Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It is best to keep your newborn twins close together however, you must follow safety sleeping guidelines. The right crib arrangement can help your twins develop a consistent sleep routine.
A double bassinet with the option of dividing can be the ideal choice for twins. These beds can be used to keep their children close during diaper changes as well as mid-night meals. These beds are also great for babies who might outgrow their bassinets when they reach toddlerhood.
Space-Saving
Twins can share a bed in a bedside cot, as long as you follow safe guidelines for sleeping (that's to say that they should lie on their backs, with the tops of their heads touching each other, and their feet on opposite ends of the cot). They can also sleep together in a Moses basket or a regular crib once they're large enough.
We really love this Delta double bassinet. It includes a mesh divider, to keep babies separated but still close to one the other. It also has a convenient storage compartment to keep snacks and wipes close by as well. It folds flat and makes it easy to move around the house or go on trips.
Another option is the EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart, which swivels to bring fussy twins closer to you for feedings and calming. The sides can be lowered and raised to make it easier to access them and they are locked to ensure security. It is a little longer and heavier than the other options, but great for second floor or grandparents' homes. It also comes with a bag for travel. It's also much less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
It is not recommended that parents of twins sleep 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 parents or caregivers until they reach the age of 12 months to reduce the risk of SIDS. This arrangement is known as co-bedding. It has been shown that twins who grew up in this environment develop a more coordinated sleeping pattern.
A twin bedside cot such as the Teknum FELLOW 2 is a fantastic way to accomplish this. It includes two sets of bedding, so that each baby has their own space. This bedside cot can also easily be moved from room to room as required, and makes it easy to monitor the baby without having to wake them up by re-entering their sleeping zone or disrupting their sleep patterns.
Other options include double bassinets, specially designed to allow the infants to remain side-by-side and are ideal for nighttime feeding or changing diapers. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for instance, comes with an air-tight mesh partition and a height that can be adjusted so that each child can be seen and reached at all times, and the sides of the sleeper can be raised and lowered to make it easy to access. If you prefer a more affordable alternative, the Walmart-exclusive Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet is similar, having two sleeping zones separated by a mesh panel that allows babies to see one another and the entire mattress is able to rotate 360 degrees, giving an easy access to every infant.
For short-term situations, such as a family visit or hospital stay, many parents have found success with co-bedding twins in large moses baskets or a small bassinette with divider. However it is recommended to do this only under the supervision of a healthcare professional to ensure that babies are properly positioned, with their feet to the bottom of the cot and their bedding is securely tucked in to prevent them from being suffocated.
Safety
The most important safety feature for twins is that both babies have their own bed. This ensures that each infant isn't smothered, or trapped by the other. It also helps to prevent cot death, which is more common in single babies than in multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins, tritons and higher-ordered multis have their own sleeping area. This can be achieved by using an additional bassinet, or twin bedside crib that you can place on your bed to feed or sooth one of the babies throughout the night.
Although the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued guidelines to lower the risk of SIDS by encouraging room sharing and discouraging cobedding, a lot of families with multiples and twins find it difficult to follow these guidelines (1). In a previous study it was found that the majority of twin families who co-bedded their children in the first three months of their lives at home engaged in unsafe sleep habits.
Parents of twins may not adhere to the current SIDS risk reduction guidelines because of a desire to extend their own sleep time and a lack of space to accommodate multiple cribs in the home. Additionally the socioeconomic status of a family can influence their decisions about sleeping arrangements.
If twins are placed in a small Moses basket or crib, their bedding may easily entangle them and they may choke on eachother. If you decide to place your twins in the same cot together ensure that they are placed in a position where their feet are next to their heads and their bedding is put into each cot with a secure. This will lessen the possibility of them colliding on each other.
A bassinet for bed, such as the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the safest and most convenient options for twins that want to sleep separately. This double bassinet features mesh walls that separate twins, giving them their own secure and comfortable, flat sleeping surface. It rotates 360 degrees, allowing you to bring one of your babies closer to you for feedings or soothing while still in the comfortable bed. The side walls lower and auto-return every time you move. It's easy to clean and fits into a standard twin bed frame. If you're looking for a less expensive alternative, consider the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet that is available at Walmart and comes with similar features to the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
It's a huge change to welcome twins or multiples into the world. They also require a lot of planning and thinking when it comes to their sleeping arrangements and how they can get a good sleep. Parents often ask themselves what they can do to make their children feel more comfortable at an early age.
When twins are very young, they are able to share one cot. This is known as co-bedding and it can be a excellent comfort for babies as it brings them back to the mother's womb. The most important thing is to ensure that the beds are large enough to allow the infants to be comfortable without touching each other or rolling around. You should also remember that the baby that wakes up first must be fed. It can be beneficial to co-ordinate night feeds so that you can wake one up earlier than the other.
It is important to remember that twins can have very different sleeping routines. You may find that one of them wakes more frequently than the other or they prefer to be nearer to you. In this instance it might be best to provide each twin with their own crib or bassinet.
When looking for a twin bedside cot, look for models that feature ventilated mesh dividers that can create distinct sleeping areas. This is crucial for infants who are susceptible to heat stroke or families whose mothers have had a c-section. A reversible base and wheels that are easy to move are also helpful features. baby bedside co sleeper is an excellent choice for these purposes, as it offers a large sleeping area and is designed with c-section moms in mind. The Graco Pack 'n Play or Fisher-Price's Easy Swaivel are both alternatives, but they have a smaller sleeping space than the Arm's Reach cot.
Even if they're close, it is not recommended for twins to share a bed with an adult. This can increase the risk of SIDS and lead to strangulation or suffocation. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins should sleep in their own bassinets or cribs in the parents' room for the first 6 months.