Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
Twins who are just born sleep best close to each other It's vital to follow safe sleeping recommendations. A proper crib arrangement can help your twins establish the same routine of sleeping.
A double bassinet with a divider is a great choice for twins. These beds can be used as portable beds to allow parents to keep their children close during mid-night feedings and diaper changes. They are also great for babies who may outgrow their bassinets prior to 2 years old.
Space-Saving
As long as you follow safe sleeping guidelines, twins can sleep in a bedside crib side-by-side. They should sleep on their backs with their heads in a straight line and their feet at opposite ends. They can also share a bed in a Moses basket or a regular crib once they're big enough.
This Delta double bassinet has a mesh partition that allows babies to be separated but still close. It also has a storage pocket for snacks and wipes. Additionally, it folds flat making it easy to manoeuvre around the house or on trips.
This EZ Fold Twin Bassinet, available at Walmart, swivels to allow you to bring fussy twins nearer to you to feed them and comfort them. The sides can be raised and lowered for easy access, and are secured for security. It's a little heavier and longer than other alternatives, but it's a great choice for second floors or grandparent homes and comes with a travel bag. It's also less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
While many parents of twins may be tempted to sleep the babies together in one crib or bassinet, this is generally not recommended. Rednose suggests that twins have their own secure sleeping space (crib, portable crib, or bassinet) in the room of the parents/caregivers until they reach 12 months to lower the chance of SIDS. This arrangement is known as co-bedding. bedside cots has been proven that twins who grew in this type of environment develop a more synchronized sleeping pattern.
A twin bedside cot like the Teknum FELLOW 2 is a great method to achieve this. It comes with two separate sets of bedding, so that each baby gets their own personal space. This bedside cot is also easily moved from one room to another when needed. It offers an easy and convenient method to monitor your baby without disrupting their sleep or wake them up.
Other alternatives include double bassinets which have been designed specifically for infants that allow them to stay side-by-side and are ideal for middle-of-the-night feeding or changing diapers. The Halo Bassinest Twin has a breathable mesh panel and adjustable 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. If you're looking for a more affordable option, the Walmart-exclusive Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet is similar, featuring two sleep zones separated by a mesh panel that allows babies to see each other and the entire bed can rotate 360 degrees to give an easy access to every infant.
For situations that are temporary like an unexpected family visit or hospital stay Parents have reported success in co-bedding twins in a large moses basket or small bassinette with a divider. This should only be done under the supervision of by a healthcare professional. They will ensure that the babies are appropriately placed in a crib with their feet at the bottom of the crib, and all bedding put in.
Safety
The most important safety feature for twins is that both babies have their own sleeping space. This will prevent each baby from being smothered, choked, or otherwise being choking by the other. This also helps to avoid the death of a cot, which is more common with single babies than multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that tritons, twins, and higher-ordered multis have their own sleeping space. The best method to achieve this is with an additional bassinet or twin bedside cot that can be placed close to your bed when you're feeding or soothing one of the babies during the night.
While the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued guidelines to lower the risk of SIDS by encouraging room sharing and disabling cobedding, many families with twins and multiples find it difficult to follow these guidelines (1). A previous study revealed that the majority of families with twins that were cobedded during the first 3 months at home opted for unsafe sleeping practices (room sharing without cobedding).
Parents of twins might not adhere to current SIDS guidelines due to the desire to rest longer and the lack of space in their home to accommodate multiple cribs. In addition, socioeconomic status could affect family decisions about sleep arrangements.
If twins are positioned together in a crib or Moses basket, they could easily become entangled by their bedding, and possibly choke on one another. If you decide to put your twins in the same cot, it is important to put them in the position of feet-to-head and with their bedding tucked securely into the cots to reduce the possibility of them colliding with each other.
One of the safer and more practical options for twins to sleep independently is a bedside bassinet like the Halo Bassinest Twin. This double bassinet comes with a mesh wall that separates twins, giving them their own safe, flat sleep surface. It rotates 360 degrees to bring one of your babies closer to you for feedings or calming without having to leave the peace of your bed. Its sides lower and auto-return with each movement. It is also easy to clean, and fits into a standard twin-sized bed frame. For a less expensive alternative, consider the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet that is available at Walmart and has similar features to the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
It's a huge change to welcome twins or multiples into the world. They require a lot of planning and consideration not to mention when it comes to where they will sleep and how they will get a good night's 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. This is known as co-bedding and can provide excellent comfort for babies as it brings them back to the mother's womb. It is crucial to make sure that the beds are big enough for infants to be comfortable without having to touch each other or roll around. best bedside cots is also important to keep in mind that the baby who awakes first must be fed. It is helpful to coordinate nighttime feeds so that you can wake up one baby before the other.
However, it is important to remember that twins are very different and they might develop their own sleep patterns. You may find that one of them wakes more than the other or prefers to be close to you. In this situation, it might be best for the twins to have their own bassinet or crib in their room.
When looking for a twin bedside cot, look for models that feature breathable mesh dividers to create distinct sleeping spaces. This is crucial for babies who are prone to overheating, or families with c-section moms. Other useful features include a reversible base, built-in storage space for toys and blankets, and easy-to-use wheels. The Arm's Reach cot, designed for c-section mothers, is a great choice due to its large sleeping space and is easy to move. Other options are the Graco Pack 'n Play and the Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel, but they offer a smaller sleeping area than the Arm's Reach cot.
Even if they're close, it is not recommended to let twins share a bed with an adult. This increases the risk of SIDS, and could lead to suffocation, strangulation or entrapment. Instead, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins sleep in their own safe sleeping spaces, such as bassinets or cribs, in their parents' room for the first six months.