Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It is best to keep your newborn twins close together, but you should also adhere to safety sleep guidelines. The right crib arrangement can help your twins develop a consistent routine of sleep.
A double bassinet that comes with the option of dividing can be an ideal option for twins. These beds can be used as portable beds to allow parents to keep their babies near for feedings in the middle of the night and diaper changes. They are also great for infants who might outgrow their bassinets prior to 2.
Space-Saving
If you follow the safe guidelines for sleeping, twins can be in a bedside crib side-by-side. They should be placed on their backs with their heads pointing towards each other and their feet on the opposite ends. When they're old enough, they may also share a bed in a Moses Basket or regular crib.
We really love this Delta double bassinet, which includes a mesh divider, to keep babies separate but close to each the other. It also comes with a storage compartment for snacks and wipes. It folds flat making it easy to move around the house or take on trips.
This EZ Fold Twin Bassinet, available at Walmart can swivel to allow you to bring fussy twins nearer to you to feed them and soothe them. The sides lower and raise to make it easier for you to get in, and they secure themselves to ensure your child's safety. It is a little longer and heavier than other options however it is ideal for the second floor or grandparents' homes. It also comes with a travel bag. It's also a lot cheaper than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
It is not recommended that parents of twins put their babies in the same crib or bassinet. Instead the Rednose group Rednose suggests that twins are given their own safe sleeping space (crib or bassinet, or a portable crib) in the room of the parent or caregiver until they turn 12 months old in order to reduce the chance of SIDS. This arrangement is known as co-bedding. It has been proven that twins who have grown up in this environment have a more synchronized sleeping pattern.
One of the easiest ways to make this work is to use twin bedside cots, like the Teknum FELLOW 2, which comes with two separate bedding sets, so that each baby has an individual and comfortable space. This bedside cot can also easily be moved from room to room when required, and makes it easy to check on the babies without having to wake them up by re-entering their sleeping zone or disrupting their routines.
Double bassinets are another option. They permit infants to be side-by-side, and they're perfect for diaper changes or feedings during the middle of the night. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for instance, comes with an air-tight mesh divider and adjustable height so that each child can be observed and reached throughout the night, and the sides of the sleeper are raised and lower to allow easy access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet, which is a cheaper alternative, has two sleeping zones separated by a mesh, which allows babies to see each the other. The sleeper can also rotate around 360 degrees to allow easy access to the infants.
Many parents have discovered that bedding twins together with moses baskets, or a small bassinette, could be a good option for temporary situations like hospital stays or a visit to the family. This should only be done under the supervision by a medical professional. They will ensure that the babies are appropriately placed on their feet placed at the foot of the crib, and all bedding put into.
co sleeper bedside cot when it comes to twins is that each baby have their own sleeping space. This helps prevent each baby from being smothered, choked, or otherwise being choking by the other. This also helps to avoid cot deaths, which are more common with single babies than multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins, tritons and higher-ordered triplets have their own space to sleep in. This can be achieved with an additional bassinet, or twin bedside crib that you can bring up to your bed to feed or comfort one of the babies throughout the night.
While the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued guidelines to lower the risk of SIDS by encouraging room sharing and discouraging cobedding, many families of multiples and twins find it difficult to follow 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 engaged in unsafe sleep practices.
Parents of twins may not follow current SIDS risk reduction recommendations due to a desire increase their own sleep duration and a lack of space to accommodate multiple cribs in the home. Additionally the socioeconomic status of a family may influence their choices regarding sleep arrangements.
When twins are placed side-by-side in a tiny crib or Moses basket, they may easily be entangled by their bedding and could choke on one another. If you're planning to sleep your twins together in the same cot, it's important to place them in the position of feet-to-head and their bedding secured in the cots to reduce the chance of them smothering each other.
A bedside bassinet, such as the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the safest and most convenient options for twins that want to sleep separately. The double bassinet has a mesh wall that separates twins so that they each have their own safe and comfortable, flat sleeping surface. It can rotate 360 degrees, allowing you to bring one of your babies closer to you for feedings or soothing without having to leave the comfortable bed. The side walls lower and auto-return when you move. It is also easy to clean, and fits into the standard twin-sized bed frame. If you're looking for a less expensive alternative, look into the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet available at Walmart. available at Walmart and has similar features to the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
The arrival of twins or multiples into the world is an enormous life change. They require a lot of planning and consideration not to mention in regards to where they will be sleeping and how they will get a good night's rest. While decisions about their future bedroom space can be taken as they age parents often ask how they can help them get comfortable in the early stages.
When twins are still young, it is possible to share a cot. This is referred to as co-bedding, and it can be a wonderful comfort for newborns since it brings them back to the birthing process. The key is to ensure that the beds are big enough for the babies to be comfortable, without touching or rolling around. It is also important to remember that the baby who awakes first must be fed. It can be beneficial to co-ordinate night feeds to ensure that you wake one of them up earlier than the other.
It is important to be aware that twins may have different sleep patterns. You might find that one of them wakes more frequently than the other or prefers to be close to you. In this case, it may be best to give each twin a separate bassinet or crib.
Look for twin bedside cots with breathable mesh dividers for separate sleeping areas. This is crucial for infants 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 move are also helpful 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. Other options are the Graco Pack 'n Play and the Fisher-Price Easy Swivel but they offer a smaller sleeping area than the Arm's Reach cot.
Even if they're close, it's not recommended to let twins share the bed with an adult. This could increase the risk of SIDS and result in strangulation or suffocation. Instead, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins have their own secure sleeping spaces, such as bassinets or cribs, in their parent's room for the first six months.