Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
Twins who are just born sleep best bedside cots close to one another, but it's important to follow safe sleeping recommendations. The right crib arrangement will help your twins develop a consistent sleep routine.
A double bassinet that comes with the option of dividing can be a great choice for twins. These portable beds allow parents to keep their babies near for middle-of-the-night feeds and diaper changes. They also work well for babies who may outgrow their bassinets before baby 2 years old.
Space-Saving
As long as you follow the safe sleeping guidelines, twins are able to sleep in a crib that is bedside side-by-side. They should be placed on their backs with their heads pointing towards each other and their feet on the opposite ends. When they're big enough, they can also share a bed in a Moses Basket or a regular crib.
This Delta double bassinet features a mesh partition that allows babies to be separated, but still close. It comes with a handy storage compartment to keep snacks and wipes close by, too. It's also foldable, making it easier to move around the home and take on trips.
Another option is the EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart that swivels to bring your twins' fluttery little ones closer to you for feedings and soothing. The sides can be raised and lowered to make it easier for you to get in and lock into place for safety. It's a bit heavier and longer than other options, but it's great for second floors or grandparents homes, and it comes with a travel bedside crib bag. It's also a lot less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
It is not recommended that parents of twins sleep their babies in the same bassinet or crib. Rednose recommends that twins have their own secure sleeping area (crib or portable crib or bassinet) in the room of the caregivers/parents until they reach the age of 12 months to reduce the chance of SIDS. This arrangement is also known as co-bedding. It has been observed that twins who have been accustomed to this sleeping environment will often form a more synchronized sleep pattern than twins who sleep separately.
One of the easiest ways to make this work is with twin bedside crib or cot cots, like the Teknum FELLOW 2 which comes with two separate bedding sets to ensure that every baby can have an area that is comfortable and private. The bedside rocking crib cot can easily be moved from room to room as needed, and it allows you to monitor the baby without having to wake them up by re-entering their sleeping zone or disrupting their rhythms.
Double bassinets are another 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, for instance, features an air-tight mesh partition and an adjustable height to ensure that every baby is visible and reachable at all times, while the sides of the sleeper are raised and lower 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 a mesh panel that allows babies to see each other and the entire mattress can rotate 360 degrees to give easy access to each infant.
Many parents have realized that co-bedding twins with a moses basket, or a smaller bassinette, could be a good option for temporary situations like hospital stays or a visit to the family. However this should be done only under the supervision of a healthcare professional to ensure that babies are properly positioned, with their feet to 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 safety feature is that each baby has his or her individual space to sleep. This ensures that every infant isn't smothered, or trapped by the other. It also helps to prevent cot deaths, which are more common in single infants than multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that triplets, twins and higher-order multiples get their own space to sleep in. The best way to accomplish this is by having a separate bassinet or twin bedside cot that can be placed close to your bed when you feed or soothe one of the babies throughout the night.
While the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued recommendations to decrease the risk of SIDS by encouraging room sharing and avoiding cobedding, many families of twins and multiples have found it difficult to adhere to these guidelines (1). A previous study found that a majority of families with twins who were cobedded during the first 3 months at home, used unsafe sleeping practices (room sharing without cobedding).
Parents of twins may not follow current SIDS recommendations due to the desire to rest longer and the lack of space in their home to accommodate multiple cribs. Additionally, socioeconomic status can affect family decisions about the arrangement of their sleep.
If twins are put in a small Moses basket or crib, their bedding could easily get caught in their midst and they could choke on eachother. If you decide to put your twins in the same cot, it is important to put them in a head-to-foot position and their bedding tucked securely into each cot to limit their chances of smothering each other.
A bedside bassinet, such as the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the safer and more convenient options for twins who want to sleep separately. The double bassinet comes with a mesh wall to divide twins and give them their own flat, secure mattress to sleep on. It can be rotated 360 degrees, so you can bring your child closer to you without leaving your bed. The side walls automatically lower and return with each movement. It's easy to clean and fits into a standard twin bed frame. If you're looking for a cheaper 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 huge change to welcome twins or multiples into the world. They require plenty of thought and preparation especially when it comes to where they will sleep and how they'll get a restful night's sleep. Parents often wonder what they can do to make their children feel at ease at an early age.
When twins are young, they are able to share a cot. This is called co-bedding and can provide excellent comfort for babies as it helps them remember the womb. It is important to ensure that the beds are big enough to allow the infants to be comfortable without touching or rolling around. You should also keep in mind that the baby who awakes first must be fed. It can be helpful to coordinate nighttime feeds so that you can wake one up earlier than the other.
However, it is important to keep in mind that twins can be very different and they might have their own sleep routines. You might find that one baby sleeps more than the other or prefers to be close to you. In this instance it could be beneficial for the twins to have their own bassinet or crib in their room.
Look for twin bedside cots with mesh dividers that are breathable for sleeping areas that are separate. This is important for babies who are susceptible to heat stroke or families whose mothers have had a c-section. Reversible bases and wheels that are easy to maneuver are also helpful features. The Arm's Reach cot, specifically designed for mothers with c-sections is a fantastic choice because it has a large sleeping space and is easy to move. Other options include the Graco Pack 'n Play and the Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel, but they have less sleeping space than the Arm's Reach cot.
It is not recommended to sleep with twins in the same bed as an adult, even if they are very close. This could increase the risk of SIDS and lead to strangulation or suffocation. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins sleep in their own bassinets or cribs in the parents' bedrooms for the first six months.