Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It's best to keep twins who are just born close to each other However, you must follow safety sleeping guidelines. Choosing the right crib arrangement will aid your twins in developing a consistent routine of sleep.
A double bassinet with an divider is an ideal option for twins. These portable beds let parents keep their children close during feedings in the middle of the night and diaper changes. These beds are also great for babies who might outgrow their baby bassinets by the time they reach toddlerhood.
Space-Saving
If you follow the safe sleeping guidelines, twins can sleep in a bedside crib side-by-side. They should be placed on their backs with their heads in a straight line and their feet at the opposite ends. They can also sleep together in a Moses basket or a regular crib once they're large enough.
We are in love with this Delta double bassinet. It includes a mesh divider, to keep babies separate, yet close to each and each other. It comes with a handy storage compartment to keep snacks and wipes close by, too. It's also foldable making it easy to move around the home and travel with on trips.
Another alternative is the EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart, which swivels to bring the twins who are fussy closer to you for feedings and soothing. The sides can be lowered and raised to make it easier to access them and they are locked to ensure security. It's a bit heavier and longer than other alternatives, but it's a great choice for grandparents' or second-floor houses, and it comes with a travel bag. It's also less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
While many parents of twins may be tempted to put the twins together in one crib or bassinet but this is not generally recommended. Instead the Rednose group Rednose suggests that twins be given their own secure sleeping space (crib, bassinet or portable crib) in the parent/caregiver's room until they are 12 months old in order to reduce the risk of SIDS. This arrangement is also known as co-bedding, and it has been proven that twins who are used to this type of sleeping environment typically have a more synchronized sleeping pattern than twins who sleep separately.
A twin bedside cot like the Teknum FELLOW 2 is a fantastic way to accomplish this. large bedside crib comes with two separate sets of bedding to ensure that each baby has their own space. The bedside cot can also be easily moved from one room to another when needed. It is a convenient and easy way to check on your babies without disrupting their sleep or awakening them.
Double bassinets are a different option. They permit infants to sleep side-by-side and they're perfect for diaper changes or feedings during the middle of the night. The Halo Bassinest Twin has a breathable mesh panel and adjustable height to allow each baby to be seen and reachable at all times. The sides of the sleeper also lower and raise to allow for easy access. If you prefer a more affordable alternative, the Walmart exclusive Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet is similar, featuring two sleeping zones separated by mesh panels that allow babies to view each other and the entire mattress swivels 360 degrees for easy access to each infant.
For short-term situations, such as an emergency family visit or hospital stay, many parents have found success in co-bedding twins in the large moses basket or small bassinette with divider. However, this should be done only under the supervision of a healthcare professional to ensure that babies are properly positioned in a cot, with their feet at the bottom of the cot, and all bedding properly tucked in to prevent them from being suffocated.
Safety
When it comes to twins sleeping together, the most important security factor is that each baby has his or her own sleep space. This ensures that each baby isn't smothered, or choked by the other. It also helps to prevent the death of a cot, which is more frequent with single infants than multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that tritons, twins, and higher-ordered multiples have their own sleeping space. The best method to achieve this is to have a separate bassinet or twin bedside cots that can be placed close to your bed while you feed or soothe one of the babies throughout the night.
Although recent SIDS risk reduction recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage room sharing with parents and discourage cobedding but the reality is that a lot of families with twins and higher-order multiples aren't able to comply with these guidelines (1). A previous study documented that the majority of families with twins who were cobedded in the first 3 months at home opted for unsafe sleep practices (room sharing without cobedding).
Parents of twins may not follow the current SIDS guidelines due to the desire to sleep longer and lack of space at 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 can easily entangle them and they could choke on eachother. If you're planning to sleep your twins together in the same cot, it is important to put them in a head-to-foot position and their bedding securely tucked into each cot to limit the possibility of them colliding with each other.
A bassinet that is positioned at the bedside, like the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the safer and easier alternatives for twins who wish to sleep in a separate bed. The double bassinet comes with an enclosed mesh wall that can divide twins and give them their own flat, secure sleep surface. It can rotate 360 degrees so you can bring one of your babies closer to you for feedings or soothing while still in the comfort of your bed. Its side walls lower and auto-return every time you move. It is easy to clean, and fits into the standard twin-sized bed frame. Take a look at the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet at Walmart. It has the same features as the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
Being welcomed by twins or multiples to the world is a major life altering. They require plenty of planning and thought not to mention in regards to where they will be sleeping and how they will get a good night's sleep. While decisions about their future bedroom space are made when they are older parents often ask what they can do to help them to settle in the early stages.
When twins are still young, it is possible to share a crib. Co-bedding is a method of comforting newborns by reminding them of their womb. It is crucial to ensure that the beds are big enough for infants to be comfortable without touching each the other or move around. It is important to remember that the baby that wakes up first should be fed. It is beneficial to coordinate night feeds in order to get one baby up before the other.
It is important to be aware that twins may have different sleep routines. It could be that one child wakes more than the other, or that they prefer to be nearer to you. In this case it is possible to provide each twin with their own bassinet or crib.
Look for twin bedside cots with breathable mesh dividers for separate sleeping areas. This is particularly important for babies that are more prone to overheating or families with c-section moms. A reversible base and wheels that are easy to maneuver are also beneficial features. The Arm's Reach cot, which is 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, however, they have less sleeping space than the Arm's Reach cot.
It is not recommended that twins sleep in the same bed as an adult, even if they are close. This can 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' bedrooms for the first 6 months.