Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It is best to keep your twins who are just born close to each other, but you should also follow safety sleeping guidelines. The right crib arrangement can aid your twins in establishing an established routine for sleeping.
A double bassinet that has an divider is a great choice for twins. These beds can be used as portable beds to allow parents to keep their babies near for mid-night feedings and diaper changes. They are also ideal for infants that may outgrow their bassinets before baby 2 years old.
Space-Saving
Twins can sleep together in a bedside cot, as long as you follow the safe sleeping guidelines (that's to say that they should lie on their backs, with the tops of their heads overlapping each other and their feet placed at opposite sides of the cot). They can also co-sleep in a Moses basket or a crib when they're old enough.
We really love this Delta double bassinet, which includes a mesh divider, so that babies can stay separate but close to each the other. It comes with a handy storage pocket to keep snacks and wipes in the vicinity and also snacks. It folds flat and makes it easy to move around the house or on trips.
Another option is the EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart It can swivel to bring fussy twins closer to you for feeding and comfort. The sides can be raised or lowered to make it easier to access them and they are locked to ensure safety. It's a bit bigger and heavier than other models, but great for second-floor or homes for grandparents. It also comes with a travel bag. It's also less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
It is not recommended that parents of twins put their babies in the same crib or bassinet. Instead, the group Rednose recommends that twins be given their own safe sleeping space (crib, bassinet or portable crib) in the parents' or caregiver's room until they turn 12 months old to reduce the risk of SIDS. This is referred to as co-bedding. It has been demonstrated that twins who grew up in this environment have a more synchronized sleeping pattern.
One of the most efficient ways to make this work is with a twin bedside cot like the Teknum FELLOW 2 that comes with two distinct bedding sets, so that each baby has an area that is comfortable and private. The bedside cot can also be easily moved from one room to another when needed. It provides an easy and convenient method to check on your children without disturbing their sleep patterns or waking them up.
Double bassinets are a different option. They permit infants to be side-by-side, and are ideal for diaper changes or feedings in the middle of the night. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for instance, features an air-tight mesh divider and an adjustable height to ensure that each child can be observed and reached at all times, while the sides of the sleeper can be raised and lowered to allow easy access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet, which is a cheaper alternative, comes with two sleep zones separated by a mesh panel, which allows babies to see each the other. The sleeper also swivels around 360 degrees to give easy access to infants.
Many parents have discovered that co-bedding twins with moses baskets, or a small bassinette can be a good solution for temporary situations such as a hospital stay or a visit to the family. However, this should be done only under the supervision of a healthcare provider to ensure that the babies are properly positioned in a cot, with their feet at the foot of the cot and their bedding securely tucked in, to avoid them from becoming suffocating.
Safety
When it comes to twins sleeping together, the most crucial security feature is that each baby has their individual space to sleep. This ensures that every infant is not smothered or otherwise trapped by the other. It also helps prevent the death of a cot, which is more frequent with single infants than multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that triplets, twins, and higher-order multiples get their own sleeping space. This can be achieved with an additional bassinet, or a twin bedside crib you can bring up to your bed to feed or comfort one of the babies throughout the night.
Although 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 with twins and higher-order multiples aren't able to comply with these guidelines (1). In a previous study, it was found that the majority of twin families who cobedded their children in the first three months of their lives at home were engaged in dangerous sleep habits.
Parents of twins may not follow the current SIDS guidelines due to the desire to rest longer and the lack of space in their home to accommodate multiple cribs. In addition the socioeconomic status of a family can influence their choices regarding the arrangement of their sleep.
If twins are placed in a small Moses basket or crib, their bedding can easily be pulled together and they could choke on each other. If you choose to put your twins in the same cot ensure they are placed in a position that their feet are right next to their heads and that their bedding is put into each cot securely. best bedside cot will lessen the chance of them choking on each other.
One of the safer and more practical options for twins to sleep independently is a bedside bassinet like the Halo Bassinest Twin. The double bassinet has an insulated mesh wall that separates twins to give them each their own safe flat bed. It can be swiveled 360 degrees, which means you can bring your child closer to you without leaving your bed. The walls on the sides automatically lower and return with every movement. It's also easy to clean and can be tucked away in a standard twin bed frame. Check out the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet at Walmart. It has similar features as the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
It's a significant life change to welcome twins or multiples into the world. They require plenty of planning and consideration especially when it comes to where they will be sleeping and how they will get a good night's rest. Parents often wonder what they can do to make their children feel comfortable from an early age.
When twins are still young, it is possible to share a cot. This is called co-bedding and it can be a great comfort to newborns as it brings them back to the womb. It is important to ensure that the beds are big enough for the babies to be comfortable, without touching or bouncing around. You should also keep in mind 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.
It is important to keep in mind that twins have different sleep patterns. You may find that one child sleeps better than the other or prefers to be close to you. In this case it could be beneficial for the twins to share their own crib or bassinet in their room.
Look for twin bedside cots with mesh dividers that are breathable for sleeping areas that are separate. This is especially important for babies that are susceptible to overheating, or for families with c-section mothers. A reversible base as well as wheels that are easy to move are also helpful features. The Arm's Reach cot is an excellent option for this purpose since it provides 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 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 with an adult, even if they are close. This increases the risk of SIDS, and can cause suffocation, strangulation, or entrapment. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins should be in their own cribs or bassinets in their parents' rooms for the first 6 months.