order multiples have difficulty complying with these guidelines (1). In a prior study, it was discovered that the majority of twin families who co-bedded their children in the beginning of their life at home engaged in unsafe sleep practices.
Parents of twins might not adhere to current SIDS guidelines due to a desire to sleep longer and a lack of space in their home to accommodate multiple cribs. In addition, the socioeconomic status of a family could affect their the arrangement of their sleep.
If twins are positioned together in a crib or Moses basket, they could easily be entangled by their bedding and potentially choke on one another. If you decide to put your twins in the same cot it's important to place them in the position of feet-to-head and their bedding secured in each cot to minimize the possibility of them colliding with each one.
A bassinet that is positioned at the bedside, like the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the safer and more convenient options for twins that want to sleep in a separate bed. This double bassinet comes with mesh walls that separate twins, giving them their own safe and comfortable, flat sleeping surface. It can be rotated 360 degrees, which means you can bring your child closer to you without having to leave your bed. The walls on the sides automatically lower and then return with each movement. It is easy to clean, and fits in the standard twin-sized bed frame. Take a look at the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet at Walmart. It has the same features as the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
It is a major life change to welcome twins or multiples into the world. They require plenty of planning and thought, not least when it comes to the place they will sleep and how they'll get a good night's sleep. While decisions regarding their bedroom space are made later in life parents often ask how they can help them get comfortable in the early stages.
When twins are still young, they can be able to share one cot for bedside. Co-bedding is a method of soothing newborns by reminding them of their mother's womb. The most important thing is to ensure that the beds are big enough for babies to feel comfortable without touching or rolling around. It is also important to remember that the baby who awakes first must be fed. It can be beneficial to coordinate feeding times at night to ensure that you wake one up earlier than the other.
However, it is important to remember that twins are distinct and may develop their own sleeping routines. You may find that one baby is waking more than the other, or that they prefer to be close to you. In this instance it might be best bedside cot to give each twin a separate crib or bassinet.
Find twin bedside cots that have breathable mesh dividers to create separate sleeping areas. This is crucial for infants who are at risk of heat stroke or families whose mothers have had a C-section. A reversible base and wheels that are easy to move are also useful features. The Arm's Reach cot is a good option for these needs because it has an ample sleeping space and is designed with mothers who have c-sections in mind. Other options include the Graco Pack 'n Play and the Fisher-Price Easy Swivel however, they have less sleeping space than the Arm's Reach cot.
Even if they're very close, it's not recommended to let twins share a bed with an adult. It is an increased risk of SIDS, and may result in suffocation strangulation or entrapment. Instead the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins sleep in their own safe sleeping areas, such as bassinets or cribs in their parent's room for the first six months.