Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It is best to keep your newborn twins close together However, you must adhere to safety sleep guidelines. A proper crib arrangement can help your twins establish a consistent sleeping routine.
A double bassinet that comes with a divider can be a great choice for twins. These portable beds allow parents to keep their babies close for diaper changes as well as mid-night meals. These beds are also ideal for babies who may outgrow their baby bassinets by the time they reach toddlerhood.
Space-Saving
If you adhere to safe guidelines for sleeping, twins can sleep in a bedside crib side-by-side. They should be positioned on their backs with their heads pointing towards each other and their feet on the opposite ends. They can also share a bed in a Moses basket or a crib when they're old enough.
rocking bedside crib has a mesh divider that allows babies to be separated but still close. It also has a pocket for storage for snacks and wipes. It can also fold, making it easier to move around the home and travel with on trips.
Another alternative is this EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart, which swivels to bring the twins who are fussy closer to you for feeding and calming. The sides can be raised and lowered for easy access, and are locked to ensure safety. It's a little heavier and longer than some other options, but it's great for second floors or grandparents houses and comes with its own travel bag. It's also much less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
Many parents of twins may be tempted to place their babies in a single bassinet or crib but this is not generally recommended. 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 to reduce the chance of SIDS. This arrangement is known as co-bedding. It has been demonstrated that twins who grew up in this environment have a more synchronized sleeping pattern.
One of the most efficient methods to accomplish this is by using a twin bedside cot, like the Teknum FELLOW 2 which comes with two separate bedding sets so each baby has an individual and comfortable space. The bedside cot can also be easily moved from one room to another depending on the need. It is an easy and convenient method to check on your children without disturbing their sleep patterns or awakening them.
Other options include double bassinets specially designed to allow 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 is breathable and adjustable in height to allow each infant to be easily accessible and visible at all times. The sides of the sleeper lower and raise for easy access. If you're looking for an affordable option, the Walmart-exclusive Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet is similar, featuring two sleep zones separated by a mesh panel that allows babies to see one another and the entire mattress can rotate 360 degrees to give ease of access for each infant.
For situations that are temporary, such as an unexpected family visit or hospital stay Parents have reported success with co-bedding twins in large moses baskets or a small bassinette that has dividers. However it is recommended to do this only under the supervision of a medical professional to ensure that the babies are placed properly in a cot, with their feet at the foot of the cot and their bedding securely tucked in, to prevent them from suffocating.
Safety
When it comes to twins sleeping together, the most important security feature is that each baby has his or her own space to sleep in. This ensures that each infant isn't smothered or infected by the other. It also helps prevent deaths in cots, which are more common with single babies than multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that tritons, twins and higher-ordered triplets have their own sleeping space. This can be done with a separate bassinet, or twin bedside crib that you can bring up to your bed to feed or sooth one of the babies during the night.
Although recent SIDS risk reduction guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage room sharing with parents and avoid cobedding however, the reality is that a lot of families with twins and higher-order multiples have difficulty complying with these guidelines (1). A previous study revealed that the majority of families of 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 a desire to sleep longer and a lack of space in their home to accommodate multiple cribs. In addition, socioeconomic status could affect family decisions about the arrangement of their sleep.
When twins are placed side-by-side in a small crib or Moses basket, they may easily be entangled by their bedding and potentially choke on each other. If you choose to put your twins in the same cot together ensure that they are placed in the position that their feet are right next to their heads, and that their bedding is tucked into each cot securely. This will decrease the possibility of them colliding on each one.
A bedside bassinet, such as the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the safer and more convenient options for twins that want to be able to sleep independently. The double bassinet comes with a mesh wall to separate twins and give them their own flat, secure mattress to sleep on. 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 every movement. It's also easy to clean and can be tucked away in a standard twin bed frame. Check out the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet at Walmart. It has similar features to the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
The arrival of twins or multiples into the world is a major life-changing. Not only that, they require a great deal of planning and consideration in regards to their sleeping arrangements and how they can get a good sleep. While decisions about their future room can be made as they age parents are often unsure of how they can help them to settle in the early stages.
When twins are very young, they are able to share a crib. This is known as co-bedding and it can be a wonderful comfort for newborns since it brings them back to the mother's womb. It is important to make sure that the beds are big enough to allow the infants to be comfortable without touching each others or roll around. You should also keep in mind that the baby who wakes up first must be fed. It can be helpful to coordinate nighttime feeds to ensure that you wake one of them up earlier than the other.
It is crucial to keep in mind that twins are very different and they might have their own sleep routines. You might find that one of them wakes more than the other, or that they prefer to be nearer to you. In this instance it could be beneficial for the twins to have their own crib or bassinet in their room.
Look for twin bedside cots that have breathable mesh dividers for sleeping areas that are separate. This is crucial for infants who are susceptible to heat stroke or families whose mothers have had a C-section. Reversible bases and wheels that are easy to maneuver are also helpful features. The Arm's Reach cot is a great choice for these purposes, as it offers a large sleeping area and is designed with moms who have c-sections in mind. Other options are the Graco Pack 'n Play and the Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel however, they have a smaller sleeping area than the Arm's Reach cot.
It is not recommended that twins sleep in the same bed with an adult, even if they are close. This can increase the risk of SIDS and result in suffocation or strangulation. 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.