Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It is recommended to keep the twins in the infant stage close together, but you should also adhere to the safety guidelines for sleeping. The right crib arrangement can help your twins establish an established routine for sleeping.
A double bassinet with an divider is a great option for twins. These beds can be used as portable beds to let parents keep their babies near for middle-of-the-night feeds and diaper changes. These beds are also ideal for babies who might outgrow their bassinets by the time they reach the age of toddlerhood.
Space-Saving
If you follow the safe guidelines for sleeping, twins can sleep in a crib that is bedside side-by-side. They should be placed on their backs, with their heads touching and their feet at the opposite ends. Once they are big enough, they may also sleep together in a Moses Basket or regular crib.
This Delta double bassinet has a mesh partition that allows children to be separated but still close. It has a handy storage compartment that can keep snacks and wipes close by as well. It's also foldable, making it easier to move around the home and take on trips.
Another alternative is the EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart that swivels to bring the twins who are fussy closer to you for feedings and comfort. The sides can be raised and lowered to make it easier for you to get in and lock into place for safety. It's a little heavier and longer than some other alternatives, but it's a great choice for grandparents' or second-floor houses, and it comes with its own travel 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 bassinet or crib. Instead the Rednose group Rednose suggests that twins are given their own safe sleeping space (crib, bassinet or portable crib) in the parents' or caregiver's room until they turn 12 months old to reduce the chance of SIDS. This arrangement is also known as co-bedding. It has been proven that twins who are used to this sleeping environment will generally have a more coordinated sleeping pattern than twins who sleep separately.
One of the most efficient methods to accomplish this is to use a twin bedside cot like the Teknum FELLOW 2 that comes with two distinct bedding sets, so that every baby can have an individual and comfortable space. This bedside cot is also easily moved from one room to the next as needed.
bedside cot for twins provides a convenient and easy way to check on your babies without disrupting their sleep or awakening them.
Double bassinets are a different option. They allow babies to sleep side-byside, and are ideal for diaper changes or feedings during the middle of the night. 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 lower and raise for easy access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet which is a more affordable alternative, comes with two sleep zones separated by a mesh panel permitting babies to view each other. The sleeper can also rotate around 360 degrees, allowing an easy access for infants.
Many parents have found that co-bedding twins with a moses basket, or a smaller bassinette, can be a good solution for situations that are temporary, such as a hospital stay or a visit to the family. 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 floor of the cot and all bedding is securely tucked in to avoid them from becoming suffocating.
Safety
The most important safety feature for twins is that they has their own space to sleep. This helps prevent the baby from being smothered, choked or otherwise being choked by the other. It also helps prevent cot death, 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 space to sleep in. The best way to accomplish this is by having a separate bassinet or twin bedside cots that can be placed close to your bed while you're feeding or soothing one of the babies during the night.
While recent SIDS risk reduction recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage room sharing with a parent and discourage cobedding however, the reality is that a lot of families of twins and higher-order multiples aren't able to comply with these guidelines (1). In a previous study, it was discovered that the majority of twin families that co-bedded their children in the first three months of their lives at home engaged in unsafe sleeping habits.
Parents of twins may not follow current SIDS recommendations due to the desire to rest longer and the lack of space in their home to accommodate multiple cribs. Additionally the socioeconomic standing of a family can affect their sleep arrangements.
If twins are positioned side-by-side in a small crib or Moses basket, they can easily get caught in their bedding and could choke on one another. If you're planning to put your twins in the same cot it's important to place them in the feet-to-head position and have their bedding securely tucked into each cot to limit the chance of them smothering each other.
One of the safer and more convenient options for twins to sleep separately is a bedside bassinet like the Halo Bassinest Twin. The double bassinet comes with a mesh wall to separate twins and give them their own safe, flat sleeping surface. It can be rotated 360 degrees, meaning you can bring your baby closer to you without leaving your bed. The side walls automatically lower and return with each movement. It's also easy to clean and can be tucked away in the standard twin bed frame. For a less expensive alternative, look into the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet available at Walmart. available at Walmart and offers similar features to the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
Welcoming twins or multiples to the world is a huge life change. They require a lot of planning and consideration especially when it comes to the place they will be sleeping and how they will get a good night's sleep. While decisions about their future bedroom space can be taken later in life parents are often unsure of how they can help them get comfortable in the early stages.
When twins are very young, they can be able to share a crib. Co-bedding is a method of comforting newborns by reminding them of their mother's womb. The key is to make sure the beds are large enough for the babies to be comfortable, without touching or bouncing around. It is also important to keep in mind that the baby who wakes first needs to be fed. It is helpful to coordinate night feeds so that you can awake one baby prior to the other.
It is important to be aware that twins have different sleeping routines. You might find that one baby is waking more than the other, or prefers to be nearer to you. In this instance it might be best to give each twin a separate bassinet or crib.
When shopping for a
twin bedside cot ensure that it has air-tight mesh dividers that create distinct sleeping areas. This is crucial for infants who are at risk of heat stroke or families whose moms have had a c-section. Other useful features include an adjustable base, built-in storage for blankets and toys, as well as easy-to-use wheels. The Arm's Reach cot, which is designed for c-section mothers is a fantastic choice because it has a large sleeping space and is easy to move. The Graco Pack 'n Play or Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel are other alternatives, but they have a smaller sleeping space than the Arm's Reach cot.
It is not recommended that twins sleep in the same bed with an adult even if they're close. This increases the risk of SIDS, and could lead to suffocation, strangulation or entrapment. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins should be kept in their cribs or bassinets in their parents' rooms for the first 6 months.