Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
Twins who are just born sleep best close to one another It's vital to adhere to the safe sleep guidelines. Selecting the best crib arrangement can aid your twins in developing a consistent routine of sleep.
A double bassinet that comes with an divider is a great choice for twins. These portable beds allow parents to keep their babies close for diaper changes as well as mid-night meals. These beds are also great for babies who may outgrow their bassinets for baby before they reach the age of toddlerhood.
Space-Saving
If you adhere to safe sleeping guidelines, twins are able to sleep in a bedside crib side-by-side. They should be positioned on their backs with their heads pointing towards each other and their feet on the opposite ends. When they're old enough, they can also sleep together in a Moses Basket or regular crib.
We really love this Delta double bassinet, which includes a mesh divider, to allow babies to remain separated but still close to one and each other. It also comes with a storage compartment for snacks and wipes. It folds flat making it easy to manoeuvre around the house or take on trips.
Another option is the EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart that swivels to bring the twins who are fussy closer to you for feedings and calming. The sides are lowered and raised for access and lock into place for security. It is a little longer and heavier than other models but is great for the second-floor or grandparents' homes. It also comes with a travel bag. It's also a lot less expensive 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 group Rednose suggests that twins are given their own secure sleeping space (crib, bassinet or portable crib) in the parents' or caregiver's room until they reach 12 months old in order to reduce the chance of SIDS. This arrangement is also known as co-bedding, and it has been observed that twins who are accustomed to this sleep environment will often form a more synchronized sleep pattern than those who sleep in separate rooms.
One of the easiest ways to make this work is to use a twin bedside cot, like the Teknum FELLOW 2, that comes with two distinct bedding sets to ensure that each baby has a personal and comfortable space. The bedside cot can be easily moved from one room to another depending on the need. It offers an easy and convenient method to check on your children without disturbing their sleep patterns or waking them up.
Double bassinets are a different option. They allow babies to sleep side-byside, and they're perfect for diaper changes or feedings in the middle of the night. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for instance, comes with an air-tight mesh partition and adjustable height so that every baby is visible and reachable at all times, and the sides of the sleeper are raised and lower to make it easy to access. If you're looking for a more affordable alternative, the Walmart exclusive Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet is similar, with two sleeping zones separated by a mesh panel that allows babies to see each other, and the entire sleeper can rotate 360 degrees to give an easy access to every infant.
For temporary situations like an emergency family visit or hospitalization, many parents have found success with co-bedding twins in a large moses basket or small bassinette that has dividers. This should only be done under the supervision of by a healthcare professional. They will ensure that the babies are properly placed, with their feet placed at the foot of the crib, and all bedding put in.
Safety
The most important security feature for twins is that each baby have their own bed. This will prevent the baby from being smothered, choked, or otherwise being choked by the other. It also helps prevent cot deaths, which are more frequent with single infants than multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that triplets, twins and higher-order multiples have their own sleep space. The best method to achieve this is to have an additional bassinet or twin bedside cot that can be placed close to your bed while you feed or soothe one of your babies throughout the night.
Although the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued recommendations to decrease the risk of SIDS by encouraging room sharing and discouraging cobedding, many families with twins and multiples have found it difficult to follow these guidelines (1). In a prior study, it was found that the majority of twin families that co-bedded their children during the first three months of their lives at home engaged in unsafe sleep habits.
Parents of twins may not follow the current SIDS guidelines due to a desire to sleep longer and a lack of space at home to accommodate multiple cribs. In addition the socioeconomic status of a family may affect their the arrangement of their sleep.
When twins are placed side-by-side in a small crib or Moses basket, they can easily be entangled by their bedding and potentially choke on each other. If you decide to put your twins in the same cot it is essential to place them in the feet-to-head position and with their bedding tucked securely into each cot to limit the possibility of them colliding with each other.
A bedside bassinet, such as the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the safest and easier options for twins who want to sleep separately. This double bassinet comes with an insulated mesh wall that separates twins, giving them their own safe, flat sleep surface. It can be rotated 360 degrees, so you can bring your baby closer to you without leaving your bed. The walls on the sides automatically lower and return with each movement. It's also easy to clean and can be tucked away in a standard twin bed frame. For a less expensive alternative, look into the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet that is available at Walmart and has similar features as the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
The arrival of twins or multiples into the world is a major life altering. Not only that, they require a great deal of planning and thinking regarding their sleeping arrangements and how they'll get a good night's sleep. Parents often ask themselves what they can do to help their children feel at ease in the early years of their lives.
It is possible for twins to share a cot when they are very small. Co-bedding is a method of soothing newborns by bringing them back to their mother's womb. It is important to ensure that the beds are big enough to allow the newborns to feel at ease without having to touch each other or roll around. It is also important to remember that the baby who wakes first must be fed. It is helpful to coordinate nighttime feeds so that you can wake up one baby before the other.
It is important to be aware that twins can have very different sleeping patterns. It is possible that one baby sleeps more than the other or prefers to be near you. In visit the following post is possible to give each twin their own bassinet or crib.
Find twin bedside cots with breathable mesh dividers for separate sleeping areas. This is crucial for infants who are susceptible to heat stroke or for families where moms have had a c-section. A reversible base and wheels that are easy to maneuver 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. The Graco Pack 'n Play or Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel are also options, but have smaller sleeping spaces than the Arm's Reach cot.
Even if they're close, it's not recommended that twins share a bed with an adult. This could increase the risk of SIDS and cause strangulation or suffocation. Instead, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins remain in their safe sleeping areas, like bassinets or cribs, in their parents' room for the first six months.