Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It is best to keep your newborn twins close together, but you should also follow safety sleeping guidelines. The proper crib arrangement will help your twins establish a consistent sleeping routine.
A double bassinet that has a divider can be an ideal option for twins. These portable beds allow parents to keep their babies near for mid-night feedings and diaper changes. These beds are also ideal for babies who are likely to outgrow their bassinets by the time they reach toddlerhood.
Space-Saving
Twins can sleep side-by-side 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 touching each other and their feet placed at opposite ends of the cot). They can also co-sleep in a Moses basket or a crib when they're old enough.
We are in love with this Delta double bassinet, which features a mesh partition to keep babies separated but still close to one other. It has a handy storage compartment to keep snacks and wipes in the vicinity as well. It's also foldable making it easy to move around the home and take on excursions.
This EZ Fold Twin Bassinet, available at Walmart, swivels to allow you to bring your twins closer to you to feed them and calm them. The sides can be raised and lowered to make it easier for you to get in, and they lock into place for security. It is a little longer and heavier than the other options, but great for second-floor or grandparent's homes. It also comes with a travel bag. It's also less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
Many parents of twins may be tempted to put the twins together in one crib or bassinet but this is not generally recommended. Rednose suggests that twins have their own secure sleeping area (crib or portable crib or bassinet) in the room of the parents or caregivers until they reach the age of 12 months to lower the risk of SIDS. This arrangement is known as co-bedding. It has been shown that twins who grew in this type of environment develop a more synchronized sleeping patterns.
One of the most efficient methods to accomplish this is with twin bedside cots (
Recommended Looking at), like the Teknum FELLOW 2 which comes with two separate bedding sets so each baby has a personal and comfortable space. This
bedside cot wooden cot is also easily moved from one room to the next depending on the need. It offers an easy and convenient way to check on your babies without disrupting their sleep or waking them up.
Double bassinets are a different option. They permit 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, for instance, features an air-tight mesh partition and a height that can be adjusted so that each child can be observed and reached at all times, while the sides of the sleeper lower and raise to give easy access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet which is a less expensive option, has two sleep zones that are separated by a mesh panel, allowing babies to see each other. The sleeper also rotates around 360 degrees to allow easy access to the infants.
For situations that are temporary, such as an unexpected family visit or hospitalization, many parents have found the benefits of co-bedding twins using the large moses basket or small bassinette with divider. However this should be done only under the supervision of a medical professional to ensure that babies are placed properly, with their feet to the bottom of the cot and all bedding is securely tucked in to prevent them from suffocating.
Safety
The most important security feature when it comes to twins is that they have their own sleeping space. This helps prevent every baby from being smothered, choked, or otherwise being choking by the other. It also helps to prevent cot deaths, which are more common with single babies than multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins, triplets and higher-order multiples get their own sleep space. This can be done with a separate bassinet, or twin
cheap bedside cot crib that you can place on your bed to feed or sooth one of the babies throughout the night.
Although the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued guidelines to lower the risk of SIDS by encouraging room sharing and disabling cobedding, many families of twins and multiples have found it difficult to follow these guidelines (1). A previous study documented that the majority of families of twins who were cobedded during the first three months at home opted for unsafe sleeping practices (room sharing without cobedding).
Parents of twins may not follow current SIDS risk reduction recommendations because of a desire to prolong their own sleep and a lack of space to accommodate multiple cribs in the home. In addition the socioeconomic standing of a family could influence their choices regarding sleeping arrangements.
If twins are positioned side-by-side in a tiny crib or Moses basket, they could easily be entangled by their bedding and potentially choke on one another. If you're planning to sleep your twins together in the same cot, it's important to place them in a head-to-foot position and their bedding secured in each cot to minimize their chances of smothering each other.
One of the safer and more convenient options for twins to be able to sleep independently is a bassinet that sits beside the bed like the Halo Bassinest Twin. This double bassinet features a mesh wall that separates twins so that they each have their own safe and comfortable, flat sleeping 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 every movement. It is easy to clean, and fits into the standard twin-sized bed frame. For a less expensive alternative, consider the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet available at Walmart. available at Walmart and offers similar features to the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
Being welcomed by twins or multiples to the world is a huge life change. They require a lot of planning and thought, not least in regards to where they will sleep and how they will get a good night's rest. Parents often wonder what they can do to make their children feel at ease at an early age.
It is possible for twins to share a
cot bedside if they are small. This is called co-bedding and it can be a excellent comfort for babies as it reminds them of the mother's womb. The most important thing is to make sure the beds are big enough for the babies to feel comfortable without touching or bouncing around. It is important to be aware that the
baby bedside co sleeper who awakes first should be fed. It can be beneficial to co-ordinate night feeds so that you can wake one of them up earlier than the other.
However, it is important to keep in mind that twins can be quite different and could have their own sleep routines. You might find that one child wakes more than the other, or that they prefer to be close to you. In this situation it could be beneficial for twins to have their own crib or bassinet in their room.
Look for twin bedside cots that have breathable mesh dividers for sleeping areas that are separate. This is essential for babies who are at risk of heat stroke or for families in which moms have had a c-section. Other beneficial features include a reversible base, built-in storage space for toys and blankets, and easy-to-use wheels. The Arm's Reach cot is a great option for this purpose because it has a large sleeping area and is designed with moms who have c-sections in mind. The Graco Pack 'n Play or Fisher-Price's Easy Swaivel are both options, but have smaller sleeping areas than the Arm's Reach cot.
It is not recommended that twins sleep in the same bed as an adult, even if they are very close. This increases the risk of SIDS, and can cause suffocation, strangulation, or entrapment. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins be in their own bassinets or cribs in the parents' rooms for the first six months.