Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
Twins who are just born sleep best close to one another However, it's crucial to adhere to the safe sleep guidelines. rocking bedside crib will help your twins develop a consistent sleep routine.
A double bassinet that has a divider can be a great choice for twins. These beds can be used as portable beds to allow parents to keep their children close during middle-of-the-night feeds and diaper changes. They also work well for infants who might outgrow their bassinets before 2 years old.
Space-Saving
Twins can sleep together in a bedside crib, as long as you follow safe sleeping guidelines (that's to say they should be lying on their backs, with the tops of their heads touching each other and feet at opposite ends of the cot). They can also co-sleep in a Moses basket or regular crib once they're big enough.
This Delta double bassinet has a mesh divider that allows children to be separated but still close. It comes with a handy storage pocket to keep snacks and wipes close by, too. It folds flat and makes it easy to move around the house or on trips.
This EZ Fold Twin Bassinet, available at Walmart can swivel to allow you to bring your twins closer to you to feed them and calm them. The sides can be raised or lowered for easy access and are locked in place for security. It's a bit longer and heavier than the other options, but great for second-floor or homes for grandparents. It also comes with a bag for travel. It's also much cheaper than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
It is not recommended that parents of twins sleep their babies in the same crib or bassinet. 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 to reduce the risk for SIDS. This arrangement is also known as co-bedding, and it has been observed that twins who have been accustomed to this sleeping environment will often form a more synchronized sleep pattern than twins who sleep on their own.
A twin bedside cot such as the Teknum FELLOW 2 is a fantastic option to achieve this. It comes with two separate sets of bedding, so that each baby gets their own space. The bedside cot can easily be moved from room to another as required, and allows you to check on the babies without having to wake them by re-entering their sleep zone or disrupting their routines.
Other alternatives include double bassinets that have been specifically designed to allow the infants to be side-by-side, and are ideal for nighttime feeds or diaper changes. The Halo Bassinest Twin has a mesh panel that is breathable and adjustable in height to allow each baby to be easily accessible and visible at all times. The sides of the sleeper can adjust to lower and raise for quick access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet which is a less expensive alternative, comes with two sleep zones separated by a mesh panel, permitting babies to view 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 moses baskets, or a smaller bassinette, is a great option in situations of a short duration, such as hospitalization or a visit to the family. This should only be done under the supervision by a medical professional. They will make sure that the infants are correctly placed, with their feet at the bottom of the crib, and all bedding put into.
Safety
When twins sleep together, the most important safety feature is that each infant has their own sleep space. This helps prevent each baby from being smothered, choked or otherwise choking by the other. This also helps avoid cot death, which is more prevalent in infants with one parent than in multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins, tritons and higher-ordered multis have their own space to sleep in. The best way to accomplish this is to have a separate bassinet or twin bedside cots that can be positioned close to your bed when you're feeding or soothing one of the babies during the night.
Although recent SIDS risk reduction guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage room sharing with a parent and avoid cobedding however, 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 revealed that the majority of families with twins who were cobedded during the first three months at home opted for unsafe sleeping practices (room sharing without cobedding).
Parents of twins may not adhere to current SIDS guidelines due to the desire to rest longer and the absence of space in the home to accommodate multiple cribs. Additionally, socioeconomic status can affect family decisions about sleep arrangements.
When twins are placed side-by-side in a tiny crib or Moses basket, they may easily get caught in their bedding and potentially choke on each other. If you're planning to sleep your twins in the same cot it is important to put them in a head-to-foot position and have their bedding tucked securely into each cot to limit the possibility of them colliding with each one.
One of the safer and more comfortable options for twins to sleep independently is a bassinet that sits beside the bed like the Halo Bassinest Twin. This double bassinet features an insulated mesh wall that separates twins to give them each their own safe, flat sleep surface. It swivels a full 360 degrees to bring one of your children closer to you for feedings or soothing without having to leave the peace of your bed, and its side walls lower and auto-return when you move. It is easy to clean, and fits into a standard twin-sized bed frame. Check out the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet at Walmart. It has the same features to the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
It's a significant life change to welcome twins or multiples into the world. Not least, they require a great deal of preparation and thought regarding their sleeping arrangements and how they will have a restful night. Parents often wonder what they can do to make their children feel comfortable from an early age.
It is possible for twins to share a single cot if they are small. Co-bedding is a method of helping newborns feel at ease by reminding them of their mother's womb. It is important to ensure that the beds are big enough for newborns to feel at ease without having to touch one others or roll around. It is important to keep in mind that the baby who wakes up first must be fed. It is helpful to coordinate night feeds to ensure that you get one baby up before the other.
It is important to remember that twins have different sleep patterns. It could be that one child wakes more than the other or prefers to be nearer to you. In this case, it might be best for the twins to share their own bassinet or crib 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 prone to overheating, or for families with mothers who have had c-sections. Reversible bases and 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 moms who have c-sections in mind. The Graco Pack 'n Play or Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel are other options, but offer smaller sleeping areas than the Arm's Reach cot.
Even if they're very close, it's not recommended that twins share a bed with an adult. This can increase the risk of SIDS and cause strangulation or suffocation. Instead the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins sleep in their own safe sleeping areas, such as bassinets or cribs in their parents' room for the first six months.