Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It is best to keep your twins in the infant stage close together, but you should also adhere to safety sleep guidelines. The right crib arrangement can help your twins establish an established routine for sleeping.
A double bassinet with the option of dividing can be the ideal choice for twins. These beds can be used as portable beds to let parents keep their babies near for mid-night feedings and diaper changes. These beds are also great for babies who are likely to outgrow their bassinets for baby by the time they reach toddlerhood.
Space-Saving
Twins can sleep side-by-side in a bedside crib, so long as you follow safe guidelines for sleeping (that's to say they should be lying on their backs with the tops of their heads facing each other and their feet placed at opposite sides of the cot). When they're old enough, they may also share a bed in a Moses Basket or a regular crib.
We love this Delta double bassinet. It has a mesh divider so that babies can stay separate, yet close to each and each other. It also has a convenient storage compartment to keep wipes and snacks nearby as well. It can also fold which makes it easy to move around the house and take on trips.
This EZ Fold Twin Bassinet, available at Walmart is swivelling so that you can bring your twins who are fussy closer to you to feed them and comfort them. The sides can be raised and lowered to allow access, 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 carry-on bag. It's also a lot less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
It is not recommended that parents of twins put their babies in the same bassinet or crib. Instead the group Rednose recommends that twins be given their own safe sleeping space (crib or bassinet, or a portable crib) in the parent/caregiver's room until they reach 12 months old to help reduce the risk of SIDS. This is referred to as co-bedding. It has been proven that twins who grew in this environment develop a more synchronized sleeping patterns.
One of the easiest methods to accomplish this is with twin bedside cots, like the Teknum FELLOW 2 which comes with two separate bedding sets to ensure that each baby can have a personal and comfortable space. This bedside cot is also easily moved from one room to the next depending on the need. It offers an easy and convenient method to check on your babies without disturbing their sleep patterns or waking them up.
Double bassinets are another option. They allow infants to be side-by-side, and they're perfect for feedings and diaper changes in the middle of the night. The Halo Bassinest Twin has a mesh panel that is breathable and adjustable in height that allows each baby to be easily accessible and visible at all times. The sides of the sleeper lower and raise for easy access. If you prefer a more affordable alternative, the Walmart exclusive Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet is similar, having two separate sleeping zones, separated by a mesh panel that allows babies to see each other and the entire bed swivels 360 degrees for an easy access to every infant.
Many parents have found that bedding twins together with moses baskets, or a smaller bassinette, is a great option for temporary situations such as a hospital stay or a family visit. However, this should be done only under the supervision of a healthcare provider to ensure that babies are properly placed, with their feet to the bottom of the cot and all bedding securely tucked in, to avoid them from becoming suffocating.
Safety
When twins are sleeping together, the most crucial safety feature is that each baby has their own sleep space. This ensures that each infant isn't smothered or infected by the other. It also helps to 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 triplets have their own sleeping area. This can be done with an individual bassinet or twin bedside crib that you can place on your bed to feed or soothe one of the babies throughout the night.
While recent SIDS risk reduction guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage room sharing with a parent and discourage cobedding however, the reality is that many families with twins and higher-order multiples have difficulty complying with these guidelines (1). In a previous study it was found that the majority of twin families who co-bedded their children during the first three months of their lives at home engaged in unsafe sleep practices.
Parents of twins may not follow the current SIDS risk reduction guidelines due to a desire to extend their own sleep time and a lack of space to accommodate multiple cribs in the home. Additionally the socioeconomic status of a family can affect their the arrangement of their sleep.
If twins are placed in a small Moses basket or crib, their bedding may easily entangle them and they may choke on eachother. If you decide to put your twins in the same cot together ensure that they are in a position in which their feet are close to their heads, and that their bedding is placed in each cot securely. This will decrease the chances of them choking on each one.
A bedside bassinet, such as the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the most secure and easier options for twins who want to be able to sleep independently. This double bassinet has a mesh wall to separate twins and provide them with their own safe, flat mattress to sleep on. It can rotate 360 degrees so you can bring one of your children closer to you for feedings or calming without having to leave the comfortable bed. The side walls lower and auto-return when you move. It's easy to clean and fits in the standard twin bed frame. Check out the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet at Walmart. It comes with the same features to the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
It's a significant life change to welcome twins or multiples into the world. They require a lot of planning and thought especially in regards to where they will sleep and how they'll get a good night's rest. While decisions about their future room can be made as they age, parents often wonder how they can help them to settle in the early stages.
It is possible for twins to share a cot if they are small. This is known as co-bedding and it can be a great comfort to newborns as it reminds them of the birthing process. The most important thing is to ensure that the beds are big enough for the babies to feel comfortable without touching or bouncing around. It is important to remember that the baby that awakes first must be fed. It can be helpful to coordinate feeding times at night so that you can wake one up before the other.
However, it is important to remember that twins are quite different and could develop their own sleeping patterns. You may find that one baby is waking more than the other, or prefers to be close to you. In this case it could be beneficial for the twins to have their own bassinet or crib in their room.
Find twin bedside cots with breathable mesh dividers for separate sleeping areas. This is crucial for infants that are prone to heat stroke or for families in which mothers have had a C-section. A reversible base and wheels that are easy to maneuver are also beneficial features. The Arm's Reach cot is an excellent option for this purpose because it has a spacious sleeping area and is designed with c-section moms in mind. Other options include the Graco Pack 'n Play and the Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel however, they 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. bedside crib travel cot increases the risk of SIDS, and can cause suffocation, strangulation, or entrapment. Instead, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins sleep in their own safe sleeping spaces, such as cribs or bassinets, in their parents' rooms for the first six months.