Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
Twins in the newborn stage sleep best close to each other, but it's important to follow safe sleeping recommendations. The right crib arrangement can help your twins develop an established routine for sleeping.
A double bassinet that has the option of dividing can be the ideal choice for twins. These portable beds let parents keep their infants close for diaper changes and mid-night feedings. These beds are also ideal for babies who might outgrow their baby bassinets before they reach toddlerhood.
Space-Saving
As long as you follow safe guidelines for sleeping, twins can sleep in a crib that is bedside side-by-side. They should be placed on their backs with their heads in a straight line and their feet at opposite ends. They can also sleep together in a Moses basket or regular crib when they're old enough.
We really love this Delta double bassinet. It includes a mesh divider, to keep babies separate, yet close to each other. It also comes with a storage compartment for snacks and wipes. It is also foldable which makes it easy to move around the house and take on excursions.
Another option is this EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart that swivels to bring fussy twins closer to you for feeding and soothing. The sides can be raised and lowered for easy access and are locked in place for security. It's a bit larger and heavier than other options, but it's perfect for second floors or grandparents homes and comes with a travel bag. It's also much less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
It is not recommended that parents of twins put their babies in the same bassinet or crib. Rednose recommends that twins have their own secure sleeping space (crib or portable crib or bassinet) in the room of the caregivers/parents until they reach 12 months old to lower the chance of SIDS. This arrangement is also referred to as co-bedding. It has been proven that twins who have been accustomed to this type of sleeping environment generally have a more coordinated sleep pattern than those who sleep on their own.
A twin bedside cot such as the Teknum FELLOW 2 is a fantastic way to achieve this. It comes with two sets of bedding so that each baby gets their own personal space. The bedside cot can be easily moved from one room to another as needed. It is a convenient and easy way to check on your children without disrupting their sleep or awakening them.
Double bassinets are an alternative. small bedside cot allow infants to be side-by-side, and are ideal for feedings or diaper changes in the middle of the night. The Halo Bassinest Twin has a mesh panel that breathes and is adjustable in height to allow each infant to be easily accessible and visible at all times. The sides of the sleeper can lower and raise to allow for 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 one another. The sleeper also swivels around 360 degrees to give an easy access for infants.
Many parents have realized that co-bedding twins with moses baskets, or a small bassinette, can be a good solution for temporary situations such as hospitalization or a family visit. However, this should be done only under the supervision of a healthcare provider to ensure that babies are placed properly and with their feet towards the bottom of the cot and all bedding properly tucked in to prevent them from suffocating.
Safety
The most important safety aspect when it comes to twins is that each baby have their own sleeping space. This helps prevent each baby from being smothered, choked or otherwise being choking by the other. It also helps prevent the death of a cot, which is more prevalent in infants with one parent than in multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that triplets, twins and higher-order multiples get their own sleeping space. The best way to accomplish this is with an additional bassinet or twin bedside cots that can be positioned close to your bed while you're feeding or soothing one of the babies during the night.
Although the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued recommendations to reduce the SIDS risk by encouraging room sharing and disabling cobedding, a lot of families with twins and multiples find it difficult to adhere to these guidelines (1). A previous study found that the majority of families with twins that were cobedded during the first three months at home, used unsafe sleeping practices (room sharing without cobedding).
Parents of twins may not adhere to the current SIDS risk reduction guidelines because of a desire to increase their own sleep duration and the inability to accommodate multiple cribs in the home. Additionally, socioeconomic status can affect the family's decisions regarding sleeping arrangements.
When twins are placed together in a crib or Moses basket, they can easily become entangled by their bedding and could choke on one another. If you decide to place your twins in the same cot together ensure they are placed in the position that their feet are right next to their heads, and that their bedding is placed in each cot with a secure. This will reduce the chance of them choking on each other.
A bassinet that is positioned at the bedside, like the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the safest and more convenient options for twins that want to be able to sleep independently. This double bassinet comes with an insulated mesh wall that separates twins so that they each have their own secure, flat sleep surface. It rotates 360 degrees to bring one of your children closer to you for feedings or to soothe without having to leave the comfort of your bed. Its side walls lower and automatically return with each movement. It is easy to clean, and fits into a standard twin-sized bed frame. Take a look at the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet at Walmart. It comes with the same features to the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
Being welcomed by twins or multiples to the world is a major life-changing. They require plenty of planning and thought, not least in regards to where they will be sleeping and how they will get a good night's rest. Parents often ask themselves what they can do to make their children feel more comfortable in the early years of their lives.
When twins are young, they can be able to share a cot. This is called co-bedding and can provide great comfort to newborns as it brings them back to the womb. It is essential to make sure that the beds are big enough for newborns to feel at ease without touching each other or roll around. It is also important to keep in mind that the baby who waks first needs to be fed. It is helpful to coordinate feeding times at night so that you can wake up one baby before the other.
It is crucial to remember that twins are quite different and could develop their own sleeping routines. You may find that one of them wakes more than the other or that they prefer to be nearer to you. In this case, it may be best to give each twin a separate crib or bassinet.
When looking for a twin bedside cot ensure that it has air-tight mesh dividers that create separate sleeping spaces. This is crucial for infants who are at risk of heat stroke or for families where mothers have had a c-section. A reversible base and wheels that are easy to move are also helpful features. The Arm's Reach cot, which is designed for c-section mothers is a great option because it offers a huge sleeping space and is easy to maneuver. 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.
It is not recommended to sleep with twins in the same bed with an adult, even if they are close. There is a higher risk of SIDS, and can cause 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 6 months.