Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It is recommended to keep the twins in the infant stage close together However, you must adhere to safety sleep guidelines. The right crib arrangement will aid your twins in developing an established routine for sleep.
A double bassinet that comes with a divider can be the ideal choice for twins. These beds can be used as portable beds to allow parents to keep their children close during feedings in the middle of the night and diaper changes. They also work well for infants that may outgrow their bassinets before 2.
Space-Saving
Twins can sleep together in a bedside crib, so long as you follow safe sleeping guidelines (that's to say they should lie on their backs with the tops of their heads overlapping each other, and their feet on opposite ends of the cot). They can also co-sleep in a Moses basket or regular crib once they're large enough.
This Delta double bassinet features mesh dividers that allow babies to be separated, but still close. It also has a pocket for storage for wipes and snacks. It's also foldable which makes it easy to move around the house or travel with on trips.
This EZ Fold Twin Bassinet, available at Walmart, swivels to allow you to bring your twins closer to you to feed them and soothe them. The sides can be raised and lowered for easy access and are locked in place for safety. It's a bit bigger and heavier than other models, 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 crib or bassinet. Rednose recommends that twins have their own secure sleeping area (crib, portable crib, or bassinet) in the room of the caregivers/parents until they reach 12 months old to lower the risk for SIDS. This is referred to as co-bedding. It has been shown that twins who grew in this environment have a more synchronized sleeping patterns.
One of the most efficient ways to make this work is to use twin bedside cots, like the Teknum FELLOW 2 that comes with two separate bedding sets, so that each baby has a personal and comfortable space. This bedside cot can also easily be moved from room to another as required, and makes it easy to monitor the baby without needing to wake them by re-entering their sleeping zone or disrupting their rhythms.
Other alternatives include double bassinets that have been specifically designed to allow infants to stay side-by-side and are ideal for nighttime feedings or diaper changes. 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 adjust to lower and raise for quick access. If you're looking for an affordable alternative, the Walmart exclusive Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet is similar, with two sleep zones separated by mesh panels that allow babies to see each other, and the entire sleeper can rotate 360 degrees to give ease of access for each infant.
Many parents have discovered that bedding twins in moses baskets or a smaller bassinette, could be a good option for temporary situations such as hospitalization or a visit to the family. However, this should be done only under the supervision of a healthcare professional to ensure that the babies are properly positioned in a cot, with their feet at the foot of the cot, and all bedding properly tucked in to avoid them from becoming suffocating.
Safety
When twins are sleeping together, the most important safety feature is that each infant has their individual space to sleep. This helps prevent the baby from being smothered, choked or otherwise choking by the other. This also helps avoid the death of a cot, which is more common in single babies than in multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that triplets, twins, and higher-order multiples have their own sleeping space. The best method to achieve this is with an additional bassinet or twin bedside cots that could be placed close to your bed when you're feeding or soothing one of the babies during the night.
While recent SIDS risk reduction guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage room sharing with parents and discourage cobedding, the reality is that a lot of families of twins and higher-order multiples have difficulty complying with these guidelines (1). A previous study documented that the majority of families with twins who were cobedded during the first three months at home used unsafe sleeping practices (room sharing without cobedding).
Parents of twins might not adhere to current SIDS guidelines due to the desire to sleep longer and a absence of space in the home to accommodate multiple cribs. Additionally, baby bedside crib can influence family decisions regarding sleep arrangements.
If twins are positioned side-by-side in a small crib or Moses basket, they could easily get caught in their bedding and potentially choke on each other. If you choose to sleep your twins in the same cot, it is essential to place them in the feet-to-head position and with their bedding tucked securely into each cot to minimize the possibility of them colliding with each other.
One of the safer and more practical alternatives for twins to sleep independently is a bassinet that sits beside the bed like the Halo Bassinest Twin. This double bassinet comes with mesh walls that separate twins so that they each have their own secure flat bed. It can be turned 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 then return with each movement. It's also easy to clean and fits into a standard twin bed frame. Check out the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet at Walmart. It comes with the same features as the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
The arrival of twins or multiples into the world is a huge life-changing. Not least, they require a lot of planning and consideration when it comes to their sleeping arrangements and how they will get a good night's sleep. Parents often ask themselves what they can do to make their children feel comfortable in the early years of their lives.
It is possible for twins to share a crib when they are small. This is referred to as co-bedding, and can provide great comfort to newborns as it brings them back to the birthing process. The most important thing is to make sure the beds are large enough to allow the infants to be comfortable without touching or rolling around. It is also important to keep in mind that the baby who wakes first must be fed. It can be helpful to co-ordinate night feeds to ensure that you wake one up before the other.
It is crucial to remember that twins are quite different and could have their own sleep patterns. It is possible that one child sleeps better than the other or prefers to be close to you. In this instance it is possible to give each twin their own bassinet or crib.
When looking for a twin bedside cot, look for models that feature air-tight mesh dividers that create separate sleeping spaces. This is crucial for infants who are at risk of heat stroke or for families where mothers have had a C-section. Other useful features include a reversible base, built-in storage space for toys and blankets, and easy-to-use wheels. The Arm's Reach cot, which is designed for c-section mothers is a fantastic choice because it offers a huge sleeping area and is easy to maneuver. Other options include the Graco Pack 'n Play and the Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel but they have smaller sleeping areas than the Arm's Reach cot.
Even if they're close, it is not recommended that twins share the bed with an adult. This could increase the risk of SIDS and cause strangulation or suffocation. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins be kept in their bassinets or cribs in their parents' rooms for the first 6 months.