Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
Twins in the newborn stage sleep best bedside cot for newborn close to one another, but it's important to adhere to safe sleeping guidelines. A proper crib arrangement can aid your twins in establishing an established routine for sleeping.
A double bassinet with a divider can be the ideal choice for twins. These portable beds let parents keep their infants close for diaper changes and feedings at night. They are also ideal for infants who might outgrow their bassinets before baby 2.
Space-Saving
Twins can share a bed in a bedside crib co sleeper crib, provided you adhere to safe sleeping guidelines (that's to say that they should be lying on their backs with the tops of their heads facing each other, and their feet on opposite ends of the cot). They can also co-sleep in a Moses basket or regular crib once they're large bedside Crib enough.
This Delta double bassinet features mesh dividers that allow babies to be separated, but still close. It also has a pocket for storage for snacks and wipes. It can also fold which makes it easy to move around the house or take on trips.
This EZ Fold Twin Bassinet, available at Walmart, swivels 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 to access them and they are locked in place for security. It's a bit heavier and longer than other options, but it's perfect for grandparents' or second-floor homes, and it comes with a travel bag. It's also much cheaper than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
Many parents of twins might be enticed to sleep the babies together in a single bassinet or crib, this is generally not recommended. Rednose suggests that twins have their own secure sleeping area (crib, portable crib, or bassinet) in the room of the parents or caregivers until they reach the age of 12 months to reduce the chance of SIDS. This arrangement is known as co-bedding. It has been shown that twins who have grown up in this environment have a more synchronized sleeping patterns.
One of the most efficient ways to make this work is by using a twin bedside cot like the Teknum FELLOW 2, which comes with two separate bedding sets, so that each baby has an area that is comfortable and private. This bedside cot is able to easily be moved from room to room as necessary, and also makes it easy to check on babies without needing to wake them by re-entering their sleeping space or disrupting their routines.
Other alternatives include double bassinets that have been specifically designed to allow infants to remain side-by-side and are perfect for mid-night feeding or changing diapers. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for instance, comes with an air-tight mesh divider and a height that can be adjusted so that every baby can be observed and reached at all times, while the sides of the sleeper lower and raise to allow easy access. If you're looking for a more affordable alternative, the Walmart-exclusive Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet is similar, with two separate sleeping zones, separated by a mesh panel that allows babies to see each other, and the entire sleeper is able to rotate 360 degrees, giving an easy access to every infant.
Many parents have realized that bedding twins in moses baskets, or a small bassinette can be a good solution for temporary situations like hospital stays or a visit to the family. However this should be done only under the supervision of a medical professional to ensure that the babies are properly positioned, with their feet to the bottom of the cot and their bedding securely tucked in, to prevent them from suffocating.
Safety
The most important safety aspect for twins is that each baby have their own bed. This ensures that each infant isn't smothered or infected by the other. It also helps prevent deaths in the cot, which are more common in single babies than in multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that triplets, twins, and higher-order multiplications have their own sleeping space. This can be done by using an additional bassinet, or twin bedside crib that you can put on your bed to feed or comfort one of your babies during the night.
While the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued recommendations to reduce the risk of SIDS by encouraging room sharing and avoiding cobedding, many families with twins and multiples have found it difficult to follow these guidelines (1). In a previous study it was found that the majority of twin families that co-bedded their children during the first three months of their lives at home engaged in unsafe sleep habits.
Parents of twins might not adhere to the current SIDS risk reduction guidelines due to a desire extend their own sleep time and a lack of space to accommodate multiple cribs in the home. Furthermore, socioeconomic status may affect the family's decisions regarding the arrangement of their sleep.
If twins are placed in a small Moses basket or crib, their bedding may easily get caught in their midst and they may choke on eachother. If you're planning to sleep your twins in the same cot it is important to put them in the feet-to-head position and their bedding tucked securely into each cot to minimize their chances of smothering each one.
One of the safest and more comfortable alternatives for twins to sleep separately is a bedside bassinet like the Halo Bassinest Twin. This double bassinet features mesh walls that separate twins, giving them their own safe flat bed. It can be swiveled 360 degrees, so you can bring your baby closer to you without leaving your bed. The walls on the sides automatically lower and then return with each movement. It is easy to clean, and can be tucked away into a standard twin-sized bed frame. For a less expensive alternative, check out the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet, which is available at Walmart and comes with similar features to the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
Welcoming twins or multiples to the world is a huge life change. They require plenty of thought and preparation not to mention when it comes to where they will be sleeping and how they will get a restful night's sleep. Parents often wonder what they can do to help their children feel at ease at an early age.
It is possible for twins to share a cot if they are small. Co-bedding is a method for helping newborns feel at ease by bringing them back to their womb. It is important to ensure that the beds are large enough for the babies to be comfortable without touching or bouncing around. It is important to remember that the baby bedside sleeper that is the first to wake up should be fed. It is beneficial to coordinate feeding times at night to ensure that you awake one baby prior to the other.
However, it is important to remember that twins are very different and they might develop their own sleeping routines. It is possible that one child sleeps better than the other or prefers to be near you. In this case, it might be best bedside cot for newborn for the twins to share their own bassinet or crib in their room.
When looking for a twin bedside cot, ensure that it has air-tight mesh dividers that create distinct sleeping areas. This is crucial for infants who are at risk of heat stroke or for families where moms have had a c-section. Reversible bases and wheels that are easy to move are also beneficial features. The Arm's Reach cot, which is specifically designed for mothers who have a c-section, is a great choice because it offers a huge sleeping space and is easy to maneuver. The Graco Pack 'n Play or Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel are also alternatives, but they have smaller sleeping areas than the Arm's Reach cot.
It is not recommended to sleep with twins in the same bed as an adult even if they're very close. There is a higher risk of SIDS and may result in suffocation strangulation, or entrapment. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins be in their own cribs or bassinets in their parents' bedrooms for the first 6 months.