Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It is best to keep your newborn twins close together However, you must adhere to the safety guidelines for sleeping. The right crib arrangement can help your twins develop a consistent routine of sleep.
A double bassinet that has 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. They also work well for infants that may outgrow their bassinets prior to 2 years old.
Space-Saving
As long as you adhere to safe guidelines for sleeping, twins can sleep in a crib that is bedside side-by-side. They should be positioned on their backs with their heads pointing towards each other and their feet at opposite ends. When they're old enough, they can also share a bed in a Moses Basket or regular crib.
We love this Delta double bassinet, which features a mesh partition to keep babies separate, yet close to each the other. It also comes with a storage compartment for snacks and wipes. It is also foldable making it easy to move around the home and take on excursions.
This EZ Fold Twin Bassinet, available at Walmart can swivel so that you can bring fussy twins nearer to you to feed them and comfort them. The sides can be raised and lowered to allow access, and they lock into place for safety. It is a little longer and heavier than other models, but great for second-floor or grandparents' homes. It also comes with a bag for travel. It's also 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 suggests that twins have their own secure sleeping area (crib, portable crib, or bassinet) in the room of the parents/caregivers until they reach 12 months to lower the chance of SIDS. This arrangement is also referred to as co-bedding, and it has been observed that twins who have been accustomed to this sleep environment will often form a more synchronized sleep pattern than those who sleep in separate rooms.
A twin bedside cot like the Teknum FELLOW 2 is a great option to achieve this. It includes two sets of bedding so that each baby gets their own personal space. This bedside cot is also easily moved from one room to the next depending on the need. It is an easy and convenient method to check on your babies without disturbing their sleep patterns or waking them up.
Double bassinets are another option. They permit infants to be side-by-side, and they're perfect for feedings and diaper changes in the middle of the night. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for example, has a breathable mesh divider and an adjustable height to ensure that each child is visible and reachable at all times, and the sides of the sleeper are raised and lower to give easy access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet which is a more affordable alternative, comes with two sleep zones separated by a mesh panel allowing babies to see each the other. The sleeper also swivels around 360 degrees to allow an easy access for infants.
Many parents have realized that co-bedding twins with a moses basket, or a small bassinette is a great option for situations that are temporary, such as hospitalization or a visit to the family. This should only be done with the supervision of by a medical professional. They will make sure that the infants are correctly placed on their feet placed at the foot of the crib and all bedding put in.
Safety
When twins sleep together, the most important safety feature is that each infant has his or her own sleep space. This ensures that each infant isn't smothered, or trapped by the other. This also helps to avoid deaths in cots, which are more common with single babies than multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that triplets, twins and higher-order multiples have their own space to sleep in. This can be done by using a separate bassinet, or twin bedside crib that you can bring up to your bed to feed or sooth one of the babies during the night.
While recent SIDS risk reduction guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage room sharing with parents and discourage cobedding, the reality is that a lot of families of twins and higher-order multiples have trouble adhering to these guidelines (1). A previous study found that a large 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 a desire to sleep longer and the lack of space in their home to accommodate multiple cribs. Additionally, socioeconomic status can influence family decisions regarding the arrangement of their sleep.
If twins are placed together in a crib or Moses basket, they could easily get caught in their bedding and potentially choke on each other. If you're planning to sleep your twins together in the same cot, it's important to place them in the position of feet-to-head and have their bedding secured in each cot to limit the possibility of them colliding with each one.
A bedside bassinet, such as the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the safest and more convenient options for twins who want to sleep in a separate bed. This double bassinet features an insulated mesh wall that separates twins to give them each their own safe flat bed. It rotates 360 degrees so you can bring one of your children closer to you for feedings or to soothe without leaving the peace of your bed. The side walls lower and auto-return with each movement. It's also easy to clean and fits in a standard twin bed frame. If you're looking for a cheaper alternative, consider the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet, which is available at Walmart and offers similar features to the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
It's a huge change to welcome twins or multiples into the world. Not least, they require a lot of planning and thinking when it comes to their sleeping arrangements and how they'll get a good sleep. Parents often ask themselves what they can do to make their children feel at ease from an early age.
It is possible for twins to share a single crib when they are small. This is known as co-bedding and can provide great comfort to newborns as it reminds them of the womb. It is important to ensure that the beds are large enough for babies to be comfortable without touching or rolling around. Also, remember that the baby that wakes up first must be fed. It is beneficial to coordinate nighttime feeds to ensure that you get one baby up before the other.
It is important to be aware that twins may have different sleep patterns. It could be that one of them wakes more than the other or they prefer to be nearer to you. In this instance it could be beneficial for the twins to have their own crib or bassinet in their room.
When looking for a twin bedside cot, look for models with air-tight mesh dividers that create distinct sleeping spaces. This is particularly important for babies who are more prone to overheating or families with mothers who have had c-sections. Other helpful features include an adjustable base, built-in storage space for blankets and toys, and easy-to-maneuver wheels. small bedside cot is a good option for these needs, as it offers a spacious sleeping area and is designed with c-section moms in mind. The Graco Pack 'n Play or Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel are other alternatives, but they have a smaller sleeping space than the Arm's Reach cot.
Even if they're very close, it is not recommended that twins share the bed with an adult. This could increase the risk of SIDS and cause strangulation or suffocation. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins should be kept in their bassinets or cribs in their parents' room for the first six months.