Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins

Newborn twins sleep best when close to one another, but it's important to adhere to safe sleeping guidelines. The right crib arrangement can aid your twins in establishing a consistent sleeping routine.


A double bassinet that has a divider is a great option for twins. These portable beds allow parents to keep their children close during mid-night feedings and diaper changes. They also work well for babies who may outgrow their bassinets before baby 2.

Space-Saving

Twins can share a bed in a bedside crib, so long as you follow the safe guidelines for sleeping (that's to say they should be laid on their backs, with the tops of their heads facing each other, and their feet on opposite sides of the cot). Once they are big enough, they may also sleep together in a Moses Basket or regular crib.

This Delta double bassinet comes with a mesh divider that allows children to be separated but still close. It has a handy storage pocket to keep snacks and wipes close by as well. It can also fold making it easy to move around the house and travel with on trips.

Another alternative is the EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart, which 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 they lock into place for safety. It's a bit bigger and heavier than other models, but great for second-floor or grandparent's homes. It also comes with a bag for travel. It's also a lot cheaper than the Halo Bassinest Twin.

Convenience

It is not recommended that parents of twins sleep their babies in the same crib or bassinet. Instead the group Rednose suggests that twins are given their own secure sleeping space (crib, bassinet or portable crib) in the room of the parent or caregiver until they are 12 months old to reduce the risk of SIDS. This arrangement is known as co-bedding. It has been shown that twins who grew in this type of environment have a more synchronized sleeping patterns.

One of the most convenient ways to make this work is by using a twin bedside cot like the Teknum FELLOW 2, that comes with two separate bedding sets so every baby can have an area that is comfortable and private. The bedside cot can also be easily moved from one room to the next as needed. It offers a convenient and easy way to check on your babies without disturbing their sleep patterns or wake them up.

Double bassinets are a different option. They allow infants to sleep side-by-side and they're perfect for diaper changes or feedings in the middle of the night. The Halo Bassinest Twin has a mesh panel that is breathable and adjustable in height that allows each baby to be seen and reachable at all times. The sides of the sleeper can lower and raise to allow for easy access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet, which is a cheaper alternative, comes with two sleep zones that are separated by a mesh, allowing babies to see each one another. The sleeper also rotates around 360 degrees to give easy access to the infants.

For temporary situations like an emergency family visit or hospital stay Parents have reported the benefits of co-bedding twins using a large moses basket or small bassinette with divider. This should only be done under the supervision of by a medical professional. They will ensure that the babies are properly placed on their feet at the foot of the crib and all bedding is tucked in.

Safety

When twins sleep together, the most crucial security factor is that each infant has his or her own space to sleep in. This ensures that every infant is not smothered or otherwise infected by the other. This also helps to avoid deaths in cots, 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 sleeping space. The best method to achieve this is to have a separate bassinet or twin bedside cots that could be brought up close to your bed when you're feeding or soothing one of your babies throughout the night.

While the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued recommendations to reduce the SIDS risk by encouraging room sharing and avoiding cobedding, many families of multiples and twins find it difficult to adhere to these guidelines (1). A previous study found that a majority of families of twins who were cobedded during the first three months at home, used unsafe sleep practices (room sharing without cobedding).

Parents of twins may not adhere to current SIDS guidelines due to the desire to rest longer and lack of space at home to accommodate multiple cribs. Furthermore, socioeconomic status may affect the family's decisions regarding sleep arrangements.

If twins are placed side-by-side in a tiny crib or Moses basket, they can easily be entangled by their bedding and could choke on each other. If you're planning to sleep your twins together in the same cot, it is essential to place them in the position of feet-to-head and have their bedding securely tucked into each cot to limit their chances of smothering each one.

One of the safest and more convenient options for twins to sleep independently is a bedside bassinet like the Halo Bassinest Twin. The double bassinet features an enclosed mesh wall that can separate twins and give them their own flat, safe sleeping surface. It can be swiveled 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 is easy to clean, and fits in the standard twin-sized bed frame. If you're looking for a cheaper alternative, check out the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet that is available at Walmart and comes with similar features as the Halo Bassinest.

Comfort

Welcoming twins or multiples to the world is a huge life-changing. Not least, they require a great deal of preparation and thought when it comes to their sleeping arrangements and how they'll get a good sleep. Parents often ask themselves what they can do to make their children feel comfortable at an early age.

When twins are young, they are able to share one cot. Co-bedding is a method for comforting newborns by bringing them back to their womb. The key is to ensure that the beds are large enough to allow the infants to be comfortable, without touching or bouncing around. large bedside crib should also remember that the baby that awakes first must be fed. It is beneficial to coordinate feeding times at night so that you can get one baby up before the other.

It is important to remember that twins have different sleeping patterns. You may find that one child sleeps better than the other or prefers to be near you. In this case it is possible to give each twin a separate bassinet or crib.

When you are looking for a twin bedside cot, ensure that it has air-tight mesh dividers that create distinct sleeping spaces. This is crucial for babies prone to overheating, or for families with c-section moms. Reversible bases and wheels that are easy to move are also helpful features. The Arm's Reach cot is an excellent option for this purpose since it provides an ample sleeping space and is designed with c-section moms in mind. The Graco Pack 'n Play or Fisher-Price's Easy Swaivel are both options, but offer smaller sleeping spaces than the Arm's Reach cot.

Even if they're very close, it is not recommended for twins to share a bed with an adult. This can increase the risk of SIDS and lead to strangulation or suffocation. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins should be in their own bassinets or cribs in the parents' bedrooms for the first 6 months.