Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
Twins in the newborn stage sleep best close to one another However, it's crucial to adhere to safe sleeping guidelines. The proper crib arrangement will help your twins develop a consistent sleeping routine.
A double bassinet that has an divider is a great option for twins. Keep Reading allow parents to keep their infants close for diaper changes as well as mid-night meals. These beds are also ideal for babies who may outgrow their baby bassinets before they reach toddlerhood.
Space-Saving
As long as you follow the safe guidelines for sleeping, twins can be in a bedside crib side-by-side. They should be positioned on their backs with their heads in a straight line and their feet on the opposite ends. Once they are big enough, they can share a bed in a Moses Basket or regular crib.
We love this Delta double bassinet. It includes a mesh divider, so that babies can stay separate, yet close to each other. It also has a convenient storage compartment to keep snacks and wipes close by as well. It can also fold making it easy to move around the house and travel with on trips.
This EZ Fold Twin Bassinet, available at Walmart, swivels so that you can bring fussy twins nearer to you to feed them and soothe them. The sides can be lowered and raised to make it easier to access them and they are secured for safety. It's a bit bigger and heavier than other options however it is ideal for the second floor or grandparent's homes. It also 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 sleep their babies in the same bassinet or crib. Rednose suggests that twins have their own secure sleeping area (crib or portable crib or bassinet) in the room of the parents or caregivers until they reach 12 months to lower the risk for SIDS. This arrangement is known as co-bedding. It has been proven that twins who have grown in this type of environment have a more synchronized sleeping patterns.
One of the most convenient methods to accomplish this is with a twin bedside cot, like the Teknum FELLOW 2 that comes with two distinct bedding sets, so that each baby can have an area that is comfortable and private. This bedside cot is also easily moved from one room to another when needed. It offers an easy and convenient method to monitor your baby without disrupting their sleep or waking them up.
Other alternatives include double bassinets that have been specifically designed to allow the infants to remain side-by-side and are perfect for mid-night feeds or diaper changes. The Halo Bassinest Twin has a mesh panel that breathes and is adjustable in height that allows each baby to be seen and reachable at all times. The sides of the sleeper also adjust to lower and raise for quick access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet which is a more affordable option, has two sleep zones separated by a mesh panel, allowing babies to see each other. The sleeper also swivels around 360 degrees to give easy access to infants.
For situations that are temporary like an unexpected family visit or hospitalization, many parents have found the benefits of co-bedding twins using large moses baskets or a small bassinette with divider. This should only be done under the supervision of by a medical professional. They will make sure that the babies are properly placed on their feet at the bottom of the crib and all bedding tucked into.
Safety
When it comes to twins sleeping together, the most crucial security feature is that each baby has his or her individual space to sleep. This will prevent each baby from being smothered, choked, or otherwise being choked by the other. It also helps to prevent cot deaths, which are more frequent with single infants than multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that triplets, twins and higher-order multiplications have their own space to sleep in. The best way to do this is to have a separate bassinet or twin bedside cots that can be brought up close to your bed while you feed or soothe one of the babies throughout the night.
While the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued guidelines to lower the SIDS risk by encouraging room sharing and disabling cobedding, many families of twins and multiples have found it difficult to adhere to these guidelines (1). A previous study found that the majority of families of twins that were cobedded during the first three months at home opted for unsafe sleep practices (room sharing without cobedding).
Parents of twins may not adhere to the current SIDS risk reduction guidelines due to a desire to increase their own sleep duration and a lack of space to accommodate multiple cribs at home. In addition the socioeconomic standing of a family may influence their choices regarding sleeping arrangements.
If twins are placed in a small Moses basket or crib, their bedding could easily be pulled together and they may choke on each other. If you decide to sleep your twins together in the same cot it's important to place them in the feet-to-head position and with their bedding secured in each cot to minimize the possibility of them colliding with each one.
One of the safest and more practical options for twins to sleep independently is a bedside bassinet like the Halo Bassinest Twin. The double bassinet has mesh walls that separate twins to give them each their own secure flat bed. It can be rotated 360 degrees, meaning you can bring your child closer to you without having to leave your bed. The walls on the sides automatically lower and return with each movement. It is easy to clean, and fits into a standard twin-sized bed frame. If you're looking for a cheaper alternative, check out the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet, which is available at Walmart and has similar features as the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
The arrival of twins or multiples into the world is a huge life-changing. Not only that, they require a great deal of planning and thinking when it comes to their sleeping arrangements and how they will have a restful night. While decisions about their future bedroom space can be taken as they age parents are often unsure of how they can help their children to settle in the early stages.
It is possible for twins to share a crib when they are small. Co-bedding is a method for helping newborns feel at ease by reminding them of their womb. It is important to make sure the beds are big enough for the babies to be comfortable, without touching or bouncing around. It is important to keep in mind that the baby who wakes up first must be fed. It can be beneficial to coordinate feeding times at night so that you can get one of them up earlier than the other.
It is crucial to keep in mind that twins can be very different and they might develop their own sleep routines. You might find that one child wakes more than the other or prefers to be close to you. In this case it might be best to provide each twin with their own crib or bassinet.
Look for twin bedside cots with breathable mesh dividers to create separate sleeping areas. This is crucial for babies who are susceptible to overheating, or for families with c-section moms. Other helpful features include the reversible base, built-in storage space for blankets and toys, as well as easy-to-maneuver wheels. The Arm's Reach cot is a great choice for these purposes because it has an ample sleeping space and is designed with c-section moms 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 is not recommended that twins share the bed with an adult. It is an increased risk of SIDS and may result in suffocation strangulation, or entrapment. Instead it is recommended that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins have their own secure sleeping areas, such as cribs or bassinets, in their parent's room for the first six months.