Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
Newborn twins sleep best when close to one another It's vital to follow safe sleeping recommendations. Selecting the best crib arrangement will aid in the development of an established routine for sleep.
A double bassinet that comes with an divider is an ideal option for twins. These portable beds let parents keep their children close during middle-of-the-night feeds and diaper changes. These beds are also great for babies who may outgrow their bassinets before they reach toddlerhood.
Space-Saving
Twins can share a bed in a bedside cot so long as you follow safe sleeping guidelines (that's to say that they should be laid on their backs with the tops of their heads overlapping each other and feet at opposite sides of the cot). When they're big enough, they can sleep together in a Moses Basket or a regular crib.
We love this Delta double bassinet. It features a mesh partition to keep babies separate, yet close to each other. It has a handy storage compartment to keep wipes and snacks nearby and also snacks. It can also fold making it easy to move around the home and take 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 are lowered and raised for access and lock into place for security. It's a bit longer and heavier than other models but is great for the second-floor or homes for grandparents. It also comes with a carry-on bag. It's also much cheaper than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
It is not recommended that parents of twins place their babies in the same crib or bassinet. Instead the group Rednose suggests that twins are provided with their own private sleeping space (crib or bassinet, or a portable crib) in the room of the parent or caregiver until they are 12 months old in order to reduce the chance of SIDS. This arrangement is also referred to as co-bedding, and it has been proven that twins who are used to this sleep environment will often form a more synchronized sleeping pattern than twins who sleep in separate rooms.
A twin bedside cot, such as the Teknum FELLOW 2 is a fantastic option to accomplish this. It includes two sets of bedding, so that each baby gets their own space. The bedside cot can be easily moved from one room to the next as needed. It is a convenient and easy way to check on your children without disrupting their sleep or wake them up.
Other options include double bassinets, which have been designed specifically to allow infants to be side-by-side, and are ideal for nighttime feedings 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 lower and raise for easy access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet which is a more affordable alternative, has two sleeping zones separated by a mesh panel, which allows babies to see each the other. The sleeper also swivels around 360 degrees, allowing an easy access for infants.
For temporary situations, such as an emergency family visit or hospital stay, many parents have found success in co-bedding twins in a large moses basket or small bassinette with divider. However, this should be done only under the supervision of a healthcare professional to ensure that babies are placed properly and with their feet towards the foot of the cot and all bedding securely tucked in, to prevent them from suffocating.
Safety
The most important safety feature when it comes to twins is that both babies have their own sleeping space. This ensures that every infant isn't smothered, or choked by the other. It also helps to prevent deaths in cots, which are more common in single infants than multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that tritons, twins and higher-ordered triplets have their own sleeping space. The best way to do this is by having a separate bassinet or twin bedside cots that could be brought up close to your bed when you feed or soothe one of your babies throughout the night.
Although recent SIDS risk reduction guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage room sharing with parents and disallow cobedding, the reality is that many families with twins and higher-order multiples have trouble adhering to these guidelines (1). In a previous study it was found that the majority of twin families that co-bedded their children in the first three months of life at home were engaged in dangerous sleep practices.
Parents of twins might not adhere to the current SIDS risk reduction guidelines due to a desire increase their own sleep duration and a lack of space to accommodate multiple cribs at home. Additionally, socioeconomic status can affect the family's decisions regarding the arrangement of their sleep.
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 put your twins in the same cot ensure they are placed in an area where their feet are next to their heads, and that their bedding is placed in each cot with a secure. This will lessen the chance of them choking on each one.
A bassinet that is positioned at the bedside, like the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the most secure and most convenient alternatives for twins who wish to sleep in a separate bed. The double bassinet comes with a mesh wall to separate twins and provide them with their own flat, secure sleeping surface. It can be rotated 360 degrees, so you can bring your child closer to you without leaving your bed. The walls on the sides automatically lower and return with each movement. It is easy to clean, and can be tucked away into the standard twin-sized bed frame. For a less expensive alternative, look into the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet, which is available at Walmart and offers similar features to the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
Being welcomed by twins or multiples to the world is an enormous life-changing. They require plenty of planning and consideration especially in regards to where they will be sleeping and how they will get a good night's sleep. While decisions about their future bedroom space can be taken when they are older parents often ask how they can help their children get comfortable in the early stages.
It is possible for twins to share a cot when they are very small. Co-bedding is a method of comforting newborns by reminding them of their mother's womb. It is essential to make sure that the beds are big enough to allow the babies to feel comfortable without touching each the other or move around. You should also keep in mind that the baby who wakes up first should be fed. It is helpful to coordinate feeding times at night in order to get one baby up before the other.
It is crucial to keep in mind that twins are quite different and could develop their own sleep patterns. You may find that one child wakes more than the other, or prefers to be closer to you. In this case it could be beneficial for the twins to have their own crib or bassinet in their room.
Choose a cot with twin beds that have breathable mesh dividers to create separate sleeping areas. This is important for babies who are at risk of heat stroke or for families where moms have had a c-section. Reversible bases and wheels that are easy to maneuver are also helpful features. newborn bedside cot is a great option for these needs, as it offers a large sleeping area and is designed with mothers who have c-sections in mind. The Graco Pack 'n Play or Fisher-Price's Easy Swaivel are both alternatives, but they have smaller sleeping areas than the Arm's Reach cot.
Even if they're close, it is not recommended to let twins share a bed with an adult. There is a higher risk of SIDS, and may result in suffocation strangulation, or entrapment. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins be kept in their cribs or bassinets in their parents' rooms for the first 6 months.