Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
Twins in the newborn stage sleep best bedside cots close to each other It's vital to adhere to safe sleeping guidelines. A proper crib arrangement can help your twins establish a consistent sleeping routine.
A double bassinet with an divider is a great option for twins. These portable beds let parents keep their babies close for diaper changes as well as mid-night meals. These beds are also great for babies who may outgrow their bassinets before they reach toddlerhood.
Space-Saving
As long as you adhere to safe guidelines for sleeping, twins can sleep in a bedside crib side-by-side. They should sleep on their backs with their heads in a straight line and their feet on the opposite ends. When they're old enough, they can sleep together in a Moses Basket or regular crib.
We love this Delta double bassinet, which has a mesh divider so that babies can stay separate but close to each and each other. It comes with a handy storage compartment to keep snacks and wipes close by as well. It's also foldable bedside crib, making it easier to move around the home and take on excursions.
This EZ Fold Twin Bassinet, available at Walmart, swivels to allow you to bring your twins closer to you to feed them and calm them. The sides can be raised and lowered for easy access and are locked in place for safety. It is a little longer and heavier than other options, but great for second floor or homes for grandparents. It also comes with a carry-on bag. It's also much cheaper than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
It is not recommended that parents of twins place their babies in the same bassinet or crib. Rednose recommends that twins have their own safe sleeping space (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 also referred to as co-bedding and it has been proven that twins who have been accustomed to this sleeping environment will typically have a more synchronized sleep pattern than twins who sleep on their own.
A twin bedside cot such as the Teknum FELLOW 2 is an excellent way to accomplish this. It comes with two separate sets of bedding, so that each baby has their own personal space. This bedside crib with wheels cot is able to easily be moved from room to room as necessary, and also provides a convenient way to check on babies without having to wake them by re-entering their sleeping zone or disrupting their sleep patterns.
Double bassinets are another option. They permit infants to sleep side-by-side and are perfect for feedings or diaper changes during the middle of the night. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for example, has an air-tight mesh partition and an adjustable height to ensure that each baby can be seen and reached at all times, while the sides of the sleeper can be raised and lowered to give easy access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet which is a less expensive alternative, has two sleeping zones that are separated by a mesh panel, which allows babies to see each other. The sleeper also rotates around 360 degrees to give easy access to infants.
For temporary situations, such as an unexpected family visit or hospital stay Parents have reported success in co-bedding twins in large moses baskets or a small bassinette with divider. This should only be done with the supervision of a healthcare provider. They will ensure that the infants are correctly placed in a crib with their feet placed at the foot of the crib and all bedding tucked into.
Safety
The most important safety feature when it comes to twins is that they has their own space to sleep. This prevents each baby from being smothered, choked, or otherwise choking by the other. It also helps to prevent deaths in cots, which are more frequent with single infants than multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins, triplets and higher-order multiplications have their own sleep space. This can be done with an additional bassinet, or twin bedside crib; supplemental resources, that you can place on your bed to feed or comfort one of the babies during the night.
While the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued recommendations to decrease the SIDS risk by encouraging room sharing and discouraging cobedding, a lot of families with multiples and twins find it difficult to follow these guidelines (1). A previous study found that the majority of families with twins who were cobedded during the first three months at home used unsafe sleeping practices (room sharing without cobedding).
Parents of twins may not adhere to current SIDS guidelines due to a desire to sleep longer and absence of space in the home to accommodate multiple cribs. Additionally the socioeconomic standing of a family could influence their decisions about sleep arrangements.
If twins are placed in a small Moses basket or crib, their bedding can easily be pulled together and they may choke on each other. If you choose to sleep your twins together in the same cot it is essential to place them in the position of feet-to-head and their bedding securely tucked into each cot to limit the chance of them smothering each one.
One of the safest and more practical options for twins to be able to sleep independently is a bedside bassinet like the Halo Bassinest Twin. The double bassinet comes with an enclosed mesh wall that can separate twins and provide them with their own flat, safe sleep surface. It can be turned 360 degrees, so 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 into a standard twin-sized bed frame. If you're looking for a cheaper alternative, look into the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet available at Walmart. available at Walmart and comes with similar features as the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
Being welcomed by twins or multiples to the world is an enormous life-changing. Not least, they require a lot of planning and consideration when it comes to their sleeping arrangements and how they can have a restful night. Parents often ask themselves what they can do to help their children feel more comfortable from an early age.
It is possible for twins to share a single cot if they are small bedside cot. This is called co-bedding and can provide great comfort to newborns as it helps them remember the mother's womb. It is important to ensure that the beds are big enough for babies to be comfortable without touching or rolling around. You should also be aware that the baby who awakes first must be fed. It is beneficial to coordinate night feeds so that you can get one baby up before the other.
However, it is important to keep in mind that twins can be very different and they might have their own sleep routines. It is possible that one baby is more sleepy than the other or prefers to be close to you. In this situation, it may be best bedside cot for newborn to give each twin a separate bassinet or crib.
When you are looking for a twin bedside cot, look for models with air-tight mesh dividers that create separate sleeping areas. This is important for babies that are prone to heat stroke or families whose mothers have had a c-section. Other useful features include an adjustable base, built-in storage space for blankets and toys, as well as easy-to-use wheels. The Arm's Reach cot, which is specifically designed for mothers who have a c-section is a great option due to its large sleeping area and is easy to move. Other options include the Graco Pack 'n Play and the Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel but they offer less sleeping space than the Arm's Reach cot.
Even if they're very close, it's not recommended for twins to share a bed with an adult. There is a higher risk of SIDS, and could lead to suffocation, strangulation, or entrapment. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins sleep in their own bassinets or cribs in their parents' bedrooms for the first six months.