Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins

Twins in the newborn stage sleep best close to each other It's vital to follow safe sleeping recommendations. Choosing the right crib arrangement can help your twins develop a consistent sleep routine.

A double bassinet that comes with a divider can be a great choice for twins. These beds can be used to keep their children close during diaper changes and feedings at night. They are also ideal for infants who might outgrow their bassinets before baby 2.

Space-Saving

Twins can sleep side-by-side in a bedside cot, so long as you follow safe sleeping guidelines (that's to say they should be lying on their backs, with the tops of their heads facing each other and feet at opposite ends of the cot). They can also co-sleep in a Moses basket or a crib once they're big enough.

We really love this Delta double bassinet, which has a mesh divider to allow babies to remain separate but close to each other. It comes with a handy storage compartment that can keep snacks and wipes close by, too. It can also fold which makes it easy to move around the home and take on trips.

Another alternative is this EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart It can swivel to bring the twins who are fussy closer to you for feeding and soothing. The sides can be raised and lowered for easy access, and are locked in place for safety. It's a little heavier and longer than other alternatives, but it's a great choice for grandparents' or second-floor homes and comes with a travel bag. It's also a lot less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.

Convenience

While many parents of twins may be tempted to sleep the babies together in a single crib or bassinet, this is generally not recommended. Rednose recommends that twins have their own secure sleeping space (crib or portable crib or bassinet) in the room of the caregivers/parents until they reach the age of 12 months old to lower the chance of SIDS. This arrangement is also referred to as co-bedding and 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 in separate rooms.

A twin bedside cot such as the Teknum FELLOW 2 is a great option to achieve this. It includes two sets of bedding to ensure that each baby has their own space. The bedside cot can easily be moved from room to another as necessary, and also makes it easy to monitor the baby without needing to wake them by re-entering their sleeping space or disrupting their sleep patterns.

Double bassinets are a different option. They allow infants to sleep side-by-side and are ideal for feedings and diaper changes in the middle of the night. bedside crib or cot has a mesh panel that breathes and is adjustable in height that allows each baby to be seen and reachable at all times. The sides of the sleeper also lower and raise for easy access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet, which is a cheaper alternative, comes with two sleep zones separated by a mesh panel, permitting babies to view each the other. The sleeper also rotates around 360 degrees, allowing easy access to infants.

Many parents have discovered that co-bedding twins with moses baskets or a smaller bassinette, is a great option for situations that are temporary, such as hospitalization or a family visit. This should only be done under the supervision by a medical professional. They will ensure that the babies are appropriately placed on their feet at the foot of the crib, and all bedding tucked into.

Safety

The most important safety feature when it comes to twins is that both babies have their own bed. This ensures that each infant isn't smothered or choked by the other. It also helps prevent cot death, which is more frequent in infants who are single than in multiples.


The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that tritons, twins and higher-ordered multiples have their own sleeping space. The best way to do this is by having an additional bassinet or twin bedside cots that can be brought up close to your bed when you're feeding or soothing one of the babies during the night.

Although 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 other higher-order multiples have difficulty complying with these guidelines (1). A previous study found that the majority of families of twins who were cobedded during the first 3 months at home used unsafe sleeping practices (room sharing without cobedding).

Parents of twins may not follow current SIDS risk reduction recommendations due to a desire to increase their own sleep duration and the inability to accommodate multiple cribs at home. Furthermore, socioeconomic status may influence family decisions regarding the arrangement of their sleep.

When twins are placed side-by-side in a tiny crib or Moses basket, they may easily become entangled by their bedding, and possibly choke on one another. If you choose to sleep your twins together in the same cot, it is essential to place them in the feet-to-head position and their bedding tucked securely into the cots to reduce the possibility of them colliding with each other.

One of the safer and more comfortable options for twins to sleep independently is a bedside bassinet like the Halo Bassinest Twin. This double bassinet features mesh walls that separate twins, giving them their own secure flat bed. It rotates 360 degrees, allowing you to bring your baby closer to you for feedings or to soothe without leaving 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 cheaper alternative, look into the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet that is available at Walmart and comes with similar features to the Halo Bassinest.

Comfort

Welcoming twins or multiples to the world is a major life altering. They require a lot of planning and thought especially when it comes to where they will sleep and how they'll get a restful night's sleep. While decisions about their future bedroom space can be taken when they are older, parents often wonder how they can help them get comfortable in the early stages.

When twins are still young, they are able to share a crib. Co-bedding is a method of soothing newborns by bringing them back to their womb. It is important to ensure that the beds are big enough to allow the infants to feel comfortable without touching each other or rolling around. You should also remember that the baby that is the first to wake up must be fed. It can be helpful to coordinate nighttime feeds to ensure that you wake one up before the other.

It is crucial to remember that twins are quite different and could have their own sleep patterns. You may find that one child wakes more than the other, or they prefer to be closer to you. In this instance, it may be best to provide each twin with their own bassinet or crib.

When you are looking for a twin bedside cot, look for models that feature air-tight mesh dividers that create separate sleeping spaces. This is crucial for infants that are prone to heat stroke or families whose mothers have had a c-section. A reversible base as well as wheels that are easy to maneuver are also beneficial features. The Arm's Reach cot is a good choice for these purposes since it provides a large sleeping area and is designed with moms who have c-sections in mind. The Graco Pack 'n Play or Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel are other options, but offer a smaller sleeping space than the Arm's Reach cot.

It is not recommended to sleep with twins in the same bed as an adult, even if they are close. It is an increased risk of SIDS, and can cause suffocation, strangulation, or entrapment. Instead it is recommended that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins sleep in their own safe sleeping spaces, such as bassinets or cribs in their parent's room for the first six months.