Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins

It's best to keep twins who are just born close to each other, but you should also adhere to safety sleep guidelines. The right crib arrangement can help your twins develop the same routine of sleeping.

A double bassinet that has the option of dividing it is a great choice for twins. These beds can be used as portable beds to let parents keep their children close during feedings in the middle of the night and diaper changes. They are also great for infants that may outgrow their bassinets before baby 2.

Space-Saving

As long as you adhere to safe sleeping guidelines, twins are able to sleep in a crib that is bedside side-by-side. They should be placed on their backs with their heads pointing towards each other and their feet on the opposite ends. They can also sleep together in a Moses basket or a regular crib once they're big enough.

We are in love with this Delta double bassinet. It includes a mesh divider, to allow babies to remain separate but close to each other. It also has a pocket for storage for wipes and snacks. Additionally, it folds flat making it easy to manoeuvre around the house or take on trips.

This EZ Fold Twin Bassinet, available at Walmart can swivel to allow you to bring your twins closer to you to feed them and comfort them. The sides can be lowered and raised for easy access and are locked in place for safety. It's a bit longer and heavier than other options however it is ideal for the second-floor or homes for grandparents. It also comes with a travel bag. It's also a lot less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.

Convenience

Many parents of twins may be tempted to place their babies in one crib or bassinet however, this is not recommended. Rednose recommends that twins have their own safe sleeping area (crib, portable crib, or bassinet) in the room of the caregivers/parents until they reach 12 months to reduce the chance of SIDS. This is referred to as co-bedding. It has been demonstrated that twins who have grown in this type of environment develop a more coordinated sleeping pattern.

One of the most efficient ways to achieve this is by using twin bedside cots, like the Teknum FELLOW 2 which comes with two separate bedding sets, so that each baby can have a personal and comfortable space. This bedside cot co sleeper cot is able to easily be moved from room to room when required, and allows you to check on the babies without needing to wake them by re-entering their sleeping zone or disrupting their routines.

Other options include double bassinets, which have been designed specifically to allow the infants to remain side-by-side and are ideal for middle-of-the-night feedings or diaper changes. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for example, has an air-tight mesh divider and adjustable height so that each child can be observed and reached throughout the night, and the sides of the sleeper lower and raise to allow easy access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet which is a less expensive alternative, comes with two sleep zones that are separated by a mesh panel permitting babies to view each the other. The sleeper also rotates around 360 degrees to give easy access to the infants.

For short-term situations like an unexpected family visit or hospitalization Parents have reported success with co-bedding twins in the large moses basket or small bedside cot bassinette that has dividers. This should only be done under the supervision of a healthcare provider. They will ensure that the babies are appropriately placed on their feet at the foot of the crib and all bedding put in.

Safety

When twins are sleeping together, the most important security factor is that each infant has their own space to sleep in. This ensures that each baby is not smothered or otherwise choked by the other. This also helps to avoid cot deaths, which are more common with single babies than multiples.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that triplets, twins, and higher-order multiples have their own sleep space. This can be accomplished by using an individual bassinet or twin newborn bedside cot crib that you can bring up to your bed to feed or sooth one of your babies during the night.

Although recent SIDS risk reduction guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage room sharing with a parent and disallow cobedding however, the reality is that many families with twins and higher-order multiples have trouble adhering to these guidelines (1). A previous study documented that the majority of families of twins who were cobedded during the first 3 months at home opted for unsafe sleep practices (room sharing without cobedding).

Parents of twins may not adhere to the current SIDS risk reduction guidelines due to a desire extend their own sleep time and the inability to accommodate multiple cribs in the home. Additionally the socioeconomic status of a family could influence their decisions about sleeping arrangements.

If twins are positioned together in a crib or Moses basket, they can easily get caught in their bedding and could 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 secured in each cot to limit the chance of them smothering each one.

One of the safest and more comfortable options for twins to be able to sleep independently is a bedside bassinet like the Halo Bassinest Twin. This double bassinet has a mesh wall to divide twins and give them their own flat, safe mattress to sleep on. It swivels a full 360 degrees to bring one of your children closer to you for feedings or to soothe while still in the comfortable bed. The sides lower and auto-return every time you move. It's also easy to clean and fits into the standard twin bed frame. Take a look at the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet at Walmart. It has similar features as the Halo Bassinest.

Comfort

Welcoming twins or multiples to the world is a huge life altering. Not only that, they require a lot of preparation and thought in regards to their sleeping arrangements and how they can get a good night's sleep. While decisions about their future bedroom space are made when they are older parents often ask how they can help them to settle in the early stages.

When twins are young, it is possible to share one crib. This is referred to as co-bedding, and it can be a wonderful comfort for newborns since it helps them remember the mother's womb. It is important to make sure that the beds are big enough to allow the infants to be comfortable without having to touch each the other or move around. It is also important to remember that the baby who waks 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 keep in mind that twins can have very different sleeping patterns. You might find that one baby is more sleepy than the other or prefers to be close to you. In this situation it is possible to give each twin their own bassinet or crib.

When looking for a twin bedside cot, ensure that it has ventilated mesh dividers that can create separate sleeping spaces. This is especially important for babies that are prone to overheating, or for families with mothers who have had c-sections. A reversible base and wheels that are easy to move are also helpful features. The Arm's Reach cot is a great choice for these purposes, as it offers a large sleeping area 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 areas than the Arm's Reach cot.

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