Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
Newborn twins sleep best when close to each other, but it's important to follow safe sleeping recommendations. The right crib arrangement will help your twins develop a consistent sleep routine.
A double bassinet that comes with a divider can be an ideal option for twins. These portable beds allow parents to keep their children close during middle-of-the-night feeds and diaper changes. These beds are also ideal for babies who are likely to outgrow their bassinets for baby by the time they reach the age of toddlerhood.
Space-Saving
As long as you adhere to safe guidelines for sleeping, twins can be in a bedside crib side-by-side. They should be positioned on their backs with their heads pointing towards each other and their feet at opposite ends. When bedside crib and travel cot enough, they can also share a bed in a Moses Basket or regular crib.
This Delta double bassinet has mesh dividers that allow babies to be separated but still close. It also has a storage pocket for snacks and wipes. bedside crib and travel cot folds flat, making it easy to move around the house or 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 are lowered and raised to allow access, and they are secured to ensure safety. It's a bit heavier and longer than some other options, but it's perfect for second floors or grandparents' houses and comes with its own travel bag. It's also a lot less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
While 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 given their own safe sleeping space (crib, bassinet or portable crib) in the parent/caregiver's room until they turn 12 months old in order to reduce the risk of SIDS. This arrangement is known as co-bedding. It has been proven that twins who grew in this environment develop a more coordinated sleeping patterns.
One of the easiest ways to achieve this is with a twin bedside cot, like the Teknum FELLOW 2, which comes with two separate bedding sets so each baby has a personal and comfortable space. The bedside cot can be easily moved from one room to the next depending on the need. It offers an easy and convenient way to monitor your baby without disturbing their sleep patterns or waking them up.
Double bassinets are an alternative. They allow babies to sleep side-byside, and are perfect for diaper changes or feedings in the middle of the night. The Halo Bassinest Twin has a mesh panel that breathes and is adjustable in height to allow each infant to be easily accessible and visible at all times. The sides of the sleeper can adjust to lower and raise for quick access. If you prefer a more affordable option, the Walmart-exclusive Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet is similar, with two separate sleeping zones, separated by a mesh panel that allows babies to see one another and the entire mattress is able to rotate 360 degrees, giving easy access to each infant.
For short-term situations, such as a family visit or hospital stay Parents have reported the benefits of co-bedding twins using large moses baskets or a small bassinette with divider. However, this should be done only under the supervision of a healthcare provider to ensure that babies are placed properly, with their feet to the bottom of the cot and all bedding is securely tucked in to prevent them from suffocating.
Safety
When twins sleep together, the most important security feature is that each baby has his or her own sleep space. 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 suggests that tritons, twins, and higher-ordered multiples have their own sleeping area. The best method to achieve this is with a separate bassinet or twin bedside cots that can be placed close to your bed when you're feeding or soothing one of the babies throughout the night.
Although recent SIDS risk reduction recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage room sharing with parents and disallow cobedding but the reality is that many families of twins and higher-order multiples aren't able to comply with these guidelines (1). In a previous study, it was found that the majority of twin families that cobedded their children in the first three months of life at home were engaged in dangerous sleep habits.
Parents of twins might not follow current SIDS recommendations due to the desire to rest longer and the absence of space in the home to accommodate multiple cribs. Additionally, socioeconomic status can affect the family's decisions regarding the arrangement of their sleep.
If bedside sleeper cot are positioned together in a crib or Moses basket, they could easily become entangled by their bedding and potentially choke on one another. If you choose to sleep your twins together in the same cot it is essential to place them in a head-to-foot position and with their bedding secured in each cot to limit their chances of smothering each one.
A bassinet for bed, such as the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the most secure and most convenient alternatives for twins who wish to sleep separately. The double bassinet features mesh walls to divide twins and give them their own flat, safe sleep surface. It rotates 360 degrees to bring one of your children closer to you for feedings or to soothe without leaving the comfort of your bed. Its side walls lower and automatically return with each movement. It's easy to clean and can be tucked away in the standard twin bed frame. If you're looking for a cheaper alternative, look into the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet, which is available at Walmart and comes with similar features to the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
The arrival of twins or multiples into the world is an enormous life-changing. They require a lot of planning and thought not to mention when it comes to the place they will sleep and how they'll get a good night's rest. Parents often ask themselves what they can do to make their children feel more comfortable in the early years of their lives.
It is possible for twins to share a single cot if they are small. This is referred to as co-bedding, and can provide wonderful comfort for newborns since it helps them remember the birthing process. It is essential to ensure that the beds are big enough to allow the infants to be comfortable without having to touch one the other or move around. It is also important to remember that the baby who wakes first needs to be fed. It is helpful to coordinate nighttime feeds so that you can awake one baby prior to the other.
It is crucial to keep in mind that twins are distinct and may develop their own sleeping patterns. You might find that one child sleeps better than the other or prefers to be near you. In this instance, it might be best for twins to have their own crib or bassinet in their room.
When looking for a twin bedside cot, look for models with air-tight mesh dividers that create separate sleeping zones. This is essential for babies who are susceptible to heat stroke or families whose mothers have had a c-section. Other helpful features include a reversible base, built-in storage for blankets and toys, as well as easy-to-maneuver wheels. The Arm's Reach cot is a great option for this purpose because it has an ample sleeping space and is designed with c-section moms in mind. Other options include the Graco Pack 'n Play and the Fisher-Price Easy Swivel however, they have smaller sleeping areas than the Arm's Reach cot.
It is not recommended that twins sleep in the same bed with an adult even if they're very close. This can increase the risk of SIDS and lead to suffocation or strangulation. Instead 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.