Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
Newborn twins sleep best when close to each other, but it's important to adhere to the safe sleep guidelines. Choosing the right crib arrangement can aid your twins in developing a consistent sleep routine.
A double bassinet that has an divider is a great choice for twins. These portable beds let parents keep their babies near for middle-of-the-night feeds and diaper changes. These beds are also ideal for babies who may outgrow their bassinets before they reach the age of toddlerhood.
Space-Saving
Twins can share a bed in a bedside crib, so long as you follow the safe sleeping guidelines (that's to say they should lie on their backs, with the tops of their heads touching each other and feet at opposite sides of the cot). When they're old enough, they can sleep together in a Moses Basket or a regular crib.
This Delta double bassinet comes with a mesh divider that allows babies 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 manoeuvre around the house or go on trips.
Another option is the EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart that swivels to bring the twins who are fussy closer to you for feedings and comfort. The sides are lowered and raised to make it easier for you to get in and secure themselves to ensure your child's safety. It's a bit heavier and longer than other options, but it's perfect for grandparents' or second-floor homes, and it comes with a travel bag. It's also less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
It is not recommended that parents of twins put their babies in the same crib or bassinet. Rednose suggests that twins have their own secure sleeping space (crib, portable crib, or bassinet) in the room of the caregivers/parents until they reach 12 months to reduce the risk of SIDS. This arrangement is also referred to as co-bedding, and it has been proven that twins who have been accustomed to this sleep environment will often form a more synchronized sleeping pattern than twins who sleep in separate rooms.
One of the most efficient ways to achieve this is by using a twin bedside cot like the Teknum FELLOW 2, which comes with two separate bedding sets to ensure that each baby can have an individual and comfortable space. This bedside cot is also easily moved from one room to another as needed. It is an easy and convenient method to monitor your baby without disturbing their sleep patterns or wake them up.
Other alternatives include double bassinets which have been designed specifically to allow infants to remain side-by-side and are perfect for mid-night feedings or diaper changes. The Halo Bassinest Twin has a mesh panel that breathes and is adjustable in height to allow each infant to be seen and reachable at all times. The sides of the sleeper also lower and raise to allow for easy access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet, which is a cheaper alternative, comes with two sleep zones that are separated by a mesh panel, allowing babies to see each the other. The sleeper also rotates around 360 degrees to give easy access to infants.
Many parents have realized that co-bedding twins with moses baskets, or a small bassinette, can be a good solution for situations that are temporary, such as a hospital stay or a family visit. This should only be done under the supervision by a medical professional. They will make sure that the babies are appropriately placed, with their feet placed at the foot of the crib, and all bedding put into.
Safety
When twins are sleeping together, the most crucial security feature is that each infant has his or her own space to sleep in. This prevents the baby from being smothered, choked, or otherwise choking 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 recommends that triplets, twins, and higher-order multiples get their own sleep space. This can be achieved by using an additional bassinet, or a twin bedside crib you can place on your bed to feed or soothe one of the babies during the night.
While the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued guidelines to lower the risk of SIDS by encouraging room sharing and avoiding cobedding, many families of twins and multiples have found it difficult to follow these guidelines (1). In a prior study, it was found that the majority of twin families who cobedded their children in the first three months of their lives at home were engaged in dangerous sleep habits.
Parents of twins might not adhere to the current SIDS risk reduction guidelines due to a desire increase their own sleep duration and the inability to accommodate multiple cribs in the home. Additionally the socioeconomic status of a family could affect their the arrangement of their sleep.
If twins are positioned side-by-side in a tiny crib or Moses basket, they could easily get caught in their bedding and potentially choke on each other. If you choose to put your twins in the same cot together, make sure they are placed in an area where their feet are next to their heads and that their bedding is tucked into each cot securely. This will lessen the possibility of them colliding on each one.
One of the safest and more convenient options for twins to sleep separately is a bedside bassinet like the Halo Bassinest Twin. The double bassinet features an enclosed mesh wall that can separate twins and give them their own flat, secure sleeping surface. It can be swiveled 360 degrees, which means you can bring your baby 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. Check out the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet at Walmart. bedside crib that turns into cot comes with the same features to the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
It's a huge change to welcome twins or multiples into the world. Not only that, they require a lot of preparation and thought in regards to their sleeping arrangements and how they'll get a good sleep. While decisions regarding their room can be made as they age parents often ask what they can do to help them get comfortable in the early stages.
When twins are very young, they can be able to share one cot. Co-bedding is a method for comforting newborns by bringing them back to their womb. It is crucial to make sure that the beds are large enough to allow infants to be comfortable without having to touch one others or roll around. You should also remember that the baby that awakes first must be fed. It is beneficial to coordinate feeding times at night in order to awake one baby prior to the other.
It is important to be aware that twins can have very different sleeping patterns. You might find that one child sleeps better than the other or prefers to be near you. In this situation it could be beneficial for the twins to have their own bassinet or crib in their room.
When shopping for a twin bedside cot ensure that it has ventilated mesh dividers that can create separate sleeping areas. This is essential for babies 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 maneuver are also useful features. The Arm's Reach cot is a good choice for these purposes, as it offers 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 a smaller sleeping space than the Arm's Reach cot.
Even if they're very close, it's 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. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins be in their own cribs or bassinets in their parents' rooms for the first 6 months.