Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It's best to keep newborn twins close together however, you must follow safety sleeping guidelines. The right crib arrangement can help your twins develop a consistent sleep routine.
bedside cots with the option of dividing can be the ideal choice for twins. These beds can be used to keep their infants close for diaper changes and mid-night feedings. These beds are also ideal for babies who might outgrow their bassinets for baby by the time they reach the age of toddlerhood.
Space-Saving
As long as you follow the safe sleeping guidelines, twins can sleep in a bedside crib side-by-side. They should be placed on their backs, with their heads touching and their feet at the opposite ends. They can also share a bed in a Moses basket or a regular crib when they're old enough.
This Delta double bassinet comes with mesh dividers that allow babies to be separated, but still close. It also has a convenient storage compartment that can keep snacks and wipes in the vicinity, too. Additionally, it folds flat making it easy to move around the house or on trips.
This EZ Fold Twin Bassinet, available at Walmart, swivels to allow you to bring your twins closer to you to feed them and comfort them. The sides are lowered and raised to make it easier for you to get in and secure themselves to ensure your child's safety. It's a bit bigger and heavier than other options, but great for second-floor or grandparent's homes. It also comes with a bag for travel. It's also much less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
It is not recommended that parents of twins place their babies in the same crib or bassinet. Rednose recommends 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 12 months to reduce the risk for SIDS. This is known as co-bedding. It has been shown that twins who grew in this type of environment have a more synchronized sleeping patterns.
One of the easiest ways to achieve this is with a twin bedside cot like the Teknum FELLOW 2 that comes with two distinct bedding sets to ensure that every baby can have an area that is comfortable and private. This bedside cot is able to easily be moved from room to another as necessary, and also provides a convenient way to monitor the baby without needing to wake them by re-entering their sleep zone or disrupting their routines.
Other options include double bassinets specially designed for infants that allow them to be side-by-side, and are ideal for middle-of-the-night feedings or diaper changes. The Halo Bassinest Twin has a mesh panel that is breathable and adjustable in height that allows each baby to be seen and reachable at all times. The sides of the sleeper can lower and raise for easy access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet which is a more affordable alternative, comes with two sleep zones that are separated by a mesh panel, which allows babies to see each other. The sleeper can also rotate around 360 degrees to give easy access to infants.
Many parents have realized that bedding twins together with moses baskets, or a small bassinette, can be a good solution for situations that are temporary, such as a hospital stay or a family visit. However, this should be done only under the supervision of a medical professional to ensure that the babies are placed properly and with their feet towards the foot of the cot, and all bedding is securely tucked in to prevent them from being suffocated.
Safety
The most important security feature for twins is that both babies have their own sleeping space. This ensures that each infant isn't smothered or choked 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 recommends that twins, triplets and higher-order multiples have their own sleeping space. This can be accomplished by using a separate bassinet, or a twin bedside crib you can bring up to your bed to feed or soothe one of the babies throughout the night.
Although recent SIDS risk reduction guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage room sharing with a parent and discourage cobedding but the reality is that a lot of families of twins and other higher-order multiples have trouble adhering to these guidelines (1). In a previous study, it was discovered that the majority of twin families that co-bedded their children during the beginning of their life at home engaged in unsafe sleep habits.
Parents of twins may not adhere to current SIDS risk reduction recommendations because of a desire to increase their own sleep duration and a lack of space to accommodate multiple cribs at home. Additionally the socioeconomic status of a family can influence their decisions about sleeping arrangements.
When twins are placed together in a crib or Moses basket, they can easily be entangled by their bedding, and possibly choke on each other. If you choose to put your twins in the same cot together, make sure they are placed in a position where their feet are next to their heads and their bedding is tucked into the cots securely. This will decrease the possibility of them colliding on each one.
A bedside bassinet, such as the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the most secure and most convenient options for twins who want to sleep in a separate bed. bedside cots features an insulated mesh wall that separates twins, giving them their own secure flat bed. best bedside cots rotates 360 degrees so you can bring your baby closer to you for feedings or soothing while still in the comfort of your bed, and its side walls lower and automatically return every time you move. It is also easy to clean, and fits in the standard twin-sized bed frame. For a less expensive alternative, consider the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet, which is available at Walmart and has similar features as the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
It is a major life change to welcome twins or multiples into the world. Not only that, they require a great deal of planning and thinking when it comes to their sleeping arrangements and how they can get a good night's sleep. Parents often ask themselves what they can do to help their children feel comfortable from an early age.
It is possible for twins to share a single cot when they are very small. Co-bedding is a method of soothing newborns by reminding them of their womb. It is important to make sure that the beds are big enough to allow the babies to feel comfortable without having to touch each the other or move around. It is also important to keep in mind that the baby who awakes first needs to be fed. It is helpful to coordinate nighttime feeds so that you can get one baby up before the other.
It is important to keep in mind that twins can have very different sleeping routines. You may find that one child wakes more than the other or they prefer to be close to you. In this situation, it may be best to provide each twin with their own crib or bassinet.
When you are looking for a twin bedside cot, look for models that feature ventilated mesh dividers that can create distinct sleeping spaces. This is crucial for babies who are more prone to overheating or families with c-section moms. Other beneficial features include an adjustable base, built-in storage for blankets and toys, as well as easy-to-maneuver wheels. The Arm's Reach cot, specifically designed for mothers with c-sections is a great option because it has a large sleeping area and is easy to move. Other options include the Graco Pack 'n Play and the Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel, however, they have a smaller sleeping area than the Arm's Reach cot.
Even if they're extremely close, it's not recommended that twins share the bed with an adult. There is a higher risk of SIDS, and could lead to suffocation, strangulation, or entrapment. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins should be in their own cribs or bassinets in their parents' bedrooms for the first six months.